JPH08241168A - Four-dimensional coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the coordinate input device with which four-dimensional coordinates can easily be inputted through one-hand operation. CONSTITUTION: The figure shows the top surface of a mouse type four- dimensional coordinate input device main body 2 having a ball type two-dimensional movement quantity detecting means on the reverse surface. This device main body 2 is connected to an unillustrated computer by a cable 1 and has click buttons 3-1-3-3 for inputting commands to the computer on the top surface, and X and Y coordinates can be inputted by moving the main body in the right-left direction 8 and front-rear direction 9. Further, the main body 2 has a slide resistance type 3rd-dimensional (Z) coordinate input mechanism 6 and a 4th-dimensional (time) coordinate input mechanism 7, which can be slide with the thumb and little finger, on the left and right flanks, and Z coordinates and time coordinates can be inputted by sliding the input mechanisms 6 and 7 in the front-rear directions 10 and 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for a user to input four-dimensional coordinates consisting of X, Y, Z position coordinates and time coordinates to a device having input screen display means such as a computer. . In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in editing work of a stereoscopic moving image, a computer or the like has four-dimensional coordinates (X coordinate / Y coordinate / Z).
When inputting (coordinates / time coordinates), a general two-dimensional coordinate input device such as a mouse device or three-dimensional coordinate input device is provided with one device such as a cursor movement key or a function key of a keyboard device or I used to combine about two.

[0003]

However, in such a coordinate input method, the user needs to change a plurality of input devices or operate simultaneously with both hands, which is a problem in that the input operation is complicated. . Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve such a problem and provide a four-dimensional coordinate input device capable of inputting four-dimensional coordinates by one-handed operation.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a four-dimensional coordinate input device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a left-right direction (8) and a front-back direction (8) on a mounting surface of a main body (2) of the device. A mouse-type coordinate input device that outputs coordinate input signals (in X and Y coordinates) corresponding to the movement amounts in the two directions based on the movement operation in 9). Based on the slide operation to (10, 11), two coordinate slide input means (third-dimensional coordinate input mechanism 6) for respectively outputting coordinate input signals (Z coordinate, time coordinate) corresponding to the slide amount with respect to the main body. , 4D coordinate input mechanism 7).

Further, in a four-dimensional coordinate input device according to a second aspect, in the four-dimensional coordinate input device according to the first aspect, the two coordinate slide input means are respectively provided on the left and right side portions of the main body. Make sure that The four-dimensional coordinate input device according to claim 3 is based on a tilting operation of the first joystick (large joystick 23) provided on the main body (2) of the device in the left-right direction (25) and the front-back direction (26). A joystick-type coordinate input device that outputs (X, Y coordinate) coordinate input signals respectively corresponding to the tilt amounts in the two directions.
It is assumed that a second joystick (small joystick 24) that outputs a coordinate input signal (Z coordinate, time coordinate) corresponding to each of the tilt amounts in the two directions based on the tilt operation in the directions is provided.

The four-dimensional coordinate input device according to claim 4 is
In the four-dimensional coordinate input device according to the third aspect, the predetermined two directions in which the second joystick is tilted are a left-right direction (27) and a front-back direction (28).

[0007]

A single coordinate input device is provided with a general two-dimensional coordinate input mechanism such as a mouse type and a joystick type, as well as a three-dimensional coordinate input mechanism and a fourth-dimensional coordinate input mechanism. Alternatively, a fourth-dimensional coordinate input mechanism is provided together with a general three-dimensional coordinate input mechanism.

[0008]

Embodiments of the four-dimensional coordinate input device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the upper surface of a mouse-type four-dimensional coordinate input device as an embodiment of the first invention. In the figure, 2 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body of a four-dimensional coordinate input device, 1 is a cable for connecting the main body 2 of the device and a computer (not shown), 3 (3-1, 3-2, 3-3) is coordinate input It is a click button as a push button for sometimes inputting commands and the like to a computer.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a third-dimensional coordinate input mechanism which is provided on the left side surface of the apparatus main body 2 and comprises a slide type variable resistance, and a slip stopper for finger operation is provided on the upper surface side. The resistance value can be varied by sliding it back and forth as indicated by arrow 10, and the third-dimensional (Z) coordinate corresponding to the resistance change amount (that is, the slide amount) can be input.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a fourth-dimensional coordinate input mechanism provided on the right side surface of the apparatus main body 2 in a structure similar to that of the third-dimensional coordinate input mechanism 6, and a slip stopper is slid back and forth as indicated by an arrow 11. It is possible to change the resistance value and input the fourth dimension (time) coordinate corresponding to the resistance change amount (thus the slide amount). Although not shown, a two-dimensional movement amount detection mechanism having a well-known ball-shaped body for inputting the first-dimensional coordinates and the second-dimensional coordinates is provided on the lower surface side of the apparatus main body 2. This two-dimensional movement amount detection mechanism detects the movement amount in the left and right direction by the rotation of the ball-shaped body when the device body 2 is moved left and right as indicated by the arrow 8, and the first dimension corresponding to this movement amount. (X) coordinates can be input, and similarly, by detecting the amount of movement in the front-back direction when moving the apparatus main body 2 back and forth as indicated by arrow 9, the second-dimensional (Y) coordinates corresponding to this movement amount. Can be entered.

As a concrete method of inputting coordinates, if a command is given in advance to the computer by a predetermined operation of the click button 3 to respond to the input of coordinates, the first dimension to the screen display means such as a CRT (not shown) will be displayed. Cursors (pointers) for each dimension of the fourth dimension (that is, four) are displayed. Next, when the main body 2 is moved in the directions of arrows 8 and 9, or the input mechanisms 6 and 7 are slid in the directions of arrows 10 and 11, respectively, the corresponding amount on the CRT corresponds to the moving amount or the sliding amount. Since the dimension cursor moves or the display coordinate value changes, the predetermined click button 3 is operated at the time when the cursor moves to a desired display position or when the desired coordinate value is displayed. The display coordinate values for four dimensions can be set and input to the computer at the same time.

In this way, the four-dimensional coordinate input device 2
Taking the case of operating with the right hand as an example, it is possible to input the X coordinate by moving the device body 2 in the left-right direction 8.
Similarly, by moving the device body 2 in the front-back direction 9, Y
Coordinates can be input. In addition, the 3D coordinate input mechanism 6
The Z coordinate can be input on the device body 2 by sliding in the front-back direction 10 with the thumb, and the fourth-dimensional coordinate input mechanism 7 can be moved in the front-back direction 11 on the device body 2 using the little finger. Time coordinates can be input by sliding.

FIG. 2 shows a joystick type four-dimensional coordinate input device as an embodiment of the second invention. In the figure, a large joystick 23 for two-dimensional coordinate input is provided on the main body 2 of the four-dimensional coordinate input device connected to the computer by a cable 1 and the like. A small joystick 24 for inputting coordinates is provided. As an example of the operation method of this device, the X-coordinate can be input by gripping the large joystick 23 with fingers other than the index finger and tilting the large joystick 23 in the left-right direction 25.
Similarly, the Y coordinate can be input by tilting the large joystick 23 in the front-back direction 26. Moreover, time coordinate input is possible by pressing the head of the small joystick 24 with the index finger and tilting the small joystick 24 in the left-right direction 27. Similarly, by tilting the small joystick 24 in the front-back direction 28, Z coordinate input can be performed. It is possible.

As is well known, the joysticks 23 and 24 respectively detect tilt directions 25, 26 and 27, 28 and the magnitude of the tilt, and output a coordinate input signal corresponding to the tilt amount for each tilt direction. . However, in order to give a command for inputting coordinates to the computer in FIG. 2, a predetermined key operation such as a keyboard (not shown) is performed.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, two mouse coordinate input devices capable of inputting two-dimensional coordinates are provided with two coordinate input mechanisms capable of inputting different one-dimensional coordinates by a slide operation. According to the invention, the joystick of the joystick type coordinate input device having the joystick capable of inputting two-dimensional coordinates is provided with another joystick capable of inputting two-dimensional coordinates.
In the case of editing a stereoscopic video image on a computer etc.,
Batch input operation of X coordinate / Y coordinate / Z coordinate / time coordinate
You can easily do it with one hand.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a four-dimensional coordinate input device as an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a four-dimensional coordinate input device as an embodiment of the second invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 cable 2 4 dimensional coordinate input device main body 3 (3-1 to 3-3) click button 6 3 dimensional coordinate input mechanism 7 4 dimensional coordinate input mechanism 8 to 11 direction 23 large joystick 24 small joystick 25 to 28 direction

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mouse-type coordinate input device that outputs a coordinate input signal corresponding to the amount of movement in each of the two directions based on a moving operation in the left-right direction and the front-back direction on a mounting surface of a main body of the device. There is provided four-dimensional coordinates on the main body, which are provided with two coordinate slide input means for respectively outputting a coordinate input signal corresponding to a slide amount with respect to the main body based on a slide operation in a predetermined direction. Input device. 2. The four-dimensional coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the two coordinate slide input means are provided one each on the left and right side portions of the main body.
Dimensional coordinate input device. 3. A joystick type device which outputs a coordinate input signal corresponding to each of the tilt amounts in the two directions based on the tilting operation of the first joystick provided on the main body of the device in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. A coordinate input device in which the tip of the joystick is tilted in two predetermined directions with respect to the joystick.
A four-dimensional coordinate input device comprising a second joystick that outputs a coordinate input signal corresponding to each tilt amount in a direction. 4. The four-dimensional coordinate input device according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined two directions for tilting the second joystick are a left-right direction and a front-back direction.