JPH06139011A - Information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an information input device with which even a physically handicapped person can easily input the information by supplying two pieces of binary information simultaneously or independently of each other by breathing out into a mouthpiece and biting the mouthpiece. CONSTITUTION:A 1st force sensor 3 is set at the inner part of a mouthpiece 2 to detect the breathing-out force of an operator, and a 2nd force sensor 4 is set at a position near the opening part of the mouthpiece 2 to detect the biting force of the operator respectively. The sensor 3 is connected to a 1st force detecting circuit 7, and the 1st binary information D1 is produced and supplied when the breathing-out force exceeds its prescribed threshold level. Meanwhile the sensor 4 is connected to a 2nd force detecting circuit 8, and the 2nd binary information D2 is prepared and supplied when the biting force exceeds its prescribed threshold level. At the same time, the output signal of a cursor position setting mechanism 5 bearing the mouthpiece 2 is applied to a position information detecting device 6. Then the position information A is prepared and supplied to move a cursor toward the (x) and (y) axes on a screen.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information input device in various information processing devices, and more particularly to an information input device which allows an operator to input information without using both hands.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, binary information in an information processing device,
A so-called mouse having two click buttons is widely known as an input device of ON-OFF information or selection information (hereinafter, simply referred to as binary information). The operator can move the cursor on the screen in the XY directions by holding the mouse in his hand and moving it on the desk, and by pressing the click button with his finger at a certain cursor position. , Binary information related to the cursor position can be input.

[0003]

However, since the conventional mouse is operated by hand, it is extremely difficult for a physically handicapped person with limbs to operate the mouse, and an alternative input device has been developed. Was requested.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an information input device in which information can be easily input even by an operator who is handicapped.

[0005]

In the information input device according to the present invention, a first force sensor (3) for detecting the strength of the operator's breath into the mouthpiece (2) that the operator should hold in his mouth.
And a second force sensor (4) for detecting the force of biting by the operator, and based on the detection signals of the first and second force sensors (3) and (4), the first and second binary values, respectively. Information is input.

[0006]

When the operator holds the mouthpiece (2) in his mouth and breathes in, the air pressure inside the mouthpiece (2) acts on the first force sensor (3), and the first force sensor (3) Breath strength is detected. In addition, when the mouthpiece (2) is bitten in this state, the mouthpiece (2) is deformed, and the stress resulting from the deformation acts on the second force sensor (4), and the second force sensor (4).
The biting force is detected by (4). Each force sensor (3)
The detection signal of (4) is recognized as a binary input signal when, for example, the signal level exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

The operation of biting the mouthpiece (2) and the operation of blowing air into the mouthpiece (2) can be carried out independently or simultaneously, and the mouthpiece (2) is bitten. If the breath is blown into the mouthpiece (2) as it is, the first and second binary information are simultaneously input.

[0008]

According to the information input device of the present invention, even an operator with limited limbs can hold the mouthpiece (2) in his mouth and blow into the mouthpiece (2). ,
2 by biting the mouthpiece (2)
The two binary information can be input independently or simultaneously and can be replaced with two click buttons of a conventional mouse.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the information input device (1) is connected to the information processing device (15), and the information processing device (15) is provided with position information A regarding the cursor position and two binary information D ₁ and D _2.
Is to be entered.

The information input device (1) comprises a cylindrical mouthpiece (2) to be held in the mouth of the operator as shown in FIG. At the inner part of the mouthpiece (2), a first force sensor (3) for detecting the strength of the breath blown by the operator is provided as shown in FIG. 1, and the opening of the mouthpiece (2) is provided. A second force sensor (4) for detecting the biting force of the operator is provided in the vicinity.

The mouthpiece (2) is pivotally supported on the cursor position setting mechanism (5). With the mouthpiece (2) held in the mouth, the mouthpiece (2) is rotated around the x-axis and the y-axis. By rotating, a signal corresponding to the duration and the rotation direction is output.

The first force sensor (3) is a first force detection circuit (7).
When the strength of the breath blown by the operator exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the first binary information D ₁ representing this is created and output. Also, the second force sensor (4) is connected to the second force detection circuit (8), and when the biting force of the operator exceeds a predetermined threshold value, second binary information D ₂ representing this is created. Is output. On the other hand, the output signal of the cursor position setting mechanism (5) is connected to the position information detection device (6), and position information A for moving the cursor in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction on the screen is created and output. To be done.

First force detection circuit (7), second force detection circuit (8)
The outputs D 1, D ₂ and A of the position information detecting device (6) are passed through the interfaces (9), (10) and (11) respectively, and then the information processing device (15)
Is supplied to the input control device (12). Input controller (12)
Takes in the outputs D ₁ , D ₂ and A of the information input device (1) and sends these information to the data processing circuit (13). The data processing circuit (13) displays the display device (1
4) Move the cursor above and execute data processing corresponding to the operation of two click buttons of the conventional mouse based on the first and second binary information D ₁ and D ₂ at a fixed cursor position. .

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the first force sensor (3) and the second force sensor (4). Where the mouthpiece
(2) is made of synthetic resin, and the second force sensor (4)
Is constructed by attaching a strain gauge to the position where the teeth come into contact with the mouthpiece (2) held in the mouth.

Therefore, when the mouthpiece (2) is held in the mouth and bited, the mouthpiece (2) is elastically deformed, and the force corresponding to the deformation amount is detected by the second force sensor (4). Become.

The first force sensor (3) is a mouthpiece (2).
A piston (18) slidably fitted therein and the piston (1
The mouthpiece (2) is provided with a pair of electrodes (20a) (20b) facing each other in a plurality of stages on the inner peripheral surface of the mouthpiece (2). Meanwhile, the pair of electrodes is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the piston (18) while being formed.
A conductor (19) is formed to short-circuit (20a) and (20b) with each other. A pair of electrodes (20a) (20b) arranged in multiple stages
Are connected in parallel to a first force detection circuit (7) capable of detecting a short circuit between the electrodes.

In the mouthpiece (2), a check valve (17) is provided between the second force sensor (4) and the first force sensor (3).
Is equipped to prevent the backflow of breath that is blown in.

Therefore, when the mouthpiece (2) is held in the mouth and a breath is blown, the check valve (17) opens and the piston (18) is further opened.
Is driven by air pressure and moves to the inner side of the mouthpiece (2) against the coil spring (21). In the process,
The pair of electrodes (20a) (20b) arranged in a plurality of stages are sequentially short-circuited.

The first force detection circuit (7) includes a pair of electrodes (2
This is detected every time a short circuit occurs between 0a) and (20b), and the mouthpiece
The strength of the breath blown into (2) is detected as the amount of movement of the piston (18).

FIG. 4 shows a change in the output of the first force sensor. When the breathing strength is such that normal breathing is performed, the predetermined ON state judgment value does not exceed the predetermined ON state determination value as shown by the broken line.
When breathing with a certain strength, the detection signal exceeds the ON state determination value as shown by the solid line, and the first 2 indicating the ON state is displayed.
A value signal is created.

As described above, according to the information input device of the present invention, it is possible to perform the operation by operating the click button of the conventional mouse.
Since the two binary information is created based on the strength of the air blown into the mouthpiece (2) and the force of biting the mouthpiece (2), the same operation as a conventional mouse can be performed even for an operator with limited limbs. It will be possible.

The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or limiting the scope. The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

For example, the first force sensor (3) is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, but can be constructed using various well-known wind pressure sensors. Further, the second force sensor (4) is not limited to the strain gauge, but may be a well-known sensor such as a piezoelectric element.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a mouthpiece showing a specific configuration of a first force sensor and a second force sensor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the mouthpiece is held in the mouth.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing changes in force sensor output.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (2) Mouthpiece (3) First force sensor (4) Second force sensor (5) Cursor position setting mechanism

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mouthpiece to be held in the mouth by an operator.
In (2), a first force sensor (3) for detecting the strength of the operator's breath and a second force sensor (4) for detecting the force of the operator's bite are provided, and the first and second An information input device characterized in that first and second information are respectively input based on detection signals of the force sensors (3) and (4).