JPH0736620A - Mouse device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To embody a mouse device which easily moves a cursor for a large extent even under a narrow mouse operation face. CONSTITUTION:A mouse device 1 is provided with movement extent detecting circuits (5 and 6), which generate a movement extent corresponding signal A, and generates an output signal in accordance with this signal A and is provided with an operation face detecting circuit 10 which generates an operation face separation signal C, speed information holding means (21 and 22) which receive this signal C to hold initial speed information, and false signal generating means (23 and 24) which generate a false movement extent corresponding signal B corresponding to this speed information, and an output signal is generated in accordance with not the movement extent corresponding signal A but the false movement extent corresponding signal B while the operation face separation signal C is received. Thus, the mouse device outputs the output signal as if it were continuously moved even when the mouse device is lifted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mouse device,
Specifically, it relates to improvement of a mouse device as a kind of input device such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows the appearance and circuit block diagram of a conventional mouse. When the mouse 1 is moved and operated by the operator on the operation surface of the mouse seat or the like, the ball 3 is rotated accordingly. The rotation state of the ball 3 is detected by the sensor 5, and this is pulsed by the waveform shaping circuit 6. This pulse signal has a frequency corresponding to the moving speed in the X-axis direction. Similarly, the pulse signal detected by the sensor 5a for the rotation state of the ball 3 and pulsed by the waveform shaping circuit 6a is Y
It has a frequency corresponding to the moving speed in the axial direction.

These pulse signals are sent to a computer or the like via the cable 4 as they are as moving amount corresponding signals or after being encoded. Also, when the switch (SW) 2, 2a or the like is pushed by the operator, this is also sent to the computer or the like via the cable 4. In this specification, in addition to the above pulse signals, signals generated based on various speed information corresponding to the movement amount, signals including information such as the movement direction and movement distance, etc. Call it a signal.

[0004]

In such a conventional mouse device, when a mouse operation surface such as a desk top surface or a mouse sheet surface is moved, a movement amount corresponding signal corresponding to the movement amount is generated. , And outputs an output signal corresponding to this to an external device such as a computer. In a computer system or the like to which such a mouse is connected, the mouse is used to move the cursor on the display device to a target position. Specifically, the mouse is moved in the direction in which the cursor should be moved on the operation surface. Then, the computer program moves the display position of the cursor according to the movement amount corresponding signal from the mouse. By adopting this method, the cursor can be moved freely.

However, when the cursor on the display device is largely moved due to the recent increase in the screen size of the display device, the mouse must also be largely moved according to the moving amount of the cursor. Moreover, since not only a large screen but also a high definition is accompanied, it is not enough to simply move the cursor roughly and largely, and it is necessary to precisely move a long distance. Therefore, when moving the cursor to a desired position, the mouse often has to be moved a long distance.

On the other hand, it is difficult to expand the space that can be used as the mouse operation surface because it is difficult to secure the current narrow area. Therefore, in order to move the cursor largely under the narrow mouse operation surface, the following operation method is adopted. The most common operation method is to lift the mouse once to move it to the center of the mouse operation surface, and then resume the movement of the mouse from there.

However, in this method, since the cursor does not move when the mouse is lifted from the mouse operation surface, it is necessary to divide and move the mouse many times to move the cursor largely. Therefore, this method has drawbacks such as a heavy burden on the operator and a large slow movement of the cursor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art, and to realize a mouse device in which the operation of greatly moving the cursor is easy even under a narrow mouse operation surface.

[0008]

The structure of the mouse device of the present invention for achieving this object is such that the moving direction and the moving distance when the mouse operation surface such as the desk top surface or the mouse seat surface is moved. Has a movement amount detection circuit for detecting the movement amount of the signal and generating a movement amount corresponding signal such as a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the movement amount, and an output signal for sending to an external device such as a computer A mouse device that is generated according to a signal, the operation surface detecting circuit that detects that the mouse operation surface is present, and generates an operation surface leaving signal when the mouse device is away from the mouse operation surface, and the movement amount. Receiving a corresponding signal to obtain speed information corresponding to the movement amount, and receiving the operation surface leaving signal, speed information holding means for holding the initial speed information received by this signal, and holding of the speed information holding means And the pseudo signal generating means for generating a simulated moving amount corresponding signal corresponding received to the speed information that,
While the operation surface leaving signal is being received, the output signal is generated according to the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal instead of according to the movement amount corresponding signal. .

[0009]

In the mouse device of the present invention having such a configuration, the function (operation surface detection circuit) for detecting whether or not the mouse is on the mouse operation surface, and the function immediately before the mouse is lifted from the mouse operation surface It has a function to store the speed information of the mouse (speed information holding means), and while the mouse is lifted from the mouse operation surface, an output signal is generated based on the stored speed information of the mouse immediately before being lifted. Yes (pseudo signal generating means, etc.). Specifically, when the mouse is not far from the mouse operation surface, the output signal is generated according to the movement amount corresponding signal, but when the mouse is far from the mouse operation surface, the output signal is not generated from the movement amount corresponding signal. Instead, it is performed according to the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal.

The pseudo movement amount correspondence signal corresponds to the movement speed when the mouse is separated from the mouse operation surface. Therefore, when the mouse is away from the mouse operation surface, the output signal corresponding to the initial moving speed of the mouse is continuously output. Therefore, when the operator lifts the mouse while moving the mouse in the direction desired to move the cursor, the cursor on the display device continues to move even when the mouse is being lifted.

When the mouse is placed on the mouse operation surface when the cursor is near the target position on the display device, the actual movement speed of the mouse is reflected in the movement speed of the cursor, and the movement of the cursor is changed. It becomes slow, and then the cursor can be moved to the target position with a slight movement of the mouse. In this way, since the cursor is continuously moved even when the mouse is lifted, the cursor can be moved quickly and easily regardless of the size of the mouse operation surface. Therefore, even with a narrow mouse operation surface, the operation of moving the cursor greatly can be facilitated.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the mouse device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A shows the external appearance of the mouse 1, and FIG. 1B shows a circuit block diagram thereof. Here, 2 and 2a are switches (SW) that the operator presses with his / her finger, and 3 is a ball that rotates in response to the operator operating the mouse 1 on the seat surface or the like, and 4 is for connecting to a computer or the like. Cable, 5
Is a sensor for detecting the rotation state of the ball 3 in the X-axis direction, 6 is a waveform shaping circuit for pulsing its output,
Reference numeral 5a is a sensor for detecting the rotation state of the ball 3 in the Y-axis direction, and reference numeral 6a is a waveform shaping circuit for pulsing its output.

When the operator moves the mouse 1 on the operation surface of the mouse seat or the like, the ball 3 rotates accordingly. The rotation state of the ball 3 is detected by the sensor 5
And the pulse is converted by the waveform shaping circuit 6. This pulse signal has a frequency corresponding to the moving speed in the X-axis direction and is sent as a moving amount corresponding signal A to the computer or the like via the cable 4. That is, the ball 3, the sensor 5, and the waveform shaping circuit 6 detect the movement amount in the X-axis direction when the movement operation is performed on the mouse operation surface such as the desk top surface or the mouse seat surface, and the movement amount corresponding to this movement amount. It functions as a movement amount detection circuit that generates a corresponding signal. Ball 3 and sensor 5
The a and the waveform shaping circuit 6a also perform the same function in the Y-axis direction.

Further, 10 is a switch (SW) for generating an operation surface separation signal C as an operation surface detection circuit, 11 is an oscillating circuit (OSC) which oscillates at a constant frequency, and 20 holds speed information on the X-axis side. A speed holding pseudo signal generation circuit for generating the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B, and 26 is a selector for switching between the movement amount corresponding signal A and the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B according to the operation surface leaving signal C and outputting either one. . It should be noted that the same speed holding pseudo signal generation circuit 20a and selector 2 are also provided on the Y-axis side.
6a is provided.

The switch 10 is a key-type switch, and is turned on / off depending on whether or not it is pressed against the mouse operation surface. As a result, the mouse operation surface is detected and the operation surface leaving signal C is generated when the mouse operation surface is separated from the mouse operation surface. The operation surface detection circuit can be configured by using a proximity sensor or a reflected light detection method instead of the switch 10. The speed holding pseudo signal generation circuit 20 is a circuit mainly composed of a counter 21 and a latch 22 which function as speed information holding means, and further a coincidence detection circuit 23 and a pulse generation circuit 24 which mainly function as pseudo signal generation means.

The counter 21 receives the oscillation signal from the oscillation circuit 11 as a clock input, and receives the movement amount corresponding signal A as a reset input via the selector 25 when the operation surface departure signal C is not output. As a result, the cycle of the movement amount corresponding signal A is obtained as the count value.
That is, speed information in the X-axis direction is obtained. The latch 22 receives the count value of the counter 21 as a data input, receives the movement amount corresponding signal A as a clock input, and performs a latch operation at the rising timing of this clock. As a result, when the operation surface departure signal C is not output, the speed information obtained by the counter 21 continues to be stored in the latch 22.

When the operation surface leaving signal C is output, the selector 25 is switched, and the counter 21 receives the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B as a reset input. Also, at this time,
Since the mouse 1 is lifted from the operation surface and the rotation of the ball 3 is stopped and the pulse of the movement amount corresponding signal A is not generated, the latch 22 holds the count value latched immediately before, that is, the speed information. If the ball 3 continues to rotate due to inertia, the clock input of the latch 22 may be controlled to be switched. As a result, when the operation surface departure signal C is received, the original speed information that received this signal C is held.

The coincidence detection circuit 23 is a logic circuit mainly composed of a plurality of EOR gates. The coincidence detection circuit 23 receives the count value of the counter 21 and the held value of the latch 22 and compares them. Generate a signal. The pulse generation circuit 24 is a so-called one-shot circuit or the like, and when receiving the coincidence detection signal from the coincidence detection circuit 23,
A pulse having a predetermined width corresponding to the output pulse of the waveform shaping circuit 6 is output. The output of the pulse generation circuit 24 is the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B.

While the operation surface leaving signal C is being output, the counter 21 receives the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B as a reset input, and the latch 22 holds the initial count value. Therefore, when the operation surface departure signal C is output, the count value of the counter 21 is latched by the latch 22.
When the count value held by is reached, the coincidence detection circuit 23 outputs a coincidence detection signal, and in response to this, the pulse generation circuit 24 outputs a pulse of the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B. In response to this, the counter 21 is reset and the above is repeated.

As a result, at least the operation surface departure signal C
While is output, the count value held by the latch 22, that is, the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B having a cycle corresponding to the speed information at the time of departure is continuously generated. The selector 26 is
It switches according to the operation surface departure signal C, selects and outputs the movement amount corresponding signal A when the operation surface departure signal C is not output, and outputs the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal B when the operation surface departure signal C is output. To output. As a result, while receiving the operation surface leaving signal, the output signal to the computer connected by the cable 4 is generated according to the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal instead of according to the movement amount corresponding signal.

The operation of the mouse 1 having such a configuration and the cursor moving operation using the mouse 1 will be described. When the mouse 1 is operated on the operation surface, it is exactly the same as the conventional one. That is, in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, speed information corresponding to the actual moving speed of the mouse is sent to the computer, and the cursor on the display device moves at the speed according to the speed information.

On the other hand, when the mouse is swept on the mouse operation surface in the direction to move the cursor and then lifted, the cursor on the display device continues to slide in that direction. As a result, the cursor moves greatly even if the operator does not frequently operate the mouse.
Then, the mouse can be lowered on the mouse operation surface again and a final fine adjustment can be performed to align the cursor with the target position. Therefore, even if the mouse operation surface is narrow, it is possible to easily move the cursor largely on the high-definition large-screen display device.

As described above, the speed holding pseudo signal generating circuits 20, 2
Although the case where 0a is directly configured by a circuit such as a logic element has been described as an example, these circuits 20 and 20a are also configured by a one-chip microcomputer and a program.
In this case, a signal A or the like may be input by using an interrupt or the like, a counter or a latch may be assigned to the RAM area, and the program may perform counter increment, coincidence detection, pulse generation, etc. (function-related diagram and FIG. 2 in FIG. 2). Three
See the flow chart in). In particular, when it is necessary to perform processing such as encoding of the output signal, it is easier to use the microcomputer and it is advantageous in terms of cost.

[0024]

As can be understood from the above description, the mouse device of the present invention has the movement amount detecting circuit for generating the movement amount corresponding signal, and generates the output signal according to the movement amount corresponding signal. A mouse device for operating, including an operation surface detection circuit for generating an operation surface departure signal, speed information holding means for holding initial speed information when the operation surface departure signal is received, and pseudo movement amount correspondence corresponding to this speed information. And a pseudo signal generating means for generating a signal, and while the operation surface leaving signal is being received, an output signal is generated according to the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal instead of the movement amount corresponding signal. As a result, an output signal as if the mouse is continuously moving is generated while the mouse device is being lifted, and the cursor can be continuously moved in response to the output signal. As a result, there is an effect that the operation of moving the cursor largely even under the narrow mouse operation surface becomes easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view (a) and a circuit block diagram (b) of an embodiment of a mouse device having the configuration of the present invention.
Is.

FIG. 2 is a function related diagram when it is configured using a one-chip microcomputer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a program when it is configured using a one-chip microcomputer.

FIG. 4 is an external view (a) and a circuit block diagram (b) of a conventional mouse.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 mouse 2, 2a switch (SW) 3 ball 4 cable 5, 5a sensor 6, 6a waveform shaping circuit 10 switch (SW) 11 oscillation circuit (OSC) 20, 20a speed holding pseudo signal generation circuit 21 counter 22 latch 23 coincidence detection Circuit 24 Pulse generation circuit 25, 25a, 26, 26a Selector

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A moving amount such as a pulse signal having a frequency corresponding to the moving amount is detected by detecting a moving amount such as a moving direction and a moving distance when the mouse is operated on a mouse operation surface such as a desk top surface or a mouse sheet surface. A mouse device that has a movement amount detection circuit that generates a corresponding signal and that generates an output signal for sending to an external device such as a computer in accordance with the movement amount corresponding signal, and that is on the mouse operation surface. Detection circuit that detects the movement of the mouse and generates an operation surface separation signal when the mouse is separated from the operation surface, and receives the movement amount corresponding signal to obtain speed information corresponding to the movement amount. When a signal is received, a speed information holding means for holding the speed information at the beginning of receiving the signal, and a pseudo signal for receiving the speed information held by the speed information holding means and generating a pseudo movement amount corresponding signal corresponding thereto Signal generation means, the output signal is generated in response to the pseudo movement amount corresponding signal instead of being generated according to the movement amount corresponding signal while receiving the operation surface departure signal. Mouse device characterized by being performed.