JP2000066831A - Input device, and cover for track ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device capable of easily giving two-dimensional information intended by a user to a memory processor such as a personal computer. SOLUTION: This input device 4 is provided with a case 2, a rotating body 3 rotatably housed in the case 2 in the state that its one part is exposed, a cover 5 attachably and detachably fitted to the case so as to cover the exposed part of the rotary body 3 and having a cross-shaped hole 5a of the size capable of freely rotationally operating the rotary body 3 with a finger with the position at the central part of exposed section of the rotary body 3 as an intersection, and a detecting means 8a and 8b for detecting the rotating direction and rotating amount of the rotary body 3. Besides, the input device is provided with the case and the rotary body rotatably housed in the case in the state that its one side and another side are exposed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an input device suitably used as a pointing device for inputting two-dimensional information to an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a mouse, a trackball, and the like have been widely used as a device for inputting two-dimensional information to a storage processing device such as a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as "personal computer") or a word processor. .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional trackball. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 indicates a trackball. The trackball 1 has a box-shaped case 2 provided with a circular hole 2a at an upper part, and a state in which a part of the trackball 1 is exposed from the upper surface of the case 2 to the outside. And a rotating body cover 17 formed in a circular frame shape for holding the rotating body in the case 2 and two axes X and Y orthogonal to each other. It comprises detection means 8a and 8b for detecting the rotation of the rotating body 3, and selection switches 16a and 16b for inputting various selection signals.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the trackball shown in FIG. The rotating body 3 is installed so as to be in contact with the X rotation axis 20a and the Y rotation axis 20b orthogonal to each other on the side of the rotating body 3. At the ends of the X rotation shaft 20a and the Y rotation shaft 20b, detection devices 30a and 30b for detecting the rotation speed when these rotate are provided, respectively, and two axes X and Y directions orthogonal to each other are provided. Detection means 8a and 8b (rotary encoders) for detecting the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the rotating body 3 are provided.

The track ball 1 detects the rotation direction and the rotation amount given by the user to the rotating body 3 as rotation in two orthogonal axes X and Y by detecting means 8a and 8b, respectively. The two-dimensional information corresponding to the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of 3 is given to an information processing device or the like, and the position of a cursor or the like on a display screen provided in the information processing device or the like is controlled. Such a trackball 1 has an advantage that it has a greater degree of freedom than other input devices.

[0006]

However, in such a trackball 1, when the position of a cursor on a display screen is moved, for example, the position on the rotating body 3 operated by the user and the rotating body 3 are changed. There is an inconvenience that the sensitivity varies greatly depending on the direction of rotation. For this reason, it has been difficult to move the position of the cursor or the like to the intended position.

That is, in such a trackball 1, the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation given to the rotating body 3 are detected as rotations in two orthogonal axes X and Y, and the detecting means 8a,
8b, the user, for example,
When the rotating body 3 is rotated in an arbitrary diameter direction passing through the vertex 3e of the rotating body 3 shown in FIG. 6, it is detected with high sensitivity by the detecting means 8a and 8b.
In the case where the rotation is performed in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the rotation of the rotating body 3, the rotation of the rotating body 3 is not detected. For this reason, when the user operates the position near the top surface 3a on the exposed portion of the rotating body 3, the rotation of the rotating body 3 is detected with high sensitivity by the detecting means 8a and 8b. When the position of the side surface 3b on the exposed portion is operated, there is a problem that the sensitivity is lowered.

Therefore, especially when it is desired to move the cursor or the like in a certain direction substantially straight, the rotating body 3 is moved from the low sensitivity side area 3b to the high sensitivity top area 3a to the high side area 3a. When the operation of moving the cursor to the side 3b near the low sensitivity located on the opposite side of the rotation includes the operation at the low sensitivity position on the rotating body 3, it is difficult to move the cursor to the intended position. Inconvenience is likely to occur, which has been a problem.

The conventional trackball 1 has the advantage that it has a large degree of freedom, but has the disadvantage that it is difficult to perform fine operations, and it is difficult to perform operations such as when it is desired to move the position of a cursor or the like by a small distance. For this reason, there is a tendency that two-dimensional information contrary to the user's will is given to the storage processing device or the like, and a problem that the cursor is shifted from a desired position tends to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and solves such a problem to easily provide two-dimensional information intended by a user to a storage processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device capable of performing the following.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an input device of the present invention, in particular, an input device for inputting two-dimensional information to an information processing device includes a case and a case. A rotating body which is rotatably housed in a partially exposed state, and which is detachably attached to the case so as to cover an exposed portion of the rotating body, and intersects a position of a central portion of the exposed portion of the rotating body. And a cover having a cross-shaped hole large enough to allow the rotating body to be freely rotated by a finger, and detecting means for detecting the rotating direction and the amount of rotation of the rotating body.

[0012] Here, the "information processing device" means
A device that receives two-dimensional information from an input device as a signal and displays it as a screen-like cursor or the movement of an image. For example, a storage processing device such as a personal computer and a word processor, a television compatible with two-way communication, etc. And other devices such as image reproducing devices.

Such an input device is provided with a cover having a cross-shaped hole whose size is such that the position of the center of the exposed portion of the rotating body is an intersection and the rotating body can be freely rotated by a finger. The degree of freedom for rotation in the direction around the vertex of the rotator near the side surface on the exposed portion of the rotator is reduced, and the amount of rotation in the low-sensitivity direction at a low-sensitivity position on the rotator is reduced. Therefore, the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operation position on the exposed portion of the rotating body can be reduced, and the operability when rotating the rotating body can be improved. Therefore, for example, even when it is desired to move the cursor on the display screen in a fixed direction and greatly, the input device can easily move the cursor.

Further, since the degree of freedom is limited by the cover and the user does not operate at a low sensitivity position on the rotating body, the two-dimensional information input by the user is detected by the detecting device. As a result, two-dimensional information that is detected with high sensitivity and that matches the user's intention can be provided to a storage processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. Therefore, for example, it is possible to provide an input device that can easily perform fine operations on a display screen or the like.

Further, since the cover is detachably attached to the case, if it is desired to reduce the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operating position on the rotating body, the cover is used and the degree of freedom is large. If you want to use it in the state, you can remove the cover and use it.

In the above input device, it is preferable that an enlarged portion is provided at the center of the cross-shaped hole. With such an input device, the degree of freedom for rotation in the direction of low sensitivity at a low sensitivity position on the exposed portion of the rotating body can be reduced, and
The input device can maintain a degree of freedom near the top surface, which is a position with high sensitivity on the rotating pair. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent input device having a certain degree of freedom and capable of reducing a difference in sensitivity due to a difference in an operation position on the rotating body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for a trackball which is used by being attached to a trackball having a rotating body rotatably mounted with a part thereof exposed from a case. It has a cross-shaped hole that is formed and has a position near the vertex as an intersection, and has a cross-shaped hole large enough to enable the rotating body to be freely rotated by a finger, and is configured to be detachable so as to cover an exposed portion of the rotating body. This can be solved by a trackball cover characterized by the following.

Such a trackball cover is removably attached to the trackball so as to cover the exposed portion of the rotating body, and the intersection of the position of the center of the exposed portion of the rotating body is defined by the finger. Since the rotator has a cross-shaped hole large enough to allow the rotator to be freely rotated, it is possible to limit the operation of the trackball in the low-sensitivity direction at the low-sensitivity position on the exposed portion of the rotator. The difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operation position on the exposed portion can be reduced. Therefore, by attaching the trackball cover to the trackball, the operability of the trackball can be improved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device comprising: a case; a rotating body rotatably housed in the case with one side and the other side exposed; And a detecting means for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotating body.

In such an input device, since the rotating body is rotatably housed in a case with one side and the other side exposed, when the user rotates the rotating body, The rotating body can be supported and rotated at two positions, one side and the other side, and the rotating direction and the amount of rotation of the rotating body can be easily adjusted, so that operability can be improved. Becomes Therefore, detailed operations can be easily performed, and the input accuracy of two-dimensional information can be improved. The two-dimensional information intended by the user can be easily transmitted to an information processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. It can be an input device that can be provided.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the input device and the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The input device is a device for inputting two-dimensional information, and is used, for example, when connected to a personal computer or a word processor to move a cursor on a display screen.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes an input device. The input device 4 includes a case 2, a rotating body 3 housed in the case 2 in a partially exposed state,
Rotating body cover 17 for holding the rotating body in case 2
And a cover 5 detachably attached to the case 2.
And are provided. The input device 4 includes detecting means 8a and 8b for detecting the amount of rotation of the rotating body 3 in two axes X and Y orthogonal to each other, and the detecting means 8
A signal processing unit 9 to which a and 8b are connected via wirings 81 and 82 is built in, and a cable 10 for connecting to a personal computer is provided. The input device 4 includes selection switches 16a and 16b for inputting various selection signals. This selection switch 1
Various selection signals input to 6a and 16b are connected to the wiring 83,
84, a signal processing unit 9, and a cable 10 to be input to a personal computer or the like.

In the input device 4, the case 2 is formed of, for example, a material such as a resin, and has a box shape having a circular hole 2a provided on an upper portion thereof. A projection 2b is provided at an upper portion in the hole 2a. Also,
The rotating body 3 is, for example, a spherical body formed of a material such as a resin. The rotating body 3 is partially exposed in the case 2 to the outside from the upper surface of the case 2.
It is housed rotatably in any direction and amount of rotation.
The rotating body cover 17 is formed of a material such as resin in a circular frame shape surrounding the exposed portion of the rotating body 3. After the rotating body 3 is housed in the case 2, 2 so that the rotating body 3 does not come out of the case 2 more than necessary.
This is to make it difficult for dust and the like to enter the case 2.

The cover 5 is formed of, for example, a material such as resin, and is removably attached to the case 2 so as to cover the exposed portion of the rotating body 3. Cross-shaped hole 5 with center intersection
a. The cover 5 is formed in a hollow hemisphere along the shape of the exposed portion of the rotating body 3, and has an internal space larger than the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 so as not to hinder rotation of the rotating body 3. And a small internal space that does not adversely affect the operability due to the gap between the cover 5 and the rotating body 3 when the user rotates the rotating body 3. . Further, the cover 5 is so thin that it does not hinder the operation of the rotating body 3 by the user, and has a thickness that is strong enough to withstand normal use. You.

A cross-shaped hole 5a provided in the cover 5
Is formed from the vicinity 3b of the side of the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 to the vertex 3e, and to the vicinity 3b of the side opposite to the side near the side 3b, and at least the user freely rotates the rotating body 3 with a finger. It is composed of two long holes 5b having a size that can be used. The two long holes 5b are formed so as to be substantially orthogonal to each other at the position of the vertex 3e of the exposed portion of the rotating body 3. The cover 5 is shown in FIG.
It is preferable that a flange 5A is formed around the periphery of the cover 5 so as to be larger than the circumference 17A inside the rotating body cover 17 as shown in FIG.

Such a cover 5 can be attached and detached without hindering the input device 4. In normal use, the cover 5 is displaced and comes into contact with the rotating body 3 to hinder the rotation of the rotating body 3. The rotating body 3 is attached to the case 2 so as to cover the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 by an arbitrary structure (for example, a structure having a hook portion) that can be fixed to such an extent that there is no occurrence. As a method of attaching and detaching the cover 5, specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a flange 5 </ b> A formed on the periphery of the cover 5 and larger than a circumference 17 </ b> A inside the rotating body cover 17 is attached to the rotating body cover 17. 17 and the projection 2b provided in the hole 2a of the case 2, and a method of attaching and detaching the cover 5 by attaching and detaching the rotating body cover 17. At this time, as shown in FIG.
It is preferable that the two long holes 5b forming the cross-shaped hole 5a are attached such that the directions of the two long holes 5b coincide with two orthogonal axes X and Y, which are directions in which the rotation of the rotating body 3 is detected.

The detecting means 8a and 8b used in the input device 4 are not particularly limited. For example, the detecting means 8a and 8b are conventionally used for a mouse, a trackball, or the like. To the orthogonal 2
A rotary encoder or the like shown in FIG. 8 that can detect rotations in two axes X and Y directions is preferably used.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Are, for example, amplifiers 11 and 12 connected to two detecting means 8a and 8b for detecting rotation of the rotating body 3 in two directions orthogonal to each other, a selector 13, and an A / D converter 14
And a CPU 15. In the signal processing section 9, the voltage signals output from the detection means 8a and 8b are amplified by the amplifiers 11 and 12, and the signal to be processed is selected by the selector 13 from the two output signals. You. And the selected signal is
After being digitized by the A / D converter 14, the CPU
The arithmetic processing is performed at 15 and converted into a control signal for moving a cursor on the screen of the personal computer, for example, and output.

To move the position of a cursor on a display screen of a personal computer or the like using such an input device 4, for example, after connecting the input device 4 to a terminal of a personal computer or the like via a cable or the like, The user rotates the portion located in the cross-shaped hole 5a provided in the cover 5 which is a part of the rotating body 3 by an arbitrary amount of rotation in a rotation direction unobstructed by the cover 5 by an operation such as rolling with a finger. Then, the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the rotating body 3 are detected by two detecting means 8a and 8b which detect the rotation as rotation in two orthogonal axes X and Y, respectively. Is given to a storage processing device or the like.

The input device 4 has the cover 5 having the cross-shaped hole 5a having the intersection of the vertex 3e of the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 as an intersection. Since the degree of freedom for rotation in the direction around the vertex 3e of the rotating body 3 in the vicinity of the side surface 3b is small, and the amount of rotation in the direction of low sensitivity at a position on the rotating body 3 with low sensitivity is small, the rotating body 3 The difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operation position on the exposed portion can be reduced. Therefore, for example, the input device 4 can easily move the cursor as intended by the user even when it is desired to move the cursor on the display screen in a fixed direction.

Further, the degree of freedom is limited by the cover 5, and the user does not operate at a position with low sensitivity on the rotating body 3, so that the two-dimensional information input by the user is The two-dimensional information detected by the detection means 8a and 8b with high sensitivity and according to the user's intention can be given to a storage processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. Therefore, for example, the input device 4 can easily perform a fine operation on a display screen or the like.

Further, since the cover 5 is removably attached to the case 2, if it is desired to reduce the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operating position on the rotating body 3, the cover 5 is attached and used. If it is desired to use the camera with a high degree of freedom, the cover 5 can be removed and used. Further, the cover 5 is replaced with the rotating body cover 17.
The flange 5A is formed around the periphery of the cover 5 so as to have a shape larger than the inner circumference 17A of the cover 5, so that the cover 5 can be easily attached and detached by attaching and detaching the rotating body cover 17. The input device 4 is detachable.

Further, the cover 5 is attached to the case 2 so that the direction of the two long holes 5b forming the cross-shaped hole 5a and the direction in which the rotation of the rotating body 3 is detected coincide. For example, when the vertical direction and the horizontal direction on the display screen are linked to two orthogonal axes X and Y, which are directions in which the rotation of the rotating body 3 is detected, use The user can easily recognize the moving direction of the cursor on the display screen and the operating direction on the rotating body 3, which is easy to use.

In the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the cover 5 has the cross-shaped hole 5a having the intersection of the position of the vertex 3e of the exposed portion of the rotating body 3;
As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 50 may include a cross-shaped hole 50 a having an enlarged portion 5 c having an enlarged hole area of a portion located on the top surface vicinity 3 a of the exposed portion of the rotating body 3. Good.

In this case, the degree of freedom for rotation in the direction of low sensitivity at the low sensitivity position on the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 can be reduced, and the top position, which is the high sensitivity position on the rotating body 3, can be obtained. The degree of freedom in the vicinity of the surface 3a can be maintained. Therefore, the input device 4 has a certain degree of freedom inside the enlarged portion 5c and can reduce the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operating position on the rotating body 3 outside the enlarged portion 5c. It can correspond to various uses.

In the input devices 4 and 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the cross-shaped holes 5a shown in FIGS.
The size of two long holes 5b and 50b forming 50a is
At least the size is such that the user can freely rotate the rotating body 3 with a finger, but if it is desired to increase the degree of freedom, it may be larger than that shown in the drawings.

The input device 4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
In the case 40, the case 2 may be formed in a box shape as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but similarly to the input device such as a conventional trackball, various cases may be used depending on the application. Can be formed into a shape
Of course, it is not particularly limited. In the input devices 4 and 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the covers 5 and 50 are
As shown in FIG. 2, the flange 5 is formed on the periphery so as to have a shape larger than the circumference 17 </ b> A inside the rotating body cover 17.
Although A is formed over the whole area, a flange 5A may be formed on a part of the periphery of the covers 5 and 50.

The covers 5, 50 provided in the input devices 4, 40 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be used by attaching them to a general input device. In particular, it is preferable to use by attaching to an input device such as the trackball 1 shown in FIG. The cover 5 or the cover 50 is connected to the trackball 1 shown in FIG.
When the cover 5, 50 is attached so as to cover the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 of the
A cross-shaped hole 5 having the position of the vertex 3e of the exposed portion as an intersection
a, 50a, so that the trackball 1
The operation in the direction of low sensitivity at the low sensitivity position on the exposed portion of the rotating body 3 can be restricted, and the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operating position on the exposed portion can be reduced. Therefore, the operability of the trackball 1 can be improved by attaching the cover 5 or 50 to the trackball 1.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
It is the schematic which looked at the input device shown in FIG. 5 from the side. 5 and 6, reference numeral 41 indicates an input device. The input device 41 includes a case 21 and a rotating body 31 rotatably housed in the case 21 in a state where one side 3c and the other side 3d are exposed and rotatable in an arbitrary direction and a rotation amount.
And a rotating body cover 17 formed in a circular frame shape for holding the rotating body in the case 2.

As in the first embodiment, the input device 41 includes detecting means 8a for detecting the rotation amounts of the rotating body 31 in two axes X and Y orthogonal to each other.
8b and a signal processing unit 9 to which the detection means 8a and 8b are connected via wirings 81 and 82, and a cable 10 for connection to a personal computer are provided. The input device 41 includes selection switches 16a and 16b for inputting various selection signals. The various selection signals input to the selection switches 16a and 16b are input to a personal computer or the like via the wirings 83 and 84, the signal processing unit 9, and the cable 10.

In the input device 41, the case 21
Is, for example, in the shape of a frame formed of a material such as resin, a size that can be grasped by a person, for example,
It is formed in the same size as a conventional mouse. A hole 21b is formed near the center of the case 21. The rotator 31 is a spherical member formed of a material such as rubber, and is rotatable in an arbitrary direction and in an amount of rotation.
, The thumb 6a and the index finger 6b are arranged in a range where they naturally reach. In addition, the rotating body cover 17
After the rotating body 31 is housed in the case 21 in a circular frame shape surrounding at least one side of the exposed portions 3 c and 3 d of the rotating body 31, the rotating body 31 is housed in the case 21. It is attached so that the rotating body 31 does not come out of the case 21 more than necessary,
This is to make it difficult for dust and the like to enter the case 21.

The detecting means 8a and 8b used in the input device 41 are not particularly limited. For example, the detecting means 8a and 8b are conventionally used for a mouse, a trackball, or the like. Is preferably used as shown in FIG. 8, which can detect the rotation in two orthogonal directions X and Y, respectively.

To use such an input device 41 to move the position of a cursor on a display screen of a personal computer or the like, connect the input device 41 to a terminal of a personal computer or the like via a cable or the like, and Rotates the rotating body 31 in a rotating direction and a rotating amount according to a desired moving direction and moving distance, inputs two-dimensional information to the input device 41, and detects the rotating direction and the rotating amount of the rotating body 31.
a, 8b, and providing the two-dimensional information to a storage processing device or the like.

As a method of inputting two-dimensional information to the input device 41, for example, as shown in FIG.
Holding the input device 41 by hand,
Of the one side 3c and the other side 3d of the rotating body 31 exposed from the first part, the part 3c exposed on the upper surface is operated with the thumb 6a, and the part 3d exposed on the lower surface is operated with the index finger 6b. It is preferably performed by a method of rotating the rotating body 31 in a state where two places on the 31 are supported by fingers.

The input device 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention
Is an input device 41 having a rotating body 31 rotatably housed in a state where the one side 3c and the other side 3d are exposed in the case 21, so that when the user rotates the rotating body 31, The rotating body 31 can be rotated while two fingers, one side 3c and the other side 3d, are supported by a finger.
Since the rotation direction and the rotation amount of 1 can be easily adjusted, the operability can be improved. Therefore, detailed operations can be easily performed, and the input accuracy of two-dimensional information can be improved. The two-dimensional information intended by the user can be easily transferred to a storage processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. The input device 41 can be given.

Further, by making the input device 41 large enough to be gripped by a person, for example, approximately the same size as a conventional mouse, the input device 41 is easy to hold and easy to operate. It becomes the input device 41. Further, by placing the rotating body 31 in a range where the thumb 6a and the index finger 6b naturally reach when the user holds the input device 41 with the hand 6, the input device 41 can be easily operated. .

The input device 41 according to the second embodiment of the present invention
In the first embodiment, the cover 5, 50 is attached to one or both of the one side 3c and the other side 3d of the rotating body 31 exposed from the case 21 as in the first embodiment described above. It can also be attached. In this case, the degree of freedom for rotation around the vertex 3e of the rotator 31 in the vicinity of the side surface 3b on the two exposed portions of the rotator 31 is reduced, and sensitivity at a position on the rotator 31 where sensitivity is low is reduced. Because the amount of rotation in the lower direction of the
This is an excellent input device that can reduce the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operation position on the exposed portion of the rotating body 31.

The input devices 4, 40 and 41 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention may include a cable for connecting to a device such as a personal computer. Instead of this configuration, a signal generated by the input device may be transmitted to the information processing device by infrared communication, high-frequency communication, or the like, and a wireless structure without a cable may be adopted.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
The input device described includes a case, a rotating body, a cover, and a detecting unit that detects a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotating body, and the cover covers an exposed portion of the rotating body. Attached to the case as described above, and has a cross-shaped hole whose intersection is the position of the vertex of the exposed portion of the rotating body, so that the center of the vertex of the rotating body near the side surface on the exposed portion of the rotating body is The degree of freedom for rotation in the direction of rotation is small, and the amount of rotation in the direction of low sensitivity at the position of low sensitivity on the rotating body is small, so the sensitivity difference due to the difference in the operating position on the exposed part of the rotating body Can be reduced, and operability when rotating the rotating body can be improved. Therefore, for example, even when it is desired to move the cursor on the display screen in a fixed direction, the input device can easily move the cursor.

Further, since the degree of freedom is limited by the cover and the user does not operate at a low sensitivity position on the rotating body, the two-dimensional information input by the user is detected by the detecting device. As a result, two-dimensional information that is detected with high sensitivity and that matches the user's intention can be provided to a storage processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. Therefore, for example, it is possible to provide an input device that can easily perform fine operations on a display screen or the like.

Further, since the cover is detachably attached to the case, if it is desired to reduce the difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operating position on the rotating body, the cover is used and the degree of freedom is large. If you want to use it in the state, you can remove the cover and use it.

In the above input device, an enlarged portion is provided at the center of the cross-shaped hole, so that the rotation in the low sensitivity direction at the low sensitivity position on the exposed portion of the rotating body. The degree of freedom for
Further, the input device can maintain the degree of freedom in the vicinity of the top surface, which is a position with high sensitivity on the rotating pair. Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent input device having a certain degree of freedom and capable of reducing a difference in sensitivity due to a difference in an operation position on the rotating body.

The trackball cover of the present invention is formed in a hollow hemispherical shape and has a cross-shaped hole having a position near the apex as an intersection and having a size capable of rotating the rotating body with a finger. However, since it is configured to cover the exposed portion of the rotating body, it is possible to limit the operation in the direction of low sensitivity at a low sensitivity position on the exposed portion of the trackball rotating body, The difference in sensitivity due to the difference in the operation position on the exposed portion can be reduced. Therefore, this trackball cover,
For example, when attached to a trackball or the like having a rotatable body rotatably installed with a part thereof exposed from the case, the operability of the trackball can be improved.

Further, the input device according to claim 4 of the present invention comprises a case, a rotating body rotatably housed in the case with one side and the other side exposed, and the rotating body. And a detecting means for detecting the rotation direction and the amount of rotation of the rotating body, so that when rotating the rotating body, the user supports and rotates two places of one side and the other side of the rotating body. Therefore, the rotation direction and the rotation amount of the rotating body can be easily adjusted, so that the operability can be improved. Therefore, detailed operations can be easily performed, and the input accuracy of the two-dimensional information can be improved. The two-dimensional information intended by the user can be easily transferred to a storage processing device such as a personal computer or a word processor. The input device can be provided to the user.

Therefore, it is possible to provide an excellent input device that can easily perform a fine operation such as when it is desired to slightly move the position of the cursor on the display screen.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of the input device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a configuration of a signal processing unit of the input device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another example of the input device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the input device shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from a side.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional trackball.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the inside of the trackball shown in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2, 21 case 3, 31 rotating body 4, 40, 41 input device 5, 50 cover 5a, 50a cross-shaped hole 5b, 50b long hole 5c enlarged portion 6 hand 8a, 8b detecting means 17 rotating body cover

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaru Komatsu 1-7 Yukiya Otsukacho, Ota-ku, Tokyo Alps Electric Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B087 AA10 AB01 AB02 BB03 BB11 BB20 BB21 BB29 DD03 DG02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An input device for inputting two-dimensional information to an information processing device, comprising: a case; a rotating body rotatably housed in the case in a partially exposed state; A cross-shaped hole that is detachably attached to the case so as to cover the exposed portion of the rotating body, has a position at the center of the exposed portion of the rotating body as an intersection, and is capable of rotating the rotating body with a finger. An input device, comprising: a cover having: a detection unit configured to detect a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotating body. 2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein an enlarged portion is provided at a center of the cross-shaped hole. 3. A trackball cover which is used by being attached to a trackball having a rotating body which is rotatably installed with a part thereof exposed from a case, wherein the cover is formed in a hollow hemisphere. A position near the apex is an intersection, and a cross-shaped hole large enough to allow the rotating body to be freely rotated by a finger is configured to be detachable so as to cover an exposed portion of the rotating body. Trackball cover. 4. An input device for inputting two-dimensional information to an information processing device, comprising: a case; and a rotating body rotatably housed in the case with one side and the other side exposed. An input device comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotating body.