JPH0424722A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention is a type of input device for a computer, and is a pointing device that performs an action of pointing an object displayed on a screen and moving a cursor. - It is related to devices.

[Conventional technology]

Figure 6 shows, for example, a typical pointing device shown in Kunio Ohno's "Latest Trends in Pointing Devices", magazine (PIXEL, Nn43, pages 75 to 81, April 1986). FIG. 7, which is a partially cutaway perspective view of the mechanical pointing device, is a block diagram of a computer system using this pointing device. In the figure, (1) is a ball, (2) is an X-direction detection disc that is in contact with this ball (11), and (3) is an X-direction rotary pulse that is connected to the X-direction detection disc (2). (4) is an X-direction detection disc that is in contact with the ball 111 at an angle of 90 degrees with the X-direction detection disc (3);
5) A Y-direction rotary pulse generator 6+ coupled to an X-direction detection disk (4). (8) is a calculator, (9) is a display, and α is a pointing device.

Next, the operation will be explained. When the operator manually erases all four mouse positions, the ball +1) inside rotates. The X component of the ball (110 rotations) is detected by the X direction detection disk (2) and the X direction detection disk (4), respectively, and the formula pulse generator C5)
can be conveyed to. The X-direction rotary pulse generator (3) and the Y-direction rotary pulse generator (5) send pulses to the computer (t8) for each rotation angle of the - foot, and the moving object appears on the Ruru display (9). 0 [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the conventional pointing device is configured as described above, it is necessary to secure a sufficiently large space to move the device, and , there were problems such as having to reposition the device, and dust got inside the container where the pole rotates, making it more likely to malfunction and requiring maintenance of the device. There were many problems such as being difficult.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and there is no need to take up space.

The purpose is to obtain a pointing device that is difficult to break down. Roughly speaking, the cursor's moving speed 'fr is changed depending on the pressing pressure of the operator's finger.
The purpose of this invention is to obtain a pointing device that can be operated in accordance with human senses.

[Elaborate means to solve problems]

A pointing device according to the present invention.

It is equipped with a pressure sensor that measures and outputs a planar pressure distribution, and a signal processing means that determines the moving direction and amount of movement of a moving object according to the pressure distribution position and pressure magnitude from the output signal of this sensor. It is something that

[Effect]

The pointing device according to the second aspect of the present invention presses a location corresponding to the direction in which the operator desires to move the cursor with a pressure corresponding to the amount of movement. At this time, the pressure sensor outputs the pressure distribution, and the signal processing means determines the moving direction and amount of movement of the cursor according to the pressure distribution, and moves the cursor to the object to be moved according to the determined amount.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to IEI vC. In FIG. 1, (6) is a pressure sensor capable of measuring pressure distribution, and (7) is a signal processing means that determines the moving direction and amount of the cursor on the screen from the state of the pressure distribution. Figure 2 shows an example of the pressure sensor part, (6a
) A rubber plate of about 3 sides x 3 pieces laid on the μ surface, (6b
) is a load cell that can measure a vertical pressure of about 1 crr1×ICrn, and these load cells are arranged in a 3×3 matrix, for example.

Next, the operation when used in a computer system will be explained based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

The operator moves the cursor on the screen in the desired direction, and the pressure sensor (
6) Pressure the rainbow. The pressure sensor (6) measures the pressure values of all elements (step 113) and sends data on the pressure distribution state to the signal processing means (7). The direction and amount of movement of the cursor are calculated and the signals are transmitted to the computer (8) (
Step 12).

Fig. 2 shows an example of a pressure sensor (6), and a rubber plate (
6a) When pressurizing any point on the soil, the pressure is arranged in a 3×3 matrix and is transmitted to the load cell (6b). The pressure value of each load cell is sent to the signal processing means (force).
They are the direction weight tij and the X direction weight uij. In this case, tJ is 1-3. Sent pressure value p1
j is multiplied by the fc weight according to the position of each load cell as shown in Equation 1, and the amount of movement xij in the X direction and the amount yij of movement in the X direction of each element is calculated.

xij'=tij pij, yij=u
ij pij "fl) Furthermore, Equation 5 (2) is calculated and the amounts of movement of all elements in the X direction and in the X direction are added, respectively (step 13).

Step 14) The sum of the amounts of movement in the X direction and the X direction respectively correspond to the movement belt of the cursor.

Therefore, by outputting the value to the computer (8) (step 15), the cursor on the display (9), which is the object to be moved, is moved. If no pressure is applied anywhere, the pressure values will all be O, so the amount of movement will also be O, and the cursor will not move.

In the above embodiment, the elements for measuring pressure are arranged in a 3x3 matrix, but by arranging more elements, the resolution in the moving direction becomes better.

With the configuration as in the above embodiment, the operator can move the cursor by applying pressure to a portion corresponding to the direction in which the cursor is desired to be moved with a magnitude corresponding to the desired amount of movement. Therefore, there is no need to move the device itself, and it can be used in a narrow space. Also, since there are no moving parts, it is less likely to break down.
, maintenance is free.

3. In the above embodiment, the pressure sensor (6) is a pressure sensor capable of measuring the pressure distribution as shown in FIG.
A pressure sensor using pressure-sensitive conductive rubber as shown in the figure may also be used. For example, Figure 85 shows Masuda et al., “Information Processing Circuit for Distributed Tactile Sensors,” Proceedings of the National Conference of the Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan 49.
86) is a perspective view of the structure of the t″Lfc distributed tactile sensor shown on page 1791.

Pressure-sensitive conductive rubber (6c) is made by uniformly dispersing fine carbon particles in silicone rubber. Rubber is deformed by pressure and the contact between particles is strong, resulting in a continuous decrease in electrical resistance.

The structure is made of PET film (6e) printed with a pole (6e).
6d) and pressure-sensitive conductive rubber (6c). The upper and lower 1iL pole rows are offset by 90 degrees,
By measuring the resistance between the upper and F rows, the pressure value at the intersection point can be found.

Pressure distribution can be measured by sequentially changing the upper and lower rows0.Also, in the above embodiment, the pointing device was explained as moving the cursor on the screen, but if it moves in a plane, the direction of movement and the pointing device can be measured. Amount (moving speed)
It is also possible to use a device that determines , and the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, this invention includes a pressure sensor that measures and outputs a planar pressure distribution, and a moving object that moves in a moving direction and moves according to the distribution position and pressure magnitude based on the output signal of the sensor. By providing a signal processing means for determining the amount, there is no need to take up space for operation, and there is no need for troubleshooting.
This has the effect of making it possible to obtain a pointing device that can be operated in a way that is roughly compatible with human senses.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pointing device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pressure sensor according to one embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4 are according to one embodiment,
Flowchart and explanatory diagram of the algorithm for calculating the X direction and the amount of movement of the cursor in the X direction from the pressure value, 5th
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a pressure sensor related to a pointing device according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional pointing device, and FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a computer system. In the figure, (6) is a pressure sensor, and (7) is a signal processing means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pointing device consisting of a pressure sensor that measures and outputs a planar pressure distribution, and a signal processing means that determines the direction and amount of movement of a moving object according to the position of the pressure distribution and the magnitude of the pressure.