MXPA01001627A

MXPA01001627A - Input device for control signals for controlling the movement of an object represented on a display device and graphic display having said input device

Info

Publication number: MXPA01001627A
Application number: MXPA/A/2001/001627A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Bernd Frohlich; John Plate
Original assignee: Froehlich Bernd; Gmd Forschungszentrum Informationstechnik Gmbh; John Plate
Priority date: 1998-09-08
Filing date: 2001-02-13
Publication date: 2001-09-07

Abstract

The input device for control signals for controlling the movement of an object represented on a display device is fitted with a housing (24) and three control signal generating devices (38, 40, 42) to generate first control signals. The input device also comprises three actuating organs (32, 34, 36) disposed orthogonally in relation to each other, wherein each organ is mounted in such a way that it may be displaced linearly along a spatial axis (x, y, z) on or in the housing (24) and protrudes outwards above the housing (24) in two opposite areas of said housing (24). Each actuating organ (32, 34, 36) interacts with one of the control signal generating devices (38, 40, 42), wherein the control signal generating devices (38, 40, 42) generate the first control signals depending on the displacement position of the actuating organs (32, 34, 35). Spatial orientation of the housing (24) is recognized by a position recognition sensor (46) and representation on the display is adjusted in correspondence with the position and location of the housing (24).

Description

Input device for control signals to control the movement of an object represented in a visual presentation and presentation device movement of an object represented in a visual presentation device and for a visual presentation device, the representation of which is controlled by means of an input device for control signal. Input devices for control signal are known, e.g., in the form of mouse devices. Using such input devices could be controlled and influenced, for example, the cursor movement on a monitor or - in the case of a user program - for example, the display on a visual display device, e.g. a monitor It could be advantageous in a plurality of applications to have suitable specific representation input devices which, due to their structure, make it easier for a user to control representations without difficulty, in particular stereographic representations, in a visual presentation device, eg a monitor From US-A-5 734 370, an input device for a visual presentation device is known, with which an object could be moved in the visual presentation device. The known input device comprises a rod that can be pivoted within the housing of the input device on two mutually parallel axes and can be moved on its longitudinal axis. The known input device serves to control an application of a virtual source. In addition to a cubic input device of US-A-5 729 249, lateral surfaces having sensitive regions or driving elements for manipulating an object presented in a visual display device are known. This known input device is unfavorable, in that the arrangement and the orientation of its actuating elements do not correspond to the directions in which the object can be moved by means of the actuating elements or in which the representation can be manipulated. The object of the present invention is to provide an input device for control signal of the type mentioned above, as well as a graphic representation using this input device, to allow a more favorable handling to the user. To solve the objective, the invention provides an input device for control signal for a display device, the input device is provided with - a housing, three control signal generation devices for generating the first control signals for the display device, three mutually orthogonal driving elements, each supported on or within the housing for linear displacement along one of the three orthogonal spatial axes and projecting outwardly beyond the housing within at least one of two opposite portions of the housing, respectively, each drive element cooperates respectively with a device different from the control signal generation devices, and wherein, depending on the position of movement of the drive elements, the control signal generation devices generate the first control signals for moving the object in the display device along three directions corresponding to the spatial axes of the housing in the display, and - an arrangement of the position detection detector provided within or in the housing, the position detecting arrangement detects the orientation and / or the position of the housing and generates a control signal corresponding to the display device to orient the object in the display device according to the orientation and position of the housing. In a variant, the present input device comprises - a housing, three control signal generating devices for generating the first control signals for the display device, - three pairs of drive elements, both drive elements in each pair are arranged in different, in particular opposite, portions of the housing which rests on a respective axis of three orthogonal spatial axes extending through the housing, each pair of actuating elements cooperate respectively with a device different from the control signal generation devices, and wherein, depending on the condition for driving the drive elements (eg, drive time and / or drive pressure), the control signal generating devices generate the first control signals for the movement of the object in the display device along the three directions that correspond to the spatial axes of the accommodation in the di visual display device, and - an arrangement of the position detection detector provided inside or in the housing, the position detection arrangement senses the orientation and / or the position of the housing and generates a control signal corresponding to the visual display device to orient the object in the visual presentation device according to the orientation and position of the accommodation. A visual presentation system of the present invention comprises - a visual presentation device and - an input device for generating control signals for displacing and / or orienting and / or positioning the object to be represented, and / or displacing the sectional views along the axes, the input device is configured according to one of the variants described previously. In the present input device, the actuating elements, which when acting, generate the first control signals to control the visual display device, are arranged on the three mutual orthogonal spatial axes extending through the housing. These drive elements project from the housing in at least three locations, preferably in six locations. These drive elements are either linear displacement elements such as rods or the like, or pairs of drive elements such as telephone-type push-buttons / switches located in pairs within opposite portions of the housings on the three orthogonal axes. Such an input device for control signal is particularly useful for three-dimensionally influencing a stereographic representation in a visual presentation, or for controlling a perspective representation in a visual presentation along three axes corresponding to the perspective or for moving, positioning or Orient an object that will be represented in the visual presentation. WE1 displacement of the object "should be understood in a broad sense in the context of this invention In general, it refers to a manipulation of the object representation in the direction of Lca three spatial axes, for example, the present input device allows" pass "comfortably through bodies presented in the visual presentation device along three axes to have thus, eg, the different section views along the three axes presented In the present case, the section views are The object and "move" when they pass through the body.This could be advantageous, for example, in the field of medicine and in the planning of surgery to pass through a part of the body, such as the head to Along a number of axes, making it "transparent" for the doctor or surgeon.An additional alternative to the "displacement of the object" is to move the object within its environment represented in the device. vo of visual presentation. The exact positional orientation of the input device with respect to the representation in the visual presentation, in such a way that the three axes in which the drive elements of the input device are located to correspond to the three axes of the representation in the visual presentation, is made in the present invention to provide the input device, eg , with a position of inertia and arrangement of the orientation detector or an arrangement of the orientation and / or position detector. Such a detector array should be sensitive on the three spatial axes. An additional detector thus guarantees that the change of representation in the visual presentation expected by the user can in fact be carried out according to the pivoting of the input device. Through this detector, the input device is almost coupled to the representation in the visual presentation or vice versa. The advantage of the present input device is the simplicity of the control of the representation in the visual presentation device. Due to the exact positional automatic orientation of the input device with the representation (object) in the visual presentation, the action of the actuating elements corresponds to a corresponding change in the representation (object) in the visual presentation. Through the coupling of the orientation of the input device and the represented object, the arrangement of the drive elements in or within the housing of the input device corresponds to the axes along or over which the representation can be manipulated (eg displacement of the section planes of an object or displacement of the same object along three orthogonal axes). The main idea of the invention is to provide the user with an input device that represents a three-dimensional coordinate system. In the simplest form, the input device is a housing through which three orthogonal rods capable of moving in three directions, and possibly rotating, extend to represent the three coordinate axes. By means of an arrangement of the position detector integrated in the input device, a coordinate system of a three-dimensional application is always synchronized with the orientation of the input device. Thus, a displacement or rotation of the rods results in a displacement or rotation of a graphic object in the corresponding direction. When the input device is maintained in such a way that the points of the z-axis ascend, for example, the graphic object is also represented with its z-axis having ascending points. When the rod corresponding to the z-axis is pushed down, the graphic object also moves downwards. When the input device is turned to the right up to 90 °, the graphic object is also rotated to the right up to 90 °, and a displacement of the z-axis rod, now pointing to the right, results in a displacement of the graphic object to the left or to the right. This direct relationship between the manipulation of the input device and the graphic output that results from it, makes the use of the input device very easy and intuitively understandable for the user. In an advantageous development of the invention, it is further provided that the housing has a parallelepiped shape, in particular a cubic shape, with six side walls and that the actuating elements, when supported on or within the housing by linear displacement, extend from all the side walls, the ends of each drive element project from two opposite parallel side walls of the housing. When three pairs of drive elements are provided, such as three pairs of telephone type switches, these drive elements are located on all side walls of the cubic housing. As an alternative, the accommodation could be spherical. It is also conceivable to give the housing an external contour that is the same as the outer contour of the object to be represented. For example, the housing has the shape of a human head when such a head is represented in the visual presentation. The arrangement of the actuating elements corresponds then to the possible manipulation of the representation of the head in the visual presentation. By means of the additional drive elements or by means of a rotating or otherwise mobile support of the drive elements, which could also be arranged in the linear displacement drive elements, for example, it is possible to generate control signals. additional control with the present input device. Additional telephone-type switches or other switches could be used, for example, to perform display functions such as scaling the displayed body or object, or rotating it. Eventually, it is also conceivable that such additional drive elements can be used to perform visual display functions similar to a slight inclination of the section plane represented on an axis. This application could be of interest in technology or structural education. As a structural modality of these additional drive elements, one could contemplate swiveling segments or knurled pulleys in addition to telephone type switches and other switches. Generally speaking, the present input device can be equipped with all conventional drive elements known per se for electrical appliances. When using moving actuating elements projecting from the housing of the input device, such as rods or the like, it is advantageous in terms of comfortable use when the rods are centered and automatically returned to this central position ( eg by means of reset springs) when they have been deflected (displaced) from this rest position. To move the ends of the rods more or less within the housing, the speed of the representation change in the display can be controlled. This control function is the same with drive elements formed as telephone-type switches where the speed of the change of the representation is controlled through the actuation time. The following is a detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings. In the figures Fig. 1 illustrates "a first embodiment of an input device of the display control, and Fig. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of an input device." Fig. 1 illustrates a display device 10 in. The form of a monitor, the screen 12 ^ t " sectional views through the body 14 may be shown falling on the planes 16, 18 and 20. The required control signals are connected via an input device 22 with a cube-shaped housing .24. Therefore, the housing 24 has three pairs of parallel side walls 26, 28, 30. Three rods 32, 34, 36 extend through the housing 24, which are orthogonal to one another and exit the side surfaces 26. , 28, 30 with its ends. The rods 32, 34, 35 are supported in the housing 24 by linear displacement; depending on the displacement position, the control signals are generated in signal generation devices 38, 40, 42 associated with the rods, which, in the present case, serve to displace the section planes 16, 18, 20 by path of the drive device 44 of the display 10. A position and orientation detector detects the position and orientation of the input device 22. The output signal of this optical, acoustic or electromagnetic detector 46 is also used to control the display in the display device 10 through the drive device 44. As a consequence, the coordinate system of the display in the display device 10 rotates with the orientation of the rods 32, 34, 36 of the input device 22 in the space (of the coordinate system of the input device). Additional functions of the representation, such as the displacement of the object 14 along the three axes of the coordinate system of the representation, can be realized through the additional drive elements 48 located in the housing 24. Through these elements of drive 28, a fine rotation of the position of the respective plane and / or a slight inclination of the representation of the section plane on a respective axis of the three axes could be effected and / or the display scaled. Through another of these additional drive elements 48, for example, the "coupling" mentioned before the input device 22 with the display in the display 12 can be interrupted or reset selectively. Thus, it is possible, similar to taking a mouse from a pad and placing the mouse in another location, to move the body 14 on the screen by alternating several times the input device 22. The rotation of the drive elements 32, 34, 36 it could be used, eg, for the fine linear position of planes 16, 18, 20. Eventually, the ones are supported. 32, 34, 36 for rotation on their longitudinal axes, to thus allow additional object functions of visual presentation or movement on the screen 12 that can be controlled via the input device 22. Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a input device 22 ', wherein similar parts of the input device 22 * have been given the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1. The input device 22' differs from the input device 22 of Fig. 1 in which it further comprises rotationally supported rotating drive elements, formed as rotary knobs 50, 52, 54 or rotating handles, and arranged concentrically on the rods 32, 34, 36. The rotation of the rotary knobs 50, 52, 54 is detects in units 56, 58, 60 and becomes drive signals to influence the movement and / or the representation of the object, in particular the rotation of the object. Due to the separate rotating elements, the rotation of a graphic object can be completely separated from the displacement, which could be desirable. With rotating rods, a displacement of the rod also more often results in a slight rotation of the rod. This is not a problem when the rotation of the rods is used, e.g., for a fine adjustment of the displacement. However, the input device 22 'has a means 62 for manipulating the movement of the rods 32, 34, 36 and of the rotary knobs 50, 52, 54. This means 62 is controlled or activated depending on the position of the object. in the display 12. For example, when the object moves against an obstacle while the rods 32, 34, 36 act, the means 62 prevents further movement of the respective rod or rods and knob or turn knobs. Thus, the representation on the screen is coupled with the freedom of movement of the rods 32, 34, 36 and the rotary knobs 50, 52, 54. The means 62 could comprise drive means, e.g. stepper motors, kinematically coupled to the rods and turn knobs. While the braking device prevents further movement of the rods 32, 34, 36 and of the rotary knobs 50, 52, 54, the actuating means is capable of moving the rods 32, 34, 36 and the rotary knobs 50, 52, 54 (back), when this is possible and it is desired to give the given type of representation in the visual presentation. It should be noted that an active movement and / or locking of the actuating elements in the form of a rod 32, 34, 36 depending on the position of the object within its environment, represented in the visual presentation device, can be carried out independently of the presence of the position detector arrangement and, therefore, justifies legal protection by itself within the scope of the present invention.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. An input device for control signals to control the movement of an object represented in a visual presentation device, characterized in that it comprises - a housing, three control signal generation devices for generating the first control signals for the presentation device visual, - 'three mutually orthogonal driving elements, which are each supported on or within the housing for linear displacement along one of the three orthogonal spatial axes (x, y, z) and projecting outwards more beyond the housing within at least one of two opposite portions of the housing, respectively, each drive element cooperates respectively with a device different from the control signal generation devices, and wherein, depending on the position of movement of the drive elements, the control signal generation devices generate the first You were control signals for moving the object on the display device along three directions corresponding to the spatial axes ^^ housing on the device of p is jX-l < - ^ n visual, and - a _art -? giü "of the position detection detector provided inside or in the housing, the position detection arrangement detects the orientation and / or position of the housing and generates a corresponding control signal to the visual presentation device for orienting the object in the visual presentation device according to the orientation and position of the housing

2. The input device of the claim 1, characterized in that the actuating elements are supported inside or in the housing around a rest position, in particular centered on a rest position, and move back automatically in the rest position in the displacement thereof.

3. The entry device of the claim 2, characterized in that, only in a displacement of the rest position, the control signal generating devices will generate control signals depending on the direction and / or degree of displacement.

4. An input device for control signals for controlling the movement of an object represented in a visual presentation device, characterized in that it comprises - a housing, - three control signal generating devices for generating the first control signals for the visual display device, - three pairs of drive elements, both drive elements in each pair are arranged in different, in particular opposite, portions of the housing resting on a respective axis of three orthogonal spatial axes extending through the housing each pair of drive elements respectively cooperate with a device different from the control signal generation devices, and where, depending on the drive condition of the drive elements (eg, drive time and / or pressure drive), the control signal generation devices generate the first control signals for the movement of the object in the display device along three directions corresponding to the spatial axes of the housing in the display, and - an arrangement of the position detection detector provided within or in the housing, the position detection arrangement detects the orientation and / or the position of the housing and generates a control signal corresponding to the visual presentation device, to orient the object in the visual presentation device according to the orientation and position of the accommodation.

5. The input device of one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drive elements are supported on or inside the housing to rotate on their axes (x, y, z) that extend in the respective direction of travel and where the control signal generation devices generate the second signals control for the display device, depending on the rotational positions of the drive elements. The input device of one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a rotating drive element is provided per drive element, which is rotated about the axis of the associated drive element which extends in the direction of travel ( x; Y; z), and wherein the control signal generating devices or additional control signal generating devices generate second control signals for the display device, depending on the rotational position of the rotary drive elements. The input device of claim 6, characterized in that the drive elements penetrate the rotating drive elements. The input device of one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in or inside the housing, telephone-type switches or switches or other actuation elements are arranged to provide additional control signals to the display device. The input device of one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that by means of drive element and - if provided - by rotating drive element, a means to prevent further displacement or rotation, the means that is controlled by the device of visual presentation depending on the position of an object represented in the visual presentation device, is within an environment also represented in the visual presentation device. The input device of claim 9, characterized in that the prevention means comprise a mechanical braking / locking device for locking the respective actuating element and / or the rotating element, or an actuating means for moving or rotating the element. of drive and / or the rotary drive element. The input device of one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the housing is in the form of a parallelepiped, in particular a hub, and the actuating elements extend out of all the side walls of the housing or are arranged in all the side walls of the housing. The input device of one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the housing is spherical in shape and the actuating elements emerge from or are arranged substantially in diametrically opposite regions. The input device of one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the housing substantially corresponds to the external contour of an object to be presented in the visual presentation device and the actuating elements are arranged corresponding to the axes, along which the object could be controlled in its representation. 14. A visual presentation system for representing sectional views of an object that are adapted to travel along orthogonal axes, characterized in that it comprises - a visual presentation device and - an input device for generating control signals to move and / u to orient and / or position the object to be represented, and / or to move the section views along the axes (x, y, z), the input device is configured according to one of the previous claims.