JPH03265023A - Pen-type computer input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To miniaturize an input device, to detect a fine moving amount and to input graphics and characters with the feeling of a pen by providing a pen- shaped external form, transmitting and detecting the rotating direction or moving amount of a ball at the tip of the pen to a cylindrical object to be rotated around a fixed shaft. CONSTITUTION:A ball 11 is assembled into the tip of a holder 14, supported by cylindrical objects 15-X and 15-Y, which are rotated around fixed shafts 16-X and 16-Y, and rotated in an arbitrary direction. The shafts 16-X and 16-Y are orthogonally provided and the rotating direction of the ball 11 and the rotating direction of the cylindrical objects 15-X and 15-Y to be rotated corresponding to the rotation of the ball are detected by a light emitting element 19, light receiving element 20 and optical fibers 18-A and 18-B while dividing the rotating direction into the two axes of vectors. In such a case, patterns 17-A and 17-B are provided on the respective peripheries of the cylindrical objects 15-X and 15-Y while shifting the phases by a 1/4 pitch, and the moving direction is discriminated by electrically processing the detection signal of the element 20. Thus, the device is miniaturized as a whole, and depicted and inputted by the pen-shaped device as desired.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pen-type computer input device for moving a cursor and inputting figures in a computer system.

2. Description of the Related Art Traditionally, input devices for computers and the like include keyboards, mice, digitizers, light pens, tablet terminals, and the like. Among these, a mouse is a device that relatively moves a cursor displayed on a CRT, and can be moved at high speed and can be operated relatively easily, such as freely drawing figures. There are two main types of mice depending on the method of detecting the amount of movement. One is a mouse that holds a ball inside the mouse and detects the amount of movement by the rotation of the ball when it is moved, and the other is an optical sensor that moves the ball on a board with lines drawn in a grid pattern vertically and horizontally. There is a method that detects the amount of movement.

How to use it varies depending on the software of the computer system, but when inputting a figure using the mouse, if you want to draw a line freely, you can input it to the computer by moving the mouse to move the cursor on the screen in the direction you want to draw. Can input.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventional mice have a problem in that because they move the cursor, they cannot accurately draw detailed expressions. This is because it is difficult to move the mouse itself minutely due to its size and structure, and also because its movements cannot be directly monitored. Therefore, there has been a problem in that it is extremely difficult to input characters and the like.

The present invention is intended to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and aims to provide a device that accurately inputs figures into a computer on a small drawn grid.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention has a pen-shaped outer shape, and has a rotating mechanism at its tip that contacts a ball and rotates freely in any direction, and a rotating mechanism for rotating the ball. 2 that receives and is orthogonal
A cylindrical body that transmits transmission in the direction of the axis and slides on the outer periphery of a fixed shaft, or a rotating body with a shaft, a sliding bearing that supports the shaft of the rotating body, and a cylinder whose circumference is equal to the outer circumference of the cylindrical body or the rotating body. a detection means for detecting the rolling direction and amount of movement of the ball by arranging an optical fiber detector having a function of projecting and receiving light on the pattern;
The rotating direction and amount of movement of the ball at the tip of the pen are input into the computer by using a solid lubricant in the sliding part of the cylindrical body, or by forming a pattern with uneven parts.

Operation The present invention has a pen-shaped outer shape with the above configuration, and detects the rotational direction and movement amount of the ball at the tip of the ball by transmitting it to a cylindrical body rotating around a fixed axis or a rotating body with a shaft. By doing so, the entire structure can be made extremely small, and minute amounts of movement can be detected. Therefore, it is possible to form a pen-shaped tip, and it is possible to input figures and characters into a computer as if using a normal writing instrument. A first example will be described.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing how to use a pen-type computer input device of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a computer 2 connected to a pen-shaped computer input device 1, and a free curve 3 displayed on a screen 4.

Next, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the external appearance of the pen-type computer input device 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a ball 11 is installed at the tip of the pen shaft JO, and by moving the ball 11 while pressing against it, the ball 11 rotates and outputs the direction and distance of the movement. Two switches 12 and 13 for input control are provided on the pen barrel 10, and are positioned so that they can be operated with a fingertip. Next, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the cross-sectional configuration of the tip of the pen-shaped computer input device of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a ball 11 is held by a holder 14, and two cylindrical bodies 1 are disposed perpendicularly to each other.
It is supported by 5-X and 15-Y and rotates in any direction.

The cylindrical bodies 15-X and 15-Y each have a fixed shaft 16-X,
It rotates while sliding using 16-Y as a bearing. Cylindrical body 15
On the outer periphery of -X and 15-Y, there is a pattern 17 consisting of alternating light-reflecting parts and light-absorbing parts so as to equally divide the circumference.
-A and 17-B are provided at both ends of the cylindrical bodies 15-X and 15-Y. 18-A and 18-B are a pair of optical fibers for detecting the amount of movement of the patterns 17-A and 17-B, and the optical fiber pair 18-4 and 18-B are connected to the light emitting element 19. It is composed of an optical fiber that irradiates the light from the patterns 17-A and 17-B to the patterns 17-A and 17-B, and an optical fiber that guides the reflected light from the patterns 17-A and 17-B to the light receiving element 2°. Next, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the cylindrical body portion of the tip portion shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 4, the fixed shaft 16 has a stepped shape in order to hold the cylindrical body 15 in a fixed position and rotate it, and the thrust plate 21
has been established. In the cylindrical body 15, the inner contact portion 22 with the fixed shaft 16 is made of a solid lubricant with a small coefficient of friction, and the outer peripheral portion 23 is made of a material with a large coefficient of friction in order to maintain stable contact with the ball 11.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below.

In FIG. 3, the ball 11 is installed at the tip of the holder 14, and is supported by cylindrical bodies 15-X and 15-Y that rotate with the rotation of fixed shafts 16-X and 16-Y. Rotate in the direction. The fixed shafts 16-X and 16-Y are provided orthogonally to each other, and rotate the ball 11 by dividing the direction of rotation into two axes of vectors. Next, the amount of rotation of the cylindrical bodies 15-X and 15-Y, which rotate in response to the rotation of the ball 11, is determined by the amount of rotation of the cylindrical bodies 15-X and 15-Y that rotate in response to the rotation of the ball 11.
A, Detected by 18-H. Here, pattern 1
7-A and 17-B are cylindrical bodies 15-X.

The phase is shifted by 1/4 pitch on each circumference of 15-Y. Thereby, the signal detected by the light receiving element 20 can be electrically processed to determine the direction of movement. Next, in FIG. 4, the cylindrical body 15 is centered around the fixed shaft 16.
Rotates by transmitting the rotation of the ball 11, and the inner contact portion 22
By using a material with a small coefficient of friction, rotation is transmitted accurately with little loss of rotation. Further, by using a material with a large coefficient of friction with the ball 11 for the outer peripheral portion 23, the rotation of the ball 11 can be accurately transmitted.

With the above configuration, it is possible to construct a pen-shaped computer input device that detects the direction and amount of movement of the ball and has an extremely small overall configuration.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).

5(a) and 5(b) show the structure of the cylindrical body part of the pen-shaped computer input device of the present invention, FIG. 5(a) is a side view of the cylindrical body, and FIG. 5(b) is a side view of the cylindrical body. It is a front view of a cylindrical body part. In FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the cylindrical body 15 rotates around the fixed shaft 16 while sliding. The outer periphery of the cylindrical body 15 has an uneven portion 30-A so as to equally divide the circumference.

30-B is formed.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below.

The cylindrical body 15 on which the uneven portions 30-A and 30-B are formed transmits the rotation of the ball 11 and rotates, similarly to the first embodiment. As explained in the first embodiment, the optical fiber (
(not shown), the direction of rotation and amount of movement of the ball 11 are counted based on the difference in the amount of reflected light due to the unevenness of the uneven parts 30-A and 30B. With the above configuration, since the uneven portion is provided directly on the cylindrical body 15, there is no need to form the pattern shown in the first embodiment, and the rotating body can be easily manufactured by mass production methods such as injection molding. becomes possible.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of the cylindrical body portion of the pen-type computer input device of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the ball 11 is supported by a rotating body 40 and rotates freely. The shafts 41 at both ends of the rotating body 40 are integral with the rotating body 40 and are supported by bearings 43 of the holding section 42 . A light reflecting section 44 and a light absorbing section 45 are provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body 40 .

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below.

First, the method and operation for detecting the direction and amount of rotation are the same as those in the first embodiment, and will therefore be omitted. At both ends of the surface of the rotating body 40, light reflecting parts 44 and light absorbing parts 45 are provided alternately in the circumferential direction. This pattern may be formed of concave and convex portions as in the second embodiment described above. In addition, the rotating body 40
When the material of the bearing 43 is steel, if the material of the bearing 43 is selected from a resin-based material such as polyacetal or a ceramic material such as silicon carbide, which has a small coefficient of friction, it is possible to construct an ultra-small bearing. Become.

With the above configuration, the configuration for detecting the direction and amount of movement of the ball can be made extremely small, and a pen-shaped computer input device built into the tip of the pen shaft can be obtained.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a means for using a sliding part of a cylindrical body as a solid lubricant, a means for forming a pattern with an uneven part, or a means for receiving the rotation of a ball by a rotary body with a shaft, and a means for using a solid lubricant in a sliding part of a cylindrical body. A mechanism for detecting the direction and amount of rotation of the ball, which is equipped with a sliding bearing that supports the shaft and a pattern in which light-reflecting parts are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body so as to equally divide the circumference. It is possible to obtain an easy-to-operate computer input device that can be constructed extremely small and can input drawings in a pen-like manner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 show a pen-shaped converter input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram when connected to a computer showing how to use it, and FIG. Configuration diagram showing the external appearance of the conbeater input device, No. 3
The figure is a configuration diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the tip of a pen-shaped computer input device, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical body at the tip of a pen-shaped computer input device, and FIG. 5 (a), (?)) 5 shows the configuration of a cylindrical body portion of a pen-shaped conbeater input device in a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5(a) is a side view of the cylindrical body, FIG. 5(b) is a front view of the cylindrical body, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a cylindrical body portion of a pen-type computer input device in a third embodiment of the present invention. 11...Ball, 14...Holding body, 15-X, 1
5-Y... Cylindrical body, 16-X, 16-Y... Fixed axis, 17-A, 17-B... Pattern, 18-A,
18-B・Optical fiber, 19... Light emitting element, 20...
·Light receiving element.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A pen-shaped shaft, a rotation mechanism that allows a ball to contact the tip of the shaft and freely rotate in any direction, and a fixed shaft that receives the rotation of the ball and transmits it in two perpendicular axes. a cylindrical body or a rotating body with a shaft that slides on the outer periphery of the body; a sliding bearing that supports the shaft of the rotating body; and a light reflecting device that equally divides the circumference on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body or the rotating body. A pen-shaped device comprising: a pattern in which a portion is formed; and a detection means for detecting the rolling direction and amount of movement of the ball, which comprises an optical fiber detector having a function of projecting and receiving light on the pattern. computer input device. (2) A pen-shaped computer input device according to claim 1, characterized in that a solid lubricant is used in a sliding portion of the cylindrical body with respect to the fixed shaft. (3) A pen-shaped computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the pattern provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body or the rotating body is formed by forming an uneven portion directly on the surface of the cylindrical body or the rotating body. .