JPH0559529U - XY coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] To provide an XY coordinate input device capable of surely detecting a rotation amount and a rotation direction of a rotated sphere and achieving miniaturization. [Composition] A contact point A between the rotated sphere 2 and the rotating shafts 3 and 6,
A is set on the lower hemisphere side of the rotated sphere 2, and a pivot bearing that pivotally supports the rotating shafts 3 and 6 is provided while allowing the axial lines of the rotating shafts 3 and 6 to move. Torsion coil spring 1 that biases the rotating shafts 3 and 6 upwards
Since the rotary shafts 3 and 6 are provided, even if the rotary shafts 3 and 6 receive a strong force from the rotated sphere 2, the rotary shafts 3 and 6 can push the torsion coil springs 17 and 22 and swing the axis. As a result, the external force is softened, and the rotating shafts 3 and 6 are urged upward by the torsion coil springs 17 and 22 except in the center direction of the rotated sphere 2 even when the axis is swung. The rotation of the rotated sphere 2 can be reliably interlocked.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an XY coordinate input device which is provided in a display device such as a CRT display and which detects a rotation amount and a rotation direction of a rotating ball by a pair of rotation angle detecting means.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As this type of XY coordinate input device, a device using a rotating ball is widely adopted for controlling the cursor position and inputting a figure.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the internal structure of a conventional example of such an XY coordinate input device. In FIG. 1, a rotating sphere 2 made of steel balls or the like is rotatably housed inside a casing 1, and a driven portion 3a is brought into contact with the rotating sphere 2 to form a pair of bearings 4, 5. The first rotating shaft 3 which is rotatably supported and the second rotating shaft 6 which is rotatably supported by the pair of bearings 7 and 8 by bringing the driven portion 6a into contact with the sphere 2 to be rotated have their axial directions mutually. They are arranged in an orthogonal positional relationship. Code plates 9 and 10 having slits (not shown) at equal intervals are fixedly attached to the rotary shafts 3 and 6, respectively, and a light emitting element 11 and a light receiving element 12 are provided on both sides of the code plate 9. The light emitting element 13 and the light receiving element 14 are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the code plate 10.

Therefore, when the rotated sphere 2 slightly protruding from the opening (not shown) of the casing 1 is rotated in an arbitrary direction by manual operation, the first and second rotating shafts 3 and 6 move the rotated sphere. Since each of them rotates in a predetermined direction in association with the rotation of 2, the light emitting elements 11, 13 and the light receiving elements 12, 14 detect the rotation angle of each code plate 9, 10 to detect the rotation shafts 3, 6 respectively. The rotation angles can be individually taken out, and the detection signals of the rotation angles of the both rotary shafts 3 and 6 thus obtained are input to a display device (not shown) as the X coordinate component and the Y coordinate component of the rotated sphere 2. ..

In order to ensure the power transmission between the rotated sphere 2 and each of the rotating shafts 3, 6, the line segment connecting both driven parts 3a, 6a is vertically divided into two equal parts. A biasing roller 15 is disposed on a straight line passing through the center of the rotated sphere 2 so as to be rotatable and elastically contact the rotated sphere 2.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, in such an XY coordinate input device, in order to allow the rotated sphere 2 to rotate smoothly, a slight amount of space is required between the peripheral portion of the opening of the casing 1 and the rotated sphere 2 protruding from the opening. It is necessary to secure a clearance, but if an excessive operating force is applied to the rotated sphere 2 during operation (especially when starting), the rotated sphere 2 will be displaced within this clearance range. At that time, the first rotating shaft 3 and the second rotating shaft 6 supported by the bearings 4 and 5 and the bearings 7 and 8 may receive a strong force from the rotated sphere 2. There was a problem that the shafts 3 and 6 could cause plastic deformation. Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a structure in which both rotary shafts 3 and 6 are thickened to improve mechanical strength, but in that case, since the bearings and the like must be enlarged, downsizing of the device and cost reduction can be achieved. Will be hindered.

Further, in order to surely follow both driven parts 3 a, 6 a of the first rotating shaft 3 and the second rotating shaft 6 with the rotation of the rotated sphere 2, both driven parts 3 a, 6 a are driven. It is necessary to press it against the surface of the rotating sphere 2 with a predetermined force, but the conventional spring that applies a force toward the center of the rotated sphere 2 complicates the structure and takes space. It was a thing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to prevent the rotating shaft from being deformed even when a strong force is applied from a rotated spherical body, and to have a simple spring structure. An object is to provide an XY coordinate input device which can save space and can be downsized.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The above-described object of the present invention is to provide a casing having an opening, a rotated sphere housed in the casing and partially protruding from the opening, and rotating in association with the rotation of the rotated sphere so that they rotate in mutually axial directions. A pair of rotating shafts having an intersecting relationship with each other and a code plate integrated with each of these rotating shafts, and a rotation angle detecting means arranged opposite to each other via the code plates. In an XY coordinate input device in which the rotation amount and the rotation direction can be detected by the rotation angle detecting means when the rotated sphere is rotated, the contact point between the rotated sphere and the rotating shaft is set to the rotated sphere. It is set on the lower hemisphere side, and a pivot bearing is provided to support the rotation axis while allowing the axis line of the rotation axis to swing, and the rotation axis is moved upward except in the center direction of the rotated sphere. By providing a spring member that urges It is achieved me.

[0010]

[Action]

 According to the above means, the contact point between the rotated sphere and the rotating shaft is set on the lower hemisphere side of the rotated sphere, and the rotating shaft is axially supported while allowing the axial line of the rotating shaft to swing. Even if the rotary shaft is provided with a pivot bearing and the rotary shaft receives a strong force from the rotated sphere, the rotary shaft can deflect the axis while pushing the spring member, so that the external force is relieved. Further, even when the axis is swung in this manner, the rotation shaft is not in the center direction of the rotated sphere and is biased upward by the spring member, so that the rotation of the rotated sphere can be surely interlocked.

[0011]

【Example】

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c) are a plan view, a front view and a side view showing the overall structure of an XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4A, 4B, and 4B are explanatory views of main parts shown from the front of the XY coordinate input device. FIG. c) and (d) are a rear view, a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view of the casing, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of FIG. 4 (d), and FIG. 6 (a) is an AA line. A sectional view taken along line (b), a sectional view taken along line B-B, (c) a sectional view taken along line C-C, (d) a sectional view taken along line D-D, (e). Is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE, (f) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF, and FIGS. 7 (a), (b), and (c) are plan views, front views, and FIG. 8 is a side view, showing a portion corresponding to FIG. 8 described above. Are given the same reference numerals.

The XY coordinate input device shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 is provided on a screen of a display device (not shown) by rotating the rotated sphere 2 protruding from the opening 24 of the casing 1 with a finger in an arbitrary direction. The position of the cursor is controlled, and a pair of rotating shafts 3 and 6 that are driven by the rotation of the rotated sphere 2 are supported. Rollers 19 and 20 that are brought into contact with the rotated sphere 2 are fixed to the rotating shafts 3 and 6, respectively. The first rotary shaft 3 is pivotally supported at a portion near the code plate 9 by a pivot bearing 16 formed by molding a synthetic resin having high wear resistance as shown in FIG. 2. At the end opposite to the cord plate 9 side, the roller 19 is constantly urged toward the rotated sphere 2 side by the terminal 17a which extends in a straight line of the torsion coil spring 17 and whose tip is bent in an L shape. .. Therefore, the rotation shaft 3 is not only allowed to rotate in the circumferential direction in conjunction with the rotation of the rotated sphere 2, but is also allowed to swing in the vertical direction with the pivot bearing 16 as the center. ing. Similarly, in the second rotary shaft 6 in which the roller 19 is brought into contact with the rotated sphere 2, a portion near the code plate 10 is pivotally supported by a pivot bearing 21 equivalent to the pivot bearing 16, and Since the other end 22b of the torsion coil spring 22 is constantly urged toward the rotated sphere 2 side, the end opposite to the cord plate 10 side is interlocked with the rotation of the rotated sphere 2 in the circumferential direction. Not only the rotation, but also the swinging in the vertical direction about the pivot bearing 18 is permitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rollers 19, 20 are set so that the contact point A with the rotated sphere 2 is inside the maximum diameter portion, that is, on the surface of the lower hemisphere. The torsion coil springs 17 and 22 urge the rotating shafts 3 and 6 from below, and the rotated sphere 2 projects in the swinging direction of the rotating shafts 3 and 6, so that The rollers 19 and 20 of the shafts 3 and 6 are pressed against the rotated spherical body 2, respectively.

Further, the contact points A, A of the rollers 19, 20 with the rotated sphere 2 are arranged at an angle of 90 degrees around the center point of the rotated sphere 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating shaft 3 of the roller 19 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 (not shown, for example, θ ₁ = −8 °: the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 shown in FIG. And). On the other hand, the rotary shaft 6 of the roller 20 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 as shown in FIG. 2 (not shown, for example, θ ₂ = 75 °: the longitudinal direction of the casing 1 shown in FIG. 2). Is used as a reference). θ ₁ −θ ₂ ≠ 90 °, and in the case of this embodiment, θ ₂ −θ ₁ = 83 ° <90 °. At the contact points A and A, the angles of the rotating shafts 3 and 6 with respect to the rotated sphere 2 are different, but the contact is made at right angles to the center of the rotated sphere 2, and also to ensure contact. In addition, the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers 19 and 20 are formed in a semicircular cross section. Therefore, even if the rotation axes 3 and 6 are not orthogonal to each other, the contact points A and A are orthogonal to each other, so that the detection of the ball rotation amount in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is not affected and correction is not necessary. . Since the rotating shafts 3, 6, the rollers 9, 10 and the torsion coil springs 22 are arranged so as to be inclined, the rollers 9, 10, the torsion coil springs 22 and the like are projected as in the conventional example. Since it has a dead space, the device does not become large as a whole. In other words, in this embodiment, the parts are arranged so as to be inclined so that each part fills the dead space, and the protruding parts of the protruding parts are also drawn in to increase the protruding length. It can be shortened and can be made compact as a whole.

In FIG. 2, 34 and 35 are circuit boards, and the circuit board 34, 35, the rotary shafts 3, 6, the code plates 9, 10, the rollers 19, 20 and the like constitute a rotation angle detecting means.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the casing 1 is formed with holes for accommodating and holding the torsion coil springs 17 and 22, respectively, and each hole is a coil of the torsion coil springs 17 and 22. It is composed of coil housing holes 27 and 29 for housing parts and concave grooves 28 and 30 through which the ends 17a and 22a are inserted. In the casing 1, a storage recess 31 for storing the rotary shaft 3, the code plate 9, etc., a storage recess 32 for storing the rotary shaft 6, the code plate 10, etc., and a storage hole for storing the rotated sphere 2. 33 and recesses 36, 36, 36 for holding a support sphere 23 described later are provided.

FIG. 7 shows a cover 25 attached to the upper surface of the casing 1. The cover 25 is provided with an opening 26 through which the rotated sphere 2 is projected. The casing 1 is prevented from falling off.

High-hardness support spheres 23 made of ruby or the like are incorporated in three places on the inner bottom surface of the casing 1, and the rotated spheres 2 are mounted on these support spheres 23 to support at three points. The stability and good operability of the rotated sphere 2 are guaranteed.

Further, the structure of the portion of this embodiment not particularly described is similar to that of the conventional example, and when the rotated sphere 2 slightly protruding from the opening 24 of the casing 1 is rotated in an arbitrary direction, the axes of the two spheres are rotated. The first and second rotation shafts 3 and 6 having directions intersecting with each other rotate in association with the rotation of the rotated sphere 2, and the rotation angles of the respective code plates 9 and 10 are changed to the optical elements 11 and 12. By detecting with the optical elements 13 and 14, the detection signals of the rotation angles of the rotary shafts 3 and 6 are input to the display device (not shown) as the X coordinate component and the Y coordinate component of the rotated sphere 2. Is becoming

When an excessive operating force is applied to the rotated sphere 2 during operation, the rotated sphere 2 is positioned within the clearance between the peripheral edge of the opening 24 and the rotated sphere 2. There is a possibility that the first rotating shaft 3 and the second rotating shaft 6 will be displaced from each other and receive a strong force from the rotated sphere 2, but even if such a strong external force acts, the respective rotating shafts 3 and 6 will be Since the axial lines can be swung while pushing the ends 17a and 22a of the torsion coil springs 17 and 22, respectively, the external forces received by the rotating shafts 3 and 6 from the rotated sphere 2 are softened, so that both rotating shafts 3 and There is no concern about plastic deformation without increasing the mechanical strength by increasing the thickness of 6 and 6, and the structure is advantageous for promoting miniaturization. Even when the axes are deflected in this way, the rotating shafts 3 and 6 are urged upward by the torsion coil springs 17 and 22 so that the rollers 19 and 20 come into contact with the rotated sphere 2, so It is possible to surely interlock with the rotation of the rotating sphere 2, and even if the code plates 9 and 10 are slightly tilted due to the axis being touched, there is no risk of causing a detection error because it is an optical reading type, so it is high. Reliability can be expected. In addition, the number of bearings has been halved compared to the conventional product that required two bearings for one rotating shaft, and the torsion coil springs 17 and 22 that were not available in the conventional product are inexpensive. Yes, the cost of parts has been significantly reduced.

The contact points A, A between the rotating sphere 2 and the rollers 19, 20 of the rotating shafts 3, 6 are set on the lower hemisphere side of the rotating sphere 2, and the deviation of the axes of the rotating shafts 3, 6 is allowed. While the pivot bearings 18 that support the rotating shafts 3 and 6 are provided, and the torsion coil springs 17 and 21 that bias the rotating shafts 3 and 6 upward are provided, the rotating shafts 3 and 6 are not rotated during operation. When a strong force is applied from the sphere 2, it is interlocked with the rotated sphere 2 in a state in which the axis is deflected, so there is no risk of deformation even if the mechanical strength is not increased by thickening the rotating shafts 3, 6, etc. The rotating shafts 3 and 6 are not deformed even when a strong force is applied from the sphere, and the structure of the spring is simple, which saves space and enables downsizing and cost reduction.

It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other XY coordinate input devices such as so-called mouse.

[0024]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, when the rotating shaft receives a strong force from the rotated sphere at the time of operation, it interlocks with the rotated sphere in a state in which the axis is deflected, so that the rotating shaft is mechanically thickened. There is no risk of deformation without increasing the strength, the rotating shaft does not deform even when receiving a strong force from the rotated sphere, and the spring structure is simple, saving space, downsizing, and low cost. It is possible to provide an excellent XY coordinate input device that can be easily realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall structure of an XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part of the XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a casing of an XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a casing of an XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a lid of an XY coordinate input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an internal structure of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Casing 2 Rotating sphere 3,6 Rotating shaft 9,10 Code plate 17,22 Torsion coil spring 19,20 Roller

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A casing having an opening, a rotated sphere housed in the casing and partially protruding from the opening, and rotating in association with the rotation of the rotated sphere so that their axial directions intersect with each other. A pair of rotary shafts, and a code plate integrated with each of these rotary shafts, and comprising a rotation angle detection means arranged opposite to each other via the code plates,
In an XY coordinate input device in which the rotation amount and the rotation direction can be detected by the rotation angle detecting means when the rotated sphere is rotated, the contact point between the rotated sphere and the rotation shaft is defined as the contact point of the rotated sphere. It is set on the lower hemisphere side, and is provided with a pivot bearing that supports the rotating shaft while allowing the axial line of the rotating shaft to be deflected, and urges the rotating shaft upward except in the center direction of the rotated sphere. An XY coordinate input device, characterized in that a spring member is provided.