JPH11219258A - Image position indication device and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image position indication device with a simple constitution capable of improving a work environment and efficiently using a space on a desk. SOLUTION: This image position indication device 10 is constituted of a computer 50 for calculating the position of a cursor 30 displayed on a display 20 and outputting the display command of the cursor 30 to the display 20, a mouse 50 for indicating the image position by radio communication and a receiver 60 for receiving the radio communication and preparing display data. When the setting keys 50a-50d of the mouse 50 are operated, operation data are prepared and transmitted. The receiver 60 which receives the operation data converts the operation data to display data. When the conversion is ended, a mode for requesting the next oration data is entered.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image position pointing device, and more particularly, to an image position pointing device for designating an image position by using wireless communication and a method of pointing an image position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 11 shows a conventional image position pointing device of this type. In the figure,
The image position pointing device 900 has a trackball 91 inside.
0, and a movement detection circuit 920 for detecting a movement amount and a movement direction by rotation of the trackball 910.
And a computer 940 connected to the mouse 930 to process display coordinates based on the movement amount and movement direction and output a display command
And a display 950 for displaying a cursor position according to the display command and display coordinates.

In the above configuration, when the mouse 930 is moved, friction occurs between the trackball 910 and the desk, and the trackball 910 rotates. From this rotation, the movement detection circuit 920 detects the amount of movement and the direction of movement, and outputs it to the computer 940. The computer 940 calculates display coordinates based on the moving amount and the moving direction, and calculates the display coordinates on the display 950.
Is displayed at the cursor position corresponding to the movement coordinates.

[0004]

The above-described conventional image position pointing device has the following problems. That is, since the computer and the mouse are connected by a cord, in a limited space such as a desk, the cord may be caught on a document or the like, and there is a problem that a working environment is deteriorated. In addition, the mouse must be moved to move the cursor to the target position, and there is a problem that the space is insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an image position indicating apparatus which has a simple structure, can improve a working environment, and can efficiently use a space such as a desk. Aim.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image position indicating apparatus for indicating a position of a cursor or the like on a display of a computer. A moving position indicating key for indicating a moving position; transmitting side control means for converting movement information input by the moving position indicating key into transmission data; and transmitting the transmission data converted by the transmission side control means by wireless communication. A transmitting unit that includes a transmitting unit that performs transmission, a receiving unit that receives wireless communication transmitted by the transmitting unit, and a receiving unit that includes a receiving side control unit that converts received data received by the receiving unit into the movement information. Is provided.

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the movement position instruction key designates a movement position of a cursor or the like on the display by an input operation of the key. The transmission-side control means converts the movement information into transmission data, and when the transmission data is transmitted, the reception means receives the transmission data, and the reception control means converts the reception data into the transmission data. Convert to movement information. Here, the movement information is a movement amount in the X-axis direction and a movement amount in the Y-axis direction input by the movement instruction key.

Here, since the transmitting section is isolated from the computer, it must be provided with its own power supply. In addition, power consumption is increased due to the need to generate radio waves. Therefore, it is necessary to save the power consumed by the transmitting unit.

Therefore, as an example of a preferred configuration of the transmitting side control means for saving power consumption of the transmitting section, the invention according to claim 2 is the image position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein The control means has a contact detection means and is configured to control power supply by an output of the contact detection means.

[0010] In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the transmission side control means controls the power supply according to the output of the contact detection means. That is, when the contact detection unit detects that the transmission unit is touched by the operator's hand, the transmission-side control unit supplies power necessary for the transmission unit to transmit. Here, the contact detection means only needs to be able to detect that an operator's hand or the like has contacted the transmission unit. For example, the sensor may be a heat sensing sensor or a sensor that detects a change in capacitance of static electricity. Alternatively, the light amount may be detected by a sensor that detects the amount of light and blocked by an operator's hand or the like.

When the same information is transmitted using such wireless communication and a similar device is present in the vicinity, the wireless communication may cause interference, and the cursor or the like on the display may not move normally. Can be In order to avoid such a situation, it is necessary to take exclusion from other image position indicating devices.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image position pointing device according to any one of the first and second aspects, the receiving side control means changes the frequency of the wireless communication. And transmitting the frequency changed by the frequency changing unit to the transmitting unit, and the transmitting side control unit dynamically changes the frequency to the changed frequency.

[0013] In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, when the frequency of the wireless communication is changed by the frequency changing means, the receiving side control means transmits the wireless communication to the transmitting section. The transmitting-side control means of the transmitting unit that has received the changed frequency automatically changes the transmitting frequency. Here, the frequency changing means only has to be able to change the frequency. Therefore, a software circuit that changes the frequency by setting it on the display screen may be used, or may be changed by a hardware circuit such as a switch. Of course, it goes without saying that the transmitting side control means performs transmission corresponding to the frequency changed by the frequency changing means.

In addition, various methods can be considered as a method of performing exclusion with the other image position pointing devices described above. As an example of a preferred configuration of the method for performing the exclusion, the invention according to claim 4 is the image position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission-side control means transmits At the time of conversion, the identification information is added to the movement information and transmitted via the transmission means, and the reception side control means determines the transmission information based on the identification data of the movement information received via the reception means. It is configured to determine whether or not the control means is compatible, and if not, stop the conversion of the movement information.

[0015] In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, the transmission side control means adds the identification data, which can be mutually identified with the reception control means, to the transmission data. Then, the receiving-side control unit that has received the transmission data to which the identification data has been added from the reception unit converts the movement information transmitted with the identification data.

That is, if the identification data is uniquely defined between the transmitting side control means and the receiving side control means, the image position indicating device operates.
However, if it is not defined, it is determined that the combination is not a corresponding combination, and the operation of the image position pointing device is stopped. Here, the identification data may be any data that can be uniquely recognized by each other. For example, it may be the serial number of the image position pointing device or the serial number of the computer. Further, the present invention is not limited to a numeral, but may be an alphabetic character, or may be a name of an operator of the image position pointing device. Here, the term "add" means that the transmitting means can add to the transmission data transmitted to the receiving means. Therefore, it may be added to the packet of the transmission data, or before transmitting the transmission data, only the identification data may be transmitted to determine whether transmission / reception is possible.

The transmitting section and the receiving section transmit and receive data by wireless communication. This wireless communication is performed by the minimum necessary radio wave output that enables the transmitting unit and the receiving unit to perform wireless communication in order to suppress the power consumption of the transmitting unit. However, the path of the wireless communication between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit is not always stable, and a failure affecting wireless communication may occur. At this time, normal operation may not be possible with the constant radio wave output.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image position pointing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the transmitting side control means periodically communicates with the receiving side control means by wireless communication. And monitors the intensity of the radio wave in the wireless communication, and controls the radio wave output in the wireless communication based on the degree of the radio wave intensity.

In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, the transmission-side control means performs wireless communication with the reception-side control means in order to periodically monitor a wireless communication path status. The radio wave intensity is monitored by this wireless communication, and the radio wave output is controlled so as to always realize stable communication.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a coordinate movement of a cursor or the like on a display of a computer is performed by key input, and the coordinate movement data is transmitted from a transmission unit via wireless communication. , Receiving the same coordinate movement data and determining the position of the cursor or the like on the display according to the same coordinate movement data. That is, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a physical device, and is also effective as a method.

[0021]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an image position pointing device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention by an external view and a block diagram. In the figure, the image position pointing device 10 calculates the position of a cursor 30 displayed on a display 20 and outputs a display command of the cursor 30 to the display 20 by wireless communication between the computer 40 and the image position. And a receiving device 60 that receives the wireless communication and creates display data.

The mouse 50 is provided with setting keys 50a to 50d for designating the front, rear, left and right movement directions, a detection sensor 50e for detecting whether or not an operator's hand or the like is in contact with the mouse 50; An internal control which is connected to a setting key to detect a movement amount in front, rear, left and right, is connected to the detection sensor 50e, controls power supply according to a state of the detection sensor 50e, and converts the detected movement amount into transmission data. A circuit 50f, a transmission / reception interface 50g connected to the internal control circuit 50f and transmitting the transmission data, and a power supply 50h for supplying power to each component device are provided therein.

The receiving device 60 is connected to the mouse 5
A transmission / reception unit (transmission / reception interface) 60a for receiving transmission data transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 50g and performing wireless communication;
an internal circuit 6 for converting the data received by a into display data
0b. Therefore, the setting keys 50a to 50d constitute the moving position indicating keys because the moving position is indicated, and the transmitting / receiving interface 50g forms the transmitting means because the transmitting data indicated by the setting keys 50a to 50d is transmitted. Since the power supply is controlled and the transmission data is created, the internal control circuit 50f constitutes a transmission-side control means, and the detection sensor 50e for detecting that the hand of the operator or the like has come into contact with the mouse 50 is contacted. The detecting means is constituted. From the above, the mouse 50 corresponds to the transmitting unit.

The transmission / reception interface 60a constitutes a receiving means for receiving the transmission data and executing necessary communication, and converts the reception data into display data so that the internal circuit 60b controls the reception side. Configure means. From the above, the receiving device 60 corresponds to the receiving unit.

Next, communication processed by the mouse 50 and the receiving device 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 show the mouse 50 and the receiving device 5.
0 indicates the content of the wireless communication performed. FIG. 3 is a communication schematic diagram of transmission data transmitted from the mouse.
FIG. 5 is a schematic communication diagram in the first embodiment in which the mouse 50 and the receiving device 60 use identification data for the same transmission data in order to take exclusion from another mouse.
Shows a schematic communication diagram of the second embodiment for adding the identification data.

In FIG. 3, when the setting keys 50a to 50d of the mouse 50 are operated, operation data is created (step S100) and transmitted (step S110). Receiving device 60 that has received the operation data
(Step S120), this operation data is converted into display data (Step S130). When this conversion is completed, a mode for requesting the next operation data is entered (step S1).
40, S150). Thereafter, steps S100 to S150 are repeated.

In FIG. 4, when the setting keys 50a to 50d of the mouse 50 are operated, operation data is created and identification data of the mouse 50 is added (step S200) and transmitted. (Step S2
10). The receiving device 60 that has received the operation data extracts the identification data and the operation data (step S220),
It is determined whether the identification data corresponds to the receiving device (step S230).

Here, the identification data is transmitted to the receiving device 6.
If it does not correspond to 0, a mode for requesting the next operation data is entered (step S240). If the identification data corresponds to the receiving device 60, the operation data is converted into display data (step S25).
At the same time, the mode for requesting the next operation data is entered (step S260).

In FIG. 5, when the mouse 50 setting keys 50a to 50d are operated, the identification data of the mouse 50 is transmitted (steps S300, S310). The receiving device 60 that has received the identification data determines whether the identification data corresponds to the receiving device 60 (step S320). If the identification data corresponds to the reception device 60, the operation data is requested (step S33).
0), the mouse 50 receiving the request creates and transmits operation data (steps S340, S3)
50). The receiving device 60 that has received the operation data (step S360) converts the operation data into display data and enters a mode for requesting the next operation data (steps S370 and S380). Note that the identification data transmitted from the mouse 50 is
If it does not correspond to the identification data, no request for operation data is made to the mouse 50 (step S390).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of controlling the transmission output by the internal control circuit 50f.
In the control, the mouse 50 performs a test output every predetermined time separately from the transmission and reception of the operation data described above, and the receiving device 60 that has received the test output outputs an output corresponding to the test output to the mouse 50. This is realized by a loopback test performed by transmission.

The internal control circuit 50f measures a certain time (step S400), and outputs a test output to the receiving device 60 after the certain time has elapsed (step S410). Then, the receiving device 60 transmits an output corresponding to the test output, and transmits the output to the mouse 50.
Is received (step S420). Here, it is determined whether the reception output is a reference output (step S430),
If the output is less than the reference output, the transmission output when transmitting from the mouse 50 to the receiving device 60 is increased (steps S440 and S450). If the output is larger than the reference output, the transmission output is reduced (steps S440 and S46).
0). Note that the reference output indicates an output that enables stable transmission of operation data in communication between the mouse 50 and the receiving device 60.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show time charts of each output when the above control is performed. In FIG. 7, the interval between times t1, t2, and t3 is the above-mentioned fixed time. At this time, the internal control circuit 50f executes the test output, and the output corresponding to the test output output from the receiving device 60. Enter Here, at times t1 and t2,
Although it is the reference output, it is lower than the reference output at t3. The internal control circuit 50f that has received the output at the time t3 increases the transmission output for transmitting the operation data as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the transmission output of the operation data transmitted by the mouse 50 received by the receiving device 60 temporarily decreases at time t3, but enters a stable transmission / reception state.

Next, the internal control circuit 50f determines the power supply 50 of the mouse 50 based on the state of the detection sensor 50e.
The process of controlling the current supplied by h to the mouse 50 will be described with reference to the time chart of FIG. Where X2
Indicates an internal current required for transmitting and receiving operation data and the like, and X1 indicates an internal current necessary for operating the detection sensor 50e. The operator of the mouse 50 turns on the power of the mouse 50 at time t1,
When performing the operation, the internal current X2 is supplied. Here, when the mouse 50 is released from the mouse 50 at time t2, the internal current is supplied only for the operation of the detection sensor 50e, and when the operator again puts his / her hand on the mouse 50 for operation, The operation is switched to the supply of the internal current X2.

As described above, the mouse 50 and the receiving device 6
By installing the transmission / reception interfaces 50g and 60a at 0, the code connected to the computer 40 can be deleted, so that it is possible to avoid the trouble that the code is caught on a document or the like on a desk. Also,
When moving the cursor 30 displayed on the display 20 with the mouse 50, the operation can be performed with the setting keys 50a to 50d. Therefore, it is not necessary to roll the mouse on the mouse pad, and the space on the desk can be effectively used.

Further, when the operation data of the mouse 50 is converted into transmission data, the mouse 50 can be excluded from other mice to add identification data. Also, the output from the mouse 50 is automatically controlled to an appropriate value,
In addition to providing a comfortable operation environment, by controlling the internal current in the mouse 50, it is possible to minimize the current consumption when the operator's hand is not touching.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image position pointing device which can improve the working environment and can efficiently use a space such as a desk with a simple structure. . According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize power saving by finely controlling the power consumption of the image position pointing device. Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily exclude the other image position pointing devices from each other.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4,
Exclusivity with other image position indicating devices can be ensured. Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 5, since stable cursor operation can always be realized, comfortable operability can be provided. Further, according to the invention according to claim 6, a method of specifying coordinates can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view illustrating an image position pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image position pointing device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic communication diagram between a mouse and a receiving device of the image position pointing device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of communication between a mouse and a receiving device of the image position pointing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic communication diagram of a mouse and a receiving device of the image position pointing device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of an internal control circuit that controls transmission output in a mouse of the image receiving apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a time chart in the transmission output control.

FIG. 8 is a time chart in the transmission output control.

FIG. 9 is a time chart in the transmission output control.

FIG. 10 is a time chart showing control of an internal current of a mouse in the image position pointing device.

FIG. 11 is an external view of a conventional image position pointing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 image position indicating device 20 display 30 cursor 40 computer 50 mouse 50 a to 50 d front / rear / left / right setting key 50 e detection sensor 50 f internal control circuit 50 g transmission / reception interface 50 h power supply 60 reception device 60 a transmission / reception interface 60 b internal circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image position indicating device for indicating a position of a cursor or the like on a display of a computer, comprising: a moving position indicating key for indicating a position to be moved by a key input operation; A transmission unit that converts the movement information into transmission data, a transmission unit that transmits the transmission data converted by the transmission side control unit by wireless communication, and a wireless communication that the transmission unit transmits. An image position pointing device, comprising: a receiving unit that receives a receiving unit; and a receiving unit that converts receiving data received by the receiving unit into the movement information. 2. The image position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission side control means has a contact detection means, and controls power supply by an output of said contact detection means. Image position indicating device. 3. The image position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said receiving side control means includes frequency changing means for changing a frequency of said wireless communication, The image position pointing device, wherein the frequency changed by the means is transmitted to the transmitting section, and the transmitting side control means dynamically changes the frequency to the changed frequency. 4. The image position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting side control means adds identification data to the movement information when converting the movement information. While transmitting via the transmission means, the reception side control means determines whether the transmission side control means is suitable from the identification data of the movement information received via the reception means, and An image position pointing device, wherein the conversion of the movement information is stopped if not. 5. The image position pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting side control means periodically performs wireless communication with the receiving side control means, and An image position indicating device for monitoring the intensity of a radio wave and controlling the radio wave output in wireless communication according to the degree of the radio wave intensity. 6. A method of moving a cursor or the like on a display of a computer by key input.
The coordinate position data is transmitted from the transmission unit by wireless communication, the coordinate position data is received, and the position of the cursor or the like on the display is determined according to the coordinate position data. Method.