JPH03225519A - Pulse signal generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attract user's attention directly by receiving a control signal from outside by this pulse generator which generates a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation of a spherical body that can be touched with the hand and rotated, and varying the slide resistance in the rotation of the spherical body according to a control signal. CONSTITUTION:Two detection rollers 4 detect the lateral and longitudinal moving amounts of the ball 2 as the speeds of revolution respectively and a rotary encoder 5 converts the speed of revolution into pulse signals indicating the longitudinal/lateral rotational angle. The resistance of the ball 2 in its rotation is energized to a solenoid 7 with a control signal from an external device such as a digital device to adjust the force which presses a slide resistance adjusting plate 6 against the ball 2. Consequently, when a cursor is moved, the slide resistance of the ball in its rotation is varied according to the control signal to attract user's attention directly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a pulse signal generator, and more particularly to a pulse signal generator used as an input device to a digital device.

(Prior art) A pulse signal generator is equipped with a sphere that can be rotated by touching it with the hand, and detects the direction and amount of rotation of this sphere and generates a pulse signal according to the direction and amount of rotation. Accordingly, when the cursor on the CRT display is being moved, it may be desirable to call the user's attention as the cursor moves.

The conventional method of alerting the user in such cases is C.
The idea was to call attention to the user by changing the color or shape of the cursor on the RT display, or by changing the color or brightness of the display area indicated by the cursor.

(Problem to be solved by the invention!! However, the conventional method of changing the color or shape of a cursor on a CRT display and changing the color or brightness of the display area indicated by the cursor cannot change the CRT display.)
There was a drawback that it was difficult to notice the change because it was only on the RT display.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pulse signal generator that can be used in conjunction with the conventional method to directly call the user's attention by changing the slip resistance during the rotation of a sphere, which is a provision for a pulse signal generator for moving a cursor. Our goal is to provide the following.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes a sphere that can be rotated by touching the sphere, detects the direction and amount of rotation of the sphere, and generates a pulse signal according to the direction and amount of rotation. The pulse signal generating device is characterized by being provided with means for receiving a control signal from the outside and changing the slip resistance during rotation of the sphere in accordance with the control signal.

(Function) In the present invention, when the user wants to be careful, the slip resistance during rotation of the sphere provided in the pulse signal generator is changed in accordance with an external control signal, and the user operates the ball. By changing the resistance applied to the hand, it is possible to directly alert the user.

- (Example) Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.
In this embodiment, a ball 2 is embedded in a housing 1, and by rotating the ball 2 with a palm or the like, a pulse signal corresponding to the rotation is generated, and the pulse signal is output via a connecting cable 3. . Further, by changing the slip resistance during rotation of the ball 2 by a control signal inputted through the connection cable 3, the resistance applied to the hand of the user who operates the ball 2 is changed. The connection cable 3 is connected to a digital device, the generated pulse signal is output to the digital device via the connection cable 3, and the control signal for controlling the slip resistance during rotation of the ball 2 is output to the digital device via the connection cable 3. Input from the device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and more specifically shows means for generating a pulse signal from the rotation of the ball 2 and means for changing the slip resistance during the rotation of the ball 2. It is a diagram.

The means for generating the pulse signal includes two detection rollers 4 that detect the amount of movement of the ball 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a rotary encoder 5 that generates a pulse signal according to the rotation speed of each of the two detection rollers 4. It consists of. The two detection rollers 4 detect the amount of movement of the ball 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions as the respective rotational speeds, and the two rotary encoders 5 detect the respective rotational speeds of the detection roller 4 in the vertical and horizontal directions of the ball 2. Convert to a pulse signal indicating the rotation angle. The means for changing the slip resistance consists of a slip resistance adjusting plate 6 that contacts the ball 2 and a solenoid 7 that presses the slip resistance adjusting plate 6 against the ball 2. The resistance during rotation of the ball 2 is adjusted by changing the force with which the slip resistance adjusting plate 6 is pressed against the ball 2 using a solenoid 7. The current flowing through the solenoid 7 to adjust the force with which the slip resistance adjusting plate 6 is pressed against the ball 2 is controlled by a control signal from an external device, that is, a digital device.

(Effects of the Invention) In addition to the above-described details, the present invention receives a control signal output from a digital device when the user wants to be careful, and in response to the control signal, the ball of the pulse signal generator is activated. By changing the slip resistance during rotation of the ball and changing the resistance applied to the user's hand when operating the ball, it is possible to directly alert the user.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a means for generating the slip resistance and a means for changing the slip resistance when the ball 2 rotates. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Housing, 2... Ball, 3... Connection cable, 4... Detection roller, 5... Rotary encoder, 6... Slip resistance adjustment plate, 7... Solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A pulse signal generating device comprising a sphere that can be rotated by touching the sphere, detecting the direction and amount of rotation of the sphere and generating a pulse signal according to the direction and amount of rotation, A pulse signal generating device, comprising means for receiving a control signal from the outside and changing the sliding resistance of the sphere during rotation in accordance with the control signal.