JPH08179883A - Three-dimensional mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the three-dimensional mouse which can be operated in a reduced space, improves operability and can simultaneously input three coordinates. CONSTITUTION: This mouse is provided with the body 2 of the mouse for detecting out the two-dimensional coordinate axis information of axis X axis-Y axis through a spherical rotator 1, second input information setting mechanism 3 to be mounted on the body 2 of the mouse and reciprocatively moved with a prescribed stroke, and Z-axis direction moving amount converting means 4 for externally outputting a rise/fall turning amount due to this second input information setting mechanism 3 as third coordinate axis information. Among these means, the second input information setting mechanism 3 is provided with a rising/falling member 5 pivotally supported back and forth so as to freely rise, fall and turn, angle moving amount detecting part 6 for converting the rise/fall turning amount of this rise/fall member 5 into a prescribed angle signal, and Z-axis direction moving amount conversion circuit 4 for converting the output signal of this angle moving amount detecting part 6 into the coordinate axis information of a Z axis.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional mouse,
In particular, it relates to a three-dimensional mouse for inputting three-dimensional coordinates to a host device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a mouse of this type, JP-A-5
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 282098, there is a well-known mouse capable of inputting two-dimensional coordinates, equipped with a rotatable dial for inputting a third coordinate. Also,
． As disclosed in JP-A-5-165565, a two-dimensional mouse is equipped with a button for switching input coordinates, and by operating this button, the input coordinates are switched from XY coordinates to XZ coordinates. There are those that input three-dimensional coordinates. In addition ,. As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-62916, a grip is provided on a two-dimensional mouse that moves back and forth in the vertical direction, and the vertical movement of the grip is captured to input the third coordinate. There is.

[0003]

However, in the above, it is troublesome to perform the planar movement of the mouse and the dial operation at the same time, and it is necessary to operate the dial with a fingertip, which causes a problem of poor operability. It was Also,
In the above case, there is an inconvenience that three coordinates cannot be input at the same time. In addition, in the above, there is a disadvantage that a space is uneconomical because an area for vertically moving the grip is required, and in addition to this, when lifting the grip upward, the whole mouse is lifted. There was an inconvenience that the body side had to be held down by hand so that it could not be lifted.

[0004]

The object of the present invention is to improve the inconvenience of the conventional example, and in particular, it can be operated in a small space and has high operability.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional mouse that can input two coordinates at the same time.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mouse body for detecting and outputting two-dimensional coordinate axis information of the X axis and the Y axis via a spherical rotating body, and a mouse body provided on the mouse body. A second input information setting mechanism that reciprocates with a predetermined stroke is provided. Then, the second input information setting mechanism among them has an undulating member pivotally supported so as to undulate and rotate in the front-rear direction, and an angular movement amount detection unit for converting the undulating movement amount of the undulating member into a predetermined angle signal. And a Z-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit for converting the output signal of the angle movement amount detection unit into Z-axis coordinate axis information and externally outputting it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above structure, the first to third input buttons for inputting the determination of the moved position of the spherical rotary member and the determination of the position of the undulating member on the undulating member. It is equipped with.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the undulating member is arranged and set in the central portion of the mouse body.

These are intended to achieve the above-mentioned object.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the undulating member is gripped by the hand and the mouse body is moved on the operation plane. As a result, when the spherical rotating body that comes into contact with the operation plane rolls, the first and second rotating bodies rotate.
The coordinate axis information of is input. Here, when it is desired to input the third coordinate axis information, the undulating member held in the hand is undulated and rotated in the front-rear direction. The angle change of the undulating member caused by the undulating and rotating operation is converted into a predetermined angle signal by the angular movement amount detection unit. Then, the angle signal output by the angular movement amount detection unit is converted into Z-axis coordinate axis information by the Z-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit and input to the information processing device (upper device).

According to the second aspect of the present invention, while holding the undulating member in the hand and inputting the first to third coordinate axis information, the first to third input buttons are directly operated to determine the coordinate position.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the physical stability of the mouse body is improved when operating the undulating member.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, a three-dimensional mouse 10 includes a mouse body 2 and a second input information setting mechanism 3 mounted on the mouse body 2 and reciprocating with a predetermined stroke.
It has and. The mouse body 2 includes a rotary spherical body 1 that contacts the operation surface, rotary encoders 1A and 1B that detect the rotation amounts in the X and Y directions corresponding to the rotation of the rotary spherical body 1, and the rotary encoders 1A and 1B. It is provided with an X-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 11A and a Y-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 11B that output two-dimensional coordinate axis information from the output of 1B.

Starting with the rotating sphere 1, the rotary encoders 1A and 1B and the moving amount conversion circuits 11A and 11B,
The same thing as the conventional two-dimensional mouse is used.

On the other hand, the second input information setting mechanism includes an undulating member 5 which is rotatably and rotatably pivoted in the front-back direction, and an angular movement amount for converting the undulating movement amount of the undulating member 5 into a predetermined angle signal. A detection unit (angle detection unit) 6 and a Z-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 4 for converting and outputting an output signal of the angle detection unit 6 into Z-axis coordinate axis information.

The angle detector 6 is composed of, for example, a rotary encoder. The Z-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 4 is configured in the same manner as the movement amount conversion circuits 11A and 11B described above.

In the present embodiment, the second input information setting mechanism 3 has first to third input buttons for inputting the determination of the moved position of the spherical rotary member 1 and the determination of the position of the undulating member 5 by the undulating operation. It is equipped with 7, 8 and 9. Then, each movement amount conversion circuit 11A, 11B, 4 and each button 7,
All the output signals of 8 and 9 are input to the external information processing device 20 via the output cable 12 connected to the mouse body 2.

The physical structures of the mouse body 2 and the second input information setting mechanism 3 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.

2 to 4, the mouse body 2
Is formed in a relatively thin box shape having the above-mentioned electric circuit system inside, and a part of the spherical rotating body 1 is exposed at the center of the back surface. On the other hand, a convex connecting member 14 for connecting the undulating member 5 is erected at the center of the surface of the mouse body 2. The convex connecting member 14 is formed in a mountain shape in appearance, and has a gentle roundness at the top portion.
A small-diameter through hole 13 is provided in the top portion in parallel with the installation surface of the mouse body 2. In the present embodiment, the rotary shaft of the rotary encoder as the angle detecting section 6 is inserted into the through hole 13. Has been done.

The undulating member 5 connected to the mouse main body 2 by the convex connecting member 14 is formed in a soap shape which is slightly smaller than the mouse main body 2. The undulating member 5 has a recess formed in the center of the back surface thereof corresponding to the top portion of the convex connecting member 14, and in a state where the recess and the apex portion face each other with a predetermined distance therebetween, the rotary encoder (angle detection unit). ) 6 is fixed to both ends of the rotary shaft. Here, the curvature of the depression is set to a curvature smaller than the apex curvature of the convex connecting member 14, whereby the undulating member 5 undulates in the front-rear direction with a predetermined stroke as shown by the arrow in FIG. It can be rotated.

In the present embodiment, the undulating member 5 includes first to third input buttons 7 for inputting the determined position of the moved spherical body 1 and the undulating operation of the undulating member.
It has 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 4, the input buttons 7, 8 and 9 are arranged laterally in front of the surface of the undulating member 5. These input buttons 7, 8,
9 and the signal lines of the angle detection unit 6 are wired to the mouse body 2 through the inside of the convex connecting member 14, and through the output cable 12 provided on the input button 7, 8, 9 side of the mouse body 2. Connected to the information processing device 20.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the three-dimensional mouse 10 of this embodiment, the undulating member 5 is held in the hand and the mouse body 2 is moved on the operation plane. As a result, when the spherical rotating body 1 in contact with the operation plane rolls, the first and second coordinate axis information is transferred to the information processing device 20 via the X-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 11A and the Y-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 11B. Is entered. Here, when it is desired to input the third coordinate axis information, the undulating member 5 that is held by the hand is undulated and rotated in the front-rear direction. The change in angle of the undulating member 5 caused by the undulating and rotating operation causes the rotary shaft of the rotary encoder as the angular movement amount detection unit 6 to rotate,
It is converted into a predetermined angle signal. The angle signal output from the angular movement amount detection unit 6 is the Z-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit 4
Is converted into Z-axis coordinate axis information and input to the information processing device 20.

When the desired coordinate position is determined in this way, the first to third input buttons are operated with the undulating member 5 held in the hand to input the determination of the coordinate position.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the second input information setting mechanism 3 is used as the hoisting / rotating input in the front-back direction by the hoisting member 5, the mouse body 2 is moved to move the X-Y.
While inputting the axis coordinate information, at the same time, the third coordinate axis information,
That is, since the Z-axis coordinate information can be input and the three-dimensional coordinate information can be easily input with only one palm, operability can be greatly improved. Further, since it is possible to input the undulating member 5 only by undulating and rotating the undulating member 5 in the front-rear direction, there is an advantage that a wide operation area is not required. Further, since the input operation is always performed while pressure is applied in the direction of the installation surface of the mouse body 2, the operation stability is good.

Since the first to third input buttons 7, 8 and 9 for inputting the determination of the movement position are arranged on the undulating member 5, the input buttons 7 and 8 are directly input while the three-dimensional coordinates are being input. 8 and 9 can be operated, which further improves the operability.

Furthermore, since the undulating member 5 is arranged and set in the central portion of the mouse body 2, the mouse body 2 is stable when operating the undulating member 5, and reliable input can be performed.

Here, in the present embodiment, an example in which a rotary encoder is used as the angle detecting section 6 has been shown, but other mechanisms may be used as long as the same operation can be achieved. Further, the input buttons 7, 8 and 9 may have arbitrary functions. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied not only to the mouse using the spherical rotating body 1 as in the present embodiment but also to the mouse detecting the movement amount by the optical sensor.

[0029]

Since the present invention is constructed and functions as described above, according to this, since the second input information setting mechanism is a front-back undulating rotation input mechanism using an undulating member, the mouse body is While moving and inputting the first and second coordinate axis information, the third coordinate axis information can be input at the same time, and the three-dimensional coordinate information can be easily input with only one palm, greatly improving the operability. can do. In addition, since it is possible to input the undulating member just by undulating and rotating the undulating member in the front-rear direction, there is an advantage that a wide operation area is not required. Furthermore, since the input operation is always performed with pressure applied in the direction of the installation surface of the mouse body, there is an advantage that the stability during operation is good.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the first to third input buttons for inputting the determination of the movement position are arranged on the undulating member, so that the input button can be input as it is while inputting the three-dimensional coordinates. You can operate the
Operability can be further improved.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the undulating member is arranged and set in the central portion on the mouse body, the mouse body is stable when operating the undulating member, and reliable input can be performed. It is possible to provide an excellent three-dimensional mouse that has never been used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a signal system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the physical configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the configuration shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Spherical Rotating Body 2 Mouse Main Body 3 Second Input Information Setting Mechanism 4 Z-axis Direction Movement Amount Conversion Circuit 5 Elevating Member 6 Angular Movement Amount Detection Section (Angle Detection Section) 7 First Input Button 8 Second Input Button 9 Third input button

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mouse body for detecting and outputting two-dimensional coordinate axis information of X-axis and Y-axis through a spherical rotating body, and second input information mounted on the mouse body and reciprocating with a predetermined stroke. A setting mechanism is provided, and the second input information setting mechanism includes an undulating member pivotally supported in the front-back direction so that the undulating movement amount of the undulating member is converted into a predetermined angle signal. A three-dimensional mouse comprising a detection unit and a Z-axis direction movement amount conversion circuit for converting an output signal of the angular movement amount detection unit into Z-axis coordinate axis information and externally outputting it. 2. The three-dimensional mouse according to claim 1, wherein the determination of the moved position of the spherical rotating body and the determination of the position of the undulating motion of the undulating member are input on the undulating member. A three-dimensional mouse equipped with three input buttons. 3. The three-dimensional mouse according to claim 1, wherein the undulating member is arranged and set in a central portion of the mouse body.