JPH0546317A - Coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a device whose operability is satisfactory and which can be integrated into a narrow area by receiving a reflected light in a reflecting body by an irradiation light from a light emitting part with a detecting part, and outputting a position signal in accordance with the moving quantity of the reflecting body. CONSTITUTION:The device is constituted of a light emitting part 4 for radiating light, a reflecting body 8 for reflecting and absorbing an irradiation light from the light emitting part 4 by a planar movement, and detecting parts 3, 5 for receiving a reflected light from the reflecting body 8 and outputting a position signal in accordance with the moving quantity of the reflecting body 8 by the reflected light. Also, the light emitting part 4 and the detecting parts 3, 5 are provided in a free area in which a window part 7 is formed or a key top, of an operating board. Moreover, the coordinate input device 1 is provided with the light emitting part 4 and the detecting parts 3, 5, and the irradiating light from the light emitting part 4 is reflected and absorbed by the reflecting body 8. The reflected light from the reflecting body 8 obtains the signal of two phases from an optical switching signal, and outputs a position signal corresponding to the direction and the moving quantity of the moved reflecting body 8. Also, the device can be provided in an especially narrow free area and the key top of the operating board, as well.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input device for moving a cursor or the like on a display in a word processor, a computer or the like to an arbitrary position.

In recent years, in the field of OA (office automation) such as data processing, word processors and computers, a pointing device of a coordinate input device has been used as an input / output device in addition to a keyboard. On the other hand, word processors, computers, and the like tend to be miniaturized, and there is a demand for pointing devices that are suitable for miniaturization. Therefore, it is necessary to save space and improve operability.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as means for moving a cursor or the like on a display in a computer or the like to an arbitrary position,
There is a pointing device as a coordinate input device. The pointing device includes a mouse, a trackball, a joystick and the like.

For example, a mouse is used as an external input device, and as a mechanical device, an encoder for optical signals provided in each of the XY directions is rotated by a sphere rotated on a flat floor, and two sets are arranged in the vertical direction. Two sets of two-phase incremental signals in the horizontal direction (two sets of signals with different phases)
Is to be output. On the other hand, as an optical type,
The light emitted from the light source is moved on a reflection plate having a lattice pattern, and the state of the reflected light of the light emitted from the light source is received to output position coordinates.

There is also a so-called isopoint as a one-way position input device. This isopoint is a rotary shaft provided with a rotor, and an operator rotates the roller by hand or the like to output the position (movement amount) by counting the rotation. Since such an isopoint is relatively small, it can be incorporated in an empty area of a keyboard, for example.

[0006]

However, in the case of the pointing device connected to the outside such as the mouse as described above, in the case of a mechanical type, the rotation of the encoder is affected by dust and the accuracy deteriorates. There is a problem that a wide operation area must be secured regardless of the optical type.

Further, the isopoint is small and can be installed in the empty area of the keyboard, but there is a problem that it cannot be installed when the empty area of the keyboard is small, as well as it is possible to input the position in only one direction.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a coordinate input device which has good operability and can be incorporated in a narrow area.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned problems are solved by: a light emitting section for irradiating light; a reflector for reflecting and absorbing the irradiation light from the light emitting section by plane movement; And a detection unit that outputs a position signal according to the amount of movement of the reflector by the reflected light, and is solved.
The light emitting unit and the detecting unit are appropriately provided in an empty area where the window is formed or in the key top of the operation board.

[0010]

As described above, the coordinate input device has the light emitting portion and the detecting portion, and the light emitted from the light emitting portion is reflected by the reflector.
Absorb. The reflected light from the reflector is received by the detector as optical switching. The detection unit obtains a two-phase signal from the optical switching signal and detects the direction of the moved reflector,
A position signal corresponding to the amount of movement is output.

For example, the light emitting section and the detecting section are provided in an empty area in which a window is formed or a key top of an operation board such as a keyboard. That is, since the light emitting unit and the detecting unit can be configured by a small device, it is possible to provide the light emitting unit and the detecting unit even in a particularly narrow empty area of the operation board or in the key top.

As a result, the coordinates are input by moving the reflector on the operation board, and the operability is good and the space can be saved.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view of the coordinate input device.
(B) shows the reflection pattern of the reflector.

In FIG. 1A, the coordinate input device 1 is
A control substrate 3 is provided in the frame body 2, and a photoreflector including a light emitting element 4 and a light receiving element 5 which are light emitting portions is provided on the control substrate 3.
The control board 3 and the light receiving element 5 constitute a detection section. The control board 3 is provided with a connector 6 for taking out a signal.

On the other hand, the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5 of the frame body 2
A window 7 in which glass or the like is embedded is formed above the
Light emitted from the light emitting element 4 is emitted through the window portion 7, and light reflected by the reflector 8 is received by the light receiving element 5.

Here, the reflector 8 is, as shown in FIG.
A reflection area 8a whose back surface reflects the irradiation light of the light emitting element 4
The absorption area 8b for absorption has a checkered reflection pattern. Note that the reflection pattern is not limited to the above, and for example, projection-like absorption lines may be formed in a fine grid pattern on the reflecting ground.

Such a coordinate input device 1 has a light emitting element 4
The irradiation light from is emitted to the reflector 8 through the window portion 7 of the frame body 2. Therefore, when the reflector 8 is moved on a plane, the irradiation position on the reflector 8 changes to the reflection area 8a and the absorption area 8b. As a result, the reflected light of the optical switching is received by the light receiving element 5.

The switching signal received by the light receiving element 5 is a two-phase incremental signal by the control board 3 (one phase is two signals different in phase from the other one).
Is generated. The movement direction of the reflector 8 is determined based on the change in the combined signal of these two signals at the same timing, and the movement amount of the reflector 8 is determined based on the count of the received signals to determine the position signal as the connector 6 Is output via. In the control board 3, only two-phase incremental signals are generated and output from the connector 6, and an external controller or the like determines the moving direction and the moving amount of the reflector 8 based on the two-phase incremental signals. May be.

As described above, since the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5 can be constituted by a small device, space saving is achieved, and the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5 are provided in a narrow empty area of the operation board such as a keyboard or in the key top. It can be used as an independent small external unit. Further, for position input, since it is sufficient to move the reflection plate 8 (for example, 5 cm square) above the window 7 in an arbitrary direction, it is not necessary to provide a special operation area and operability can be improved. is there.

Next, FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams showing an application example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the above-mentioned coordinate input device 1 is installed in one key top of a keyboard, and is applied when the keyboard has no free area.

In FIG. 2, a unitized switch panel 12 and a membrane sheet 13 below the unit are provided on a support panel 11 in a keyboard 10.
The membrane sheet 13 and the control board 14 are connected. One key top of the keyboard 10 (eg "J" key)
Within the switch 15, the light emitting element 4 and the light receiving element 5 are provided on the switch panel 12 via the control substrate 3. A window 16 in which a transparent plate or the like is fitted is formed on the key top 15, and a reflector (8) (not shown) moves above the window 16.

In this case, a two-phase incremental signal is input from the control board 3 to the control board 14 via the printed conductor pattern path on the membrane sheet 13. In addition, the normal switch operation of the key top 15 is performed through the switch panel 12 through the membrane sheet 13
Is performed by pressing.

According to this, the coordinate input device can be incorporated in the key top, and it is possible to save space without requiring a special mounting space. Further, by arranging the coordinate input device in a key top (including a space key described later) located in front of the center of the operator in the keyboard key layout, the operability is further improved.

Next, in the application example of FIG. 3, the coordinate input device of the present invention is incorporated in the space key of the keyboard. In FIG. 3, the space key 20 is internally provided with a coordinate input device as shown in FIG. 2, and a similar window portion 21 is provided. Further, a stopper 22 is provided on the space key 20 to fix the space key 20 so as not to descend. And
When the stopper 22 is operating, another key top 2
You may make it switch 3a, 23b to an input switch.

Further, a lid or slit that operates in conjunction with the stopper 22 may be provided in the window 21 inside the space key 20 so that the illumination light does not leak from the window 21.

In this case, the reflector 8 is mounted on the operator's hand 24 such as a plate or a glove on which a reading grating is formed, and is moved on the window 21. That is, the space key 20 has a large internal space and is positioned on the operator's front side in terms of position, which facilitates coordinate input operation.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the light reflected by the reflector caused by the light emitted from the light emitting portion is received by the detector, and the position signal is output according to the amount of movement of the reflector. By providing the light emitting section and the detecting section in the empty area of the operation board or in the key top, it is possible to improve the operability of coordinate input and save space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an application example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an application example of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 coordinate input device 3 control board 4 light emitting element 5 light receiving element 6 connector 7,16,21 window 8 reflector 8a reflection area 8b absorption area 10 keyboard 15 key top 20 space key

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting part (4) for irradiating light, a reflector (8) for reflecting and absorbing light irradiated from the light emitting part (4) by moving in a plane, and a reflection from the reflector (8). A coordinate input device comprising: a detector (3, 5) that receives light and outputs a position signal according to the amount of movement of the reflector (8) by the reflected light. 2. The light emitting unit (4) and the detecting unit (3, 5)
The coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein is provided in an empty area of the operation board (10) in which the windows (16, 21) are formed or in a key top (15).