JPH04333913A - Position input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a position input device, which can be miniaturized and reduced in weight without requiring any wide operation space concerning the position input device to move a cursor to an arbitrary position on a display in an information processor. CONSTITUTION:A spherical rotary body 4 is freely turnably fitted to the inside of a container 3 while protruding a part of it from the container 3, signal transmission part 5 is provided to detect a turning direction and turning amount of the spherical rotary body 4 and to transmit a position signal, a reflection mirror 41 is installed while directing the spherical rotary body 4 toward the inside of the container 3, and this device is composed of plural light source 51 to respectively irradiate the reflection mirror 41 while arranging the signal transmission part 5 on the same straight line, plural photodetectors 52 arranged in a grid shape and installed among the light sources 51, and printed circuit board 53 to mount the light sources 51 and the photodetectors 52.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for moving a cursor on a display to an arbitrary position in an information processing device, and more particularly to a position input device that can be made smaller and lighter and does not require a large space for operation. .

[0002] In recent years, the number of information processing apparatuses that use an interactive input method for selecting and inputting display items on a display has increased, and position input devices such as a mouse are widely used as means for moving a cursor when selecting display items. However, a mouse requires a large space for operation and is not suitable for use in a portable personal computer or the like. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a position input device that is small and lightweight and does not require a large operating space.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a conventional joystick. Joysticks are widely used as position input devices that do not require a large operation space. A conventional joystick is composed of an operating section 1 and a detection section 2, as shown in FIG. The detection unit 2 consists of a penetrating operating lever 13 and a light source 14 attached to the lower end of the operating lever 13, and the detection unit 2 includes a plurality of photodetectors 21 arranged in a grid and a printed circuit board 22 installed at a position facing the light source 14. Consisting of

Light source 1 attached to the lower end of the operating lever 13
4 is applied with a voltage via a flexible cable 15, and when the operating lever 13 is tilted in an arbitrary direction when transmitting a position signal, the light emitted from the light source 14 is transmitted to a plurality of photodetectors 21. The light is incident on the photodetector 21 corresponding to the direction and angle of inclination of the operating lever 13 inside. Then, a position signal corresponding to the amount of movement in the X-axis direction and the amount of movement in the Y-axis direction is output from the detection unit 2.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional joysticks do not require a large operation space and have fewer components, making it possible to reduce their weight.However, since they include an operating lever that passes through a spherical rotating body, miniaturization is limited. However, it is not as easy to operate as a mouse. Moreover, since voltage is applied to the moving light source via a flexible cable, there is a problem in that it takes a lot of time to assemble and replace the light source, and the cable is easily broken.

An object of the present invention is to provide a position input device that can be made smaller and lighter and does not require a large operating space.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the principle of a position input device according to the present invention. The same objects are represented by the same symbols throughout the figures.

[0008] The above problem is solved by a spherical rotating body 4 which is rotatably mounted inside a container 3 and partially protrudes from the container 3, and by detecting the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4 and generating a position signal. A position input device that includes a signal sending unit 5 that sends a signal and moves a cursor on a display to an arbitrary position based on a position signal, and has a reflecting mirror 41 in which a spherical rotating body 4 is installed facing at least the inside of the container 3. A plurality of light sources 51 each having a signal sending unit 5 arranged on the same straight line and irradiating the reflecting mirror 41, and a plurality of photodetectors 52 arranged in a grid and installed between the light sources 51, This is achieved by the position input device of the present invention, which includes a printed circuit board 53 on which a light source 51 and a photodetector 52 are mounted.

[0009]

[Operation] In Fig. 1, the spherical rotating body has at least a reflecting mirror installed toward the inside of the container, and the signal sending section is arranged on the same straight line and has a plurality of light sources each irradiating the reflecting mirror, and a lattice-like structure. The position input device of the present invention consists of a plurality of photodetectors arranged in an array and installed between light sources, and a printed circuit board on which the light sources and photodetectors are mounted. Because it can send out signals, it does not require a large operation space, can be made smaller and lighter, and can be built into a portable computer and operated as easily as a mouse. Moreover, assembly and light source replacement are easy, and there are no cables that can cause disconnection, making it possible to lower the cost of the device. That is, it is possible to realize a position input device that can be made smaller and lighter and does not require a large operation space.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the position input device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the position input device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the position input device of the present invention has a spherical rotating body 4 rotatably mounted inside a container 3.
A support arm 4 that is implanted in the spherical rotating body 4 and extends inside the container 3
A reflecting mirror 41 is fixed to the tip of the mirror 5. In addition, a part of the spherical rotating body 4 is a panel 3 such as a keyboard that constitutes the container 3.
The spherical rotating body 4 protrudes from the upper surface of the rotating body 1 and is configured so that the spherical rotating body 4 can be rotated by movement of a finger, a palm, or the like. Note that the opening 32 of the container 3 and the pin 46 of the spherical rotating body 4
limits the range of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4.

On the other hand, a signal transmitting section 5 that detects the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4 and transmits a position signal is installed between a plurality of light sources 51 arranged on the same straight line. The plurality of light sources 51 and the plurality of photodetectors 52 are both mounted on the same printed circuit board 53. The plurality of photodetectors 52 are arranged in a grid pattern, and the light that enters the reflecting mirror 41 from the light source 51 is configured to be incident on the photodetectors 52 corresponding to the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4. has been done.

[0013] In this way, the spherical rotating body has at least a reflecting mirror installed toward the inside of the container, and the signal sending section is arranged on the same straight line and has a plurality of light sources each irradiating the reflecting mirror, and a plurality of light sources arranged in a grid pattern. The position input device of the present invention consists of a plurality of photodetectors arranged in an array and installed between light sources, and a printed circuit board on which the light sources and photodetectors are mounted. Because it can send out signals, it does not require a large operation space, can be made smaller and lighter, and can be built into a portable computer and operated as easily as a mouse. Moreover, assembly and light source replacement are easy, and there are no cables that can cause disconnection, making it possible to lower the cost of the device. That is, it is possible to realize a position input device that can be made smaller and lighter and does not require a large operation space.

As shown in FIG. 2, one embodiment of the present invention has a spherical rotating body 4 having a reflecting mirror 41 fixed to a cut surface thereof, and a part of the spherical rotating body 4 protrudes from the upper surface of a panel 31. 4 is attached to the panel 31 via a gimbal mechanism. The gimbal mechanism has two axes 3 arranged orthogonally
3 and 34 and an annular support arm 35, the shaft 33 and the shaft 34 respectively fix the spherical rotating body 4 to the support arm 35 and the support arm 35 to a bearing portion 36 of the panel 31.

On the other hand, a signal transmitting section 5 that detects the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4 and transmits a position signal is installed between a plurality of light sources 51 arranged on the same straight line. The plurality of light sources 51 and the plurality of photodetectors 52 are both mounted on the same printed circuit board 53. The plurality of photodetectors 52 are arranged in a grid pattern, and the light that enters the reflecting mirror 41 from the light source 51 is configured to be incident on the photodetectors 52 corresponding to the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4. has been done.

Another embodiment of the present invention has a spherical rotating body 4 having a reflecting plate 42 fixed to a cut surface as shown in FIG. 34 and an annular support arm 35 via a gimbal mechanism. Further, unlike the reflecting mirror 41 which is composed of a single reflector, the reflector 42 has a plurality of reflectors 43 and non-reflectors 44 arranged in a checkered pattern as shown in FIG. 3(b).

On the other hand, a signal transmitting section 5 that detects the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4 and transmits a position signal is installed between a plurality of light sources 51 arranged on the same straight line. The plurality of light sources 51 and the plurality of photodetectors 52 are both mounted on the same printed circuit board 53. The plurality of photodetectors 52 are arranged in a grid pattern, and the light that enters the reflector 43 from the light source 51 is configured to be incident on the photodetectors 52 corresponding to the direction and amount of rotation of the spherical rotating body 4. has been done.

In this way, the panel 3 is
By attaching it to 1, the rotation of the spherical rotating body 4 becomes smooth,
It becomes possible to support the spherical rotating body 4 rotatably only in the vertical direction without rotating it in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, by fixing the reflecting mirror 41 to the cut out portion of the spherical rotating body 4, the support arm 45 is not required, and further miniaturization becomes possible.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a position input device that can be made smaller and lighter and does not require a large operation space.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the principle of a position input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a position input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the position input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a conventional joystick.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 Container
4 Spherical rotating body 5 Signal sending section
31 Panel 32 Opening
33, 34 Axis 35 Support arm 36 Bearing portion 41 Reflector
42 Reflector 43 Reflector
44 Non-reflector 45 Support arm
46 pin 51
light source 5
2 Photodetector 53 Printed circuit board

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A spherical rotating body (4) rotatably mounted inside a container (3) with a portion protruding from the container (3), a rotating direction of the spherical rotating body (4), and Signal sending unit that detects the amount of rotation and sends out a position signal (
5) a position input device for moving a cursor on a display to an arbitrary position based on the position signal, the spherical rotating body (4) being at least connected to the container (3);
The signal transmitting section (5) has a plurality of light sources (51) arranged on the same straight line and each irradiating the reflecting mirror (41), and a grid-like structure. a plurality of photodetectors (52) arranged in a row and installed between the light source (51), and the light source (51) and the photodetector (52).
) is mounted on a printed circuit board (53). 2. Instead of the reflecting mirror (41) according to claim 1, a reflecting plate (42) is installed on the spherical rotating body (4) facing the inside of the container (3), and the reflecting plate (42) Reflector (
43) and a non-reflector (44) arranged in a checkered pattern. 3. The position input device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position input device is mounted on a part of a keyboard, and a part of the spherical rotating body (4) protrudes from the upper surface of a panel (31) of the keyboard. A position input device characterized by: