JPS636623A - 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 [Field of Application in Industry] The present invention relates to a pointing device used for manual coordinate use.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a mouse is an example of this type of device.

It should be noted that the mouse here is used, for example, when used as a terminal device such as a host computer, to move a cursor (icon) or the like on a display screen to a desired menu position or the like.

Now, in terms of numbers, this mouse manually detects the rotation amount of the ball on the bottom using an encoder slit, etc., and outputs the relative position (movement distance) using the detected pulse signal. Ta.

[Problems that the invention aims to solve] Therefore, when operating a mouse (often on a desk), if you do not have enough space for the mouse to move, you will not be able to operate the mouse as you wish. It turns out that you can't do that.

For example, an icon (a symbol displayed on the display screen)
If the icon is at one end of the display screen and the menu area is at the other end, moving the icon once to the menu location requires moving a considerable distance (depending on the type of mouse). Become. Therefore, unless you organize your desk to some extent, the operation becomes troublesome.

In addition, when using a desk knife with a narrow mouse movement range, you have to move the mouse a certain amount (rotate the ball) and then pick it up and move it again, which turns what should have been a convenience into a nuisance. become.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and when a signal corresponding to a moving distance is sent to a device such as a host computer, information in the signal corresponding to the moving distance is scaled at a predetermined ratio. This was provided in order to avoid such problems by increasing the location information in the signal sent to the host side even when moving a short distance.

[Means for solving the problem] In order to solve this problem, the present invention has the following configuration.

That is, the pointing device has a detection means for detecting the relative position when the pointing device is moved to a desired position, and an output means for outputting 8th shift distance information corresponding to the moving distance detected by the detection means. , has a scaling means for scaling the moving distance information corresponding to the 8'#J distance chick detected by the detection means at a predetermined ratio.

[Operation] In the configuration of the present invention, the relative position detected by the detection means is scaled by the variable magnification means and outputted by the output means.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3(a) is an external perspective view of the mouse of this embodiment. In the figure, 30 is the mouse body, switches 30a, 3
0b, a connection cord 31 for sending signals output from the mouse body 30 to a host computer, etc., and its connector 32.

FIG. 3(b) is a view of the mouse body 30 viewed from below. There is a circular hole on the bottom of the mouse body.
Part of the ball 33 protrudes from there. Therefore, if the mouse body 30 is moved on a desk or the like in the orientation shown in FIG. 3(a), the ball 33 will eventually rotate. The amount of rotation (the amount of movement in the X and Y directions with respect to the mouse) is detected, and the amount of movement (relative coordinates) is output.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the mouse according to this embodiment.

In the figure, 1 is a CPU that controls the entire mouse, and includes a ROM 1a in which a program (the flowchart shown in FIG. 4) is stored, and a RAM 1b used as a work area while the CPU 1 is operating. 2 is CP
According to instructions from the UI, photosensors 5a and 5, which will be described later,
Based on the pulse signal from b, the 8 motion amount is multiplied by N and output part 3
This is a variable magnification unit that outputs the output. Encoders 4a and 4b are in contact with the ball 33 and are perpendicular to each other (in the X direction and the Y direction). Therefore, the ball 33 rotates (when the mouse is depressed, the encoders 4a and 4b also rotate correspondingly. By detecting the amount of rotation of the encoders 4a and 4b, it can be determined in which direction the mouse is depressed. The photosensors 5a and 5b output pulses when light passes through slits provided on the outer peripheries of the encoders 4a and 4b.

Note that counters 2a and 2b provided in the variable magnification section 2 count the pulse signals from the photosensors 5a and 5b.
It is detected by

Further, the data after the scaling process is temporarily stored in the data area 2C, and the data stored in this data area 2C is output to the output section 3.

A specific example using the mouse of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).

Note that in this embodiment, the switch 30a.

When at least one of the switches 30b is "OFF", the normal movement amount (1x) is output, and the switches 30a,
When both 30b and 30b are ON, the detected movement amount is multiplied by N, for example, doubled, and output.
In the following explanation, an icon refers to a symbol that corresponds to data sent from a coordinate input device such as a mouse (or a keyboard may be used), or that moves on the screen according to the amount of movement and direction of movement. Therefore, although it is often used to indicate in real time the position of a menu or graphic input displayed on a screen, the purpose of use is not limited in this embodiment.

FIG. 2(a) shows a state in which the mouse body 30 of this embodiment is connected to a host computer, and when the mouse body 30 is moved "X", the icon on the display screen changes to 21. 22 position from (8 moving distances on the display screen are intersecting)
This shows the area moving to .

FIG. 2(b) shows a switch 30a on the mouse body 30,
It shows the state in which both 30b and 30b are pressed down, and the second
Similarly to Figure (a), when the mouse body 30 is moved by "X", it has moved from position 21 to position 23 on the display screen (the distance is 6 cm).

As can be seen from these 2nd (a) and (b), 2'〉
It is standing. Therefore, when both switches 30a and 30b are pressed, even if the mouse body 3o is moved a little,
This means that the object will travel a longer distance on the display screen. The above operation will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the photosensor 5a.

Counter 2a measures the number of pulses sent from 5b.

Count with 2b. Next, step 32 to step S4
Up to this point, the states of the switches 30a and 30b are determined. Based on these judgments, when only the switch 30a is 'ON', or only the switch 30b is 'ON'
, the switch is set to “O” in steps S5 and S6.
The status information that is "N" and the amount of movement will be output. Also, both switches 30a and 30b are set to °○F.
F'', the amount of rotation at that time is output in step S7.

Now, press both switches 30a and 30b (“ON”)
), the amount of movement at that time is set to N in step S8.
times (this multiplier is assumed to have been input in advance)
Then, the data stored in the data area 2C will be output.

As described above, by detecting the amount of movement of the mouse and performing scaling processing on the amount of movement, it is possible to improve the operability of the mouse. Moreover, it becomes possible to use the mouse even in a relatively narrow space.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it has been explained that the magnification processing is performed when both the switches 30a and 30b are pressed (ON''), but this is only an example of how to realize the present invention, and is not intended to limit it in any way. isn't it.

For example, a switch other than the conventional mouse switch may be provided, and pressing this switch may perform magnification processing, or the magnification related to magnification processing may be set to 1 ff.
Not limited to FI type, several switches are provided, 1x, 2x
It does not matter if it is realized twice, tripled, etc.

Furthermore, by using the mouse of this embodiment, there is also the advantage that the above-mentioned effects can be obtained without making any changes to the application program on the host computer side that has been used in the past.

Further, the mechanism for detecting the rotation of the ball in the mouse in this embodiment does not limit the magnification changing process in this embodiment, and any other detection mechanism may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the operability of the pointing device is improved by performing magnification processing on the relative position information when the pointing device is moved a desired distance eight times.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the mouse according to this embodiment. Figs. 2 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing the mouse of this embodiment connected to a host computer and used. Fig. 3. (a) and (b) are external views of the mouse, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the mouse of this embodiment. In the figure, 1 CPU, 1 a...FtOM, 1 b-RA
Ml 2...Magnification variable part, 2a, 2b...Counter, 2
c...Data area, 3...Output section, 4a, 4b.
...Encoder, 5a, 5b...Photo sensor, 30...Mouse body, 30a, 30b...Switch, 31...Connection cord, 32...Connector,
33... It's a ball. Patent applicant Yasushi Otsuka, agent for Canon Co., Ltd.: ff1W childη'
--1: 1 :, -, / ,,'-+ and・noi,゛-1 (b) 3゜Figure 2 ('b) Figure 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A pointing device that has a detection means that detects the relative position when moved to a desired position, and an output means that outputs movement distance information corresponding to the movement distance detected by the detection means. , comprising a scaling means for scaling the moving distance information corresponding to the moving distance detected by the detecting means at a predetermined ratio, and outputting the moving distance information scaled by the scaling means by the output means. A pointing device characterized by: (2) The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the variable magnification means is activated by pressing down a predetermined switch provided on the pointing device. (3) The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the magnification changing means has a plurality of magnification ratios.