KR100746210B1 - Apparatus for inputting curser in mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cursor input device of a portable terminal. An apparatus of the present invention is a cursor input device for moving a cursor of a portable terminal, the cursor movement key for performing a key input to apply a pressure along the circular circumference so that the cursor can move in all directions, the pressure the cursor movement key is pressed And an image sensor for obtaining an image of the outgoing light of the cursor moving pin, the cursor moving pin emitting light and forming an angle corresponding to the direction. Therefore, the device of the present invention can move the cursor in the direction of 360 degrees to the cursor input device, so that key input can be performed more conveniently, thereby providing an effect of increasing user satisfaction.

Cursor input, image sensor,

Description

Apparatus for inputting curser in mobile terminal

1A is a perspective view of a mobile phone having a touch screen type cursor input device;

1B is a perspective view of a mobile phone having a track ball type cursor input device;

2 is an internal configuration block diagram of a general cursor input device;

3A is a view showing a movement path of an input device;

3b is a view showing a movement path of a cursor;

4 is a mobile phone equipped with a cursor input device of the present invention,

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 4;

6A is a perspective view of a cursor input device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

6b is an image obtained by the cursor input device;

7A is a perspective view showing a state of use of the cursor input device of the present invention;

7B is a view for explaining an image acquired in the using state of FIG. 7A;

8A is a perspective view of a cursor input device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

8B is a view for explaining an image acquired in the using state of FIG. 8A;

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

40: Cursor input device 41: Cursor movement key

42: cursor moving pin 43: lens

44: image sensor

The present invention relates to a key input device of a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a cursor input device for operating a mobile phone or the like by moving the cursor displayed on the screen.

Recently, with the rapid development of communication technology, a mobile communication system has been developed that enables an individual to communicate with another person while moving from an arbitrary place or from one place to another. In addition, the portable wireless terminal used in the mobile communication system is provided with a variety of additional service functions in addition to the simple call function provided in the prior art to provide convenience for users. As a portable wireless terminal (hereinafter referred to as a cellular phone) has various additional service functions added, the user can directly control menus of various services displayed through a display device, such as menu selection keys, numeric keys, and up and down position control keys. By pressing, the menu of the corresponding service can be selected. However, when a user inputs a Korean, English, symbol text message or searches an Internet menu using a conventional mobile phone, a user may repeatedly select a menu of a corresponding service each time or repeatedly press a corresponding function key in which a text is set.

Furthermore, thanks to the rapid development of mobile communication field and development of portable terminal, it is possible to search data, perform work, and network game using internet through mobile phone. In addition, portable game machines capable of playing online games through internet access are being developed. Since menu navigation using a keypad is not suitable for window systems in icon arrangement or menu selection, an input device that functions as a mouse of a computer is required for a portable terminal to perform such a function.

As such an input device, a touch screen that sends an input signal by applying pressure to the screen as shown in FIG. 1A and a track ball that moves a cursor on the screen by moving a round ball and moving the ball as shown in FIG. 1B are used. have.

       1A illustrates a mobile phone having a touch screen-type cursor input device, and includes a housing 109 having a predetermined shape and a touch provided on one side of the housing 109 to display a plurality of pieces of information and simultaneously perform information input. A screen 103, a cover 107 provided to protect the upper side of the touch screen 103 and additionally input a plurality of functions, and a key panel 101 provided on the inner side of the cover 107. And a driving pen 105 configured to execute a selection or a corresponding command corresponding to the icon by applying pressure to the icon displayed on the touch screen 103.

       As described above, the portable terminal having the cursor input device of the touch screen 103 type becomes smaller in size due to the miniaturization of the portable terminal, and the icons displayed on the touch screen 103 also become smaller. Since it is difficult to accurately touch an icon on the touch screen 103 with the body part, a thin pen-shaped tool such as the driving pen 105 must be used to accurately select a small icon.

       FIG. 1B illustrates a mobile phone having a trackball type cursor operating device, the cover 119 having a screen 111 on an inner side thereof, and a key panel fastened to face the cover 119 and inputting a plurality of pieces of information upon opening. The main body 121 having the main body 121 and the track ball 115 for selecting a plurality of icons displayed on the screen 111 are shown at one end of the main body 121. In addition, the cover 119 is provided with a track ball groove 117 in a position opposite to the track ball 115 to facilitate the coupling of the cover 119 and the main body 121.

       The user drives the trackball 115 to move the cursor 123 displayed on the screen 111 to instruct one icon among a plurality of icons, and then selects the icon corresponding to the icon by operating a specific key of the key panel 113. The command or the corresponding command to be executed.

       An internal block diagram of the cursor input device will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

       2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a general cursor input device.

       Referring to Fig. 2, the cursor input device manipulates the operation key 11 to move the cursor to a plurality of link locations on the screen of the Internet terminal, and manipulates the execution key 12 to process link information of the link location. It is.

       The link coordinate calculation unit 24 calculates the position coordinates of a plurality of link locations on the screen existing in a predetermined angle range with respect to the operation direction of the operation key 11 or stops the continuous operation of the operation key 11. The position coordinates of a plurality of link locations on the screen existing in all directions with respect to the position of the cursor are calculated. The cursor coordinate calculation unit 23 calculates the position coordinates of the cursor on the screen based on the operation information from the operation key 11. The minimum distance calculation unit 25 calculates the distance between the position coordinates of the plurality of link locations calculated by the link coordinate calculation unit 24 and the position coordinates of the cursor calculated by the cursor coordinate calculation unit 23, and the distance is minimum. Calculate the link location. The cursor moving unit 26 moves the cursor to the link location calculated by the minimum distance calculating unit 25.

       3A is a movement path of the operation key of FIG. 2.

       Referring to FIG. 3A, when the operation key is moved from the position of the link 3 to the point a, according to the above-described conventional technique, it is included within a predetermined angle with respect to the moving direction at the point of time and positioned at the closest distance. Link 6. Thus, the operation key has moved from the link 3 to the point a, but the cursor on the web browser moves from the link 3 to the link 6 as shown in FIG. 3B.

In the case of the touch screen type of the conventional cursor input device, carrying the driving pen 105 is not only very inconvenient but also may cause loss of the driving pen. In addition, the touch screen type portable terminal is suitable for general menu navigation, but in performing a function of providing various contents such as a game, an item displayed by a tool for touching the touch screen is obscured. Since only the hand supports it, the user has a disadvantage in that there is no stability when using the mobile device. In addition, in the case of the trackball type, it is difficult to miniaturize the portable terminal due to the large volume of the trackball, and the movement distance of the cursor is changed according to the distance and the speed at which the trackball is rolled. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that frequent failures. In addition, in the trackball type cursor input device, an operation key that functions to operate an icon like a left and right button in a mouse is often located in a key panel. In this case, the trackball and an operation key are adjacent to the key panel. Because it is concentrated, it was inconvenient to operate using both hands. In addition, when the operation key of FIG. 2 is used as an input device, the upper and lower sinusoids are recognized at an angle of 90 degrees and calculated to recognize a direction, but the angle of 360 degrees cannot be recognized as a direction.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a more convenient cursor input device because the cursor can be moved in the 360-degree direction to the cursor input device to solve the above problems.

Cursor input device according to the present invention for achieving the above object in the cursor input device for moving the cursor of the portable terminal, performing a key input to apply a pressure along the circumference of the circle to move the cursor in all directions And a cursor moving pin which forms an angle corresponding to the pressure direction in which the cursor moving key is pressed, and emits light, and an image sensor for obtaining an image of the emitted light of the cursor moving pin.

According to the present invention, the apparatus further comprises a lens for transmitting the light emitted from the cursor moving pin to be sensed by the image sensor.

In addition, according to the present invention, the cursor movement key is characterized in that the pressing piece is formed along the circumference of the circle.

In addition, according to the present invention, the cursor moving pin is characterized in that it comprises a light emitting body for emitting light therein and a hole for emitting light from the light emitting body.

In addition, according to the present invention, the image sensor is characterized in that to obtain a point-shaped image.

Another cursor input device according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a cursor input device for moving the cursor of the portable terminal, a key input for applying a pressure along the circumference of the circle to move the cursor in all directions Cursor movement key for performing a, a cone-shaped cursor moving pin to form an angle corresponding to the pressure direction the cursor movement key is pressed, and an image sensor for obtaining an image of the cone of the cursor moving pin.

In addition, according to the present invention, the cursor movement key is characterized in that the pressing piece is formed along the circumference of the circle.

In addition, according to the present invention, the image sensor is characterized in that to obtain a conical image.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying Figures 4 to 7 will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a mobile phone equipped with a cursor input device of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the upper case has a screen 20 for outputting a screen and a cursor 30 for selecting a menu, etc. on the screen 20, and the lower case has a key panel 10 including numeric keys. It is provided. The cursor input device 40 of the present invention protrudes from the lower part of the key panel 10, and the cursor input device 40 is a device capable of inputting a cursor in a 360 degree direction as well as up, down, left, and right. Cursor input device 40 is a circular button shape is a structure to move the cursor when the pressure is applied along the outer periphery.

       The user presses the pressure in the moving direction of the desired cursor 30 in the 360 degree direction along the outer circumference of the cursor input device 40. Then, after moving the cursor 30 displayed on the screen 20 to indicate a desired icon, by operating a specific key of the key panel 10, a selection or a corresponding command corresponding to the icon is executed. That is, the user may move the cursor 30 in the 360 degree direction along the outer circumferential surface of the cursor input device 40.

To describe the cursor input device in more detail, the A-A section will be described.

5 is a cross-sectional view of A-A of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, the cursor input device 40 includes a circular cursor move key 41 for applying pressure to the user, a cursor move pin 42 that moves in correspondence with the cursor move key 41, and emits light. And a lens 43 for collecting and transmitting the light from the moving pin 42, and an image sensor 44 for sensing the light transmitted through the lens 43.

In Fig. 5, the cursor movement key 41 is circular and can apply pressure in all directions 360 degrees, and thus is a circular button for moving the cursor. That is, the cursor movement key 41 forms a pressing piece along a circular circumference. In addition, the cursor moving pin 42 has a light-emitting body in the shape of a cone, and a hole for emitting light at the end of the cone. The light emitting body may use a laser diode, in addition to using a light emitting device, and the light emitted through the hole is emitted toward the lens 43. The cursor moving pin 42 is attached to the rear surface of the cursor moving key 41 and moves correspondingly according to the pressure of the cursor moving key 41. At this time, as the cursor movement pin 42 moves, the emission direction of the emitted light in the hole for emitting the light also changes. The emitted light is collected through the lens 43 and collected in the form of a light spot on the image sensor 44. Therefore, the image sensor 44 can obtain an image in the form of a point. Then, the cursor on the screen can be moved by converting the point image into a coordinate value.

6 and 7 show perspective views of such a cursor input device.

6A is a perspective view of a cursor input device of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the state when the cursor movement key 41 of the cursor input device 40 is not operated and is in a horizontal state is shown. The arrow of the cursor movement key 41 is intended to show that the direction in which the pressure is applied is all 360 degrees. When the cursor movement key 41 is not operated to move the cursor, the light emitted from the light emitter passes through the hole as the outgoing light through the center of the cursor moving pin 42 and enters the center of the lens 43. . Incident light incident on the center of the lens 43 passes through the lens 43 and is sensed in the center of the image sensor 44.

The image thus obtained is as shown in FIG. 6B. That is, since the light spot is sensed in the center of the image, the obtained image is also shown as a point shape in the center. This state may indicate that no operation for moving the cursor is performed.

On the other hand, the case where the cursor movement key 41 for the movement of the cursor is manipulated will be described with reference to Figures 7a and 7b.

Figure 7a is a perspective view showing a state of use of the cursor input device of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a state in which the user applies pressure to the upper left side of the cursor movement key 41 is shown. At this time, when the user applies pressure to the upper left of the cursor movement key 41, the cursor movement pin 42 moves by the pressure and bends at a predetermined angle. At this time, the light emitted from the light emitter is emitted through the hole and passed through the lens 43 to be sensed by the image sensor 44. The image at this time is as shown in Fig. 7b.

7B shows an image obtained by the use state of FIG. 7A as a point.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the image obtained at this time is biased toward the upper right in the shape of a point P1. That is, the point P1 can be moved along the x and y axes to obtain coordinate values (x, y), where D is proportional to the speed. Therefore, the cursor can be moved by calculating the movement amount of the cursor from the coordinates of the point located at the center. It is apparent that the coordinate calculation by such a point can be implemented using a known technique, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

8A is a perspective view of a cursor input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the cursor moving pin 42 has a cone shape, and moves the cursor to an image of a cone obtained from the image sensor 44. That is, when pressure is applied to the upper left side of the cursor movement key 41, the cursor movement pin 42 moves by the pressure and bends at a predetermined angle (dotted line display). The image sensor 44 then obtains an image of a cone. This is shown in Figure 8b.

FIG. 8B is a diagram for describing an image acquired in the use state of FIG. 8A.

Referring to FIG. 8B, the obtained image is in the shape of a cone, and a point P2 at the end of the cone can be obtained, and the point P2 is deviated to the upper right side. That is, the point P2 can be moved along the x and y axes to obtain coordinate values (x, y), where D is proportional to the speed. In this way, the cursor can be moved by calculating the movement amount of the cursor from the coordinates of the point located at the center.

Therefore, the device of the present invention can move the cursor in the direction of 360 degrees to the cursor input device, so that key input can be performed more conveniently, thereby providing an effect of increasing user satisfaction.

Claims (8)

In the cursor input device for moving the cursor of the portable terminal, Cursor movement key to form a pressing piece along the circular circumference to perform a key press to apply pressure along the circular circumference to move the cursor in all directions; A cursor moving pin which forms an angle corresponding to the pressure direction in which the cursor moving key is pressed and emits light; And And an image sensor for acquiring an image of the outgoing light of the cursor moving pin. The method of claim 1, The device is And a lens for transmitting the light emitted from the cursor moving pin to be sensed by the image sensor. delete The method of claim 1, Cursor moving pin And a hole for emitting light from the light emitter and a hole for emitting light from the emitter therein. The method of claim 1, The image sensor Cursor input device of a portable terminal, characterized in that to obtain a point-shaped image. In the cursor input device for moving the cursor of the portable terminal, Cursor movement key for performing key input to apply pressure along the circumference of the circle so that the cursor can move in all directions; A cone-shaped cursor moving pin forming an angle corresponding to the pressure direction in which the cursor moving key is pressed; And And an image sensor for acquiring an image of a cone of the cursor moving pin. The method of claim 6, The cursor movement key is a cursor input device of a portable terminal, characterized in that to form a pressing piece along a circular circumference. The method of claim 6, The image sensor Cursor input device of a portable terminal, characterized by acquiring a conical image.

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