Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-12
2001-04-10
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S156000, C345S157000, C345S164000, C345S182000, C345S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215473
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data input apparatuses used, for example, for handling three-dimensional figures in computer graphics.
2. Description of the Related Art
In image processing on a workstation or a personal computer, a three-dimensional structural formula of a molecule can be displayed on a computer screen for research and development, or a three-dimensional figure can be displayed on the screen in game simulation or architectural simulation. As it is necessary to move or rotate the three-dimensional structural formula or the three-dimensional figure on the screen, a controller for manipulating such a three-dimensional figure in a three-dimensional manner on the screen is required.
As such a controller, a keyboard is conventionally used by pressing an assigned key to change the mode to a three-dimensional mode.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 2-282818 and 5-233146 have disclosed three-dimensional-figure controllers used in computer graphics.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-233146 describes a three-dimensional-figure controller
10
shown in FIG.
6
. The controller
10
is provided with a truncated-cone-shaped, large-diameter ring
12
disposed rotatably, a spherical trackball
11
disposed rotatably in two directions perpendicular to each other and the diagonal directions, at the center of the ring
12
, and a ring-shaped upper cover
13
disposed at an upper portion of the trackball
11
.
In the controller
10
, the trackball
11
generates a two-dimensional-figure signal and the added rotatable ring
12
allows a three-dimensional-figure signal to be produced.
An internal structure of the controller
10
will be described below with reference to FIG.
7
. The trackball
11
disposed in the controller
10
is butted against rollers
14
disposed below the trackball, the rollers
14
being supported by shafts disposed in two directions perpendicular to each other. A small roller
17
is also disposed in the vicinity of the rollers
14
to prevent the trackball
11
from dropping. At one end of each roller
14
, a circular plate
15
having slits at its periphery is formed so as to rotate together with the roller
14
. At a part of the periphery of each circular plate
15
, an encoder
16
such as an optocoupler is provided for detecting the direction and the amount of rotation of the trackball
11
. The large-diameter ring
12
is also provided with slits (not shown) at a side face formed at the periphery. An encoder is disposed to detect the direction and the amount of rotation of the ring
12
.
The data detected by the encoders
16
and the other encoder is converted to a coordinate on a display screen to allow the object shown on the screen to move and rotate three-dimensionally in real time.
Usually in the controller
10
, the trackball
11
is operated with the forefinger, the middle finger, or the third finger, and the ring
12
is operated with the thumb.
The controller has the following drawbacks.
(1) When two-dimensional coordinate data in the X-Y plane is input with the trackball
11
, it is necessary to switch the mode by operating a switch such as an assigned key on the keyboard to enable either a movement-data input mode, in which the object indicated by the cursor or the image on the screen is simply moved in the plane, or a rotational-data input mode, in which the object is rotated about the X axis or the Y axis. This operation is troublesome.
(2) It is necessary to press an assigned key on the keyboard to change the mode to the three-dimensional-figure input mode and a key operation is also required to return to the two-dimensional input mode. Such operations are troublesome and reduce operation efficiency.
(3) To increase operability in the controller
10
shown in
FIG. 6
, it is necessary to extend the diameter of the trackball
11
. When the diameter is extended, the depth and width are accordingly increased and the diameter of the ring
12
, which is formed around the trackball
11
, is also increased. Therefore, the controller
10
becomes a thick structure. In addition, since this means it is difficult to design a compact controller, the controller is provided with difficulty for a compact computer such as a notebook-type computer. Operation is troublesome in some cases since it is necessary to use many fingers and the range in which a finger moves needs to be extended in relation to the trackball
11
and the ring
12
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data input apparatus employing two operation members to allow both movement data and rotational data among two-dimensional-figure data to be input.
Another object is to provide a data input apparatus which allows three-dimensional-figure coordinate data to be input with a single-hand operation.
Still another object is to provide a thin data input apparatus.
The foregoing objects of the present invention are achieved through the provision of a data input apparatus including: a pair of operation members which can rotate in the same direction; an encoder driven by each operation member; a detecting section for detecting the output of each encoder; and with a case in which the detecting section obtains the rotation-detection output of only one operation member, being called a first input mode, and a case in which the detecting section obtains a rotation-detection output indicating that the pair of operation members rotate in the same direction at the same time, being called a second input mode, coordinate-data conversion means for converting the rotation-detection output to movement data on a coordinate system in either the first input mode or the second input mode and for converting the rotation-detection output to rotational data about a certain axis on the coordinate system in the other mode.
For example, when only one operation member is operated, movement data is input; and when the pair of operation members is rotated in the same direction at the same time, rotational data is input. Conversely, the apparatus may be configured such that when the pair of operation members is rotated in the same direction at the same time, movement data is input; and when only one operation member is operated, rotational data is input.
With a case in which the detecting section obtains a rotation-detection output indicating that the pair of operation members rotate in opposite directions at the same time, being called a third input mode, the coordinate-data conversion means may convert the rotation-detection output in the third input mode to rotational data about the axis perpendicular to the coordinate plane of the movement data.
The data input apparatus may be configured such that a pair of operation members which can rotate in the same direction about the X axis and a pair of operation members which can rotate in the same direction about the Y axis which is perpendicular to the X axis are provided, and movement data on the X-Y coordinate plane, rotational data about the X axis, and rotational data about the Y axis are obtained with the use of both pairs of operation members.
Alternatively, the data input apparatus may be configured such that a pair of operation members which can rotate in the same direction about the X axis and a pair of operation members which can rotate in the same direction about the Y axis which is perpendicular to the X axis are provided, and movement data on the X-Y coordinate plane, rotational data about the X axis, rotational data about the Y axis, and rotational data about the Z axis which is perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis are obtained with the use of both pairs of operation members.
The data input apparatus can also include comparison means for comparing the rotation-detection output obtained from the detecting section at the rotation of one of a pair of operation members which can rotate in the same direction, with the rotation-detection output obtained from the detecting section at the rotation of the other member to determine w
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Hjerpe Richard
Tran Henry N.
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