JPH04151719A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify a construction by providing a mechanism which detects both a pressurizing force by fingers and a pressurized position by sensors attached in four directions, and a signal processing means which decides the moving amount in the X and Y directions of a traveling object from the output of the sensor. CONSTITUTION:An operator pressurizes a part on an operating stand 1, equivalent to a direction in which the operator wants to move a cursor, with a force according to the desired decides amount (speed). As the result, the p[operating stand 1 is connected through a spring 3 with a supporting stand 5, so that the operating stand 1 can be sloped in the pressurized direction according to the pressurized force. The slope of the operating stand 1 is detected by dividing the slope into the X and Y directions by a magnet 2, attached to the operating stand 1 and a hole element 4 attached to the supporting stand 5. The detected signal is inputted through a signal converting part 6 to X and Y directional moving amount calculating parts 7 and 8, and the moving amount of the X and Y directions of the cursor is calculated. Therefore, the operator can move cursor by pressurizing the part equivalent to the direction in which the operator wants to move the cursor with the force according to the desired moving amount (speed). Thus, the construction simplifier.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a type of input device for a computer, and is used to specify an object displayed on a display screen,
This relates to a pointing device that moves a cursor.

[Prior Art] FIG. 5 shows, for example, Kunio Ohno: "Latest Trends in Pointing Devices" Bixel (PIXEL) No.

43, p. 76 is a perspective view of the representative pointing device joystick shown in FIG.

In the figure, (9) is the operating rod, and (10) is this operating rod (
9), an X-direction potentiometer whose shaft is connected to (1
1) is a Y-direction potentiometer that is also connected to the operating rod (9).

Next, the operation will be explained.

The operator grasps the operating rod (9) and moves the operating rod (9) in any direction.
) to tilt. The inclination of the operating rod (9) is detected separately in the X and Y force directions by an X direction potentiometer (10) and a Y direction potentiometer (11), and signals corresponding to the amount of movement (velocity) in each of the X and Y force directions are obtained. The detected signal is sent to the computer (13) and moves a cursor on the display (12), which is a moving object.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional joystick is configured as described above, the contact portion slides when the operating rod is moved, so it is prone to failure. Furthermore, since there is friction in the contact portion and the inclination angle of the operating rod corresponds to the speed of the moving object, there are problems such as difficulty in adapting to human senses and poor operability.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and because the mechanism is simple, it can be easily miniaturized, and since there are no sliding parts, it is difficult to break down.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pointing device that can be operated in accordance with human senses, since the speed of the moving body changes depending on the pressing force of the operator's finger.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A pointing device according to the present invention includes a mechanism that detects the strength of pressure applied by a hand or a finger and the position of the applied force using sensors attached in four directions, and a mechanism that detects the strength and position of pressure applied by a hand or finger, and a It is equipped with a signal processing means that determines the moving direction and moving amount of the moving object.

[Action Co. The pointing device in this invention is:

The operator presses the location on the console that corresponds to the direction in which he or she wishes to move the cursor, with a force that corresponds to the amount by which he or she wishes to move the cursor. At this time, the operating table tilts in the direction of the pressed location at an angle proportional to the magnitude of the pressing force. The amount of slope is
The Y force direction is detected separately, and further, the amount of movement in the XY force direction is determined by the signal processing means, and the cursor is moved according to the determined amount.

[Example 1] An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1st
The figure is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

In the figure, (1) is an operating table on which a finger is placed, and is supported via a support table (5) and a spring (3). Control console (
1) Four orthogonal XY force direction magnets (2) are attached to the bottom surface. On the other hand, the Hall element (4) is attached to the support base (5) in the same direction.

The operator applies pressure to a portion of the console (1) corresponding to the direction in which the cursor is to be moved, with a magnitude corresponding to the desired amount of movement (speed). As a result, the operation platform (1) is replaced by the support platform (5).
Since it is connected via a spring (3), it will tilt in the direction of pressure depending on the amount of pressure applied. , is a side view when the operation console (1) is tilted to the left.

The inclination of the console (1) is detected separately in the XY force directions by a magnet (2) attached to the console (1) and a Hall element (4) attached to the support base (5). The detected signal passes through the signal conversion section (6) and enters the X and Y direction movement amount calculation sections (7) and (8), where the amount of movement of the cursor in the X and Y directions is calculated.

If configured as in the above embodiment, the operator can move the cursor by applying pressure to a portion corresponding to the direction in which the cursor is desired to be moved with a magnitude corresponding to the desired movement amount (speed).

Furthermore, although the above embodiment has been described as a pointing device that moves a cursor on the screen, it may be a device that determines the moving direction and moving amount (moving speed) as long as it moves in a plane. It has the same effect as the example.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, this invention includes a mechanism that detects the strength and position of the applied finger pressure using sensors attached in four directions, and detects the amount of movement of a moving object in the XY force direction from the output of the sensor. The structure is simple, easy to downsize, and difficult to break down. Furthermore, since the moving speed of the cursor can be changed by the pressing force of the operator's fingers, operations can be performed that are compatible with human senses.In addition, when the load on the control table is removed by the elasticity of the spring, the control table can be placed horizontally. This has the effect of providing a pointing device that can return to its position and easily stop a moving object.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the operating table (1) when it is tilted to the left by applying force to the left part of the console (1) in FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional pointing device, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a computer system. In the figure, (1) is the operation console, (2) is the magnet, (3) is the spring, (4) is the Hall element, (5) is the support base, (6) is the signal converter, and (7) is the X direction. Movement amount calculation unit, (8) is Y
Directional movement amount calculation unit, (9) is the operating rod, (10) is the X direction potentiometer, (11) is the Y direction potentiometer.
It is. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It consists of a mechanism that detects the position of the applied force of the hand or finger using sensors arranged at regular intervals, and a signal processing means that determines the direction and amount of movement of the moving object from the output of the sensor. Characteristic pointing device.