JP2006065518A - Pointing device and signal processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sharply improve the operability of a pointing device. <P>SOLUTION: Predetermined arithmetic processing is performed to the sensor output of a sensor 1 detected corresponding to the movement of an operating member to a predetermined direction so that the sensor output can be converted into a non-linearly changing function value according to the moving amount of the operating member to the predetermined direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a pointing device used as input means for a personal computer, a mobile phone, and the like, and a signal processing method.

  As a pointing device, as represented by a magnetic detection type pointing device, a device that moves an operation unit including a magnet and detects the amount of movement by a sensor unit such as a magnetic sensor is generally used.

  Such a pointing device is used as an effective input means for moving a cursor or the like in a state close to a human sense (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-069695 A

  However, in many conventional pointing devices, the signal detected by the magnetic sensor is configured to be a linear value with respect to the movement of the magnet.

  However, depending on the form of application, it is more convenient to operate the pointing device because the tilt is not constant rather than linear sensor output (for example, moving the tilt so that the tilt increases as the moving distance increases). There is.

  There is also a problem that it is difficult to move the cursor or the like in a state close to a human sense due to a decrease in operational feeling due to the misalignment between the magnetic sensor and the magnet.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device and a signal processing method capable of moving a cursor or the like in a state close to a human sense and having a greatly improved operational feeling.

  The present invention provides an operation member, a sensor unit that detects movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction, a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on the sensor output of the sensor unit, and a signal processing result of the signal processing unit. A pointing device having an output control unit for outputting, wherein the signal processing unit is configured to perform predetermined arithmetic processing on a sensor output of the sensor unit detected in response to movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction. And a sensor output conversion means for converting the sensor output into a function value that changes nonlinearly in accordance with the amount of movement of the operating member in a predetermined direction, thereby providing a pointing device. To do.

  The output control unit may change the movement amount or movement speed of the operation target (cursor or the like) according to the function value converted and output by the sensor output conversion unit.

  The function value to be converted and output may be a function composed of a quadratic function, a polynomial function, an exponential function, or a logarithmic function.

  The sensor output conversion means uses the sensor output of the sensor unit when the operation member is not moving when power is turned on as a non-moving output value, and is detected during movement using the non-moving output value. There may be further provided means for correcting the sensor output of the sensor unit and performing arithmetic processing on the corrected sensor output.

  The sensor output conversion means may further comprise means for independently setting the order or coefficient of the function value to be converted and output.

  The sensor output conversion means may further comprise means for changing the order or coefficient of the function value depending on whether the function value to be converted and output is positive or negative.

  The sensor output conversion means reads the maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output when the operation member is moved in the maximum movable range in the predetermined direction, and calculates the sensor output according to the read value. The function value may be further corrected, and the function value may be determined by performing a calculation process based on the corrected content.

  The sensor output conversion means reads the maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the predetermined direction within the maximum movable range, and when the read value is outside the predetermined range, There may be further provided means for setting to a fixed value that does not change the sensor output of the sensor section even if the operation member is moved.

  When the sensor output of the sensor unit corresponding to the movement in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the operation member is set to X1 and Y1, respectively, the sensor output conversion means calculates the sensor output X1 to a third order or higher by arithmetic processing. It may be converted into an X-axis function value and output, and the sensor output Y1 may be converted into a Y-order function value of a third order or higher by an arithmetic process and output.

  The sensor output conversion means outputs the sensor outputs in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the sensor unit when the operation member is not moving when the power is turned on, as non-moving output values X0, Y0. When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively, the sensor output (X1-X0) is calculated by calculation processing. It may be converted into an X-axis function value of the order or higher and output, and the sensor output (Y1-Y0) may be converted into a Y-axis function value of the third order or higher by arithmetic processing and output.

The sensor output conversion means sets the operation member in the X-axis direction when the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively. The maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output when moved in the maximum movable range in the Y-axis direction are read, and according to the read value, the coefficient α of the sensor output X1, the order β, and the sensor output Y1 The coefficient γ and the order θ are set to predetermined values, respectively, and the sensor output X1 is converted into an X-axis function value αX ^β or α (X−X0) X ^β that is equal to or higher than the β order by calculation processing and output, and the sensor output Y1 May be converted into a Y-axis function value γY ^θ or γ (Y−Y0) ^θ that is equal to or higher than the θ order by arithmetic processing and output.

  The sensor output conversion means sets the operation member in the X-axis direction when the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively. The maximum and minimum values of the sensor output when moved in the maximum movable range in the Y-axis direction are read. If the read value is outside the predetermined range, the sensor unit can be moved even if the operating member is moved. The sensor outputs X1 and Y1 may be set to a fixed value without being changed and output.

  The present invention can be configured as an electronic apparatus in which the pointing device is incorporated as operation input means.

  The present invention is a signal processing method using a pointing device, the step of moving an operation member in at least a predetermined direction, the step of detecting movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction by a sensor unit, and the operation member By performing a predetermined calculation process on the sensor output of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the predetermined direction, the sensor output is nonlinear according to the amount of movement of the operation member in the predetermined direction. A sensor output conversion step of converting and outputting a function value that changes automatically, and a step of changing the movement amount or movement speed of the operation target (cursor, etc.) according to the converted and outputted function value A signal processing method is provided.

  According to the present invention, by performing a predetermined calculation process on the sensor output of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction, the sensor output is determined by the predetermined value of the operation member. The function value that changes nonlinearly according to the amount of movement in the direction is output and output, so it is possible to move the cursor etc. in a state that is closer to the human sense. However, it is possible to obtain a pointing device capable of dramatically improving the operational feeling, and to cope with various applications conveniently.

  In addition, according to the present invention, by incorporating the pointing device having such a drastic improvement in operational feeling into the electronic device, it can be used as an alternative to a mouse in an electronic device such as a mobile phone, a game machine, a notebook PC, or a TV remote control. Can be used.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[First example]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration example of a magnetic detection type pointing device as a pointing device according to the present invention. Here, the magnetic detection type pointing device will be described as an example, but the same effect can be obtained even when used with another type of pointing device.

  The pointing device includes an operation member (not shown), a sensor unit 1 that detects movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction (here, two axes in the X and Y directions), and each axial direction of the sensor unit 1 The differential amplifier 2 that differentially amplifies the sensor outputs of the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d, the signal processing unit 3 that performs signal processing on the differential output of each axis, and the signal processing result of the signal processing unit 3 are output. The output control unit 4 is roughly divided.

  The operation member corresponds to the operation portion of the pointing device, and can be composed of hard resin, metal, or the like. Also, the operation member can take various shapes in order to improve the operation feeling.

  The signal processing unit 3 and the output control unit 4 can be configured as a normal integrated circuit using silicon or the like.

  Such a pointing device is used as an operation input means such as a personal computer or a mobile phone.

  FIG. 2 shows the structure of the magnetic detection type pointing device of FIG. FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  The sensor unit 1 has four magnetic sensors (for example, Hall elements) 11a to 11d (11a, 11b are in the X-axis direction, and 11c, 11d are in the Y-axis) that are symmetrically arranged along the X-axis and the Y-axis. Each arranged in a direction).

  Each sensor output of each of the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction due to the movement of the operation member 13 having the magnet 12 disposed above the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d is differentially expressed by the differential amplifier 2. Amplify. The differentially amplified sensor output (analog value) is input to the signal processing unit 3 to be converted into an X coordinate value and a Y coordinate value, and the converted output value is input to the output control unit 4. As a result, the amount of movement of the cursor to be operated is determined.

(Operation)
<Signal processing unit>
FIG. 3 shows arithmetic processing in the signal processing unit 3 of the pointing device.

  In step S1, the pointing device is powered on.

  In step S2, the current sensor output (x, y) at the time of operation detected by each of the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the sensor unit 1 is read.

In step S3, the sensor output x in the X-axis direction and the sensor output y in the Y-axis direction at the time of the operation are processed to be converted into function calculation output values αx ³ and αy ³ , respectively, and output. Where α is a coefficient and 3 is the order of the sensor outputs x and y.

In step S4, the function calculation output value is transferred to the output control unit 4. In the output control unit 4, a function of changing the amount of movement of the object (such as a cursor) that is operated, the X-axis direction of the function operation output value .alpha.x ³ after processing, in the Y-axis direction of the function operation output value .alpha.y ³ have.

  By executing such arithmetic processing, the cursor movement amount is reduced when the sensor output in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is small, and the cursor movement amount when the output in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is large. Can be increased. Thereby, the sensor output in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction can be converted into a function calculation output value that changes nonlinearly according to the amount of movement of the operation member in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and can be output. .

  FIG. 4 shows the distribution of magnetic flux density differences of the magnetic sensors 11a and 11b arranged in the X-axis direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1) in the magnetic detection type pointing device.

  In general, the pointing device is such that the sensor output of the sensor unit 1 changes linearly with respect to the movement amount of the operation member.

  When using a conventional pointing device in which the sensor output changes linearly as described above, for example, when the cursor is to be moved downward in the Y-axis direction, the operating member is moved to the lower side. If you feel that the speed is slow or if you want to move the cursor a little, even if you move the operation member a little, the cursor may move too much unexpectedly.

  However, by adopting the signal processing method as shown in FIG. 3 of this example, it is possible to obtain a function calculation output value that changes nonlinearly according to the amount of movement of the cursor. Is large, the sensor output is large, and when the amount of movement of the operation member is small, it has the same effect as the sensor output is small, so that the operational feeling of the pointing device can be dramatically improved. Is possible.

  FIG. 5 shows the distribution of the equivalent magnetic flux density difference of the magnetic sensors 11a and 11b arranged in the X-axis direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1) after the arithmetic processing of FIG. 3 according to the present invention in the magnetic detection type pointing device. .

In the example of FIG. 5, when the signal processing unit 3 performs a function (0.0075x ³ , 0.0075y ³ ) calculation process on the sensor outputs (x, y) in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The function calculation output value which is the output characteristic of is shown. The coefficient α of the function is 0.0075 and the order is 3.

  When the movement distance of the operation member is within a range of ± 0.2 mm, the movement amount of the cursor approaches 0, and when the movement distance exceeds ± 0.6, the movement amount of the cursor increases up to about five times. Compared with the 4 pointing device, an operation feeling closer to that of a human can be obtained.

In this example, the signal processing is performed using the αx ³ function. However, a higher-order function of a quartic function or higher may be used instead of a cubic function, or a function of about quadratic function may be used. In some cases, it can be conveniently handled.

For example, a polynomial function represented by the sum of a cubic function, a quadratic function, a linear function, and a constant may be used, such as ax ³ + bx ² + cx + d.

  Further, in addition to a function of third order or higher, an exponential function, a logarithmic function, or a part of a power function that shows the same tendency can be used.

In this example, the function of the sensor output in the X-axis direction and the function of the sensor output in the Y-axis direction have the same format. For example, the sensor output in the Y-axis direction is expressed as βy ^γ (β ≠ α, γ It is also possible to set to another function such as ≠ 3).

  Depending on the pointing device, the operability may be different in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Y-axis direction), and the finger operated by a human (for example, the thumb) is also moved in the left-right direction and the up-down direction. Ease may vary.

  In addition, there are cases where an application or the like that wants to move particularly quickly is used only when the cursor is moved up and down.

  However, by executing the arithmetic processing as in this example, even if the amount of movement of the operation member is actually different in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the movement of the cursor can be made equal in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. (Conversely, the horizontal and vertical directions can be intentionally shifted), and the output characteristics of the pointing device can be dramatically improved, making it suitable for a wide variety of applications. It becomes possible.

<Output control unit>
The output control unit 4 has a function of changing the moving amount or moving speed of the operated target (cursor or the like) according to the values of the sensor output in the X-axis direction and the sensor output in the Y-axis direction at the time of operation. .

  For example, as in the example of FIG. 5, when the sensor output in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is small, the movement speed of the cursor is decreased, and when the sensor output in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is large, the cursor movement speed. Can be increased.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a dead zone for the operation member in which the moving speed of the cursor is set to 0, and it is possible to dramatically improve the operational feeling of the pointing device.

  Further, for the sensor outputs x1 and y1 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, a third-order or higher function and a certain coefficient, and a third-order or higher-order function or coefficient depending on whether the values of x1 and y1 are positive or negative. It may be changed.

  Depending on the application, when a quartic function, a sixth function, or the like is regarded as the sensor output, the operational feeling may be improved. When such an even function is used, even if the true sensor output is a negative value, the output after the signal processing is changed to a positive value. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with the problem by changing the coefficient depending on whether the values of x1 and y1 are positive or negative.

  In addition, it is possible to cancel the asymmetry of the output of the pointing device due to variations in mounting of sensors, operation members, etc., and variations in characteristics of sensors, etc., by changing functions and coefficients.

[Second example]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, about the same part as the 1st example mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected.

  FIG. 6 shows arithmetic processing in the signal processing unit 3 of the pointing device.

  In step S12, the sensor output x0 in the X-axis direction and the sensor output y0 in the Y-axis direction when the power is turned on (when the pointing device is not operated) are read and stored in the internal memory.

In step S14, function calculation output values α (x−x0) ³ , respectively, by performing arithmetic processing on the sensor output x in the X-axis direction and the sensor output y in the Y-axis direction when the pointing device is operated in step S3. The function operation output value α (y−y0) ³ is converted and output.

In step S <b> 4, the function output values α (x−x0) ³ and α (y−y0) ³ that are converted and output are transferred to the output control unit 4.

  By performing such arithmetic processing, it is possible to automatically cancel output offsets caused by variations in mounting of sensors, operating members, etc., and variations in characteristics of sensors, etc. It becomes.

  An example of sensor output in a magnetic detection type pointing device (sensor is a hall element) will be described with reference to FIG. 4 described above.

  The size of the magnet 12 was 3.0 × 3.0 × 0.65 mm, and the distance between the magnet 12 and the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d was 2.07 mm. The magnet 12 is NS magnetized in the direction of 0.65 mm. When the residual magnetic flux density of the magnet 12 is 970 mT and the distance between the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d positioned diagonally is 3.26 mm, the magnetic flux density difference generated in the left and right magnetic sensors 11a and 11b is shown in FIG. It becomes like this. It can be seen that the sensor output (vertical axis) changes almost linearly with respect to the movement distance (horizontal axis) of the operating member.

  If the arrangement of the magnet 12 is shifted by 0.3 mm in the X-axis direction in the configuration showing the output characteristics of FIG. 4, even if the operating member is not moved, the sensor output corresponding to a magnetic flux density of 8 mT. The pointing device does not have the desired characteristics.

  However, it is possible to dramatically improve the characteristics of the pointing device by performing signal processing by canceling the sensor output when the operation member is not moved as in Step S12 and Step S14 of this example. Become.

<Modification>
FIG. 7 shows another example of arithmetic processing in the signal processing unit 3 of the pointing device.

In the example of FIG. 6, calculation processing is performed on the sensor output x in the X-axis direction and the sensor output y in the Y-axis direction to obtain a function calculation output value α (x−x0) ³ and a function calculation output value α (y− y0) ³ was converted and output, and the function operation output values were transferred to the output control unit 4.

Here, as shown in step S24, by performing arithmetic processing on the sensor outputs x and y, the function calculation output value α (x−x0) ^β and the function calculation output value γ (y−y0) ^θ (however, , Α ≠ γ, β ≠ θ) and output. α and γ are function coefficients, and β and θ are function orders.

  Depending on the pointing device, the operability may be different in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Y-axis direction). And ease of movement in the vertical direction may differ.

  However, by performing the arithmetic processing as shown in FIG. 7, even when the movement amount for moving the operation member in the vertical direction (X-axis direction) and the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) is actually different, It is possible to make the horizontal and vertical directions uniform.

  At this time, if β and θ are even numbers and the sensor output after signal processing is an even function, the signs of the coefficients α and γ are changed depending on whether the original sensor outputs x and y are positive or negative. Change it.

[Third example]
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same part as each example mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected.

  FIG. 8 shows arithmetic processing in the signal processing unit 3 of the pointing device.

  In step S32, the operation member of the pointing device is operated within the entire movable range in the X and Y planes (for example, within the range indicated by the circular broken line 5 in FIG. 1), and the sensor output in the X-axis direction at the time of the operation. The maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output y in the x and Y axis directions are read.

  In step S34, predetermined calculation processing is performed on the sensor outputs x and y in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

  Here, the contents of the arithmetic processing are corrected according to the maximum and minimum values of the read sensor outputs x and y.

Specifically, the function calculating an output value .alpha.x ^beta, the calculation processing for calculating the ^{γy θ, α, β, γ} , based on the maximum and minimum values of each value, read the theta, desired output characteristics It is corrected so that the function operation output value of can be obtained. α and γ are function coefficients, and β and θ are function orders.

Then, by performing arithmetic processing using α, β, γ, and θ corrected in this way, function arithmetic output values αx ^β and γy ^θ are calculated. Thereafter, the function calculation output value calculated in this way is transferred to the output control unit 4.

  By executing such arithmetic processing, it is possible to automatically cancel variations in output caused by variations in mounting of sensors, operation members, and the like, and variations in characteristics of sensors and the like.

  In addition, this calculation process makes it possible to cancel the asymmetry of the output of the pointing device due to variations in mounting of sensors and operation members, and variations in characteristics of sensors and the like.

  It is possible to match other sensor outputs to the minimum value of the sensor output. Naturally, it is also possible to match other sensor outputs to the maximum value by multiplying the sensor output by a gain or the like.

  In addition to this, it is possible to provide a dead zone of the operation member in which the moving speed of the cursor is zero.

[Fourth example]
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same part as each example mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected.

  FIG. 9 shows arithmetic processing in the signal processing unit 3 of the pointing device.

  In step S42, the operating member of the pointing device is operated within the entire movable range in the X and Y planes (for example, within the range indicated by the circular broken line 5 in FIG. 1), and the sensor output in the X-axis direction at the time of the operation The maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output y in the x and Y axis directions are read.

  In step S44, if the maximum value and minimum value of the read sensor outputs x and y in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction are equal to or greater than a certain value, the sensor output is fixed without being changed. The value is converted into a function calculation output value by performing arithmetic processing on the fixed value, and the function calculation output value is transferred to the output control unit 4.

  For example, when the X-axis output range is -15 to 15 and the Y-axis output range is -18 to 12 due to the mounting position shift of the magnet 12, the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction sensors are used. When the output is in a range other than -12 to 12, the sensor output is set to a fixed value -12 or 12, and a calculation operation value is calculated by performing arithmetic processing on the fixed value.

  By performing such arithmetic processing, it becomes possible to eliminate the difference in the operational feeling between the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction and the difference in the operational feeling between the + direction and the − direction in the Y-axis direction. The operability of the device can be further improved.

  In addition, by this calculation processing, it is possible to cancel the asymmetry of the output of the pointing device due to the mounting variation of the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d and the operation members and the characteristic variation of the magnetic sensors 11a to 11d.

  In this example, other sensor outputs are combined with the minimum value of the sensor output. Naturally, other sensor outputs can be adjusted to the maximum value by multiplying the sensor output with a gain or the like.

  In addition, it is possible to provide a dead zone for the operation member with the cursor moving speed set to zero.

[Fifth Example]
A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the same part as each example mentioned above, the description is abbreviate | omitted and the same code | symbol is attached | subjected.

  FIG. 10 shows arithmetic processing in the signal processing unit 3 of the pointing device.

  For the first to fourth examples described above, it is also possible to apply the arithmetic processing method specific to each of the examples in combination with the other examples.

  For example, the example of FIG. 10 shows an example in which the arithmetic processing of FIG. 7 of the second example and the arithmetic processing of FIG. 9 of the fourth example are combined.

  In addition to the combination of the above calculation methods, the operability of the pointing device can be similarly improved by combining a plurality of any of the processing methods.

  In this way, the arithmetic processing of each example according to the present invention can be applied in various combinations.

  In each of the examples described above, since it mainly relates to an arithmetic processing method from the sensor unit of the pointing device, a magnetic detection type using a Hall element or a magnetoresistive effect element, a capacitance detection type for detecting a change in capacitance The present invention can be applied to a pointing device using various types of sensors such as a resistance change detection type using a variable resistor or the like.

  The present invention has been applied to a pointing device that operates a cursor on the xy plane (two axes). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least one direction, that is, one axis direction or three axis directions. The same calculation processing method can be applied when operating the cursor.

It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the magnetic detection type | system | group pointing device which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 shows an example of the structure of a magnetic detection type pointing device, (a) is a cross-sectional view, and (b) is a top view. It is a flowchart which shows the arithmetic processing in a signal processing part. It is a characteristic view which shows distribution of the magnetic flux density difference of the magnetic sensor arrange | positioned in the X-axis direction in the conventional magnetic detection type pointing device. FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram showing the distribution of the equivalent magnetic flux density difference of the magnetic sensor arranged in the X-axis direction after the arithmetic processing of FIG. 3 in the magnetic detection type pointing device according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the arithmetic processing in the signal processing part of the pointing device which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows another example of arithmetic processing in the signal processing part of a pointing device. It is a flowchart which shows the arithmetic processing in the signal processing part of the pointing device which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the arithmetic processing in the signal processing part of the pointing device which is the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the arithmetic processing in the signal processing part of the pointing device which is the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Detection part 2 Differential amplifier 3 Signal processing part 4 Output control part 5 The movable range of the operation member 11a-11d Magnetic sensor 12 Magnet 13 Operation member 14 Key sheet 15 Mounting board

Claims (24)

An operation member, a sensor unit that detects movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction, a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on the sensor output of the sensor unit, and output control that outputs a result of signal processing of the signal processing unit A pointing device having a portion,
The signal processing unit performs a predetermined calculation process on the sensor output of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction, thereby obtaining the sensor output by a predetermined value of the operation member. A pointing device characterized by comprising sensor output conversion means for converting and outputting a function value that changes nonlinearly in accordance with the amount of movement in the direction. The output control unit
2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the movement amount or movement speed of the operation target is changed according to the function value converted and output by the sensor output conversion means. The converted function value is
3. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a function composed of a function of second order or higher, a polynomial function, an exponential function, or a logarithmic function. The sensor output conversion means includes
The sensor output of the sensor unit when the operation member is not moving when the power is turned on is set as an output value at the time of non-movement, and the sensor output of the sensor unit detected at the time of movement using the output value at the time of non-movement 4. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for correcting the correction and performing arithmetic processing on the corrected sensor output. 5. The sensor output conversion means includes
5. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for independently setting the order or coefficient of the function value to be converted and output. The sensor output conversion means includes
6. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing the order or coefficient of the function value depending on whether the function value to be converted and output is positive or negative. The sensor output conversion means includes
Reading the maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the predetermined direction within the maximum movable range, correcting the content of the calculation process of the sensor output according to the read value, 7. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining the function value by performing arithmetic processing based on the corrected content. The sensor output conversion means includes
The maximum and minimum values of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the predetermined direction within the maximum movable range are read. If the read value is outside the predetermined range, the operating member may be moved. 8. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting the sensor output of the sensor unit to a fixed value that does not change. The sensor output conversion means includes
When sensor outputs of the sensor unit corresponding to movement in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The sensor output X1 is converted into an X-axis function value of the third order or higher by arithmetic processing and output, and the sensor output Y1 is converted into a function value of the third order or higher Y-axis by arithmetic processing and output. The pointing device according to claim 1. The sensor output conversion means includes
The sensor outputs in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the sensor unit when the operation member is not moving when the power is turned on are set as non-moving output values X0 and Y0,
When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The sensor output (X1-X0) is converted into an X-axis function value of the third order or higher by arithmetic processing and output, and the sensor output (Y1-Y0) is converted to a function value of the third order or higher Y-axis by arithmetic processing. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device outputs the pointing device. The sensor output conversion means includes
When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The maximum and minimum values of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the maximum movable range in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are read, and the coefficient α and the order β of the sensor output X1 are read according to the read values. , And the coefficient γ and the order θ of the sensor output Y1, respectively, are set to predetermined values,
The sensor output X1 is converted into an X-axis function value αX ^β or α (X−X0) X ^β of ^β- order or higher by arithmetic processing and output, and the sensor output Y1 is Y-axis function value of θ-order or higher by arithmetic processing. GanmaY ^theta or γ (Y-Y0) pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by converting the ^theta output. The sensor output conversion means includes
When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The maximum and minimum values of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the maximum movable range in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are read. If the read value is outside the predetermined range, the operating member is moved. The pointing device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the pointing device outputs the sensor output X1 and Y1 of the sensor unit set to a fixed value without being changed.   13. An electronic apparatus, wherein the pointing device according to claim 1 is incorporated as an operation input unit. A signal processing method using a pointing device,
Moving the operating member in at least a predetermined direction;
Detecting the movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction by a sensor unit;
By performing a predetermined calculation process on the sensor output of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement of the operation member in a predetermined direction, the amount of movement of the operation member in the predetermined direction is obtained. A sensor output conversion step of converting and outputting a function value that changes nonlinearly according to
A signal processing method comprising: changing a movement amount or a movement speed of an operation target according to the converted and outputted function value. The converted function value is
The signal processing method according to claim 14, wherein the signal processing method is a function composed of a quadratic function, a polynomial function, an exponential function, or a logarithmic function. The sensor output conversion step includes
The sensor output of the sensor unit when the operation member is not moving when the power is turned on is set as an output value at the time of non-movement, and the sensor output of the sensor unit detected at the time of movement using the output value at the time of non-movement The signal processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of correcting the sensor output and performing arithmetic processing on the corrected sensor output. The sensor output conversion step includes
The signal processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of independently setting the order or coefficient of the function value to be converted and output. The sensor output conversion step includes
18. The signal processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of changing the order or coefficient of the function value depending on whether the function value to be converted and output is positive or negative. The sensor output conversion step includes
Reading the maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the predetermined direction within the maximum movable range, correcting the content of the calculation process of the sensor output according to the read value, 19. The signal processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of determining the function value by performing arithmetic processing based on the corrected content. The sensor output conversion step includes
The maximum value and the minimum value of the sensor output when the operation member is moved in the predetermined direction within the maximum movable range are read, and when the read value is greater than or less than the predetermined value, the operation member is moved. The signal processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of setting the sensor output of the sensor unit to a fixed value that does not change. The sensor output conversion step includes
When sensor outputs of the sensor unit corresponding to movement in the X-axis direction and Y-axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The sensor output X1 is converted into an X-axis function value of the third order or higher by arithmetic processing and output, and the sensor output Y1 is converted into a function value of the third order or higher Y-axis by arithmetic processing and output. The signal processing method according to claim 14. The sensor output conversion step includes
The sensor outputs in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the sensor unit when the operation member is not moving when the power is turned on are set as non-moving output values X0 and Y0,
When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The sensor output (X1-X0) is converted into an X-axis function value of the third order or higher by arithmetic processing and output, and the sensor output (Y1-Y0) is converted to a function value of the third order or higher Y-axis by arithmetic processing. The signal processing method according to claim 14, wherein the signal processing method outputs the signal. The sensor output conversion step includes
When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The maximum and minimum values of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the maximum movable range in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are read, and the coefficient α and the order β of the sensor output X1 are read according to the read values. , And the coefficient γ and the order θ of the sensor output Y1, respectively, are set to predetermined values,
The sensor output X1 is converted into an X-axis function value αX ^β or α (X−X0) X ^β of ^β- order or higher by arithmetic processing and output, and the sensor output Y1 is Y-axis function value of θ-order or higher by arithmetic processing. GanmaY ^theta or γ (Y-Y0) signal processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 22 and converting and outputting the ^theta. The sensor output conversion step includes
When the sensor outputs of the sensor unit detected corresponding to the movement in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction by the operation member are X1 and Y1, respectively.
The maximum and minimum values of the sensor output when the operating member is moved in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction within the maximum movable range are read, and when the read value is outside the predetermined range, the operating member is moved. The signal processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein the sensor outputs X1 and Y1 of the sensor unit are set to fixed values without being changed even if they are output.

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