WO2002071322A2

WO2002071322A2 - Input device for data processing equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2002071322A2
Application number: PCT/DE2002/000536
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wieland JÜRGENS
Original assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-03-06
Filing date: 2002-02-14
Publication date: 2002-09-12
Also published as: WO2002071322A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an input device for data processing equipment, comprising a panel that can be displaced within a predetermined area and that is positioned in the vicinity of the housing surface of a data processing device. The input device also has a displacement and/or position and/or force detection device for determining displacement information provided by a user by means of the displacement of the panel.

Description

description

Input device for data processing systems

The invention relates to an input device, in particular for mobile data processing systems.

Various input devices for data processing systems are known. The so-called mouse has established itself as an input device for moving a cursor on a screen. The movement of the mouse in relation to a fixed part, for example a table top, is recorded and displayed on the screen as movement of the cursor. To determine the movements of the mouse, balls are known which rotate according to the movement and via mechanical ones

Sensors is monitored. Optical systems are also known which either monitor the ball movement optically or evaluate the movement of the mouse relative to mouse pads provided with grid lines.

For mobile data processing systems, so-called notebooks, the mouse is only of limited use as an input device, since it is carried as a separate device and thus takes up space. The idea of implementing the movement by a sphere was adopted in notebooks in such a way that a movable sphere is arranged between the keys of a keyboard, which can be operated with the finger and which generates a signal corresponding to the sphere movement. A type of control stick is also known which, like a joystick, converts the movement of a finger into a movement of a cursor on the screen.

Another possible solution is provided by providing a sensitive sensor surface, the position and movement of a finger on this sensor surface being evaluated. However, such so-called touch pads are used Needs attention and does not meet the ergonomic requirements of all users.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an input device which can also be integrated into a mobile data processing system, but at the same time is easy to use.

This object is achieved by an input device for data processing systems with a plate which is movable in a predetermined area and is arranged in the vicinity of the housing surface of the data processing device, and a movement and / or position and / or force detection device for determining a user movement information given by movement of the plate.

The advantage of a movable plate is that the finger does not have to move in relation to a fixed surface, which many users find unnatural, but the finger rests firmly on the movable plate. In addition, only a suitable detection device has to be provided in order to detect the movement of the disk and to make it accessible to the data processing system as electronic information. To determine a movement, for example, a solution comparable to the mouse can be used, in which the movement of a ball that can be rotated in all directions is evaluated and displayed on the screen as a cursor movement.

A second, more elegant possibility is to determine the movement of the movable plate via a contactless sensor, one component of the sensor being arranged in the movable plate and another component in the fixed part of the housing. For example, a plurality of conductive surface segments are provided in the movable plate, contact surfaces cooperating with them being arranged in the housing. Change when moving the plate the capacitances of the capacitors formed by the contact surfaces and it can be seen in which position the movable plate is now.

As a third possibility, force sensors can be provided in the possible movement coordinates of the plate, it being possible to use the force exerted on them to determine the speed at which a mouse pointer is to be moved on the screen.

Since the devices according to the invention can be implemented in a very space-saving manner, they can be easily integrated into a portable data processing system.

The development of the movable plate with control buttons, as are known in principle from the mouse, is particularly advantageous. In previously known input devices for mobile data processing systems, the additional control buttons are provided separately from the input device, whereas in the proposed arrangement it is not necessary to release the finger from the movable plate.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment. It shows:

FIG. 1 shows an input device as part of a notebook,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a first exemplary embodiment of an input device according to the invention,

FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an input device according to the invention,

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of an input device according to the invention and Figure 5 shows a detailed representation of a mechanical implementation.

FIG. 1 shows how an input device according to the invention is arranged on a notebook. The housing 1 of the notebook usually has a relatively wide area below the keyboard 3, in which any elements can be arranged. As a rule, a touch pad described at the beginning is also arranged here. Accordingly, an input device according to the invention is arranged in this area below the keyboard 3, in the case shown on the right side. However, it could also be arranged in the middle or on the left-hand side, ergonomic considerations being taken as a basis here. The input device according to the invention has a movable plate 2 which can be moved within a predetermined range 11. By moving the plate 2, a user transmits movement information, for example for a cursor on a screen. How the movement can be determined is described in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The implementation of the determined information in the movement of the cursor is software-determined and can therefore be individually adapted. In addition, 2 keys 4 are provided on the movable plate, which can be used according to the keys of a mouse. As an additional feature, the plate 2 has a rotatable wheel 5 which can be used, for example, for scrolling up and down the screen contents.

If the movable plate 2 is released after a deflection from the central normal position, a reset mechanism is provided which moves the movable plate back into the normal position.

FIGS. 2 to 4 each show a cross section through an input device according to the invention. In FIG. 2, the movable plate 2 slides on a base plate 12. The movement information is transmitted without contact, this being the case done by two coupling elements 6 and 7. One coupling element 6 is arranged in the movable plate 2 and the other coupling element 7 on the base plate 12. A displacement of the one coupling element 6 relative to the other coupling element 7 can thus be detected. The coupling elements 6 and 7 can be inductive or capacitive components, for example.

Capacitive coupling elements 6 and 7 can be designed such that the coupling element 7 is divided into different sectors. These individual sectors each form a capacitance with the movable coupling element 6, that is to say arranged in the movable plate 2. When the movable plate 2 is displaced, the capacitances of the individual sections of the coupling element 7 change. Due to the capacitances, the position can now be determined the movable plate 2 is located. Inductive coupling elements have a similar structure, the displacement of the plate acting as a change in the coupling factor between two coils. One coil is provided in the movable plate 2 as a coupling element 6 and the other coil as a coupling element 7 in the fixed housing. In this regard, however, numerous design options are known from the prior art, only suitable devices or methods having to be selected here.

In addition, three additional buttons 4 can be seen in FIG. 2, which, as described with reference to FIG. 1, can be used analogously to mouse buttons.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the movement of the movable plate 2 is transmitted via a ball 8. This possibility is known from the commonly used mouse. A plurality of motion sensors 9 are provided in the base plate 12, which record the motion of the ball 8. Based on the movement of the ball 8, conclusions can be drawn about the movement of the movable plate 2 which sets the ball in rotation.

ω u> t to HP ¹

Lπ o CJ1 o LΠ o LΠ

<J rt rt TJ N • τ | i ö d = U d = i CQ <tr> τ | α P "3 J Η tr CQ tr £. tr LΠ M. s; φ Φ P Φ P ¹ dd = d P- tr P- tf φ d Φ Φ Φ PJ PJ Φ φ P- d Φ ¹ Φ Φ Φ Φ P- tr P-

P. CQ P-CQ J d p. d φ Φ φ Φ CQ d P, d Pi CQ CQ P m rt CQ φ P ¹ 3 CQ P- Pi d pr H tr d Hi rt CQ CQ CQ li H CQ tr i Φ Φ tr Φ rt d Φ Φ d CQ P ⁾ Φ pι = Pi

Φ d Pn PJ rt P ⁾ CQ Φ m CQ P- Φ P tr K P- 0 Pi 0 • d LQ d> dnd

CQ CQ rt d Φ. P ¹ CQ Ά PJ Pi φ ddd Φ rt d • d Φ ü SP "CQ P- CQ i Q

CQ Hi φ P <rt K ⁾ CD P- P ¹ i ^• i <> i PI PJ P- CQ φ Φ Φ P- ü

Φ P- P- H Φ d = J tr rt φ φ tr d Q Φ d φ dd rt s; Ω tr P ¹ rt CQ J

P Cfl d Pi d Ω tf Φ φ CQ N d Φ

cQ d P Ω Φ Φ P- pr Φ φ rt J? fido CQ φ φ CQ? f Φ P ¹ d td f 3 CQ pr Q tr Φ rt Pi p. φ Φ P d φ P- Φ d

P "tr d Pi P. Φ CQ P ¹ Φ o CQ PJ = O P- CQ P- pr _^ Φ P- CD Φ P" P- Hi

P- Ω φ P- Hi N P> ^ ≤ Ή φ d Ω, Ω Φ d PJ = 3 J P- P- P- P ¹ rt Ω d pr CQ ω Φ PJ φ CQ P ¹ φ <J ^ P ¹ CQ φ Pf P ¹ Pi ddd <Ω CQ t P-! -f

Φ 0 P- C ⁾ P- Φ ∞ d CQ φ p, φ Φ φ Φ d CQ 3 H ^ Φ pr rt - φ ird ω rt CQ Hi 3 dd KP ⁾ 3 rt 3 d Φ Φ Pi p, Φ H Φ ? f

0 tr P- Pi Φ Φ rt d = P- Pi d σ Hi Φ Φ PJ <Φ CQ 0 Pi 3 φ tr CQ φ 2! rt H J pr Φ φ CQ s- d Φ Pf φ rt CQ P- rt d p- P "φ d CQ tr P- φ P- H P- P- P- Φ d

Φ d H Ω Φ d li H, P ⁱ d CQ rt P ¹ rt H rt CQ Φ φ CQ rt d H d φ PJ d

3 d Φ pr CQ Cd rt i 3 PJ Pi Pi φ Φ Φ tr rt K? F ^ B- H Φ W d rt P- d Φ. Φ Φ CQ Φ d d d P P- P> d = Hi TJ O Φ P- d tf 0 CQ Pi

2 N i ü d 3 dd P- H d CQ rf dd> Ω P ¹ »d P- CQ d <i TJ φ d CQ P- J Φ P- 3 CQ Φ CQ rt tr CQ 0 <! PJ Pi PJ = PJ dd CQ φ P ¹ P- CQ Φ Φ tΛ H φ CQ Hl Pi Φ Φ TJ CQ P Φ Φ rt d J CQ Ω rt Φ Φ H CQ P. PJ rt

:> H CQ φ P- fi φ P- Pi Pi d d = d Hj fi P- d d pr et li 3 Φ CQ rt i H tr Ω d CD d Φ d pr li <! Φ PJ rt d d tr <! CQ P> Φ Φ tr CJl H Ω rt Φ d rt Φ i Ω P, CQ CQ K Ω Φ CQ rt d = φ d CQ Φ cπ P- ^ Φ tf φ d ^ Φ CQ

P- P- tf Ω df HP ¹ rt Ω P ¹ dd = Φ P- N td Φ 0 3 P- rt d Ω

Φ <! d pr O tr d J P- Φ? T o 3 Pi tr P ¹ d P- di P "i φ φ t N P- pr

P- Φ d N CQ o ü Ω CQ P- φ φ Φ Φ CQ P- d φ Φ d tr d <! :: £. α. -> i ii = s CQ Pi tr Pf td rt d P 3 3 rt pr dd CQ P. rt tr P- <Φ H P- li d P "P- CQ • tr φ Φ Φ P ¹ φ rt • φ J CQ ^ PJ do PJ d Q Φ P- Φ 0 Φ Hj P- N LΠ p P- φ d Hi ≤ t_l. CQ 0 φ P> li d P,> Hl PL,

0 P ¹ CQ p. Pi P- rt Fd d 3 CQ α P ¹ rt Φ P- rt Φ CQ TJ P- φ d rt P- d ?? CD CQ P- CQ φ Φ J PJ φ Φ PJ PJ CQ φ φ Pi rt <! d - P tr CQ LQ o Φ Φ o φ »dddi Φ dd & CQ P- rr Pi d Φ d = φ α Pf Φ CQ Φ?

3 d P- Hi o P- rt Pi H Hi Fd d rt CQ CQ φ P. Ω p. td tr P- PJ Q Φ P- Φ

P- r rt i TJ φ Φ LΠ pr «* Pi d H P- rt rt P? F tr P" Φ Φ P ¹ Ω CQ d P- φ IS => φ o Pi d J P- pr Ω Q Φ d α P- φ P- tr f rt Q rt

P- d P ⁾ H CQ φ d P ⁾ d φ Φ tr Ω pr pr 3 PJ d P d 3 CQ TJ p, PJ φ idd H P- CQ td d rt 3 • pr 0 Φ Q CQ LΠ i φ> d P ¹ Φ P- CQ P.

Φ CQ i Φ φ rt CQ P- Hi φ CQ 0 d Φ dd = P ¹ dd P- P ⁾ P- Φ rt rt Φ

CQ rt P- P- P- i d d CQ Φ Q P- P- i tr PJ Φ P- d rt φ rt d tr d Φ Hj

Φ s! CQ d 0 Φ pr Pi 0 P- P- 3 ω N φ Φ d d CQ CQ P "rt Φ Φ d P"

K P "φ Φ Φ d rt CQ Φ Φ rt rt 3 P> = 0 d ü i? Rt CQ J CQ Φ CQ d CQ H Ω

P- P "P- CQ CQ - P- H PI P" P- rt dd φ d CQ d:> Φ rt dd 3 rt Ω P. m rt d P- 0 Pi rt Ω φ H d Φ rt CQ Φ t <d P- Hj

CQ 0 = Φ pr PJ Φ Pi Φ Φ TJ Hi Ω di Φ PJ Φ P- Φ Q P- d = P- 0 CQ CQ J CQ P- d li PJ d P ¹ 0! -F PJ HP "tr dd Ω φ CQ P- P. rt Φ 0 tf P ¹ Pi Φ α. tΛ φ PJ P Φ Φ C ^Q PJ: ta P- Φ π P- Φ CQ CQ d Hi Hj

Φ P- Φ pr φ tr CQ <rt 3 d P- 3 d = d tf ddd rt φ CQ P- i tr Q Ω rt P Φ i? Φ rt J d tr P- tr CQ φ α> τl P ¹ φ Φ CQ Hi d φ Φ

Φ f • φ 3 P- 0 H Φ rt td • Φ rt Φ Φ% Φ! ^ Φ LΠ 3 P- d = Φ d = d s-

H ?? π d Φ Φ> d tr P- φ 3 li rt φ 0 i d tr tr pr i φ

PJ = Φ d α CQ P- to 0 s; ω Φ Hi Φ CQ α, d φ CQ Hi Φ Φ P. Φ CQ rt P- li P- K Φ d d Φ Φ CQ Φ N P- P "Φ rt p. Φ - ~ p. d d d

C rt CQ Φ P ¹ P- 3 ü &. CQ Φ CQ s: P "CQ s- -> p- QJX Φ PJ Φ dd

CQ Φ o CQ φ Ω CQ tf tr P- dd Φ P- rt Φ Ω f P ¹ OXH Φ d CQ ^ Q d P, 3 f Φ P- PJ dd Ω CQ P- CQ Pf H rt -J • d P - Pi P- CQ P- tf tr φ φ rt d P i Q pr rt Φ φ Φ PJ d ω CQ P- φ Φ dd "Φ Φ Φ C ^Q d Φ ddd Hi

It should also be provided that certain software can assign individual meanings to the hardware functions such as movement of the plate or keyboard events.

Reference character list

1 housing

2 movable panels 3 keyboard

4 button

5 movable wheel

6 coupling element

7 coupling element 8 ball

9 motion sensor

10 force sensor

11 specified range of motion

12 base plate 13 sliding element

14 movable connecting element

15 telescopic connector

16 centering springs

17 telescopic spring 18 cables

Claims

claims

1. Input device for data processing systems with

- a plate (2) which is movable in a predetermined region (11) and is arranged in the vicinity of the housing surface (1) of the data processing device, and

a movement and / or position and / or force detection device for determining movement information given by a user by moving the plate (2).

2. Input device according to claim 1, characterized in that ß in the structurally predetermined range of motion (11) in which the plate (2) is movable, the movement of the plate (2) and after reaching the limits of the predetermined range (11) force exerted on the plate is detected.

3. Input device according to claim 1, characterized in that a position information on coupling elements (6, 7) can be transmitted without contact.

4. Input device according to claim 1, characterized in that movement information can be transmitted via a ball (8) to a fixed element (12).

5. Input device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the possible movement coordinates of the plate (2) force sensors (10) are provided for detecting the force exerted on the plate (2) in this direction.

6. Input device according to claim 1, characterized in that additional controls (4, 5) are provided on the movable plate (2).

7. Input device according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the additional controls a rotatable wheel (5) are provided for entering additional up / down information.