JPH0784720A - Position instructing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a position instructing device in which operability can be satisfactory, and a space for operation can be reduced. CONSTITUTION:A ball 3 is provided at the upper end of a bar-shaped main body frame 1 so that it can be freely rotatable and one part of the surface can be exposed from the main body frame 1. The center of the exposed surface is defined as a fixed point P, and each orthogonally crossing great circle 3X and 3Y is set. Each moving amount converter 4X and 4Y converts the moving amount of the ball 1 along each great circle 3X and 3Y into pulse signals in a corresponding number, and outputs them. An angle of rotation at the time of rotating the ball 3 to a certain direction by pushing the fixed point P with a thumb is converted into a signal in a form resolved into the moving amount along each great circle circumference by each moving amount converter, and outputted, and a cursor is moved and positioned on a CRT screen. The on/off of a signal is changed by a switch 5, and the conversion ratio of the signal for the moving amount of the ball 1 is changed by a conversion ratio varying device 6, so that the moving speed of the cursor can be changed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a device mainly for instructing the position of a cursor on a CRT display screen, which has particularly good operability, requires a small operation space, and can be operated. The present invention relates to a position command device in which a space for use can be arbitrarily selected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A mouse has been generally used as a coordinate input device for moving and positioning a cursor on a CRT display screen. The mouse moves while a plane or a base plane close to the plane is used as an operation plane while being pushed by the operator's hand. At that time, the mouse outputs a signal corresponding to the movement direction and the movement distance as coordinate input in each of the X and Y axis directions for instructing the cursor position.

A conventional example will be described with reference to the sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 3, 11 is a ball,
Guided by the case 10 so that it can rotate in all directions,
The base surface represented by the chain double-dashed line is used as a desk surface, and is rolled on the base surface while being pushed by the operator through the case 10. 12X and 12Y are movement sensors as pulse generators in the X and Y axis directions, respectively, which are provided close to the ball 11 and are orthogonal to each other set on the base surface on which the ball 11 rolls. A pulse signal indicated by an arrow having a frequency corresponding to the moving speed in each of the X and Y axis directions, for example, the X axis is the horizontal direction on the paper surface and the Y axis is the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is output.

This pulse signal moves the cursor at a moving speed in each of the X and Y axis directions according to the frequency and by a moving distance according to the number of pulses. More specifically, this pulse signal is composed of two pulse waveforms of A phase and B phase, and the A phase leads the B phase by 90 degrees in accordance with the rotation direction of the ball 11, that is, the moving direction of the mouse.
Or, conversely, there is a delay, and a pulse signal in each direction is discriminated and detected by a rotation direction discriminating circuit (not shown) and output. The switch 9 located on the slightly upper left side of the case 10 is a process command switch that is turned on / off by an operator according to the cursor position.

[0005]

The conventional mouse has the following problems. While pressing the mouse on the desk surface as the base surface, it moves by the amount of movement according to the direction and distance to the command position, so the overall movement is slightly inferior in operability and a certain operating space is required. You will need it. In addition, it is a little inconvenient to use because the required operation space is limited.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above problems of the prior art, to have good operability, to have a small operation space, and to select a space location arbitrarily. To provide.

[0007]

A position command device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a graspable rod-shaped main body frame; one end portion of the main body frame that is freely rotatable around a center and has a surface. A sphere provided so that a part of it is exposed;
When this sphere rotates, the amount of movement along the circumference of each of the two great circles, which are set to intersect at a fixed position on the exposed surface, is converted into a pulse signal of a corresponding number and output. A movement amount converter provided on the body frame; and a switch provided on the body frame for simultaneously turning on / off the pulse signals of the movement amount converters.

In the position command device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the main body frame has the pedestal portion for standing upright at the other end portion. A position command device according to a third aspect is the device according to the first or second aspect, further including a conversion ratio variable device capable of changing a common conversion ratio of the pulse signal number of the movement amount converter with respect to each movement amount.

[0009]

In the position command device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the main body frame is grasped by an operator's hand, and the sphere is pushed and rotated by a finger at a fixed position on the exposed surface. A pulse signal is output from each movement amount converter in a number corresponding to the movement amount along the circumference of each set great circle due to this rotation. The respective pulse signals command the target position, for example, the position of the cursor on the CRT display screen in Cartesian coordinates. Moreover, each pulse signal can be turned on / off at the same time by a switch.

Particularly, in the position command device according to claim 2,
The body frame can be placed upright on the desk surface by the pedestal portion. Particularly, in the position command device according to claim 3, since the conversion ratio variable device can change the common conversion ratio of the number of pulses of the movement amount converter pulse signal to the movement amount along the circumference of each set great circle, The target of the position command, for example, the moving speed of the cursor can be changed.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the position command device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the embodiment. In the figure, the main body frame 1 has a rod-like, so-called grip structure that is convenient for grasping, and has a configuration in which a disk-shaped pedestal portion 2 is integrally formed at the lower end portion and can stand upright. A ball 3 is rotatably supported on the upper end portion of the main body frame 1 so as to be freely rotatable around the center thereof, and a part of the surface of the ball 3 is exposed obliquely upward and forward from the main body frame 1. A fixed point P is formed substantially at the center of the exposed surface, and the great circles 3X, 3 orthogonal to each other at the fixed point P.
Set Y and. The plane of the great circle 3X is a slope that goes down from the near side, and the plane of the great circle 3Y is vertical. Fixed point P
Then, the tangent line tangent to each of the great circles 3X and 3Y is defined as the X axis and the Y axis. The movement amount converters 4X and 4Y as increment type encoders, which convert the movement amount of the ball 1 along the great circles 3X and 3Y into pulse signals of the number corresponding thereto and output the pulse signals, are converted into the great circles 3X. , 3Y is provided on the side of the main body frame 1 so as to be close to the circumference thereof.

With respect to the movement amount converters 4X and 4Y, a switch 5 is provided on the side surface of the body frame 1 around the lower side of the ball 3, and a conversion ratio variable device 6 is provided on the upper peripheral portion of the pedestal portion 2. It is provided. The switch 5 is for each movement amount converter 4
Turn on and off the X and 4Y pulse signals at the same time. The conversion ratio variable device 6 is basically a slide operation type frequency converter, and has a common pulse signal number of the movement amount converters 4X and 4Y with respect to the movement amount of the ball 1 along the great circles 3X and 3Y. Change the conversion ratio. That is, the conversion ratio variable device 6
The position command target, for example, the moving speed of the cursor can be changed, and it is possible to select whether to direct the position accuracy or the quickness of positioning.

Now, when the ball 3 is rotated in a certain direction by pushing the fixed point P with the thumb, the amount of rotation is determined by the movement amount converters 4X and 4Y along the circumference of the great circles 3X and 3Y. It is detected in the form of being separated into different moving amounts, converted into pulse signals of the number corresponding to each moving amount, and output. Therefore, the X axis and the Y axis in FIG. 1 are regarded as the X axis and the Y axis of the CRT display screen, and the fixed point P of the ball 3 is pushed by the thumb according to the direction to move the cursor and the moving amount. To rotate. Then, as described above, the pulse signals as the position command are output from the movement amount converters 4X and 4Y as the respective components in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. In this way, the position can be commanded only by grasping the main body frame 1 and rotating the ball 3 by pushing the ball 3 with the thumb in the direction and the rotation angle according to the commanded position, so that the operability is very good and the operation is easy. Space for
Or you don't have to. Further, when grasping the body frame 1, the switch 5 can be operated with a finger different from the thumb, for example, the index finger. The conversion ratio variable device 6 does not need to be changed so frequently, so that it is not necessary to arrange the conversion ratio variable device 6 in consideration of simultaneous operation with a finger, and the conversion ratio variable device 6 is provided on the peripheral portion of the upper surface of the base 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the embodiment. In the figure, the ball 3 is viewed from the front of the fixed point P, and each great circle 3X, 3Y is shown in the form of the X axis and the Y axis with the fixed point P as the origin. The movement amount converters 4X and 4Y are provided so as to closely face the great circles 3X and 3Y, respectively.
The amount of movement along the circumference of each great circle due to the rotation of is detected, and the number of pulse signals corresponding thereto is output. The number of each pulse signal is changed by the conversion ratio variable device 6 as needed, and after being turned on / off by the switch 5,
It is sent out for cursor movement of a CRT display (not shown) via the output terminals 7X and 7Y.

By the way, in FIG. 1, the main body frame 1
The pedestal portion 2 is integrally formed at the lower end of the main body frame 1. By doing so, the main body frame 1 can be made to stand upright on the desk surface, which is convenient even if grasped by hand. However, the pedestal portion 2 may be omitted. That is, the body frame 1 may be operated by grasping it by hand, rather than by standing upright on the desk surface. At that time, there is no restriction on the operation place, and improvement of operability is supported. In addition, the application target of the embodiment is CR
Although described as a cursor on the T display screen, the application target may be a moving operation of the hand of the robot in a two-dimensional work area, or a moving body such as a carrier on a plane. It has a wide range of applications and is highly useful.

[0016]

In the position command device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the main body frame is grasped by the operator's hand, and the sphere is rotated by being pressed by a finger at a fixed position on the exposed surface. . A pulse signal is output from each movement amount converter in a number corresponding to the movement amount along the circumference of each set great circle due to this rotation. The respective pulse signals command the target position, for example, the position of the cursor on the CRT display screen in Cartesian coordinates. Moreover, each pulse signal can be turned on / off at the same time by a switch. Therefore, (1) Position command can be performed simply by grasping the main body frame and rotating the sphere by pushing and rotating the sphere with the finger in the direction and rotation angle according to the command position. The space for use is small or does not need to be used. (2) Since the mounting location of the main body frame can be arbitrarily selected,
It is possible to select a convenient location for operation, which helps improve operability.

Particularly, in the position command device according to claim 2,
Since the main body frame can be placed upright on the desk surface by the pedestal portion, it is easy for the operator to grasp, and eventually good operability is supported. Particularly, in the position command device according to claim 3, since the conversion ratio variable device can change the common conversion ratio of the number of pulses of the movement amount converter pulse signal to the movement amount along the circumference of each set great circle, The target of the position command, for example, the moving speed of the cursor can be changed. Therefore, depending on the object of the position command and the purpose thereof, it is convenient to select whether to direct the position accuracy or the quickness of positioning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 body frame 2 pedestal part 3 ball 3X, 3Y great circle 4X, 4Y moving amount converter 5 switch 6 conversion ratio variable device 7X, 7Y output terminal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A graspable rod-shaped main body frame; and a sphere provided at one end of the main body frame so as to be freely rotatable around a center and with a part of its surface exposed. When this sphere rotates, the amount of movement along the circumference of each of the two great circles set to intersect at a fixed position on the exposed surface is converted into pulse signals of a corresponding number and output. A movement amount converter provided on the main body frame; turning on / off the pulse signals of each movement amount converter at the same time,
A position command device comprising: a switch provided on the body frame. 2. The position commanding device according to claim 1, wherein the main body frame is provided with an upright pedestal at the other end. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
A position command device comprising a conversion ratio variable device capable of changing a common conversion ratio of the number of pulse signals of the movement converter with respect to each movement amount.