JPH08161112A - Malfunction preventing cover for track ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a track ball malfunction preventing cover capable of surely operating a track ball only in an objective direction without rotating it in an improvident direction at the time of fine adjustment. CONSTITUTION: The malfunction preventing cover 7 for a spherical track ball 5 supported rotatably by a control part 1 in a three-dimensional direction and expose its approximately half spherical part from the control part 1 is provided with a cover part 9 for covering the exposed approximately half spherical part of the track ball 5 with a prescribed gap, a fixing part 13 arranged on the peripheral edge of the cover part 9 so as to be attachably/detachably fitted to/from the control part 1, and grooves formed on the cover part 9 in the operating direction of the ball 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a malfunction prevention cover for a trackball which is used as a spherical operation means for image level adjustment or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a telecine for converting a film image into a television image, a spherical shape as shown in FIG. 3 is used as an operation means for adjusting the image level of each channel of R, G and B. An operating means provided with a trackball 5 is used. Such operating means,
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, each trackball 5 for black level correction, gamma level correction, and white level correction is provided in the control unit 1. A substantially hemispherical portion of each trackball 5 is exposed from the upper plate of the control 1 and is rotatably supported in the three-dimensional direction, and is operated by rotating the trackball 5 in an arbitrary direction with an operator's finger. When adjusting the image level, the image level of each channel of R, G and B can be adjusted by one trackball 5. Since this type of trackball 5 is formed in a spherical shape, it has the advantage that there is no waste in the directionality of operation and that the R, G, and B image levels can be immediately adjusted in one direction. There is.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional trackball, since the operating portion is formed in a spherical shape, the trackball is aimed when fine adjustment is performed when adjusting to a predetermined level. For example, when adjusting the video level, while adjusting the video image of one channel of R, G, and B, the video image of another channel that you do not want to move may move. There was a problem that it ended up.

The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make sure that a fine adjustment of a trackball is performed in a desired direction without rotating in an inadvertent direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a malfunction prevention cover for a trackball, which can operate the trackball only.

[0005]

A malfunction preventing cover for a trackball according to the present invention is supported by a control portion so as to be rotatable in a three-dimensional direction, and a substantially hemispherical portion is exposed from the control portion. A malfunction preventing cover for a spherical trackball, which covers an exposed substantially hemispherical portion of the trackball with a predetermined gap, and a cover provided on the periphery of the cover and detachably attached to the control section. It is characterized in that it is provided with a mounting portion and a groove formed in the covering portion and having a predetermined width provided in a direction in which the trackball is operated.

Further, in the malfunction prevention cover for a trackball according to the present invention, the grooves are provided for a predetermined length from the top of the covering portion along the peripheral portion, and are provided at 120 ° intervals in the circumferential direction. To do. Also, the malfunction prevention cover for a trackball according to the present invention is characterized in that the width of the groove is formed to have a width dimension capable of inserting a finger. Further, the malfunction prevention cover for a trackball according to the present invention is characterized in that a mounting structure for detachably mounting the mounting portion is provided between the mounting portion and the control portion.

[0007]

In order to operate the trackball by using the malfunction prevention cover, the cover part of the malfunction prevention cover is put on the exposed trackball and the mounting part is mounted on the control part. Then, the trackball is operated with a finger along the groove provided in the covering portion. In this case, the trackball is operated along the groove, the trackball does not move in an unintended direction, and even an inexperienced operator can finely adjust the trackball. Also, if you are used to operating the trackball,
The trackball can be operated by removing the malfunction prevention cover that is detachably attached.

Therefore, by operating the trackball along the groove provided in the covering portion that covers the surface of the trackball at a predetermined interval, it becomes possible to operate the trackball only in the intended direction. Since the trackball is not inadvertently rotated, the trackball can be surely finely adjusted, and even an inexperienced operator can surely perform the operation. Further, since the malfunction prevention cover is detachably attached to the control unit, the malfunction prevention cover can be removed and used when the user is accustomed to operating the trackball.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a trackball used for adjusting the image level will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a control unit of an operating means using a trackball according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a trackball and a malfunction prevention cover, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing the trackball and a malfunction prevention cover. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the malfunction prevention cover.

In the figure, 1 is a control section which is an operating means, 3 is an upper plate of the control section 1, 5 is a trackball, and 7 is a malfunction prevention cover. The control unit 1 of the operating means of this embodiment is provided with three track balls 5 for black level correction, gamma level correction, and white level correction. Each trackball 5 is formed in a spherical shape having a diameter of about 40 mm, and as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially hemispherical portion is exposed from the upper plate 3 of the control unit 1 and is supported rotatably in three-dimensional directions. . The video level of each channel can be adjusted by rotating the trackball 5 in a predetermined direction at each of the R, G, and B channels shown in FIG.

A malfunction prevention cover 7 is placed on the upper portion of each track ball 5 exposed from the control section 1. Each malfunction prevention cover 7 has a covering 9
However, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it is formed in a substantially spherical shape having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the track ball 5, and is slightly covered with the outer surface of the track ball 5 by covering the track ball 5. It is formed in such a size that a gap is formed, and has a diameter of 42 mm, for example.

As shown in FIG. 2, the malfunction prevention cover 7 is provided with grooves 11 having a predetermined width W and a predetermined length L radially from the center of each of the R, G, and B channel portions when viewed in a plan view. They are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, that is, at 120 ° intervals. In this embodiment, each groove 11 has a width W of 12 mm.
The length L is formed to a size of 20 mm, and the dimension M between the intersecting portion and the peripheral edge of the groove 11 shown in FIG. 2 is formed to 15 mm. The width W of the groove 11 is set to 12 mm as long as the operator's finger can contact the trackball 5, and is not particularly limited to this and can be formed to any width. .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a collar-shaped mounting portion 13 is integrally provided on the outer peripheral portion of the malfunction prevention cover 7. As shown in FIG. 5, the mounting portion 13 is provided on the control portion 1 around the trackball 5.
It is formed in an arch shape so as to extend along the adjusting ring 15 portion, and its outer diameter is formed to be about 60 mm. And
As shown by the diagonal lines in FIG. 4, double-sided tapes 17 are attached to the bottom surface of the mounting portion 13 at three circumferential positions, and the mounting portion 13 is mounted on the upper plate 3 of the control unit 1 by these double-sided tapes 17. Therefore, the malfunction prevention cover 7 can be detachably installed on the trackball 5.

Next, how to use the malfunction prevention cover 7 having the above structure will be described. First, when the malfunction prevention cover 7 is attached, the respective grooves 11 of the malfunction prevention cover 7 are aligned on the upper plate 3 of the control unit 1 at the positions of R, G, and B, and the malfunction prevention cover is provided on the upper part of the trackball 5. 7 and then double-sided tape 17 provided on the mounting portion 13
To the surface of the upper plate 3 of the control unit,
Attach the malfunction prevention cover 7. After that, the operation of each trackball 5 is performed from above the malfunction prevention cover 7 into each groove
It is operated by a finger through 1.

In this case, in each of the R, G and B channels, the trackball 5 is operated along the groove 11 of each channel as shown by arrows r, g and b in FIG. It does not move in the directions of arrows A, B, and C in 2 and it is possible to prevent the video level of another channel from moving while adjusting one channel, even for an unfamiliar operator. Fine adjustment with a trackball can be reliably performed. Further, when operating two channels at a time, it can be performed by operating the trackball 5 at the central portion D where the three grooves 11 overlap. When the user gets used to the operation of the trackball 5, the malfunction prevention cover 7 can be removed and operated.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the trackball 5 is operated and finely adjusted, the trackball 5 is operated along the groove 11 provided in the covering portion 9 that covers the surface of the trackball 5 with a predetermined interval. By doing so, it becomes possible to operate the trackball 5 only in the intended direction,
Since the trackball 5 is not inadvertently rotated, the trackball 5 can be surely finely adjusted, and even an unskilled operator can surely perform the operation. Further, since the malfunction prevention cover 7 is detachably attached to the control unit 1, the malfunction prevention cover 7 can be detached and operated when the user is accustomed to operating the trackball 5.

Next, another mounting structure for mounting the malfunction prevention cover 7 on the control portion 1 will be described.
Although the malfunction preventing cover 7 is detachably mounted by using the double-sided tape 17 in the above-described embodiment, the invention is not limited to this, and the mounting structure shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. In the mounting structure shown in FIG. 6, velcro tapes 19 are attached to a plurality of locations on the bottom surface of the mounting portion 13 of the malfunction prevention cover 7, and the velcro tapes 19 are also attached to the locations of the upper plate 3 of the control unit 1 corresponding to them. The erroneous operation preventing cover 17 is attached and detached by the Velcro tape 19 attached to the.

In the mounting structure shown in FIG. 7, the small balls 2 are attached to the tip of the bottom surface of the mounting portion 13 of the malfunction prevention cover 7 at a plurality of locations.
1 are attached to the protrusions 23, and the receiving portions 27 having the recesses 25 into which the small balls 21 are fitted are fixed to the corresponding portions of the control portion 1 to prevent malfunctions.
At the time of mounting, the malfunction prevention cover 7 is mounted by inserting and fitting the small ball 21 of the protrusion 23 into the recess 25 of the receiving portion 27, and conversely, by pulling out the protrusion 23 from the receiving portion 27, it becomes easy. Can be removed.

In the mounting structure shown in FIG. 8, a bent portion 31 having a bent tip is provided at a plurality of positions on the mounting portion 13 of the malfunction preventing cover 7, and a pair of engaging members 33 are engaged with each other at the bent portion 31. One of them is attached, the other of the pair of engaging members 33 is attached to the corresponding portion of the control unit 1, and the malfunction prevention cover 7 is rotated, for example, clockwise,
Both the engaging members 33 are engaged with each other, the malfunction preventing cover 7 is attached to the control portion 1, and the cover 7 can be detached by rotating it counterclockwise.

The mounting structure of the mounting part 13 and the control part 1 is not limited to the above structure, and other structures can be used.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, by installing the malfunction prevention cover having the groove on the upper portion of the trackball, the trackball is operated only in the direction along the groove when the trackball is operated. This makes it possible to prevent the trackball from rotating in an inadvertent direction, and an inexperienced operator can surely perform fine adjustment of the trackball. As a result, for example, during the image level adjustment work, the user can concentrate on the adjustment work without worrying about the trackball rotating in a direction different from the purpose. Further, since the malfunction prevention cover can be detachably attached to the control portion, the malfunction prevention cover can be easily removed and operated when the user is accustomed to operating the trackball.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a malfunction prevention cover put on a trackball.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow X in FIG. 2, showing a malfunction prevention cover put on the trackball.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the malfunction prevention cover.

5 is a sectional view taken along the line YY in FIG. 2 showing the trackball and the malfunction prevention cover.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing another attachment structure of the malfunction prevention cover.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing another attachment structure of the malfunction prevention cover.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing another attachment structure of the malfunction prevention cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control part 5 Trackball 7 Malfunction prevention cover 9 Cover part 11 Groove 13 Mounting part W Groove width L Groove length

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A malfunction prevention cover for a spherical trackball, which is rotatably supported in a three-dimensional direction by a control part and is provided so that a substantially hemispherical part is exposed from the control part. Of the exposed semi-hemispherical portion with a predetermined gap, a mounting portion provided on the periphery of the coating portion and detachably attached to the control portion, and the trackball formed on the coating portion for operating the trackball. A malfunction prevention cover for a trackball, comprising: a groove having a predetermined width provided in a direction. 2. The malfunction preventing cover for a trackball according to claim 1, wherein the grooves are provided for a predetermined length from a top portion of the covering portion along a peripheral edge portion and are provided at 120 ° intervals in a circumferential direction. 3. The malfunction prevention cover for a trackball according to claim 1, wherein the width of the groove is formed to have a width dimension capable of inserting a finger. 4. The malfunction prevention cover for a trackball according to claim 1, wherein a mounting structure for removably mounting the mounting portion is provided between the mounting portion and the control portion.