JPH039065Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of application of the invention] This invention relates to an X-Y direction input device, and more specifically, a so-called "mouse" suitable for input devices of personal computers, figure input devices of graphic display devices, etc. "X-
This relates to a Y-direction input device.

[Technical background of the invention] An X-Y direction input device called a mouse consists of a spherical body that rolls in contact with a base such as a desk, and a first spherical body that contacts the spherical body and rotates by its rotational force. A driven roller, a second driven roller which is also in contact with a spherical body and rotates by its rotational force, and whose axis is oriented to be substantially orthogonal to the axis of the first driven roller, and the amount of rotation of each of these driven rollers. and first and second rotation amount detection means for respectively detecting the rotation direction, and each rotation amount detection means detects each component in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction when the spherical body rolls, for example, in a digital format. It is configured to be picked up as a signal and input into a personal computer or the like. However, in conventional devices, the spherical body is always in contact with the base, so the cursor can be moved, for example, along the diagonal of the screen by repeatedly moving the mouse in the same direction on the narrow base. If you want to move the mouse a long distance from one end to the other, you will have to lift the mouse each time to prevent the spherical object from rotating each time you return the mouse, which will make your hands tired. Furthermore, even if the mouse is moved inadvertently due to an external impact while the operator is away from his/her seat, there is a problem in that the movement information will be input.

[Purpose of the invention] This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to selectively base a spherical object on an extremely simple operation without lifting the mouse itself. An object of the present invention is to provide an X-Y direction input device that can be lifted from above and held in a non-rotatable state.

[Examples] Hereinafter, this invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, this X-Y
The direction input device includes a housing 2 that is placed on a base 1 such as a desk and is moved in a predetermined direction along the surface of the base 1.
It is equipped with A spherical body 5 is rotatably disposed within the housing 2 so as to be in contact with the base 1 through an opening 4 formed in the bottom plate 3 of the housing 2. First and second driven rollers 6 and 7 are in contact with this spherical body 5 so as to be rotated by the rotational force thereof. In this case, each driven roller 6, 7
are oriented such that the axes of their rotating shafts 6a, 7a are substantially orthogonal to each other, and first and second electrodes are provided at the ends of each rotating shaft 6a, 7a to detect the amount and direction of rotation. Rotation amount detection means 8 and 9 are provided, respectively. The rotation amount detecting means 8, 9 include, for example, slit disks 8a, 9a fixed to the ends of the respective rotating shafts 6a, 7a, and light emitting elements 8b disposed oppositely across the slit disks 8a, 9a. , 9b and light receiving elements 8c, 9
and an optical detection means including c.

According to this invention, the spherical body 5 is arranged so as to be in contact with the lower hemisphere portion which is the lower side of the virtual horizontal plane including the rotation center of the spherical body 5, and the spherical body 5 is selectively raised to a predetermined height above the base 1. It is provided with a holding roller 10 that lifts it into position and holds it unrotatably. In this embodiment, the holding roller 10 is pivoted at a predetermined position on the bottom plate 3 at one end via a suitable bearing member 11, and from there at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the axes of the respective rotating shafts 6a, 7a. The operating shaft 12 extends to intersect with the operating shaft 12.
The other end of 2 is an operation knob 1 that is slidable in the front-rear direction (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1) on the side of the housing 2.
3 via a connecting means 16 consisting of, for example, a combination of a connecting pin 14 and a slit 15 that fits into the connecting pin 14. Therefore, by sliding the operation knob 13 in the front-back direction, the operation shaft 12 rotates in a fan shape within a predetermined angular range within an imaginary plane parallel to the bottom plate 3, using one end of the operation shaft 12 as a fulcrum. On the bottom plate 3 of the housing 2,
A holding member 16 is provided to hold the operating shaft 12 at a predetermined rotation angle position. This holding member 16
As illustrated in FIG. 3, this has a plurality of V-shaped engagement grooves 17 on the upper surface, and a plate spring 18 that elastically presses and fixes the operating shaft 12 to the engagement grooves 17. We are prepared.

In the above configuration, normally the holding roller 10
is a spherical body 5 as shown in FIG.
is set at a position where it can be held in a state where it can roll on the base 1 as the housing 2 moves. In order to make the spherical body 5 unrotatable in such a state, the operating knob 13 can be moved forward (upward in FIG. 1). That is, when the operation knob 13 is slid forward, the operation shaft 12 rotates clockwise in FIG. 7 is narrowed, and the spherical body 5 becomes the base 1.
It will be held at a predetermined height position above. Therefore, even if the housing 2 is moved without being lifted from the base 1, the spherical body 5 will not rotate accordingly. In this case, since the operation shaft 12 is held in its rotational position by the holding member 16, the spherical body 5 will not fall onto the base 1 even if the finger is released from the operation knob 13. On the other hand, in order to make the spherical body 5 rotatable again, move the operating knob 13 backward (downward in FIG. 1) and move the operating shaft 13.
2 is forcibly rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 against the leaf spring 18 of the holding member 16 to return it to its original position.

FIG. 4 shows a modified embodiment of this invention. That is, the holding roller 10 is inserted through the operating shaft 12 so as to be in contact with the lower hemisphere of the spherical body 5 as in the above embodiment, but in this modification, the operating shaft 12 is attached to the side of the housing 2. The spherical body 5 is connected to an operating knob 13' that is slidable in the vertical direction, and by moving the operating knob 13' up and down, the spherical body 5 can be selectively held at a predetermined height position on the base 1. That's what I do. Further, a holding member 16' for holding the operating shaft 12 is provided on the bottom plate 3 of the housing 2.
6', as illustrated in FIG. A second engagement groove 17b is provided for lifting and holding the spherical body 5 at a predetermined height position through the second engagement groove 17b, and by engaging and holding the operation shaft 12 in either of the grooves, the operation knob 13 ′ so that you can take your finger off.

[Effect] As is clear from the above description of the embodiment, according to this invention, by operating the operating knobs 13 and 13' provided on the housing 2, the spherical body 5 can be selectively made unrotatable. Therefore, when the mouse is repeatedly moved in the same direction on the narrow base 1, there is no need to lift the mouse each time, which is extremely convenient for use. Furthermore, when the operator leaves his/her seat, the spherical body 5 is made unrotatable, so that even if the mouse is moved carelessly due to an external impact, the movement information will not be input.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure of the X-Y direction input device according to this invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are the - line and - line in FIG. 1, respectively.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the holding member shown in FIG. 4. In the figure, 1 is the base, 2 is the housing, 3 is the bottom plate,
4 is an opening, 5 is a round sphere, 6 and 7 are driven rollers,
8 and 9 are rotation amount detection means, 10 is a holding roller, 1
2 is the operating shaft, 13, 13' is the operating knob, 16, 1
6' is a holding member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) It has a housing that is placed on a base such as a desk and can be moved in any direction along the surface of the base, and inside the housing there is a housing that is in contact with the base and that a spherical body that rotates as the housing moves; a first driven roller that is in contact with the spherical body and rotates by the rotational force of the spherical body; and first rotation amount detection means that detects the amount of rotation of the driven roller; a second driven roller that is in contact with the spherical body, rotates by its rotational force, and is oriented such that its axis is substantially orthogonal to the axis of the first driven roller, and detects the amount of rotation of the driven roller; a holding roller disposed so as to be in contact with the spherical body at a position below an imaginary horizontal plane including the center of rotation of the spherical body; an operating means for lifting the spherical body to a predetermined height position on the base via the holding roller and selectively holding the spherical body in a non-rotatable manner in the X-Y direction. Input device. (2) In claim (1) of the utility model registration, the holding roller is arranged so that its axis intersects the axes of the first and second driven rollers at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. An X-Y direction input device. (3) In the utility model registration claim (1) or (2), the driven roller is moved in the horizontal direction via the operating means.
-Y direction input device. (4) In the utility model registration claim (1) or (2), the driven roller is moved in a vertical direction via the operating means.
-Y direction input device. (5) In claims (1), (3), or (4) for utility model registration, the operating means includes an operating shaft that penetrates and supports the holding roller, and an operating knob attached to the end of the operating shaft. X-, which is characterized by consisting of
Y direction input device. (6) In the utility model registration claim (5), the operating means includes a holding member that engages and holds the operating shaft in a predetermined position.
Y direction input device. (7) In claim (6) of the utility model registration, the holding member includes a first engagement groove that holds the operating shaft in the operating position and a second engagement groove that holds the operating shaft in the inoperative position. An X-Y direction input device comprising: