JP4870731B2 - Accelerometer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an acceleration measuring device that measures acceleration.

  In recent years, for example, a pointing device is often used as a data input unit with excellent operability in addition to a keyboard in a computer or the like. In addition, for example, a mouse or a digitizer is used as a pointing device for a desktop type computer, but it is often used in places where there is no table such as outdoors or in a car. With the advent of computer-type computers, pointing devices are also diversifying as data input means to replace the mouse, which is difficult to secure the operation area.

  Therefore, pointing devices having various shapes such as a trackball type that can be miniaturized for a portable computer and do not require an operation area have been developed.

  FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional pointing device. As shown in FIG. 35, the conventional pointing device has an operating rod 101, and the operating rod 101 and a support frame 102 that supports the operating rod 101 are connected via a closely wound coil spring 103. .

For example, a coordinate detection unit 104 including a light emitting element 105 and a light receiving element 106 is disposed below the operation rod 101 and the support frame 102, and the light receiving element 106 mounted on the printed circuit board 107 is connected to the operation rod 101. It is mounted so as to face the light emitting element 105 mounted on the lower end of the LED. The light receiving element 106 opposed to the light emitting element 105 includes a large number of light receiving portions arranged in a matrix, for example, a CCD or the like. When the operating rod 101 is pushed in an arbitrary direction, the closely wound coil spring 103 is bent. As a result, the axis of the operating rod 101 is inclined, and the irradiation direction of the light emitting element 105 is changed.
As a result, the light from the light emitting element 105 is incident on a specific light receiving portion on the light receiving element 106 corresponding to the inclination direction and the inclination angle of the operation rod 101, and corresponds to the inclined direction and the inclination angle of the operation rod 101. An electrical signal is output from the light receiving unit on the light receiving element 106 interposed at the coordinate position.

  However, the conventional pointing device is difficult to handle because of its large outer shape and weight. That is, there is a problem that the operability is poor for an infant without power.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an acceleration measuring device.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems,
The invention according to claim 1 is an acceleration measuring device that measures acceleration according to the inclination direction and the inclination angle of the moving part, the moving part has a weight, has a substantially spherical part at the lower end, and the acceleration acts. And the bearing means for supporting the substantially spherical portion of the moving portion so as to rotate, and the substantially spherical portion rotates inside the bearing means. The moving unit inclined to the upright position, and a tilt detecting unit for detecting the tilt direction and the tilt angle of the moving unit , the restoring unit includes a cover having a cylindrical portion, An annular flange projecting outward from the substantially spherical portion at the lower end of the moving portion; a slider provided slidably within the cylindrical portion of the cover; and a lower end supported by the flange; and the slider and a spring for biasing spring downward, the Is configured, when the mobile unit is tilted pushed up by the flange to which the slider is tilted, the spring is elastically deformed, when the operation of the moving portion is released, the slider is pushed down by the elastic force of the spring Then, the operation unit is restored by the slider pressing the inclined flange.

In the acceleration measuring apparatus, as described in claim 2, the slider has a plurality of ribs on a peripheral surface, and the ribs are in line contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. it may be with.

  The invention of claim 3 further includes a mounting member for attaching the acceleration measuring device to a part of a person.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the moving part is configured so that the substantially spherical part rotates inside the bearing means and rotates around the center of the substantially spherical part as a fulcrum, Compared with the configuration in which the lower end rotates and tilts around the lower end, the area in which the top of the moving unit moves when the moving unit tilts by a predetermined angle is narrowed, and a small acceleration measuring device can be realized. In addition, what protrudes outward from the substantially spherical part at the lower end of the moving part is an annular flange, and when the moving part is inclined, this annular flange pushes up the slider. The resistance force received by the moving unit is the same even when it is tilted, so that it is possible to realize an acceleration measuring device that has no directionality and can accurately measure acceleration in any direction.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the slider has a plurality of ribs on the peripheral surface, and the ribs are in line contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, the peripheral surface of the slider and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion Compared with surface contact with the surface, the frictional force when the slider slides upward on the cylindrical part can be reduced, and therefore the moving part can be tilted with a light force, and the acceleration measuring device has high sensitivity. Can be realized.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, for example, when a player of a game wears and uses it on a limb or the like and performs an action such that the player fights an enemy, the acceleration generated by the action of the player can be measured. .

  The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a pointing device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a divided main body as an embodiment of the pointing device of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pointing device of the present invention includes a disk-type key top 1a, an operation unit 15 including a stick 5 and a holder 7, a pressurizing unit 16 including a slider 4 and a compression coil spring 3a, and a magnet ( Permanent magnet) 6 and coordinate detection unit 17 composed of magnetoelectric transducer 9 are housed in cover 2 and housing 8, and these components are assembled on PCB (printed circuit board) 10, for example. A pointing device as shown in FIG. 2 is formed. The pointing device shown in FIG. 1 uses a disk-type key top 1a (see FIG. 8 (a)), but the shape of the key top is not limited to this. The dome type key top 1b (see FIG. 8B), the stick type key top 1c (see FIG. 8C), and the like can be freely selected.

  The above pointing device shown in FIG. 1 makes it possible to move a cursor or pointer on a computer display to an arbitrary position, for example. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the pointing device of the present invention includes a boss 11 for preventing unnecessary rotation of the operation unit 15 on the concentric circle of the operation unit 15 and on the housing 8 between the plurality of protrusions 12. By arranging, more stable operability is realized.

  In the pointing device shown in FIG. 2, the holder 7 has a spherical contact surface that fits into a housing 8 as a spherical bearing recess, and manually tilts the key top 1a and the stick 5 as support shafts in arbitrary directions. As a result (refer to the inclined state shown in FIG. 3), the housing 8 slides on the center of the spherical contact surface as a fulcrum (inclined center). At that time, in the operation unit 15, a plurality of projections 12 formed in the direction perpendicular to the support shaft from the fulcrum pushes up the slider 4 and compresses the compression coil spring 3 a.

  The pointing device according to the present invention includes the pressure unit 16 (slider 4 and compression coil spring 3a), so that the operation unit 15 can be properly adjusted even when the operation unit 15 (key top 1a, stick 5 and holder 7) is tilted. The standing force (restoring force) works, and when it is released, it is automatically restored to the upright state as shown in FIG. That is, the compression coil spring 3a used in the present embodiment has, for example, a spring form as shown in FIG. 4, and the operating portion 15 is reliably restored to the upright state with a single spring.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when the tension coil spring 3b as shown in FIG. 5A is used, the pointing device of the present invention has the configuration as shown in FIG. In addition, when the operation unit 15 (the key top 1a, the stick 5, and the holder 7) is tilted, it slides on the housing 8 with the center of the spherical contact surface as a fulcrum (tilt center). At that time, in the operation portion 15, a plurality of protrusions 12 formed in the direction perpendicular to the support shaft from the fulcrum pushes up the slider 4 and pulls the tension coil spring 3 b. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5C, the tension coil spring 3b is proportional to the inclination angle of the operation portion 15 and the force of the spring (operation force), and the operation force increases as the inclination angle increases.

  As described above, when the tension coil spring 3b is used, the pointing device of the present invention works even when the operation unit 15 is tilted, and the force (restoring force) that erects the working unit 15 works. 5 is restored to the upright state as shown in FIG. That is, the tension coil spring 3b used in the present embodiment has a spring form as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, and the operating portion 15 is reliably restored to the upright state by a plurality of springs.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when an unequal pitch coil spring 3c as shown in FIG. 6A is used, the pointing device of the present invention has the same configuration as that of FIG. When the top 1a, the stick 5, and the holder 7) are tilted, they slide on the housing 8 with the center of the spherical contact surface as the fulcrum (inclination center). At that time, in the operation unit 15, a plurality of projections 12 formed in the direction perpendicular to the support shaft from the fulcrum pushes up the slider 4 to compress the unequal pitch coil spring 3 c. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6B, the unequal pitch coil spring 3c can be finely operated (fine adjustment) and coarse (coarse adjustment) depending on the strength of the operation force.

  As described above, when the unequal pitch coil spring 3c is used, the pointing device of the present invention has a force (restoring force) that erects the operation unit 15 even when the operation unit 15 is tilted. It is automatically restored to the upright state as shown in FIG. That is, the unequal pitch coil spring 3c used in the present embodiment has, for example, a spring form as shown in FIG. 6A, and the operating portion 15 is reliably brought upright with a single spring. Restore.

  In the pointing device of the present invention using any one of the springs shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the coordinate detection unit 17 converts the change in the magnetic field from the magnet 6 when the operation unit 15 is tilted into a magnetoelectric conversion. The element 9 converts the electric signal into an electric signal, and detects the inclination direction and the inclination angle of the operation unit 15 by processing the electric signal. As a result, the cursor or pointer on the computer display can be moved to any position (up, down, left, right, diagonal, etc.).

  Here, an operation for moving the cursor or pointer on the display of the computer to an arbitrary position (up / down / left / right, diagonal, etc.) using the pointing device of the present invention will be briefly described.

  For example, when the projections 12 on the operation unit 15 are arranged at equal intervals in four directions, if the operation unit 15 is inclined in the direction of the projections 12, the amount of movement of the slider 4 increases, and the operation unit 15 is connected to the adjacent projections. When it is inclined in the direction between the protrusions, the amount of movement of the slider 4 is reduced. That is, the inclination in the direction between the protrusions with a small movement amount of the slider 4 can be operated with a light operating force, and conversely, the inclination in the direction of the protrusion 12 with a large movement amount of the slider 4 is stronger than the former. Operating force is required.

  Accordingly, as shown in the positional relationship between the operation direction and the protrusion in FIG. 7, the four directions between the protrusion and the protrusion that can be operated with a light operation force are defined as, for example, the up / down / left / right cursor movement directions, respectively. It is easy to recognize the direction of cursor movement with the sense of operation (feeling of strength and weakness) given to, and it is possible to realize excellent operability. In addition, when the projections 12 on the operation unit 15 are arranged at equal intervals in eight directions, further excellent operability can be realized by defining the cursor moving direction more finely (up and down, left and right, diagonal, etc.). . Further, the projection 12 used in the pointing device of the present invention is not limited to the four directions and the eight directions, and the number that the operator can easily use can be freely set.

  FIG. 9 shows a specific use example of the pointing device of the present invention.

  Here, the pointing device is applied to the cordless remote controller 21 to move the cursor or pointer on the computer display to any position (up / down / left / right, diagonal, etc.). In FIG. 9, the cordless type remote controller 21 is taken as an example. However, the shape is not limited to this, and a type with a cord may be used, or a type incorporated in a computer may be used.

[Second Embodiment]
10 and 11A and 11B show a pointing device 120A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The parts corresponding to the constituent parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the reference numerals with the suffix “A” added to the reference numerals corresponding to the reference numerals of the constituent parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The X axis and the Y axis are orthogonal axes on the upper surface (horizontal plane) of the printed board 10A, and the Z axis is a vertical axis passing through the intersection OA between the X axis and the Y axis. Z1 is upward and Z2 is downward.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11A, a pointing device 120A includes a pointing device body assembly 121A, a printed circuit board 10A on which four magnetoelectric conversion elements 9AX1, 9AX2, 9AY1, and 9AY2 are mounted, and a magnetoelectric conversion. A signal processing circuit 122A that processes signals from the elements 9AX1 to 9AY29A and outputs a predetermined signal.

  The pointing device body assembly 121A is assembled independently of the printed circuit board 10A as described below. The pointing device body assembly 121A is attached on the printed circuit board 10A so as to cover the magnetoelectric conversion elements 9AX1 to 9AY2, and the dome-shaped key top 1A projects upward from the box-shaped case 122A.

  First, the pointing device body assembly 121A will be described.

  The pointing device body assembly 121A has a configuration in which an operation unit 15A and a pressurizing unit 16A are accommodated inside a cover 2A and a housing 8A combined vertically.

  The pointing device body assembly 121 supports the stick assembly 123A on the upper surface of the housing 8A, fits the slider 4A with the stick assembly 123A, and mounts a single compression coil spring 3Aa on the slider 4A. The cover 2A is covered so as to cover the spring 3Aa, the cover 2A and the housing 8A are screwed with screws 125A, and the key top 1A is fixed to the stick portion 124Aa protruding above the cover 2A. is there.

  The operation unit 15A includes a stick assembly 123A and a key top 1A fixed to the upper end.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the stick assembly 123A includes a stick 124A, a disk-like magnet 6A magnetized in the thickness direction, and a hemispherical holder 7A. The magnet 6A is incorporated inside the holder 7A, and the magnet 6A is incorporated horizontally with its center aligned with the axis (Z axis) of the stick assembly 123A. The stick 124A includes a stick portion 124Aa and a hemispherical portion 124Ab at the lower end of the stick portion 124Aa. Around the lower end of the hemispherical portion 124Ab, eight protrusions 12A are formed radially at equal angular intervals perpendicular to the Z axis. The holder 7A is fixed to the lower end of the stick 124A, and a spherical portion 123Aa is formed by the holder 7A and the hemispherical portion 124Ab. OA1 is the center of the spherical portion 123Aa. That is, the stick assembly 123A has a spherical portion 123Aa at the lower end. The eight protrusions 12A are located on the plane perpendicular to the Z axis at the position of the center OA1. The shape of the holder 7A may be a polyhedral shape close to a hemispherical shape. The spherical portion 123Aa may have a polyhedral shape close to a spherical shape.

  The key top 1A has a hemispherical dome 1Ab below the key top body 1Aa. The key top body 1Aa is a disk having a size corresponding to the fingertip of the operator, and a small protrusion 1Aa1 is formed at the center of the upper surface so that the fingertip does not slip. The dome portion 1Ab is sized to cover the cylindrical portion 2Aa of the cover 2A. A fitting recess 1Ac having a square hole is formed at the lower end of the key top body 1Aa so as to protrude inside the dome 1Ab. In the key top 1A, the fitting recess 1Ac is fixed to the upper end of the stick 124A by fitting the fitting concave portion 1Ac into the prism portion 124Aa1 at the upper end of the stick portion 124Aa protruding upward from the cylindrical portion 2Aa of the cover 2A.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the housing 8A has a concave spherical receiving seat portion 8Aa and eight bosses 11A formed on the upper surface thereof. OA2 is the center of the spherical surface of the receiving seat 8Aa. The eight bosses 11A are plate-shaped, are arranged at equal angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and surround the periphery of the receiving seat portion 8Aa. The housing 8A is made of an elastomer, and the tip of the boss 11A can be easily and elastically bent in the circumferential direction of the receiving seat portion 8Aa.

  In the stick assembly 123A, the holder 7A constituting the lower part of the spherical portion 123Aa is supported on the concave spherical receiving portion 8Aa in a state where grease is appropriately applied to the surface of the holder 7A. The rim portion 2Ac of the cover 2A is in contact with or opposed to the surface of the hemispherical portion 124Ab constituting the upper half portion of the spherical portion 123Aa with a slight gap. The rim portion 2Ac is a portion closer to the center than the flange portion 2Ab described later. Therefore, the stick assembly 123A is supported by the seat portion 8Aa and the rim portion 2Ac so that the stick assembly 123A does not move in the X, Y, and Z directions although it can be rotated so as to be inclined. Yes. The receiving seat portion 8Aa and the rim portion 2Ac constitute a bearing portion 126 for the spherical portion 123Aa. The spherical portion 123Aa is rotatable inside the bearing portion 126A. In this state, as shown in FIG. 11A, the center OA1 of the spherical portion 123Aa coincides with the spherical center OA2 of the receiving seat portion 8Aa. As shown in FIG. 12B, each protrusion 12A is located at a portion between adjacent bosses 11A. In the state where the stick assembly 123A is upright, as shown in FIG. 12C, the protrusion 12A and the boss 11A are in such a relationship that the upper surface 12Aa of the protrusion 12A is positioned slightly above the tip surface 11Aa of the boss 11A. . When the stick assembly 123A is pulled in the Z1 direction, the edge of the rim portion 2Ac of the cover 2A receives the surface of the hemispherical portion 124Ab, and the stick assembly 123A is restricted from coming off the cover 2A and coming off.

  The pressure unit 16A includes a slider 4A and a compression coil spring 3Aa. As shown in FIGS. 11 (A) and 13, the slider 4 </ b> A has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a compression coil spring accommodating portion 4 </ b> Aa that is an annular recess in a portion near the periphery, and an annular shape on the center side of the upper surface. And a plurality of ribs 4Ac are formed on the outer peripheral surface. Each rib 4Ac extends in the direction of the axis 4AZ of the slider 4A.

  The compression coil spring 3Aa is attached to the slider 4A by fitting the lower portion thereof to the compression coil spring accommodating portion 4Aa of the slider 4A, and the upper portion protrudes upward from the slider 4A. Instead of the compression coil spring 3Aa, an unequal pitch coil spring 3c shown in FIG. 6A may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, the slider 4A is fitted to the hemispherical portion 124Ab of the stick assembly 123A and is fitted to the outside of the eight bosses 11A arranged in the circumferential direction, and has an annular flange. The portion 4Ab is in contact with the upper surface of the eight radial protrusions 12A.

  The slider 4A is fitted in the cylindrical portion 2Aa of the cover 2A so as to be slidable in the Z1 and Z2 directions. The cover 2A has an annular flange portion 2Ab protruding from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 2Aa toward the center. The upper end of the compression coil spring 3Aa is in contact with the back surface of the annular flange portion 2Ab of the cover 2A. The compression coil spring 3Aa is in a slightly compressed state. The slider 4A is slightly lifted from the upper surface of the housing 8A.

  On the back surface of the housing 8A, recesses 8Ab for fitting the magnetoelectric conversion elements 9AX1, 9AX2, 9AY1, 9AY2 are formed.

  The above is the configuration of the pointing device body assembly 121.

  On the printed circuit board 10A, two magnetoelectric conversion elements 9AX1 and 9AX2 are arranged on the X axis, and two magnetoelectric conversion elements 9AY1 and 9AY2 are arranged on the Y axis and symmetrically arranged around the point OA. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 11 (A), the pointing device body assembly 121A is formed on a PCB (printed circuit board) 10A so that the recess 8Ab fits and covers the magnetoelectric transducers 9AX1, 9AX2, 9AY1, and 9AY2. Further, the box-shaped case 122A is attached so as to cover the pointing device body assembly 121A, and the pointing device 120A is completed.

  The opening 122Aa of the box-shaped case 122A of the pointing device 120A is fitted to the dome 1Ab, and the key top body 1Aa protrudes upward from the case 122A. The rim portion 122Ab around the opening 122Aa of the case 122A covers a portion closer to the periphery in the dome portion 1Ab.

  The pointing device body assembly 121A is assembled independently of the printed circuit board 10A. The pointing device 120A is completed by mounting the independently assembled pointing device body assembly 121A on the printed circuit board 10A. Therefore, the pointing device 120A is manufactured more efficiently than when the pointing device is manufactured by assembling components such as the stick assembly 123A and the slider 4A on the printed circuit board 10A.

  With the pointing device 120A completed (without operating the key top main body 1Aa), the spring force of the compression coil spring 3Aa pushes the slider 4A downward, and the annular flange portion 2Ab uniformly forms the eight radial protrusions 12A. The stick assembly 123A is in a vertical posture, the key top 1A is located directly above, and the operation unit 15A is in an upright state.

  The magnet 6A in the stick assembly 123A is located immediately above the point OA on the printed circuit board 10A, and magnetic fields having the same strength act on all the magnetoelectric transducers 9AX1, 9AX2, 9AY1, and 9AY2. As will be described later, the output value from the signal processing circuit 122A is 128 counts.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the stick assembly 123A can be tilted in an arbitrary direction of 360 degrees with an operation in which the slider 4A is displaced upward while compressing the compression coil spring 3Aa. . In the stick assembly 123A, the spherical portion 123Aa rotates around the point OA1 (OA2) inside the bearing portion 126A, and the hemispherical holder 7A slides on the concave spherical receiving seat portion 8Aa while the point OA1 ( Tilt to rotate about OA2). At maximum, the stick assembly 123A is inclined to an angle at which the protrusion 12A hits the rim 2Ac of the cover 2A.

  Here, since the rotation center when the stick assembly 123A is tilted is not the lower end surface of the stick assembly 123A but the position h above the lower end surface, the stick assembly 123A has a predetermined maximum angle. The range (operation area) in which the key top main body 1Aa moves to incline is narrower than the configuration in which the stick assembly is inclined about the lower end in contact with the receiving seat, and thus the pointing device 120A is small. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, the pointing device 120A is operated by moving the operator in any direction so that the operator places the fingertip 150 on the keytop body 1Aa and tilts the keytop 1A in a desired direction. In the stick assembly 123A, one or two of the eight radial protrusions 12A push up the annular flange portion 2Ab while the spherical portion 123Aa rotates around the point OA1 (OA2) inside the bearing portion 126. The slider 4A is tilted in an arbitrary direction with an operation of displacing the compression coil spring 3Aa while compressing the compression coil spring 3Aa. The hemispherical holder 7A slides while being pressed against the concave spherical receiving portion 8Aa by the compression coil spring 3Aa spring force. The hemispherical holder 7A is coated with grease, and the hemispherical holder 7A smoothly slides on the concave spherical receiving seat 8Aa.

  The magnet 6A is located slightly below the point OA. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11B, the magnet 6A is displaced along an arc centered at the point OA, and the balance of the strength of the magnetic field acting on each magnetoelectric transducer 9A is lost, as will be described later. A signal corresponding to the operation direction (tilt direction) and tilt angle of the key top body 1Aa is output from the signal processing circuit 122A.

  When the operator removes the fingertip 150 from the key top main body 1Aa, the slider 4A is pushed downward by the spring force of the compression coil spring 3Aa, and the annular flange portion 2Ab pushes down the protrusion 12A displaced upward to form eight radial shapes. The protrusions 12A are pressed uniformly downward, and the stick assembly 123A and the key top 1A are restored to the upright state shown in FIG.

  The resistance of the pointing device 120A is slightly different depending on the direction of operation. In FIG. 12B, in the X1 direction, the opposite direction is a direction in which no projection is located, and is intermediate between the adjacent projections 12A1 and 12A2. The B direction is a direction in which the protrusion 12A1 is located in the opposite direction.

  The protrusion 12A1 pushes up the slider 4A when the stick assembly 123A is operated to incline in the B direction. The protrusions 12A1 and 12A2 push up the slider 4A when the stick assembly 123A is operated to tilt in the X1 direction. When the height of the tip of the protrusion 12A1 when the stick assembly 123A is tilted in the same angle A direction is compared with the height of the tip of the protrusion 12A1 (12A2) when tilted in the X1 direction, the former is the latter Located slightly higher. Accordingly, when the stick assembly 123A is operated to be tilted in the B direction, the operation is felt slightly heavier than when the stick assembly 123A is tilted in the X1 direction. The direction of operation of the pointing device 120A can be recognized based on the difference in operating force.

  In FIG. 12B, a direction indicated by an arrow 151 is a direction in which the operation force is light and the operation is easy.

  Next, features of the pointing device 120A and the pointing device body assembly 121 will be described. The pointing device 120A and the pointing device body assembly 121A have the following features.

  <1> Reduction in operating force As shown in FIG. 13, the slider 4A and the cylindrical portion 2Aa of the cover 2A are in a state in which the plurality of ribs 4Ac on the peripheral surface of the slider 4A are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 2Aa. The contact between the slider 4A and the cylindrical portion 2Aa of the cover 2A is not a surface contact but a line contact. For this reason, compared with the case of surface contact, the friction when the slider 4A slides upward inside the cylindrical portion 2Aa of the cover 2A is reduced. Thereby, the operation of the key top body 1Aa is lightened, and the operability is improved.

  <2> Preventing the key top body 1Aa from coming off As shown in FIG. 11, the rim 122Ab of the case 122A covers a portion of the dome 1Ab that is closer to the periphery, so that the key top body 1Aa is strongly pulled upward. In addition, it is possible to prevent the key top 1A from coming off the stick 124A due to the case 122A getting in the way.

  <3> Anti-rotation of Key Top Body 1Aa As shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the key top 1A and the stick 124A are fitted with a square hole fitting recess 1Ac and a square pillar portion 124Aa1, The key top 1A is not rotated with respect to the stick 124A. Further, the radial protrusions 12A of the stick assembly 123A are positioned between the adjacent bosses 11A, so that the stick assembly 123A does not rotate with respect to the housing 8A. Therefore, even if the key top 1A is rotated about the Z axis by mischief, the projection 12A hits the boss 11A so that the key top 1A does not rotate. This configuration is effective when applied to a case where there is a mark indicating the direction on the upper surface of the key top body 1Aa and the key top body 1Aa has directionality.

<4> Even if the key top body 1Aa is forcibly turned, it does not break.
When a strong force for turning the key top body 1Aa is applied, the protrusion 12A pushes near the upper end of the boss 11A. Since the boss 11A is made of an elastomer, it is bent as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, although the protrusion 12A gets over the boss 11A and the key top body 1Aa is slightly rotated, the boss 11A is not broken and the key top body 1Aa is not broken.

  <5> Preventing Invasion of Dust As shown in FIG. 11, the opening 122Aa of the case 122A is closed by the dome portion 1Ab. Therefore, dust can be prevented from entering the case 122A.

  Next, the signal processing circuit 122A will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the signal processing circuit 122 </ b> A includes two amplifiers 130 and 131, an A / D converter 132, and a central processing unit (CPU) 133. The central processing unit 133 includes a calculation unit 140, a storage unit 141, a clock unit 142, and an interface unit 143.

  The output voltages of the two magnetoelectric transducers 9AX1 and 9AX2 arranged side by side on the X axis are differentially amplified by the amplifier 130. The output voltages of the two magnetoelectric transducers 9AY1 and 9AY2 arranged side by side on the Y axis are differentially amplified by the amplifier 131. The amplified voltage is A / D converted by the A / D converter 132 and applied to the central processing unit 133. In the central processing unit 133, the A / D converted data is compared with the data in the storage unit 141 in synchronization with the clock, converted so that the computer can recognize it, and output to the computer.

  FIG. 15 shows the relationship between the tilt angle and the voltage differentially amplified by the amplifier 130 when the key top body 1Aa is tilted in the XZ plane, for example. When the tilt angle is zero, the voltage is b (V). As shown by the line I, the voltage changes linearly with respect to the tilt angle, and the voltage of a (V) is output when the tilt angle is −30 degrees, and c (V) when the tilt angle is +30 degrees. Is output.

  FIG. 16 shows the output from the central processing unit 133. For example, 1 count is output when a (V), 128 counts when b (V), and 256 counts when c (V).

  FIG. 17 shows the relationship between the output of the central processing unit 133 and the moving speed of the cursor on the display screen. As indicated by the line II, for example, the cursor moves at the speed A when the count is 1, and the cursor does not move when the count is 128. At 256 counts, the cursor moves at a speed A in the opposite direction to that at 1 count.

  The tilt direction of the key top body 1Aa is determined by the central processing unit 133 based on the ratio between the output voltage of the amplifier 130 and the output voltage of the amplifier 131.

  Thus, by operating the key top main body 1Aa, the cursor on the display screen is moved at a speed corresponding to the angle at which the key top main body 1Aa is inclined.

[Modifications of Each Part of Second Embodiment]
[First Modification] FIG. 18 shows a first modification. The key top 1B has a groove 1Bb1 on the inner surface of the hemispherical dome portion 1Bb. The cover 2B has longitudinal ribs 2Ba1 on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 2Ba. The grooves 1Bb1 and the ribs 2Ba1 are formed at intervals of 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. The key top 1B is attached by fitting the groove 1Bb1 to the corresponding rib 2Ba1.

  Since the groove 1Bb1 is fitted to the corresponding rib 2Ba1, the key top 1B is prevented from rotating at four positions with respect to the cover 2B.

[Second Modification]
FIG. 19 shows a second modification. The hemispherical holder 7C of the stick assembly 123C has a cross-shaped rib 7C1. The receiving seat 8Ca of the housing 8C has a cross-shaped groove 8Ca1 on its concave spherical surface. The hemispherical holder 7C of the stick assembly 123C is supported by the receiving seat 8Ca in a state where the cross-shaped rib 7C1 is fitted in the cross-shaped groove 8Ca1.

  Since the rib 7C1 is fitted in the groove 8Ca1, the stick assembly 123C (key top) is prevented from rotating with respect to the housing 8C.

[Third Modification]
FIG. 20 shows a third modification. The receiving seat 8Da of the housing 8D has an annular protrusion 8Da1 on its concave spherical surface. The protrusion 8Da1 has a semicircular cross section. The hemispherical holder 7D of the stick assembly 123D is supported by the receiving seat portion 8Da while being in contact with the annular ridge portion 8Da1.

  The stick assembly 123D is inclined while the holder 7D is in sliding contact with the annular protrusion 8Da1. Therefore, the contact of the holder 7D with the receiving seat portion 8Da is a line contact, and the frictional force is less than that in the case of surface contact. As a result, the operation of the key top body is lightened, and the pointing device has good operability.

[Fourth Modification]
FIG. 21 shows a fourth modification. The receiving seat 8Ea of the housing 8E has, on its concave spherical surface, a ridge 8Ea1 having a cross shape as viewed from above instead of the annular ridge 8Da1 in FIG. The protrusion 8Ea1 has a semicircular cross section.

  When the stick assembly 123E is inclined, the holder 7E is slidably contacted with the cross-shaped protrusion 8Ea1 while being in line contact. As a result, the operation of the key top body is lightened, and the pointing device has good operability.

[Fifth Modification]
FIG. 22 shows a fifth modification. The receiving seat portion 8Fa of the housing 8F has three hemispherical convex portions 8Fa1 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the concave spherical surface instead of the annular ridge portion 8Da1 in FIG. It is.

  When the stick assembly 123F is inclined, the holder 7F comes into sliding contact with the convex portion 8Fa1 while making point contact. As a result, the operation of the key top body is lightened, and the pointing device has good operability.

[Sixth Modification]
FIG. 23 shows a sixth modification. If the dust enters between the receiving seat portion receiving seat portion 8Ga and the holder 7G, the holder 7G becomes difficult to make sliding contact, and the pointing device may be deteriorated in operability.

  Therefore, the recess 8Ga on the concave spherical surface of the housing 8G has a hole 8Ga1 formed in the deepest part. By forming the hole 8Ga1, dust that has entered the concave spherical surface of the receiving seat portion 8Ga is brought into the hole 8Ga1 by the operation of the stick assembly 123F, and the concave spherical shape of the receiving seat portion 8Ga. It is excluded from the aspect of. Therefore, even when dust enters between the receiving seat portion receiving seat portion 8Ga and the holder 7G, the pointing device maintains good operability.

  Instead of the hole 8Ga1, a groove 8Ga2 may be provided as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

[Seventh Modification]
The seventh modification and the next eighth modification are modifications of the compression coil spring 3Aa.

  FIG. 24 shows a seventh modification. The pointing device 120H has a configuration in which a garter spring 3H having a coil spring in a ring shape extends between the slider 4H and the housing 8H instead of the compression coil spring 3Aa. The slider 4H is urged downward by the spring force of the garter spring 3H.

[Eighth Modification]
FIG. 25A shows an eighth modification. The pointing device 120I has a configuration in which a dome-shaped rubber spring 3I is provided between the slider 4I and the flange portion 2Ib of the cover 2I instead of the compression coil spring 3Aa. When the key top 1I is operated, the dome-shaped rubber spring 3I is elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 25B, and urges the slider 4I downward.

[Ninth Modification]
FIG. 26 shows a ninth modification. The key top 1J is configured such that the stick portion 1Ja protrudes above the hemispherical dome portion 1Jb.

  The operator operates by holding the stick 1Ja with a fingertip.

[Tenth Modification]
FIGS. 27A and 27B show a ninth modification. FIG. 27A shows a configuration in which three radial protrusions 12K perpendicular to the Z axis are formed at equal angular intervals. FIG. 27B shows a configuration in which six radial protrusions 12L are arranged at unequal intervals.

  A thick arrow 150 indicates a direction in which the operation force is light when the stick assemblies 123K and 123L are operated to be inclined. A thin arrow 151 indicates a direction in which the operation force is heavy when the stick assemblies 123K and 123L are operated to be inclined.

[Third embodiment]
FIG. 28 shows an acceleration measuring apparatus 160 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 29, 30A, and 30B show the acceleration detector 161. FIG.

  28 includes an acceleration detection device 161, a CPU 133, LEDs 162-1 to 162-3, an infrared communication unit 163, an acceleration measurement start switch 164, and a measurement data transfer start switch 165 on the printed circuit board 10M. The key tops 166 and 167 are mounted on the switches 164 and 165, respectively. These are accommodated between the screwed lower cover 168 and the upper cover 169, and the button battery 170 is connected to the printed circuit board 10M. And is covered with a lid 171. The acceleration measuring device 160 is attached to a belt 172, and is used by being attached to a wrist 181 and an ankle 182 by a game player 180 as shown in FIG.

  In the pointing device body assembly 121A of FIG. 10, the acceleration detecting device 161 has a disc-shaped weight 173 attached in the cup portion 123Mb at the upper end of the stick assembly 123M instead of the key top 1A. A dome-shaped cover 174 is fixed so as to cover 173. The cover 174 faces the dome-shaped transparent window 169a of the upper cover 169.

  The stick assembly 123M is formed with an annular flange 12M in place of the protrusion 12A in FIG. The upper surface of the annular flange 12M receives the annular flange portion 4Ab of the slider 4A. When the stick assembly 123M is inclined, the annular flange portion 4Ab pushes up the annular flange portion 4Ab of the slider 4A. Therefore, the resistance force applied to the stick assembly 123M is the same regardless of the direction in which the stick assembly 123M is tilted, and the acceleration detection device 161 has no directionality, and the acceleration in any direction on the XY plane. Can be measured accurately.

  The housing 8M does not have the boss 11A. For this reason, the stick assembly 123M may rotate about its axis (Z). However, since it is magnetized in the thickness direction or has a disk shape and is arranged on the axis (Z) of the stick assembly 123M, it is assumed that the stick assembly 123M rotates with respect to the axis (Z). However, acceleration detection is not affected and there is no inconvenience.

  Except for the above, the configuration is the same as the pointing device main assembly 121A of FIG. 29 and 30A and 30B, parts corresponding to the parts shown in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 10, and description thereof is omitted.

  The stick assembly 123M is inclined in any direction of 360 degrees (any two-dimensional direction in the XY plane) with the movement of the slider 4A moving upward while compressing the compression coil spring 3Aa. Is possible. Therefore, when acceleration acts on the weight 173, the stick assembly 123M is inclined at an angle corresponding to the magnitude of the acceleration in the direction of acceleration, as shown in FIG. As shown by line III in FIG. 31, the inclination angle of the stick assembly 123M varies linearly with the magnitude of acceleration acting on the weight 173. Since it is the annular flange 12M that contacts the annular flange portion 4Ab of the slider 4A, the inclination angle of the stick assembly 123M is large in the acceleration acting on the weight 173 in any two-dimensional direction that is the XY plane. Similarly, it changes linearly. When the acceleration acting on the weight 173 decreases to zero, the stick assembly 123M is restored to the upright state of FIG. 30A by the spring force of the compression coil spring 3Aa.

  The signal processing circuit 122M has the same configuration as that of FIG. The CPU 133 performs a processing operation that detects acceleration. When acceleration acts on the acceleration measuring device 160, the inclination angle of the stick assembly 123M changes linearly with respect to the magnitude of the acceleration acting on the weight 173, as shown in FIG. Here, as shown in FIG. 15, the inclination angle of the stick assembly 123M and the output voltage are proportional. Therefore, as indicated by line IV in FIG. 32, the acceleration is detected as α when the voltage is a, the acceleration is zero when the voltage is b, and the acceleration is detected as β when the voltage is c.

  As shown in FIG. 33, when the player 180 of the game wears the acceleration measuring device 160 and shakes his / her limb, the amplifiers 130 and 131 (see FIG. 14) of the signal processing circuit 122M of the acceleration measuring device 160 are changed to FIG. The voltage waveform indicated by line V is output. The central processing unit 133 measures the speed at which the player 180 moves the limb (whether it moves slowly or quickly) based on the magnitude and time of the acceleration. The time is measured by synchronizing with the clock of the clock unit 142.

  As shown in FIG. 33, when the player 180 makes a gesture to move his limbs with the intention of becoming a boxing kickboxer, the virtual person 191 moves corresponding to the player 180 on the screen 190 of the game apparatus, and the enemy 192 Add an attack.

  Note that the acceleration detection device 161 may have a configuration to which the modification examples illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 25 are applied.

It is 1st Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the upright state of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the inclination state of the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the compression coil spring used in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the case where a tension | pulling coil spring is used in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the case where an unequal pitch coil spring is used in the Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation direction in the case of four protrusions, and the positional relationship of each protrusion. It is a figure which shows various key tops. It is a specific example of the pointing device of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the pointing device of 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the pointing device of 2nd Example of this invention. It is a figure which shows a stick assembly and a housing correspondingly. It is a figure which shows a slider and a holder correspondingly. It is a block diagram of the signal processing circuit in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between operation of a keytop main body, and an output voltage. It is a figure which shows the relationship between an output voltage and the output value of CPU. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the output value of CPU, and the moving speed of a cursor. It is a figure which shows a 1st modification. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification. It is a figure which shows the 3rd modification. It is a figure which shows the 4th modification. It is a figure which shows the 5th modification. It is a figure which shows the 6th modification. It is a figure which shows the 7th modification. It is a figure which shows the 8th modification. It is a figure which shows the 9th modification. It is a figure which shows the 10th modification. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the acceleration measuring apparatus of 2nd Example of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the acceleration detection apparatus in FIG. It is a figure which shows an acceleration detection apparatus. It is a figure which shows the relationship between an acceleration and a stick assembly. It is a figure which shows the relationship between an output voltage and acceleration. It is a figure which shows the usage example of an acceleration measuring device. It is a figure which shows the waveform of the output voltage when a player shakes a limb. It is a figure which shows the conventional pointing device.

Explanation of symbols

1a Key top (disc type)
1b Key top (dome type)
1c Key top (stick type)
2 Cover 3a Compression coil spring 3b Tensile coil spring 3c Unequal pitch coil spring 4 Slider 5 Stick 6 Magnet (permanent magnet)
7 Holder 8 Housing 9 Magnetoelectric transducer 10 PCB (printed circuit board)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Boss 12 Protrusion 15 Operation part 16 Pressurization part 17 Coordinate detection part 21 Remote control 101 Operation rod 102 Support frame 103 Closely wound coil spring 104 Coordinate detection part 105 Light emitting element 106 Light receiving element 107 Printed circuit board 120A Pointing device 121A Pointing device main body assembly 122A, 122M Signal processing circuit 123A, 123M Stick assembly 123Aa Spherical section 126A Bearing section 160 Acceleration measuring apparatus 161 Acceleration detecting apparatus 172 Belt 173 Weight

Claims (3)

An acceleration measuring device that measures acceleration according to a tilt direction and a tilt angle of a moving unit,
The moving part has a weight, has a substantially spherical part at the lower end, and is inclined by a force generated in the weight when acceleration is applied.
Bearing means for supporting the substantially spherical portion of the moving portion so as to rotate;
Restoring means for restoring the moving part inclined by rotating the substantially spherical part inside the bearing means to an upright position;
It is composed of an inclination detecting means for detecting an inclination direction and an inclination angle of the moving part,
The restoring means includes a cover having a cylindrical portion;
An annular flange protruding outward from the substantially spherical portion at the lower end of the moving portion;
A slider which is slidably provided in the cylindrical portion of the cover and whose lower end is supported by the flange;
A spring for biasing the slider downward,
When the moving part is inclined, the slider is pushed up by the inclined flange, the spring is elastically deformed, and when the operation of the moving part is released, the slider is pushed down by the elastic force of the spring, An acceleration measuring device having a configuration in which the operation unit is restored by the slider pressing the inclined flange. The acceleration measuring device according to claim 1 , wherein the slider has a plurality of ribs on a peripheral surface, and the ribs are in line contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.   The acceleration measuring device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting member for attaching the acceleration measuring device to a part of a person.

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