JPH0435950Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an X-Y direction input device, and relates to an X-Y direction input device suitable for, for example, a figure input device of a graphic display device.

[Conventional technology]

A graphic display device basically consists of a display screen, a display controller, a data channel, and various input devices.

Various forms of this input device have been known, but one of them is a device that detects the direction and amount of movement by moving the casing in an arbitrary direction on the base. mouse"
An X-Y direction input device called (trade name) has been developed.

Such an X-Y direction input device includes a rotated sphere (hereinafter referred to as a sphere) made of, for example, a steel ball, which is arranged to be rotatable, and a first sphere that is in contact with the sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the sphere. a driven roller, a second driven roller that is in contact with the sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the sphere, and whose axial direction is substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the first driven roller; and the first and second driven rollers.
first and second rotation amount detection means each consisting of a rotary electric component such as a variable resistor or an encoder that individually detects the amount of rotation of each of the driven rollers; 1
and a casing that houses the second rotation amount detection means and the like.

An opening is provided in the lower surface of the casing, and a part of the sphere protrudes downward through the opening, and by holding the casing and rolling the sphere in any direction on a predetermined base, the first and second spheres can be moved. The two driven rollers each rotate in a predetermined direction. The rotation direction and rotation amount of these driven rollers are
The second rotation amount detection means extracts each component in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction as a voltage or digital signal, and these signals are input to a display device.

In addition, as another type of input device, a "track ball" is used that detects the direction and amount of movement of a casing placed on a desk or the like and rotating a sphere protruding from the top surface of the casing with a finger or the like. An X-Y direction input device called "X-Y direction input device" has been developed.

The spherical body detection means in this XY direction input device is basically the same as that of the mouse, and the spherical body,
It is constituted by first and second driven rollers, first and second rotation amount detection means, and a casing that accommodates them.

Both the mouse and the trackball are used for moving a cursor on a display and drawing, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In other words, since the mouse is used by grasping it with the hand and moving it on the base, it can be used in the same way as a writing instrument such as a pencil, and therefore has the advantage of being suitable for drawing. There are disadvantages such as the need for space on a plane and the fact that the mouse may protrude from the base when attempting to move the cursor on the display over a wide range. On the other hand, the trackball does not require the device to be moved, so it only requires a small space for installation and use, and it has the advantage of allowing minute movements of the cursor, but the ball can be directly rotated with a finger, etc. The disadvantage is that it is unsuitable for drawing because it has to be drawn.

In this way, with the mouse and trackball,
The former has a structural difference in that the casing is moved on the base to roll the sphere exposed from the bottom of the casing, while the latter uses a finger or the like to rotate the sphere that protrudes from the top of the casing. Therefore, if an operator uses a mouse-type input device and a trackball-type input device, two types of input devices must be prepared in advance, which increases the cost of the entire graphic display device and increases the cost of use. The connection between each input device and the display device must be switched depending on the purpose, which has disadvantages such as poor usability.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

Therefore, in recent years, a single input device has been proposed that has both mouse-type and trackball-type functions to solve the above-mentioned problems. This is an input device that has openings in the top and bottom of the casing, and a sphere housed in the casing so that it is always exposed through these openings. The exposed sphere can be rolled on the base, and when used as a trackball type, the sphere protruding from the top surface of the casing can be rotated with a finger or the like.

However, in such conventionally proposed input devices, it is necessary to always expose a part of the sphere through the openings on both the upper and lower surfaces of the casing, which increases the diameter of the sphere, which means that the thickness of the input device increases. becomes large, and when used as a trackball type, if the sphere protruding from the bottom of the casing comes into contact with a desk, etc., it will impede the rotation of the sphere. A new problem arises in that the device needs to be mounted, which makes it cumbersome to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an X-Y direction input device that can have both mouse type and track ball type functions, can be made thinner, and has good operability.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a rotatable sphere arranged so as to be freely rotatable, and a first rotating sphere that is in contact with the rotated sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the rotated sphere.
a second driven roller that is in contact with the rotated sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the rotated sphere and whose axial direction is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the first driven roller; A first rotation amount detection means for detecting the rotation amount of the driven roller, a second rotation amount detection means for detecting the rotation amount of the second driven roller, and a first rotation amount detection means for detecting the rotation amount of the second driven roller; frictional force applying means for elastically biasing the second driven roller to apply a frictional force between the rotated sphere and the first and second driven rollers;
An X-Y direction input device comprising a driven roller, a first and second rotation amount detecting means, and a casing that accommodates a frictional force applying means, wherein an upper opening and a lower opening are opposed to each other on an upper surface and a lower surface of the casing. The rotated sphere is disposed between these openings so as to be movable up and down, and an operating member for forcibly moves the rotated sphere in the lowered position to the raised position, and an operating member for forcibly moving the rotated sphere in the raised position. A locking means for holding the casing in position is provided, and the operating member is provided with an operating portion exposed on the lower surface of the casing.

[Effect]

That is, according to the above means, when used as a mouse type, by moving the rotated sphere to the lowered position and exposing a part of it through the lower opening of the casing, the input device can be grasped and the rotated sphere can be moved. It can be rolled on a bale, and when used as a track ball type, by operating the operating part exposed on the bottom surface of the casing from the outside, the rotating ball can be forcibly moved to the raised position by the operating member. At the same time, by holding the rotated sphere in the raised position at three points, such as a rolling contact roller and both driven rollers whose outward movement is regulated, the input device can be placed on a desk or the like with a fingertip. The rotating sphere can be rotated with etc.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of an X-Y direction input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a sectional view when used as a mouse type, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view when used as a track ball type.

In these figures, 1 is a casing forming the outer shell of the device, and an upper opening 2 and a lower opening 3 are perforated on both upper and lower surfaces of the casing 1, and the diameters of these openings 2, 3 are is set smaller than the diameter of the rotated sphere, which will be described later. Reference numeral 4 denotes an operating member having a tapered portion 4a at the tip and an operating protrusion 4b at the lower surface of the rear end, and the operating member 4 is attached to the casing 1
It is slidable in the left-right direction in the figure along a long hole 5 bored in the lower surface. Reference numeral 6 denotes a locking member provided on the side surface of the casing 1, and when the locking member 6 is pushed into the casing 1 from the state shown in FIG.
The actuator 6a is locked in the pressed position shown in FIG. 2, and when pushed further from the state shown in FIG. 2, it returns to the state shown in FIG. 1, which is a so-called push-lock mechanism. 7 is a sphere to be rotated, and the circumferential surface of the sphere to be rotated 7 has first and second spheres.
The driven rollers 8 and 9 (only one is shown in the figure) and the rolling contact roller 10 are in contact with each other in a predetermined positional relationship. Of these rollers, both driven rollers 8 and 9 are supported within the casing 1 via bearings (not shown), and the rolling roller 10 has one end attached to the free end of a leaf spring 11 fixed to the casing 1. It is pivoted. Then, the tip of the actuator 6a of the locking member 6 mentioned above is connected to this leaf spring 1.
It faces the free end of 1.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, the case of using it as a mouse type will be explained. In this case, the operating protrusion 4b of the operating member 4 is moved back to the rear end of the elongated hole 5, and
By setting the locking member 6 in the non-pushing state, the rotating ball 7 is used in the lowered position. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of operation at this time. As shown in the figure, the elastic force from the leaf spring 11 is applied to the circumferential surface of each of the first driven roller 8 and the second driven roller 9. The rotated sphere 7 is pressed against the rotating contact roller 10 which receives the generated force. The axial directions of the first driven roller 8 and the second driven roller 9 are perpendicular to each other,
These contact the rotated sphere 7 from directions perpendicular to each other. In the state in which the rotated sphere 7 is lowered, the rolling contact roller 10 is placed on the straight line connecting the point Q where the axes of the first and second driven rollers 8 and 9 intersect and the center O of the rotated sphere 7, that is, the rotated sphere 7. The leaf spring 1 is arranged in a plane passing through the maximum diameter part of the sphere 7.
1, the rotated sphere 7 is pressed against the first and second driven rollers 8 and 9 with equal force. Furthermore, these first and second driven rollers 8,
First and second encoders 12 and 13 are connected to one end of the encoder 9 using these as rotation axes. These first and second encoders 12 and 13 detect the amount of rotation of the first and second driven rollers 8 and 9, and convert the amount of rotation of the rotated sphere 7 into components in the X direction and the Y direction. By separately detecting the rotation state of the rotated sphere 7, it is possible to know the rotation state of the rotated sphere 7.

Therefore, when the operator holds the input device with one hand and moves it on a base such as a desk, the rotated sphere 7 protruding from the lower opening 3 of the casing rotates in a predetermined direction in conjunction with the rotation. Accordingly, the amount of rotation of the rotated sphere 7, that is, the amount of movement of the input device can be detected separately into components in the X direction and the Y direction.

Next, the case where the above-mentioned X-Y direction input device is used as a track ball type will be explained. is advanced along the elongated hole 5. Then,
The tapered portion 4a of the operating member 4 comes into contact with the rotated sphere 7, and its vertical component causes the rotated sphere 7 to move upward from the upper opening 2 direction, that is, from the state shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the locking member 6 is pressed to push-lock the actuator 6a at the forward position, the free end of the leaf spring 11 is pressed by the actuator 6a, and when the input device is returned to its original state in this state, the input device returns to its original state. As shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the rotated sphere 7 protrudes from the upper opening 2.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operating principle at this time,
In this case, the rotated sphere 7 is rotated by the rolling contact roller 10 whose outward movement is restricted by the lock member 6 and both driven rollers 8 and 9, so that the surface passing through the maximum diameter part of the rotated sphere 7 is The lower part is supported at three points.

Therefore, when the input device is placed on a desk or the like in such a state and the operator rotates the rotated sphere 7 protruding from the upper opening 2 of the casing 1 with a finger or the like, the driven rollers 8, 9 and the like rotate in conjunction with the rotation. The encoders 12, 13, etc. can detect the amount of rotation of the rotated sphere 7 by dividing it into X-direction and Y-direction components. At this time, since the rotated sphere 7 is kept separated from the lower surface of the casing 1, it can be smoothly rotated without coming into contact with a desk or the like on which the input device is placed.

In one embodiment configured in this way, the rotated sphere 7 can be held in two positions, upper and lower, by operating the operating member 4 and the locking member 6 attached to the casing 1, so special treatment is not required. The XY direction input device can have both trackball type and mouse type functions without using any tools, and the diameter of the rotated sphere 7 can be made as small as possible.

In the above embodiment, the locking means is constructed by the locking member 6 with a push locking mechanism and the leaf spring 11 deformed by the locking member 6. Any device may be used as long as it can selectively lock the elastic force applied to the rotated sphere 7. For example, a rolling contact roller may be supported on a support member that is elastically biased in the direction of the rotated sphere, and when the rotated sphere rises, the It is also possible to configure the support member to be locked against movement.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is not only possible to operate the rotated sphere protruding from the upper opening of the casing while the input device is placed directly on a desk, etc., but also to operate the rotating sphere protruding from the upper opening of the casing while grasping the input device. The rotated sphere exposed from the lower opening can be rolled on the base, allowing one X-Y direction input device to have both trackball type and mouse type functions, and improving operability. can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

All the figures relate to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 1 is
- A cross-sectional view when the Y-direction input device is used as a mouse type, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view when the X-Y direction input device is used as a trackball type, and Figures 3 and 4 are the rotation detection section. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Casing, 2... Upper opening, 3... Lower opening, 4... Operation member, 4a... Taper part, 4
b... Operating protrusion (operating part), 5... Long hole, 6...
Lock member, 6a...actuator, 7...rotated sphere, 8...first driven roller, 9...second
driven roller, 10... contact roller, 11... leaf spring, 12... first encoder, 13... second
encoder.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A first driven roller that is in contact with the rotated sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the rotated sphere, and a first driven roller that is in contact with the rotated sphere and rotates by the rotational force of the rotated sphere. a second driven roller whose axial direction is substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the first driven roller; first rotation amount detection means for detecting the amount of rotation of the first driven roller; a second rotation amount detection means for detecting the amount of rotation of the second driven roller; a casing that houses the rotated sphere, the first and second driven rollers, the first and second rotation amount detection means, and the friction force applying means. In the X-Y direction input device equipped with,
An upper opening and a lower opening are provided opposite to each other on the upper and lower surfaces of the casing, and the rotated sphere is arranged between these openings so as to be movable up and down, and the rotated sphere from a lowered position is forcibly moved to a raised position. An X-Y direction characterized in that an operating member for shifting and a locking means for holding the rotated sphere at the raised position are provided, and the operating member is provided with an operating portion exposed on the lower surface of the casing. input device.