JPH0686132U - Trackball coordinate information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] Even if a small and light ball is used, or if it is used while being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, the ball is prevented from floating and being displaced. Accordingly, to provide a trackball coordinate information input device capable of improving operability and detection accuracy. [Structure] Upper end peripheral edge portion 22a of accommodating portion 22 of frame 20
And a lower surface of the retainer 15, a resin ball holder 60 in which claws 62 elastically pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the ball 15 are projected at a plurality of positions on the inner peripheral portion is disposed.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a trackball coordinate information input device used as an external input device in a personal computer or the like for easily and sophisticated inputting / instructing operations of information about XY coordinate positions.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, such a trackball coordinate information input device (hereinafter, abbreviated as a trackball) has a ball 3 for inputting coordinate information and this ball 3 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, for example. A frame 2 for accommodating and a ring-shaped retainer 15 detachably attached to the frame 2 to prevent the balls 3 inserted in the frame 2 from falling off are provided. In the frame 2, a pair of drivers 4 and 5 contacting the ball 3 in two directions orthogonal to each other, and the rotation amount of the ball 3 via the drivers 4 and 5 are expressed in X coordinate and Y coordinate, respectively. Two displacement detectors 6 and 7 that detect coordinate information are provided.

The detectors 6 and 7 are connected to a printed wiring board (not shown) having a predetermined conductive pattern housed in the frame 2, and the frame is placed on the printed wiring board. A micro switch for deciding and releasing the coordinate position, which is operated by a push button integrally formed on the upper lid of 2, is mounted.

Further, the ball 3 is accommodated in an accommodating portion 8a which is provided at the center of the frame member 8 made of synthetic resin and has an upwardly opening circular section, and the ball 3 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 8a. In order to rotatably support the lifted state, a plurality of (here, five) support spheres 9 are freely rotatable in a state in which a part of the outer surface is exposed inward from the spherical inner wall surface of the accommodation portion 8a. Held in.

Therefore, the ball 3 does not contact the spherical inner wall surface of the accommodating portion 8a and the retainer 15 but only makes a point contact with the supporting sphere 9, so that the ball 3 can be smoothly rotated with an extremely light operating force.

According to such a trackball 1, the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the ball 3 are detected by the detection units 6 and 7 via the rollers 4 and 5, and the signal from the detection unit is connected to the connection cable or the like. It is input to a personal computer or the like via the, and thus the cursor or the like is moved on the screen of the display connected to the computer. At that time, by pressing the input button on the frame 2, the cursor position at that time is moved. Will be decided or canceled.

By the way, in the trackball coordinate information input device 1, in order to rotatably press the drivers 4 and 5 onto the ball 3, the following measures are taken.

That is, the pair of drivers 4 and 5 are pivotally supported on the upper ends of the bearings 13 and 14 which are erected on the frame member 8 made of synthetic resin, and the lower ends of the swingable ends of the levers 11 and 12 are swingable. It is rotatably suspended on the side by bearings 11a and 12a.

This will be described with respect to one of the drivers 5. As shown in FIG. 10, one end of the above-mentioned lever 12 is fixed near the upper end of the lever 12 and the other end is a frame member. A tension spring 12c fixed to 8 is stretched, whereby the driver 5 attached to the swing end side of the lever 12 is constantly urged toward the ball 3 side.

On one end side of the rotary shaft 5a to which the driver 5 is fixed, a disc-shaped encoder 7a having a large number of radial slits, which constitutes the detection unit 7, is attached. The rotational displacement will be detected as rotational motion of the Y coordinate, for example.

[0011]

The conventional trackball 1 as described above is usually operated by turning the ball 3 with a hand (finger) on a horizontal plane. However, if a small and light ball 3 is used in order to reduce the size and weight of the track ball 1, the drivers 4 and 5 are biased toward the ball 3 side as described above, and the ball 3 Since a gap is formed between 3 and the storage portion 8a and the retainer 15, there is a possibility that the ball 3 floats and is displaced by the pressure applied from the drivers 4 and 5.

When the trackball 1 is used while being inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, for example, in a notebook personal computer, a track is displayed on a liquid crystal display unit that is rotatable with respect to a main body unit provided with a keyboard. Even when the ball is arranged and the ball is operated with the liquid crystal display part standing, the ball may float and be displaced.

If the ball floats and deviates in this way, its operation becomes difficult, and the accuracy of detecting the rotation amount deteriorates.

In view of the above point, the present invention does not cause the ball to float and deviate even if a small and light ball is used and the ball is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trackball coordinate information input device capable of improving operability and detection accuracy.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the coordinate information input device according to the present invention basically comprises a ball for inputting target information, a frame in which an accommodating portion for accommodating the ball is formed, and a frame inside the frame. A ring-shaped retainer that is detachably attached to the frame to prevent the inserted ball from falling off, with the ball exposing a part of its outer surface from the central opening of the retainer to the outside. It is housed in the frame and detects the coordinate information based on the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the ball.

Further, a resin ball holder that elastically presses against the outer peripheral surface of the ball is disposed between the upper peripheral edge of the accommodation portion and the lower surface of the retainer. To do.

As the ball holder, a synthetic resin having elasticity, for example, a polyester-based elastomer can be used. As a structure thereof, a plurality of claws elastically pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the ball are provided on the inner peripheral portion. It is preferable that it is provided at a location.

[0018]

[Action]

 In the trackball coordinate information input device according to the present invention configured as described above, the ball holder elastically presses against the ball so that the ball is always in the optimum position, that is, the retainer and the insertion opening. Since it is held in the center position, even if a small and light ball is used, or if it is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane, the ball does not float and deviate. Therefore, operability and detection accuracy can be improved.

[0019]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a trackball coordinate information input device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view with a substrate removed, and FIG. 3 is a plan view. FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a bottom view, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

The trackball coordinate information input device 10 of the present embodiment shown in the figure basically has a ball 35 for inputting coordinate information and a hemispherical shape that opens upward to accommodate this ball 35. The frame 20 having the accommodating portion 22 is provided, the annular retainer 15 mounted on the outer peripheral edge portion 22b of the upper end of the accommodating portion 22 of the frame 20 to prevent the balls 35 from slipping off, and the accommodating portion 22 for the balls 35. A plurality of supporting spheres 25 rotatably held in a state in which a part of the outer surface of the accommodating portion 22 is exposed inward from the spherical inner wall surface of the accommodating portion 22 so as to be rotatably supported therein; Is arranged on the back surface side of the housing 22 so that a part of the outer surface of the housing 22 faces the inside of the housing 22 and abuts the ball 35 in two directions orthogonal to each other. Facing the encoder 30a and the encoder 30a having a large number of disk-shaped radial slits attached to the rotary shafts 26a and 27a of the pair of drivers 26 and 27. A pair of light emitting portions 30b and a light receiving portion 30c which are arranged, and a detecting portion 30 for detecting the rotation amount of the ball 35. Reference numeral 50 in the figure indicates a printed wiring board having a predetermined conductive pattern.

The trackball 10 with respect to the printed wiring board 50 has the lower projections 51 a and 52 a of the two legs 51 and 52 protruding from the side of the frame 20 and the lower end of the accommodating portion 22. The convex portion 22a provided on the base plate 50 is inserted into the insertion holes 50a, 50b, 50c provided on the substrate 50, and the L-shaped locking piece portion 20a protruding downward on the lower surface of the frame 20 is provided on the substrate. It is fixed by being engaged with a locking hole 50d provided in 50 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

In addition, one end of the rotary shafts 26a and 27a of the drivers 26 and 27 is attached to the frame 20 provided at the upper right and lower left corners when viewed from the bottom surface side of the frame 20 (see FIG. 4). It is loosely inserted and supported in support holes 36 and 37 formed by integrally formed support protrusion 55 and pressing protrusion 56, and the other ends thereof are erected downward near the upper left corner of frame 20, respectively. It is held by a pair of levers 46, 46 mounted rotatably above and below a supported shaft 39, and a single torsion coil spring 40 holds the drivers 26, 27 in place of the balls 35 through the levers 46, 46. It is urged in the direction to press it against.

Here, the pair of levers 46, 46 has the same shape, and the other is inverted with respect to the other and is vertically stacked and is externally inserted onto the support shaft 39 in a state of being opened about 90 °. . The levers 46, 46 are provided with a tubular portion that is loosely inserted in the support shaft 39, an arm portion that extends laterally from the upper half of the tubular portion, and a link that is connected to the tip of the arm portion. And a semi-circular fitting groove 47a, 47b for holding the other end of the rotary shaft 26a, 27a of the driver 26, 27 is formed above and below the outer periphery of the engaging portion. In addition, locking piece portions 48a, 48a for receiving both ends of the torsion coil spring 40 are provided.

The pair of levers 46, 46 and the torsion coil spring 40 are locked by a flanged pin 49 which is press-fitted into the common support shaft 39 from its lower end.

Therefore, the rotary shafts 26a and 27a of the drivers 26 and 27 are made to swing toward and away from the balls 35 with one end as a fulcrum on the support holes 36 and 37 side. At the same time, the other ends of the levers 46, 46 are urged by the action of the torsion coil burner 40 in the direction in which the drivers 26, 27 are brought into pressure contact with the balls 35. The encoder 30a is attached to the swing fulcrum side of 27a.

In the trackball coordinate information input device 10 of the present embodiment having such a configuration, the encoder 30 a is attached to one end side of the rotary shafts 26 a, 27 a of the drivers 26, 27, and the rotary shaft 26a and 27a are adapted to oscillate in a direction toward and away from the ball 35 with one end of the rotary shafts 26a and 27a to which the encoder 30a is attached as a fulcrum, so that the drivers 26 and 27 are eccentrically rotated. Then, even if the rotary shaft makes a pendulum motion, the shake of the encoder 30a is suppressed to a minimum.

Therefore, the positional displacement between the encoder 30a and the light receiving portion 30b and the light emitting portion 30c is less likely to occur, the amount of rotation of the ball 35 is accurately detected, and the reliability of the device can be improved.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, between the upper end peripheral portion 22b of the housing portion 22 of the frame 20 and the lower surface of the retainer 15, a polyester elastomer is used. A ring-shaped ball holder 60 formed of a synthetic resin such as the above is interposed.

In the ball holder 60, as shown in detail in FIG. 8, the comb teeth-shaped claws 62 are arranged at fixed angular intervals so as to elastically press the outer peripheral surface of the ball 35 at three locations on the inner peripheral portion. The protrusions 64 are provided at intervals of 120 °, and the protrusions 64 are provided between the claws 62 so as to be pressed and held by the lower surface of the retainer 15 in the thickness direction.

In the trackball 10 of the present embodiment having such a configuration, the claw 62 of the ball holder 60 elastically presses against the ball 35 so that the ball is always in the optimum position, that is, the retainer and the insertion. Since it is held at the center of the mouth, the ball floats and deviates even if a small and light ball is used, or if it is used by inclining with respect to the horizontal plane. Therefore, operability and detection accuracy can be improved.

As the ball holder, in addition to the above, various structures such as, for example, a structure in which a cushion material or the like is attached to the back surface of the retainer 15 to suppress the behavior of the ball can be adopted.

[0032]

[Effect of device]

 As is clear from the above description, according to the trackball coordinate information input device of the present invention, even if a small and light ball is used, or if it is used by inclining with respect to the horizontal plane, It is possible to avoid a situation in which the float floats and is deviated, and therefore, it is possible to improve the operability and the detection accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a trackball coordinate information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the example.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement state of the ball holder of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an arrangement state of ball holders of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a detailed configuration of the ball holder of the embodiment,
(A) is a plan view and (B) is a vertical sectional view.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of an example of a conventional trackball coordinate information input device.

10 is a sectional view of the conventional example shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Trackball coordinate information input device 15 Retainer 20 Frame 22 Housing part 22a Upper end housing part 25 Supporting sphere 26, 27 Driver 26a, 27a Rotating shaft of driver 30 Detecting part 30a Encoder 30b Light emitting part 30c Light receiving part 35 Ball 36, 37 Support hole 39 Spindle 40 Torsion coil spring 46 Lever 47a, 47b Fitting groove 49 Collared pin 60 Ball holder 62 Claw

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A ball for inputting coordinate information, a frame in which an accommodating portion for accommodating the ball is formed, and a detachably attached to the frame to prevent the ball inserted into the frame from falling off. And a ring-shaped retainer that is housed in the frame with a part of the outer surface of the retainer exposed to the outside from the central opening of the retainer. A trackball coordinate information input device configured to detect coordinate information based on a resin material that elastically presses against the outer peripheral surface of the ball between the upper end peripheral portion of the accommodating portion and the lower surface of the retainer. The trackball coordinate information input device, wherein the ball holder is provided. 2. The trackball coordinate information input device according to claim 1, wherein the ball holder has claws elastically pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the ball at a plurality of locations on the inner peripheral portion.