JP2015095047A - Trackball with oscillating input device and device with input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange a plurality of input devices by moving only the fingertip of one hand, for example, without the operator having to move the device, instead of occupying different places and arranging them in one place. To provide a convenient composite input device that can be operated.
A trackball with an oscillating input device includes an oscillating input device having an annularly supported operation portion that performs an input operation by oscillating an operating portion like a joystick. And a trackball 19 combined so that the ball 18 is positioned in the central gap of the oscillating input device 17. The operation unit 11 may have a wheel shape surrounding the ball 18.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a trackball with an oscillating input device and an input device, and more particularly, an oscillating input that allows an operator to input a plurality of information by a simple operation by being a composite input device. The present invention relates to a trackball with a device and an input device.

  Input devices that do not require a large space for operation, such as a mouse, include trackballs and oscillating devices such as joysticks. Conventionally, as a position detection structure of a joystick, there is one using a mechanical switch, a PSD (optical position sensor) or the like. As for the structure of the joystick type device, there are also those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a joystick type input device that can arbitrarily change the frequency of an output signal. This is because the light from the light emitting unit is projected onto the reflecting surface that is tilted together with the tilting operation of the operating rod, the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit, and the voltage generated according to the amount of received light corresponds to the voltage by the VCO. A frequency signal is generated, the tilt direction of the operating rod is detected by a plurality of direction detection switches, and the reflectivity of the reflecting surface of the reflecting surface that is opposed to the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit changes in accordance with the tilt angle of the operating rod This is a device configured as described above.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-221129 “joystick controller” (deemed withdrawal) Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 05-30260 “Lever Lock Structure in Joystick Operating Device” Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-187093 "Input Device" (withdrawal)

  Conventionally, in an apparatus, it is sufficient if there is only one input device other than the keyboard. For example, if either a joystick or a trackball is provided as an input device, it is not necessary to provide the other. However, by providing both, the operator can input a plurality of information, which is convenient.

  In such a case, however, it is usually configured to function as an input device by occupying different places, such as a mouse and a joystick, and a mouse and a trackball. For example, an operator changes the device. There has been no device that can perform a plurality of types of input operations by moving only the fingertip of one hand, including the techniques disclosed in the above-mentioned documents. It would be more convenient if such a device could be realized.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is based on the state of the prior art, in which each of the plurality of input devices is concentrated in one place instead of occupying another place, and the operator changes the device. For example, it is an object to provide a convenient composite input device that can perform a plurality of types of input operations by moving only the fingertip of one hand.

  As a result of studying the above problems, the inventors of the present application can arrange the operation part in a centralized manner by arranging the operation part of a predetermined shape having a joystick function so as to wrap the ball of the trackball, As a result, it has been found that a lot of information can be input only by moving the fingertip, and based on this, the present invention has been completed. That is, the invention claimed in the present application, or at least the disclosed invention, as means for solving the above-described problems is as follows.

[1] An oscillating input device having an elastically supported annular plate-like operation portion that performs an input operation by oscillating the operation portion like a joystick, and a ball in the central gap of the oscillating input device A trackball with an oscillating input device comprising a trackball combined to be positioned.
[2] The oscillating input device is provided with a reference surface facing the back surface of the operation unit, an optical distance sensor is provided on the reference surface, and a projection from the optical distance sensor is provided on the back surface. The trackball with an oscillating input device according to [1], wherein a reflective member capable of reflecting light is provided.
[3] The trackball with an oscillating input device according to [2], wherein a plurality of the optical distance sensor and the reflecting member are provided.

[4] The trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the operation unit has a wheel shape surrounding the ball.
[5] The swing-type input device according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the swing-type input device is capable of input operation by rotation on the surface of the operation unit in addition to swing by pressing. Trackball with oscillating input device.
[6] The trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the oscillating input device can function as a position input device.

[7] The trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the oscillating input device can function as an instruction input device other than a position input device. .
[8] Any one of [1] to [7], wherein the trackball functions as a position input device, and an instruction can be input by cooperation of the swing type input device and the trackball. A trackball with an oscillating input device according to claim 1.
[9] An apparatus with an input device on which the trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of [1] to [8] is mounted.

  Since the trackball with an oscillating input device and the input device according to the present invention are configured as described above, according to this, a plurality of input devices are not scattered in different places but concentrated in one place. It is possible to provide a combined input device and a device including the same, and the operator can perform a plurality of types of input operations by moving only the fingertip of one hand, for example, without changing the device. Can be convenient.

It is explanatory drawing of the perspective which shows the structural example of the trackball with a rocking | fluctuation type input device of this invention. It is internal structure explanatory drawing of the trackball with a rocking | fluctuation type input device of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the position detection structure in the rocking | fluctuation type input device of the trackball with a rocking | fluctuation type input device of this invention. It is explanatory drawing shown about the operation example of the trackball with a rocking | fluctuation type input device of this invention. It is the regular hexahedral figure and perspective view which show the structural example of a form of the trackball with a rocking | fluctuation type input device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory perspective view showing a configuration example of a trackball with a rocking input device according to the present invention. Also,
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the trackball with an oscillating input device of FIG. As shown in the figure, the trackball 20 with the swing type input device includes a swing type operation unit 11 that is elastically supported and performs an input operation by swinging the operation unit 11 like a joystick. The main configuration is composed of the input device 17 and the trackball 19 combined so that the ball 18 is positioned in the central gap of the oscillating input device 17. In other words, this can be said to be a joystick (oscillating input device) integrated trackball. In addition, the operation part 11 can be made into the wheel shape surrounding the ball | bowl 18 so that it may show in figure.

  With this configuration, the trackball 20 with the oscillating input device can perform an input operation with the oscillating input device 17 when the operator oscillates the annular plate-shaped operation unit 11 with a finger. An input operation with the trackball 19 can be performed when the operator rotates the ball 18 positioned in the central gap portion of the input device 17 with a finger. Since the circular plate-like operation unit 11 and the ball 18 as the operation units of the oscillating input device 17 and the trackball 19 are located in close proximity so that the former surrounds the latter, the operator can control each device. A plurality of types of input operations can be performed only by slightly moving the fingertip of one hand without changing the hand or moving the hand to another place.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a position detection structure in a swing type input device of a trackball with a swing type input device according to the present invention, where (a) is an unoperated state and (b) is an input operation. Indicates the state. As shown here, the oscillating input device (17) is provided with a reference surface 13A facing the back surface 11B of the operation unit 11, an optical distance sensor 14 is provided on the reference surface 13A, and the back surface 11B is provided with a reference surface 13A. Can be configured to have a reflecting member 15 capable of reflecting the light projected from the optical distance sensor 14. The optical distance sensor 14 and the reflecting member 15 may be provided in a plurality, and this is a desirable configuration as an input device.

  In the oscillating input device (17) according to the present invention, by adopting such a configuration, when an input operation by oscillating is performed on the operation unit 11 ((a) in the figure) like a joystick (see FIG. Middle (b)), a change occurs in the distance between the reflecting member 15 on the back surface 11B of the operation unit 11 and the optical distance sensor 14 on the reference surface 13A facing the operation unit 11 due to the swing. That is, the distance between the specific optical distance sensor 14 and the reflecting member 15 changes depending on the direction and degree (angle) of the swing in the input operation. And the position of the operation part 11 is detected using the change of the output of the optical distance sensor 14 in connection with it, and a position instruction | indication and another instruction | indication are finally made. Moreover, the function as an input device can be further advanced by providing a plurality of appropriate pairs of the optical distance sensor 14 and the reflecting member 15.

  The position detection structure using the optical distance sensor 14-reflecting member 15 is simpler in structure than that in the conventional oscillating device, and therefore can be manufactured at low cost.

  It is assumed that the oscillating input device 17 according to the present invention can function as a position input device, but may be configured as an instruction input device other than the position input device. Moreover, it is good also as an input device which has any function of a position input device and an instruction input device other than that.

  In addition, since the present invention is a composite input device composed of a trackball and an oscillating input device, a configuration that obtains an effect of superimposing an input signal by both of them (the same function can be realized by a plurality of input methods) Either a configuration that shares the functions of each device (each device shares a different function) or a configuration that obtains a cooperative function of input signals (a specific function is realized by operating two or more devices simultaneously) You can also.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an operation example of the trackball with an oscillating input device of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the trackball 20 with the swing type input device can be operated by rotating the swing type input device 17 by rotation T on the surface of the operation unit 11 in addition to swinging by pressing P, Q or the like. You may comprise. The rotation T can be performed by operating the side surface 16 of the operation unit 11.

  With this configuration, for example, an input operation corresponding to a right click of a mouse is performed as an operation of pressing P, and an operation corresponding to a scrolling operation of a mouse is performed as an operation of rotating the operation unit side surface 16 clockwise. be able to. As described above, not only such a function sharing function but also an instruction input system by the cooperation of the swing type input device 17 and the trackball 19 is possible.

  FIG. 5 is a regular hexahedral view (front, back, left side, right side, plane, bottom) and a perspective view showing a configuration example of the trackball with a rocking input device described above. An apparatus with a force device on which the trackball with an oscillating input device described above is mounted is also within the scope of the present invention.

  According to the trackball with an oscillating input device and the input device of the present invention, it is possible to perform a plurality of types of input operations by moving only the fingertip of one hand, for example, without the operator changing the device. it can. Of course, the configuration of the present invention is a novelty that has not been heretofore known, and is highly industrially applicable in all industrial fields and related fields in which input devices are used, regardless of the field of consumer equipment or industrial equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Operation part 11B ... Back surface 13A of an operation part ... Reference surface 14 ... Optical distance sensor 15 ... Reflective member 16 ... Side surface 17 of an operation part ... Swing type input device 18 ... Ball 19 ... Track ball 20 ... Swing type input Trackball with device P, Q, R, S ... Press T ... Rotation

Claims (9)

An oscillating input device having an elastically supported annular plate-like operating portion that performs an input operation by oscillating the operating portion, such as a joystick, and a ball positioned in the central space of the oscillating input device A trackball with an oscillating input device, comprising a trackball combined with the above. The oscillating input device is provided with a reference surface facing the back surface of the operation unit, the reference surface is provided with an optical distance sensor, and the back surface reflects light projected from the optical distance sensor. The trackball with an oscillating input device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective member that can be formed. The trackball with an oscillating input device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the optical distance sensor and the reflecting member are provided. 4. The trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation portion is formed in a wheel shape surrounding the ball. The oscillating input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the oscillating input device is capable of performing an input operation by rotating on the surface of the operation unit in addition to oscillating by pressing. Trackball with. The trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the oscillating input device can function as a position input device. The trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the oscillating input device can function as an instruction input device other than a position input device. The rock ball according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the track ball functions as a position input device, and an instruction can be input by cooperation between the rocking input device and the track ball. Trackball with dynamic input device. An apparatus with an input device on which the trackball with an oscillating input device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is mounted.