JPH03291716A - Pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure only a space for installing the device and to use the pointing device by making a cursor movable only by moving fingers, which are spread in a direction for moving the cursor, on a detection part. CONSTITUTION:When spread fingers 8 are moved left to right on a detection part 5 in order to move the cursor to right, for example, a photodetection signal is outputted from a left side photodetector 9 on an X axis at a pulse interval corresponding to the speed of moving the fingers. Next, the similar photodection signal is outputted from a right side photodetector 9 on the X axis with time delay to the above-mentioned photodetection signal. A control circuit 6 detects phase difference between the respective photodetction signals outputted from these right and left photodetectors 9 on the X axis and a cursor moving signal is outputted to move the cursor to right. On the other hand, when vertically moving the cursor, the spread fingers are vertically moved and similarly detected by the photodetectors 9 on a Y axis, and the cursor moving signal is outputted from the control circuit 6 so as to vertically move the cursor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a pointing device for positioning a cuffle located on a display surface.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a mouse has been most commonly used as a pointing device for display devices such as CRTs and plasma displays.

6 and 7 are diagrams showing the structure of such a mouse, in which 1 is a mouse body, 2 is a ball rotatably arranged so as to protrude somewhat from a predetermined plane of the mouse body 1, 3,
4 is a roller for detecting each rotation of the ball 2 in the X and Y axis directions.

When the mouse body is moved on a plane, the ball 2 rotates, and this rotation causes the rollers 3 and 4 to rotate. A cursor positioned on the display surface moves in accordance with the number of rotations of the rollers 3 and 4.

However, when using a mouse, sufficient space must be provided to rotate the ball 2. Also, the mouse position must be horizontal. For this reason, there was a problem in that the environment in which it could be used was restricted.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the mouse, which has been conventionally used as a pointing device for a display device, requires securing sufficient space and horizontal space.
There was a problem that the environment in which it could be used was restricted.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device that can be used as long as a minimum amount of space is secured and that does not select the environment in which it is used.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problem) In order to solve the problem, the present invention includes a light emitting element that emits light and a light receiving element that receives light that is reflected by the light hitting a predetermined object. A pair of detection sensors consisting of
Determining the moving direction of the object based on the phase difference of each light reception signal output from a detection unit arranged at a predetermined interval while being assembled and a light reception element of the two sets of detection sensors arranged in each direction, The apparatus further includes a control section that calculates the moving speed of the object according to the pulse interval of the light reception signal, and outputs a cursor movement signal according to the determined moving direction and the calculated moving speed.

(Function) In the present invention, for example, a spread finger is moved in the direction in which the cursor is to be moved. Then, the detection section outputs a pulsed light reception signal corresponding to the moving direction and speed of the finger to the control section. The control unit determines the moving direction based on the phase difference of each light reception signal, and calculates the moving speed based on the pulse interval. Then, it outputs a cursor movement signal according to the determined movement direction and calculated movement speed.

Therefore, with the pointing device of the present invention, it is not necessary to move the pointing device itself;
You can use it as long as you have a space to put your pointing device.

(Example) Hereinafter, details of embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing the configuration of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is composed of a detection section 5 and a control circuit 6. FIG.

The detection unit 5 moves a pair of detection sensors 0, which are composed of a light-emitting element 7 that emits light and a light-receiving element 9 that receives light that is reflected by the light hitting a predetermined object 8, in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Two sets of each are arranged at a predetermined interval.

The control circuit 6 determines the moving direction of the object 8 based on the phase difference between the light receiving signals output from the light receiving element 9, and calculates the moving speed of the object 8 based on the pulse interval of the light receiving signals. Then, it outputs a cursor movement signal according to the determined movement direction and calculated movement speed.

In the device of this embodiment configured in this way, when moving the cursor, for example, to the right, the spread finger (object 8) is moved from the left to the right on the detection unit 5, as shown in FIG. let

Then, first, the light receiving element 9 on the left side on the X-axis outputs a light receiving signal with a pulse interval corresponding to the moving speed of the finger (see Fig. 4 (a).
)), then X with a relative delay with respect to this received light signal.
A similar light-receiving signal is output from the light-receiving element 9 on the right side on the axis (FIG. 4(b)).

The phase difference between the light-receiving signals output from the left and right light-receiving elements 9 on the X-axis is detected by the control circuit 6, and a cursor movement signal for moving the cursor in the right direction is output.

When moving the cursor in the vertical direction, by moving the spread fingers in the vertical direction on the detection unit 5, the light receiving element 9 on the Y axis will similarly detect the cursor, and the control circuit 6 will move the cursor in the vertical direction. A cursor movement signal for movement is output.

The cursor can also be moved in an oblique direction by combining the output of the light receiving element 9 on the X axis and the output of the light receiving element 9 on the Y axis.

Further, the force to the amount of movement of the temple is specified according to the movement speed of the finger.

When the finger movement speed is slow, the pulse interval of the light receiving signal output from the light receiving element 9 is long (FIG. 5(a)). This pulse interval is detected by the control circuit 6, and a cursor movement signal that reduces the amount of cursor movement is output.

On the other hand, when the finger does not move and the speed is fast, the pulse interval of the light receiving signal output from the light receiving element 9 is short (Fig. 5 (b)
). This pulse interval is similarly detected by the control circuit 6, and a cursor movement signal that increases the amount of movement of the cursor is output.

Further, the click is specified by stopping the finger on the detection unit 5.

In this way, in the device of this embodiment, the cursor can be moved by simply moving the finger spread out in the direction in which the cursor should be moved on the detection unit 5, so there is no need to move the pointing device itself. , you can use it as long as you have a space to put your pointing device.

In the above-described embodiment, a finger is used as the object 8, but it is of course possible to use another object.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to move the pointing device itself, so the pointing device can be used as long as a space for placing it is secured, and the environment in which it is used does not have to be selected.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rough surface view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of use, and FIG. 4(a) , (b) are waveform diagrams for explaining the direction detection operation, and Figures 5 (a) and (b)
) is a waveform diagram for explaining the movement speed detection operation, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the configuration of a conventional mouse. 5... Detection unit, 6... Control circuit, 7... Light emitting element, 8... Object, 9... Light receiving element, 10... Detection sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A pair of detection sensors each consisting of a light-emitting element that emits light and a light-receiving element that receives the light reflected by the light hitting a predetermined object are arranged in two sets vertically and horizontally at a predetermined interval. a detection unit comprising a sensor; and a detection unit that determines the moving direction of the object based on the phase difference between the light reception signals output from the light reception elements of the two sets of detection sensors arranged in the respective directions, and determines the moving direction of the object based on the pulse interval of the light reception signals. A pointing device comprising: a control section that calculates a moving speed of the object and outputs a cursor movement signal according to the determined moving direction and the calculated moving speed.