Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-13
2001-12-04
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2774)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S158000, C345S159000, C345S160000, C345S161000, C345S165000, C345S166000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326948
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device which can perform a two-dimensional or three-dimensional input operation by moving a cursor on a screen for personal computers, entertainment systems, portable terminal units and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to technologies allowing for downsizing, reduction in thickness of and improvement of the operating performance of an input device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various input devices are known for display devices such as those for personal computers (hereinafter, such input devices will also be referred to as “pointing devices”). These pointing devices have various types of operating systems including a resistive pressure-sensitive system, a distortion system, an electrostatic capacitive system, and a membrane switch. However, each of these types of pointing devices has its own advantages and disadvantages, and no pointing device has been found which can simultaneously meet the requirements of excellent operating performance, reliability (environment resistance) and durability. Thus, a strong demand exists for a pointing device that can simultaneously meet these requirements.
In order to satisfy such a demand, the present applicant developed improved applications of optical pointing devices (Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 7-66071 and 7-161157).
The pointing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-66071 is a highly reliable and durable pointing device which can optically perform a two-dimensional input operation without requiring any contact for performing a detection. The pointing device is also excellent in operating performance because the pointing device uses an elastic structure made of rubber.
FIG. 34
schematically illustrates the detection principles of the pointing device. The pointing device includes: an operating portion
101
which is operated by the tip of a finger of an operator; a fixing portion
106
; an elastic structure
102
for elastically supporting the operating portion
101
and for connecting the operating portion
101
and the fixing portion
106
to each other; a reflective plate
103
which is disposed on the lower surface of the operating portion
101
; a single light-emitting element
104
; four light-receiving elements
105
; and a sensor portion which is fixed below the operating portion
101
.
The light emitted upward from the light-emitting element
104
is reflected by the reflective plate
103
so as to be detected by the light-receiving elements
105
. As shown in
FIG. 34
, when the operating portion
101
is moved to any of forward, backward, leftward and rightward directions, the position of the light (i.e., the location of the light spot) received by the light-receiving elements
105
is varied, so that the amounts of the light received by the four light-receiving elements
105
, i.e., photodiodes PD
1
to PD
4
, are also varied. The pointing device utilizes this principle for determining the direction and the amount of displacement of the operating portion
101
, that is to say, the movement direction and the movement distance of a cursor
111
of a computer
110
or the like, in accordance with the equations shown in FIG.
34
. In other words, this pointing device may function as an input device for the cursor
111
.
On the other hand, the pointing device described in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-161157 is a pointing device which can perform a three-dimensional input operation. The pointing device can also perform a two-dimensional input operation (i.e., an operation performed in an X direction and a Y direction) by utilizing substantially the same configuration as that of the previously described pointing device. In performing the three-dimensional input operation, the pointing device calculates the movement amount of a cursor in a Z direction in accordance with the increase of the size of a spot of light received by the light-receiving elements when the operating portion is pushed downward. The size of the light spot is increased because the reflective plate
123
is also pushed down as the operating portion is pushed down, as shown in FIG.
35
. In addition, since the increase of the size of the light spot varies the total amount of light to be detected by the four light-receiving elements, the pointing device can easily calculate the coordinate of the cursor in the Z direction.
Although the above input devices preform adequately, further improvements in operating performance reliability (environment resistance), durability and size reduction would be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an input device which is easy to use, durable, reliable, provides improved operating performance and has a reduced size.
The input device of the present invention includes: a base having a slide surface; a movable body slidable on the slide surface; a light-emitting element for emitting light; a reflective portion which is provided for the movable body and has a reflective surface for reflecting the light emitted by the light-emitting element; and a plurality of light-receiving elements for receiving the light reflected by the reflective portion.
In one embodiment, the movable body is supported by an elastic structure including an elastic body which expands/shrinks with a sliding movement of the movable body, and the elastic structure is linked to the base.
In another embodiment, the input device further includes a fixing portion having a guide portion for guiding the movement of the movable body such that the movable body is slidable on the slide surface. The movable body is supported by an elastic structure including an elastic body which expands/shrinks with the sliding movement of the movable body. The elastic structure is linked to the fixing portion.
In still another embodiment, the elastic body is a spiral spring.
In still another embodiment, the plurality of light-receiving elements detect the light reflected by the reflective surface onto a first plane, and a spot diameter x of the light reflected by the reflective surface onto the first plane satisfies a relationship: d≦x≦2r+2l
max
, where d is a distance between two adjacent light-receiving elements of the plurality of light-receiving elements; r is a diameter of a circle encircling and inscribing the plurality of light-receiving elements; and l
max
is a maximum movement distance of the movable body.
In still another embodiment, the reflective surface has a reflection pattern. When the reflected light is imaged by the plurality of light-receiving elements, the reflection pattern is turned into an imaging pattern which is symmetric in any of the upward, downward, leftward and rightward directions with respect to the light-receiving surfaces of the light-receiving elements.
In still another embodiment, the reflective surface has a reflection pattern in which a reflectivity in a center of the reflective surface is different from a reflectivity in an outer periphery of the reflective surface.
In still another embodiment, the operating portion includes at least one protrusion.
In still another embodiment, the operating portion includes an anti-slipping film.
In still another embodiment, at least one mark indicating an operation direction of the operating portion is provided for the movable body.
In still another embodiment, the mark is one of a convex one and a concave one which is formed when the movable body is molded from a resin.
In still another embodiment, the mark is one of a picture, a character and a pattern.
In still another embodiment, an indicator of a pointing device is provided for the movable body.
In still another embodiment, the material of the elastic structure is the same as that of the movable body.
In still another embodiment, the material of the elastic structure is the same as that of the fixing portion.
In still another embodiment, the material of the elastic structure is the same as that of the operating portion.
In still another embodiment, the movable body comes in
Fujita Akihiro
Kobachi Mitsuo
Hjerpe Richard
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Zamani Ali A.
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