Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-12
2002-07-09
Hjerpe, Richard A. (Department: 2774)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S163000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06417837
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coordinate input device, and more particularly to a mouse whose movements on a flat surface are reflected by cursor movements on a visual display unit of a computer system.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a coordinate Input device such as a mouse is widely used for computer systems in business use for office work, engineering and the like, as well as for personal use in playing video games, drawing pictures or making documents containing tables. This device is useful for inputting two-dimensional coordinates, which designate a location to input a character on the screen or a location to start drawing a picture on the screen. Normally, the cursor displayed on the screen of the visual display unit is controlled in its location or coordinates by that device.
FIG. 2A
is a sectional view showing a mechanical structure of the coordinate input device as conventionally known. This is a so-called mechanical mouse in which a rubber-coated ball
22
is rolling on a flat surface
31
so that the amounts of movement in X and Y directions are detected. Those movements are reflected by the two-dimensional movements of the cursor on the screen. This type of mouse is frequently used in the personal computer system.
In this device, a substrate
21
is fixedly located inside of a main body
20
. Due to the provision of the main body
20
, the substrate
21
and a ball-positioning member
24
, the ball
22
is located at a certain position such that the ball
22
can rotate in any direction. The rotation of the ball
22
is converted into the location of the device on the flat surface
31
.
FIG. 2B
shows a construction of a rotation detector
26
. Herein, a slit disk
34
is attached to an axis
32
such that the slit disk
34
can rotate about the axis
32
. A plurality of slits are formed in the peripheral portion of the slit disk
34
at equal Intervals. A light-emitting element
36
is placed against a light-receiving element
38
with respect to the slit disk
34
. The detection for the rotation of the ball
22
is activated when the operator moves the device in a certain direction on the flat surface
31
so that the ball
22
is correspondingly rotated. An edge portion of the slit disk
34
normally comes in contact with the ball
22
; hence, the slit disk
34
should be rotated about the axis
32
by a certain amount of rotation in response to the rotation of the ball
22
. The light emitted from the light-emitting element
36
passes through the slit to reach the light-receiving element
38
. Since the slit disk
34
rotates responsive to the rotation of the ball
22
, the light should intermittently reach the light-receiving element
38
; in other words, the light-receiving element
38
receives a certain number of pulses of light in accordance with the rotation of the slit disk
34
. The number of the pluses of light, received by the light-receiving element
38
, is proportional to the amount of rotation of the ball
22
in a certain direction. The rotation detector
26
, as shown in FIG.
2
B, is provided for each of the X and Y directions; hence, it is possible to detect the amount of rotation of the ball
22
with respect to each of the X and Y directions. The pulses of light, received by the light-receiving element
38
, are converted Into electric signals by a movement detecting means
28
; and then, those electric signals are outputted from the device.
FIG. 3
is a sectional view showing a mechanical structure of another coordinate input device as conventionally known. This is a so-called opto-mechanical mouse having an optical detection means
46
by which the movements thereof are detected by reading a pattern written on a pad
40
so as to compute the amounts of movement in X and Y directions by a data conversion means
48
.
Both of the devices described above are capable of obtaining coordinate information regarding the X and Y directions on the flat surface. In addition, those devices provide one or two buttons
29
and
49
as well. The buttons
29
and
49
are respectively connected with click detectors
30
and
50
which are fixedly located inside of the main body
20
. The click detectors
30
and
50
detect ON/OFF states of the buttons
29
and
49
respectively, so that conversion means (not shown) converts the ON/OFF states detected into electric signals, which are outputted from the device. Further, the application program, executed by the computer, determines how the buttons function. For example, a task to select a specific function is assigned to one button, while a task to correct a specific item is assigned to another button.
The coordinate input devices conventionally known are useful in providing sufficient information regarding a two-dimensional coordinates system. Recently, however, videogame software or multimedia systems require more complicated movements for the cursor or graphic image on the screen. In some cases, three-dimensional movements are required. In that case, the conventional coordinate input device cannot sufficiently satisfy those needs.
When inputting a size or an intensity as a parameter regarding a certain object to be controlled on the screen, the conventional device inputs such parameter by detecting the time when the button is pushed or a duration in which the button is continuously pushed. Such indirect detection should be made by the conventional device because of the limited mechanism of the device. In that case, however, a change of the parameter on the screen which is caused by the conventional device does not precisely match the operator's intention. In other words, to precisely match the change of the parameter with the operator's intention, the operator should be skilled in manipulating the device. Therefore, the conventional device is not designed for people who are not skilled in manipulating the device. In addition, the conventional device cannot establish a good relationship between the screen image and the manipulation thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a coordinate input device which is capable of inputting a variety of parameters with high performance.
The present invention provides improvements for coordinate Input devices such as the mechanical mouse, opto-mechanical mouse or the like which are used to control cursor movements in the visual display unit of the computer system. The coordinate input device according to the present invention comprises a position sensor and a pressure sensor. The position sensor detects a two-dimensional position of the device, which is moved on a flat surface or the like by a person, so as to produce two-dimensional coordinates. The pressure sensor detects pressing force applied to the device by the person. Hence, the two-dimensional coordinates and the pressing force detected are used as parameters which control a cursor or a graphic image displayed on the screen of the visual display unit.
The pressure sensor comprises an air-pressure sensor which detects a change of air pressure caused by the pressing force applied to the device. In addition, the pressure sensor can be replaced by a grip sensor which detects grip force applied to the device by the person.
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Dinh Duc
Hjerpe Richard A.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Yamaha Corporation
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