JPH11249809A - Coordinate information input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coordinate information input device in which the operability of an operating button provided on the side face of a case can be improved in a simple configuration. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a ball 13 for coordinate information input housed in a case 11 so as to be rotated, X and Y axes detecting parts 14 and 15 for detecting the amount and direction of horizontal rotation mutually perpendicular to this ball, and at least two operating buttons 21 and 22 arranged on the side face of the case while being vertically arranged on the outside, the respective operating buttons 21 and 22 are held at the top ends of arms 25 and 26 extended from the inside of the case while being curved, and moved toward the inside by the elastic deformations of the arms 25 and 26 at the time of operation so as to perform on/off operation while being abutted on a switch member, and a coordinate information input device 10 is constituted so as to provide stop members 28 and 29, on which the intermediate sections of the arms are abutted, inside the case in the middle of moving to the inside at the operation time of the respective operating buttons.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate information input device for inputting coordinate information by connecting to a computer, a game machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a coordinate information input device has
For example, it is configured as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a coordinate information input device 1 is a coordinate information input device using a mouse, and a frame member 2a integrally formed in the case 2 so as to be partially exposed on the bottom surface of the case 2. The ball 3 for inputting coordinate information, which is rotatably supported by, and the amount of rotation and the direction of rotation of the ball 3 are defined as horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, that is, an X direction and a Y direction.
X-axis detection unit 4 and Y-axis detection unit 5 for detecting in different directions
And is composed of

Here, the X-axis detecting section 4 and the Y-axis detecting section 5 are cylindrical rollers 4a, which also serve as rotating shafts which contact the ball 3 from one side in the X and Y directions, respectively. 5a, disk-shaped encoders 4b, 5b attached to one ends of the rollers 4a, 5a and each having a large number of radial slits, and arranged so as to sandwich the slit regions of the encoders 4b, 5b. Photocouplers 4c and 5c each including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit provided
And is composed of The rollers 4a and 5a have protrusions formed on both end surfaces thereof.
The case 2 is rotatably supported by engaging with support portions 6 and 7 integrally formed on the inner surface of the case 2.

[0004] The coordinate information input device 1 configured as described above.
According to the above, a part of the ball 3 is exposed on the bottom surface of the case 2, and the user places the coordinate information input device 1 on a work surface such as a table to work the bottom surface of the case. By moving the case so as to be pressed against the surface, the ball 3 exposed from the bottom surface of the case is rotated by friction with the table surface. As a result, the ball 3 is rotated in a desired direction by a desired amount of rotation.

[0005] The ball 3 thus rotated
The rotation direction and the rotation amount are detected by the detectors 4 and 5 via the rollers 4a and 5a, and the coordinate information signals in the X and Y directions are respectively supplied to an external computer or the like (not shown).
Sent to Thus, the C connected to the computer etc.
On the screen of a display device such as an RT, the ball 3
The cursor or the like can be moved in accordance with the rotation direction and the amount of rotation.

Further, the ball 3 abuts against the rollers 4a and 5a of the detecting portions 4 and 5 during the rotation operation, so that the rotating motion of the detecting portions 4 and 5 is ensured without idling. Need to be transmitted to the rollers 4a and 5a. For this purpose, a guide roller section 8 for urging the ball 3 against the surfaces of the rollers 4a and 5a is provided.

Further, near the front end of the case 2, two operation buttons (not shown) provided side by side on the upper part of the case 2
When these operation buttons are operated, two switches 9a and 9 provided in the case 2 below the operation buttons are provided.
b is turned on and off. Thus, when the user operates these operation buttons with his / her fingers, on / off signals of the switches 9a and 9b are transmitted to a computer or the like.

[0008]

However, in the coordinate information input device 1 configured as described above, the operation buttons are provided on the upper part of the front end of the case 2.
These operation buttons are operated by the user with, for example, the index finger and the middle finger of the right hand.

On the other hand, in order to improve operability and the like,
It is conceivable to provide operation buttons so that the user operates with the right thumb on the side surface of the case 2, for example, near the middle of the left side surface. In this case, each operation button is pushed in the lateral direction. At the same time, the switches that are turned on and off by the operation buttons are also arranged in the case 2 in the vertical direction, and the operation unit is oriented horizontally. Further, since the operation button is provided near the middle in the longitudinal direction of the case, the length of the arm for supporting the operation button is relatively short. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a good operation feeling of the operation button, and the operation load becomes unstable, so that the operability is impaired.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coordinate information input device which has a simple structure and improves the operability of operation buttons provided on a side surface of a case.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a coordinate information input ball rotatably accommodated in a case, and a horizontal rotation amount perpendicular to the ball. And an X-axis detection unit and a Y-axis detection unit that detect the rotation direction, and at least two operation buttons arranged vertically above and outside the side surface of the case, and each of the operation buttons includes: It is held at the tip of an arm that extends from the inside of the case, and moves inward due to the elastic deformation of the arm during operation. This is achieved by a coordinate information input device, characterized in that a stop member to which the intermediate portion of the arm is to be brought into contact during the inward movement during the operation is provided in the case.

According to the above construction, the rotation of the ball is detected by the X-axis detection section and the Y-axis detection section as components in the X direction and the Y direction, and these detection signals are sent to an external computer or the like. As a result, information on the coordinate position is input to a computer or the like, and an operation signal of each operation button is transmitted to an external computer or the like.

Here, the operation button is supported by a curved arm, and at a stationary position, an intermediate portion thereof is separated from the stop member. For this reason, when the operation button is operated, the arm first swings with its support end as a fulcrum, and after the intermediate portion of the arm contacts the stop member, the arm is moved to the stop member. It swings with the contact point with the fulcrum. Thereby, until the arm abuts the stop member, a smooth operation feeling is obtained by the entire elastic deformation of the curved arm, and after the arm abuts the stop member, the arm is operated from the intermediate portion. The load required for the switch operation is obtained by the elastic deformation of the relatively short portion up to the portion supporting the button. Therefore, a good operation feeling of the operation button can be obtained, and the operation load can be stabilized.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a coordinate information input device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a coordinate information input device 10 is configured as a so-called trackball, and a frame unit 12 mounted in a case 11 so that a part thereof is exposed at an upper portion of the case.
Ball 13 for inputting coordinate information rotatably supported inside
And an X-axis detection unit 14 and a Y-axis detection unit 15 for detecting the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the ball 13 in horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, that is, in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. And two operation buttons (to be described later) arranged vertically so as to be exposed.

The X-axis detector 14 and the Y-axis detector 15
Are cylindrical rollers 14a and 15a that abut against the ball 13 from one side in the X and Y directions, respectively.
Rotating shafts 14b, 15b for supporting these rollers 14a, 15a in the axial direction; and rotating shafts 14b, 15b.
Disk encoders 14c and 15c each having a plurality of radial slits, and a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit disposed so as to sandwich the slit regions of the encoders 14c and 15c. And photocouplers 14d and 15d.

Here, the rotating shafts 14b and 15b of the detecting portions 14 and 15 are supported at one end close to each other so as to be movable in the horizontal direction and rotatable by supporting portions 16 and 17, respectively. The other end is rotatably supported by bearings 18 and 19, respectively.

The supporting portions 16 and 17 are provided with a rotating shaft 14b,
Supporting members 16a, 17a each having a horizontal upper surface for supporting each of the rotary shafts 15b from below, and a holding member 1 having a horizontal lower surface for each supporting the rotating shafts 14b, 15b from above.
6b, 17b, and the rotating shaft 14b,
15b, these support bases 16a, 17a and holding member 1
6b and 17b, it is supported movably in the horizontal direction.

On the other hand, the bearings 18 and 19 are provided with insertion holes 18a and 19a for receiving convex portions provided on the other end surfaces of the rotating shafts 14b and 15b, respectively. The projection 15b has projections 18a, 19a.
By being engaged in a, it is rotatably supported.

Further, one end of each of the rotating shafts 14b and 15b is urged toward the ball by one common spring 20. This spring 20
As shown in FIG. 5, it is composed of a central coil spring portion 20a and two ends 20b and 20c extending substantially perpendicularly from the coil spring portion 20a. That is, the coil spring portion 20a is bent so as to extend in the axial direction, and its tips 20d and 20e are bent inward. Accordingly, when the coil spring portion 20a is fitted to the vertically extending boss 12a provided on the frame portion 12, the springs 20 can be connected to the ends 20b and 20c.
Are engaged with the outside of one ends of the rotating shafts 14b and 15b, respectively, and urge one ends of the rotating shafts 14b and 15b toward the ball.

Further, on the left side surface of the case 11 in FIG. 1, two operation buttons 21 and 22 (see FIG. 2) are arranged vertically, and these operation buttons 21 and 22 are arranged.
When the button 2 is pressed toward the inside of the case 11, the micro switches 23 and 24 provided in the case 11 are turned on. These microswitches 23 and 24 are disposed such that the operation units face left in FIG.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation buttons 21 and 22 are supported by arms 25 and 26 made of a curved flexible material, respectively. Arm 2
One end of each of the members 5 and 26 is fixedly held by a press-fit or the like with respect to a support portion 27 provided in the case 11, and is formed so as to be largely curved from the support portion 27. The operation buttons 21 and 22 are integrally supported.

Further, after the arm 25 is largely bent from the support portion 27, the inward movement is restricted by a rib 28 provided on the case 11 near the other end. Further, after the arm 26 is largely bent from the support portion 27,
In the vicinity of the middle, the inward movement is regulated by the rib 29 provided on the case 11. These ribs 28, 2
The arm 9 is disposed so as to be separated from the arms 25 and 26 when the arms 25 and 26 are at the rest position (position shown). The ribs 28 and 29 are formed integrally with the case 11, but in the case shown in the figure, the case 11 is formed by being divided into upper and lower parts.
8 is provided on the upper part of the case 11, and the rib 29 is
It is formed below the case 11. Thus, when the operation buttons 21 and 22 are operated, the arms 25 and 26 first swing about the support portion 27 as a fulcrum.
After coming into contact with the ribs 8 and 29, they swing about the points of contact with the ribs 28 and 29 as fulcrums.

The coordinate information input device 10 according to the present invention is configured as described above. The user places the coordinate information input device 10 on a work surface such as a table, and The surface of the protruding ball 13 is rotated by a finger, for example, an index finger. Thereby, the ball 3
Is rotated in a desired direction by a desired amount of rotation.

The ball 1 thus rotated
The rotation direction and the rotation amount of 3 are both ends 20b, 2 of the spring 20.
Roller 14 abutted on the surface of ball 13 by Oc
are transmitted to the rotating shafts 14b and 15b via the first and second encoders 14a and 15a, and the encoders 14c and 15c are rotationally driven.
By being detected by 4d and 15d, the X-axis detector 14 and the Y-axis detector 15 detect the X component and the Y component of the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the ball 13, respectively.

When the user operates the operation buttons 21 and 22 with his / her finger, for example, the thumb, the micro switches 23 and 24 are turned on. Thereby, the detection signals of the X-axis detection unit 14 and the Y-axis detection unit 15 and the ON signals of the micro switches 23 and 24 are output to an external computer or the like via a cable or the like (not shown), and the input of coordinate information is performed. Will be done.

Here, one end of each of the detecting units, that is, the rotating shafts 14b and 15b of the X-axis detecting unit 14 and the Y-axis detecting unit 15,
By both ends 20b and 20c of one common spring 20,
By being urged toward the ball, the ball 13
The rotation of the ball 13 can be reliably transmitted without idling, and the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the ball 13 can be accurately detected.

Further, both ends 20b, 20 of the spring 20
Since the tips 20d and 20e of c are bent inward, that is, toward the ball, even if an accidental acceleration is applied to the coordinate information input device 10 due to a drop, vibration, or the like, At the time of assembling the coordinate information input device 10, both ends 20 b and 20 c of the spring 20 are
Even if the bent ends 20d and 20e are disengaged from one ends of the rotating shafts 14b and 15b, they do not come off from one ends of the rotating shafts 14b and 15b. . Therefore, a highly reliable coordinate information input device 10 can be obtained.

The arms 25 and 26 for supporting the operation buttons 21 and 22 are formed to be largely curved, and are swung with the support 27 as a fulcrum at first when the operation buttons 21 and 22 are operated. And then each rib 2
8 and 29, and swings with these ribs 28 and 29 as fulcrums. Therefore, depending on the curved shape of the arms 25 and 26, the operation buttons 21 and 22 are
Since the distance to is long, a smooth operation feeling can be obtained, and a desired operation load can be obtained after the ribs 28 and 29 abut. Therefore, a good operation feeling of the operation buttons 21 and 22 can be obtained, and the operation load is stabilized.

Thus, the coordinate information input device 1 having the above configuration
0, the operation buttons 21 and 22 are supported by curved relatively long arms 25 and 26, and the arms 25 and 22 are operated when the operation buttons 21 and 22 are operated.
6 swings around the contact point with the rib 28 or 29 near the middle during the swinging. Therefore, good operation feeling of the operation buttons 21 and 22 can be obtained, and an appropriate operation load can be obtained, so that operability is improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where a trackball is used as the coordinate information input device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other types of coordinate information input device such as a mouse. It is clear. Further, in the above embodiment, the encoders 14c and 15c and the photocouplers 14d and 15d are used as the detecting means of the detecting units 14 and 15, but the rotating shafts 14b and 15d are used.
As long as the rotation amount and the rotation direction of 15b can be detected, any configuration of detection means can be used.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation button is supported by the curved arm, and the intermediate portion is separated from the stop member in the stationary position. For this reason, when the operation button is operated, the arm first swings with its support end as a fulcrum, and after the intermediate portion of the arm contacts the stop member, the arm is moved to the stop member. It swings with the contact point with the fulcrum. Thereby, until the arm abuts the stop member, a smooth operation feeling is obtained by the entire elastic deformation of the curved arm, and after the arm abuts the stop member, the arm is operated from the intermediate portion. The load required for the switch operation is obtained by the elastic deformation of the relatively short portion up to the portion supporting the button. Therefore, a good operation feeling of the operation button can be obtained, and the operation load can be stabilized. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent coordinate information input device which can improve the operability of the operation buttons provided on the side surface of the case with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a coordinate information input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the coordinate information input device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the inside of the coordinate information input device of FIG. 1;

4 shows a frame section of the coordinate information input device of FIG. 1,
(A) is a plan view, and (b) is a side view.

5A and 5B show a shape of a spring used in the frame unit of FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a front view, and FIG. 5C is a side view.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an internal configuration of an example of a conventional coordinate information input device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the coordinate information input device of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line XX showing a main part of the coordinate information input device of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Coordinate information input device (trackball) 11 Case 12 Frame part 13 Ball 14 X-axis detector 15 Y-axis detector 14a, 15a Roller 14b, 15b Rotary axis 14c, 15c Encoder 14d, 15d Photocoupler 16, 17 Supporting part 18 , 19 bearing 20 spring 20b, 20c end 20d, 20e bent tip 21, 22 operation button 23, 24 microswitch 25, 26 arm 27 support 28, 29 rib (stop member)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ball for inputting coordinate information housed rotatably in a case, an X-axis detection unit and a Y-axis detection unit for detecting a horizontal rotation amount and a rotation direction perpendicular to the ball with respect to the ball. And at least two operation buttons arranged vertically above and outside the side surface of the case, wherein each of the operation buttons is held at a tip of an arm that extends from the inside of the case and extends in a curved manner. During operation, the arm moves inward due to the elastic deformation of the arm, contacts the switch member to perform on / off operation, and the arm moves inward during operation of each operation button. A coordinate information input device, wherein a stop member with which an intermediate portion is to contact is provided in a case.