Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-10-09
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2775)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S160000, C700S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06300940
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device for shifting the position of a cursor or an icon on a display screen for a computer or the like, and an input processing method using such an input device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a track ball and mouse have been used as a pointing device, i.e., an input device for shifting the position of a cursor or an icon on a display screen. As shown in
FIG. 91
, a track ball
1
is located, for example, on a keyboard
3
of a personal computer
2
. A ball
4
portion of the track ball
1
is rotated with a finger, so as to allow a cursor or an icon on a screen of the personal computer
2
to shift in a direction and by an amount determined by the direction and amount of the rotation of the ball
4
.
Referring to
FIG. 92
, the operational principle of the track ball
1
will be briefly described. Rotary encoders
7
and
8
are disposed in two directions, X axis and Y axis, with respect to the ball
4
. The encoders
7
and
8
include rollers
5
and
6
, respectively, for detecting the direction and amount of rotation of the ball
4
. The rotary encoders
7
and
8
generate signals indicating the direction and amount of the rotation of the ball
4
. The signals are converted into electric signals corresponding to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and are transmitted to the circuitry included as part of the personal computer body. The computer body instructs the cursor or the icon on the screen to shift according to the received signals.
Each of the rotary encoders
7
and
8
includes a rotary plate
11
having a plurality of slits
10
and two sets made up of an LED
12
and a light receiving element
13
disposed to face each other with the rotary plate
11
therebetween. The rotary encoders
7
and
8
are connected to shafts
9
a
and
9
b
in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. When the ball
4
rotates in the X-axis direction, for example, the shaft
9
a
in the X-axis direction rotates, which rotates the rotary plate
11
of the rotary encoder
7
. The rotation of the rotary plate
11
allows light emitted from the LEDs
12
to be pulsed as a result of passing through the slits
10
. The pulsed signal is then converted into an electric signal by the light receiving elements
13
. Thus, the rotational direction and the number of increments of rotation of the rotary plate
11
are detected, and thereby the amount of rotation of the ball
4
in the X-axis direction is determined. The position of the cursor or the icon on the screen is thus shifted in a direction on the screen corresponding to the X-axis direction by the determined amount of rotation. When the rotational direction of the ball
4
is 45° with respect to the X axis and the Y axis, signals indicating the rotational direction and the same amount of rotation are obtained from both the X-axis and Y-axis rotary encoders
7
and
8
simultaneously. In such a case, the position of the cursor or the icon shifts obliquely according to the signals from the X-axis and Y-axis rotary encoders
7
and
8
as is known.
Now, referring to
FIGS. 93 and 94
, a mouse will be described. A mouse
15
has a ball
16
, similar to the ball
4
of the track ball
1
, in the lower position thereof. The mouse
15
is moved forward, backward, rightward, and leftward on an operation board
17
or on a desk, so as to shift a cursor or an icon on a computer screen. Then, a click button
18
is pressed to conduct an input operation. The inner structure of the mouse
15
is substantially the same as that of the track ball
1
.
In the track ball
1
, the rollers
5
and
6
which transmit the rotation of the ball
4
to the rotary encoders
7
and
8
may slip on the ball
4
. This may cause malfunction of the track ball
1
. Further, since it is structurally difficult to seal the rotary encoders
7
and
8
, the slits
10
may be clogged with dust which has entered inside of the rotary encoders
7
and
8
. This may also cause malfunction of the track ball
1
. Moreover, since spaces for the track ball
1
and a mechanical operation portion for the track ball
1
are required, it is difficult to reduce the size of the personal computer.
The mouse
15
has the same problem as the track ball
1
since the mechanism for detecting the rotation of the ball
16
is the same as that of the track ball
1
. Additionally, since the mouse
15
is separated from the personal computer and moved on the operation board
17
or on a desk so as to rotate the ball
16
, a plane for moving the mouse
15
is required. Accordingly, the mouse is not applicable to small-size portable personal computers.
Instead of the above-described mechanical mouse
15
, there is also available an optical mouse where a light emitting element and a light receiving element are provided to detect an amount of movement of the mouse in each of the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The optical mouse requires no mechanical operation portion. However, it requires a specific operation board on which the mouse is maneuvered. Therefore, the problem of the mouse requiring an additional operation space is not settled.
FIGS. 95A
,
95
B, and
96
show a pointing stick
20
which requires a smaller operation space than the track ball
1
and the mouse
15
. The pointing stick
20
includes a rectangular parallelopiped resin rigid body
21
, distortion sensors
22
attached to the four faces of the rigid body
21
, and a cylindrical cover
23
covering the rigid body
21
with a space therebetween. When the cover
23
is pressed, the distortion sensors
22
detect the direction of the pressing. A cursor or an icon is shifted according to the detected direction. The pointing stick
20
with the above structure is disposed between keys
26
in a keyboard
25
of a personal computer body
24
as shown in FIG.
96
. This arrangement makes it possible to significantly reduce the area and volume occupied by the pointing stick
20
. However, since the pointing stick
20
is of a contact type using a contact or a distortion sensor, the reliability and the durability are low. Accordingly, a non-contact type with high reliability and durability is desirable for a frequently-used pointing device. The pointing stick
20
is also disadvantageous in the aspect of cost because the configuration for subsequent input processing is complicate.
The above conventional input devices only allow the cursor and the like to shift upward, downward, rightward, and leftward. With the recent advent of the computer graphics, it becomes necessary to also shift the cursor and the like in the depth direction of the screen. In the conventional input devices, three-dimensional screen control is not possible.
Two-dimensional input operation is possible for all of the above input devices (pointing devices). However, there requires separate switches for a click function and a drag function to realize the input operation. These switches prevent the input devices from being made smaller and more compact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The input device for a computer of this invention includes: a reflection type optical sensor having light emitting means and light receiving means; an operation section disposed facing the optical sensor, the operation section being tilted when a load is applied thereto; and output means for detecting a tilt status of the operation section based on signals from the light receiving means and outputting detected results to a computer body as positional information.
Alternatively, the input device for a computer of the present invention includes: light emitting means for emitting a light; two position sensitive detectors for optically detecting a position on which the light is incident and outputting signals in accordance with a detection result; and output means for outputting to a computer body screen input information based on the signals from the two position sensitive detectors.
Alternatively, the input device for a computer of the present invention includes: a mova
Ebina Kiyoshi
Fujita Akihiro
Kawanishi Shinya
Kobachi Mitsuo
Mizoguchi Takatoshi
Chow Dennis-Doon
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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