JP3799545B2 - An input device that allows multiple input operations with a single button - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input device for operating an electronic device such as a computer.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an input device that operates an electronic device such as a computer inputs a command using a button. This is so that contacts can be operated by pressing a button, and one command (ON / OFF) can be input for each contact. There are also input devices for inputting commands by levers or dials. These are designed so that quantitative commands can be input according to the inclination angle of the lever and the rotation angle of the dial.
[0003]
Further, as known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-194882, there is an invention of an apparatus for inputting a command using a plurality of keys each having a contact detection sensor on the key surface. In addition to the input of commands by pressing keys, the input of commands by touching a key with a finger and the input of quantitative commands by sliding a finger across each key The invention relates to a keyboard or the like that mainly operates an electronic device such as a computer.
[0004]
In the input device described above, the number of buttons and the like is fixed with respect to the input device. Therefore, the number and types of commands that can be input by a certain input device are determined by the number and types of buttons and the like provided in the input device. In addition, since the size of the input device is limited to some extent depending on its usage, the number of buttons and the like that can be provided is also limited to some extent.
Further, as known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-251347 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-311052, there is an invention of an input device capable of pressing the touch panel portion. However, these operate a mouse cursor on a computer screen as a substitute for a so-called mouse of a computer having a graphical user interface, and a coordinate input operation and a click operation are separately input with one input device. It is only for the purpose.
Further, as known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-293644, the touch panel portion can be pressed and has a contact that operates in accordance with the operation, and the position detection by the touch panel and the state of the contact are There is an invention of a display device with a touch panel that inputs a position signal according to an AND condition. However, this is only for the purpose of obtaining a clear operational feeling during touch panel operation and preventing erroneous operation.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The prior art described above has the following problems.
[0006]
1. If the number of buttons provided is small, only a small number of commands can be input.
[0007]
2. Multifunctionalization was limited by the number of buttons that can be provided.
[0008]
3. In order to increase the functionality, the structure of the input device has to be complicated.
[0009]
4). In order to perform a quantitative input operation, it was necessary to provide a lever, a dial, and the like in addition to the buttons.
[0010]
5). In the invention known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-194882, it is not necessary to provide a lever, a dial, or the like separately from the key in order to perform a quantitative input operation, but the input device must be composed of a plurality of keys. The structure was complicated.
[0011]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention enables a large number of input operations with a single button.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, comprising a position detection means for detecting a contact position of a finger on a single button and outputting a position signal, and determining a command based on a combination of the position signal and the contact signal of the button, Allows multiple input operations with a single button.
[0013]
Furthermore, by recording the order of movement of the finger position that touches the button and determining a command based on the combination of the record and the contact signal, a single button can be used for more input operations with a simple operation. Make it possible.
[0014]
Furthermore, by calculating the amount of movement of the position of the finger touching the button and outputting the adjustment amount, a quantitative operation can be performed with a single button.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the input device according to claim 1 will be described below (FIG. 1).
[0016]
The button 1 has a flat surface and is provided with a detection unit 2a of position detection means thereon. The back surface of the button 1 is provided with a protrusion 1a that is operated in contact with the contact point 3, so that the contact point 3 can be reliably operated regardless of the position on the surface of the button 1 (FIG. 2).
[0017]
The position detection means is composed of a touch sensor that electrically detects the position of a finger that comes into contact, and includes a detection unit 2a and a control unit 2b. These are read by the control unit 2b at the moment when the finger touches the detection unit 2a, and the control unit 2b reads the contact coordinate (x, y), converts it into a position signal A, and outputs it. x0 and y0 represent the origin of coordinates, and xh and yh represent the upper limit of coordinates. When a finger is not in contact with the detection unit 2a, x and y are each represented by an invalid value (null).
[0018]
As the touch sensor, there are a capacitance type and a resistance film type, and an electromagnetic induction type and an ultrasonic type can be used.
[0019]
The contact 3 is an electrical contact that operates in response to the pressing operation of the button 1 and outputs a contact signal B. The contact signal B is “on” when the button 1 is pressed, and “off” when the button 1 is released.
[0020]
First, the command determining means 4 will be described with respect to an embodiment in which the control command C is determined based on the position signal A and the contact signal B.
In this caseThe command determining means 4 determines the control command C as the first command if the contact signal B is “on” and the control signal C is “off” when the contact position α is at a predetermined position. Software programmed to determine command C as the second command. The command determining means 4 is operated by being incorporated in an electronic device such as a computer to be controlled by the input device (FIG. 3).
[0021]
4 to 7 are program examples of the command determining means 4. The coordinates xp and yp are divisions for distinguishing the positions on the detection unit 2a, and are used to determine the position on the detection unit 2a where the contact position α is located.
[0022]
In the program example of FIG. 4, the positions on the detection unit 2a are considered as the four positions of the lower left, lower right, upper left, and upper right, and the contact signal B is “on” when the contact position α is at the lower left (α1). If the control command C is “c1” or “off”, it is determined to be “c2” (S1 to S4). When the contact position α is at the lower right (α2) and the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C If C is “c3” or “off”, it is determined to be “c4” (S5-8). When the contact position α is at the upper left (α3) and the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is set. If it is “c5” or “off”, it is determined as “c6” (S9 to S12). When the contact position α is in the upper right (α4) and the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is set to “c7”. If “off”, “c8” is determined (S13 to 16).
[0023]
In the program example of FIG. 5, the position on the detection unit 2a is regarded as one position, and if the contact signal B is “on” wherever the contact position α is, the control command C can be “c1” or “off”. For example, “c2” is determined.
[0024]
In the program example of FIG. 6, the position on the detection unit 2a is regarded as the lower left, lower right, and upper positions, and when the contact position B is “on” when the contact position α is at the lower left (α1), the control command If C is “c1” or “off”, it is determined to be “c2” (S1 to S4). When the contact position α is at the lower right (α2) and the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C Is “c3”, “c4” if it is “off” (S5-8), and when the contact position α is up (α3) and the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is “ If it is “c5” or “off”, it is determined as “c6” (S9-12).
[0025]
In the program example of FIG. 7, the position on the detection unit 2a is regarded as two positions on the lower right and upper left, and when the contact position B is “on” when the contact position α is on the lower right (α1), the control command C Is “c1”, “c2” if it is “off” (S1-4), and when the contact position B is “on” when the contact position α is in the upper left (α2), the control command C is set to “ If it is “c3” or “off”, it is determined as “c4” (S5 to 8).
[0026]
As aboveIf the control command C is determined based on the position signal A and the contact signal B,Depending on the program of the command determining means 4, a single button 1 can be used to perform a large number of input operations, or a small number of input operations can be performed.
[0027]
next,In the command determining means 4, the movement order of the position α of the finger that contacts the button 1 is recorded, and the control command C is determined based on the record and the contact signal B.An embodiment will be described.
[0028]
in this caseThe command determining means 4 records the movement order At of the position α of the finger touching the button 1, and when the recorded At has a predetermined content, if the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is If the command is determined to be “off”, the control command C is programmed to be determined as the second command (FIG. 8).
[0029]
FIG. 9 shows a program example of the command determining means 4. Note that Ap is a position code indicating a position on the detection unit 2a, and the movement order At is arranged and recorded by this position code Ap. The initial state of the position code Ap and the movement order At is an invalid value (null). i is the column number of the movement order At, and the initial value is “0”. “At [0]” indicates the value in the first column of the movement order At.
[0030]
In this program example, first, in S1 to 10, the position on the detection unit 2a is regarded as the four positions of lower left, lower right, upper left, and upper right, and the contact position α is encoded. When the contact position α is at the lower left, the position code Ap is “bl”, when the contact position α is at the lower right, the position code Ap is “br”, and when the contact position α is at the upper left, the position code Ap is “tl”. “When the contact position α is on the upper right, the position code Ap is“ tr ”, and when the finger is not touching, the position code Ap is“ null ”.
[0031]
Next, the movement order At of the finger contact position α is recorded in S11 to S18. In S11, the presence or absence of finger contact is determined by looking at the value of the position code Ap. If the position code Ap is not an invalid value, it indicates that there is a finger touch. If the position code Ap is an invalid value, it indicates that there is no finger contact. When there is no finger contact, i and the movement order At are initialized (S17, S18). In S12, it is determined whether or not the contact position α has moved by looking at the value in the last column of the movement order At. If the value of the last column in the movement order At is different from the value of the position code Ap, it indicates that the contact position α has moved or that the finger has started to touch. If the value of the last column in the movement order At is the same as the value of the position code Ap, it indicates that the contact position α has not moved. When there is no movement of the contact position α, the movement order At is not recorded. In S13, it is determined whether or not the contact position α is at the start point of the movement order by looking at the value of the movement order At. If the movement order At is an initial value, it indicates that the contact position α is at the start point of the movement order. Therefore, i is initialized in the next S14, and preparation for recording the position code Ap in the first column of the movement order At is performed. do. If the movement order At is not the initial value, it indicates that the contact position α has moved from the starting point and the movement order At has already been recorded. Therefore, in the next S15, “1” is added to i, and the movement order At is added. To prepare to record the position code Ap in the last column of. In S16, the position code Ap is recorded in a predetermined column of the movement order At indicated by i.
[0032]
When the contact position α is at the lower left (α1) according to the program of S11 to S18, the value of the movement order At is “bl”. Subsequently, when the contact position α moves to the lower right (α2), the value of the movement order At becomes “bl, br”. Subsequently, when the contact position α moves to the upper right (α3), the value of the movement order At becomes “bl, br, tr”.
[0033]
Next, the control command C is determined based on the content of the movement order At and the state of the contact signal B in S19-30. If the movement order At is “bl” and the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is “c1”. If it is “off”, the control instruction C is “c2” (S19-22), and the movement order At is “bl, br”. If the contact signal B is “on”, the control command C is “c3”, and if it is “off”, “c4” (S23 to S26), the movement order At is “bl, br, tr” and the contact signal B is If it is “on”, the control command C is “c5”, and if it is “off”, it is “c6” (S27-30).
[0034]
In the above program example, since there are three types of movement order At patterns used for determining the command, there are only six types of control instructions C. However, since the patterns of movement order At can be increased depending on the program, The types of command C can be increased similarly.
[0035]
As described above, if the control command C is determined based on the movement order At of the contact position α and the contact signal B,When the control command C is determined based on the position signal A and the contact signal BIt is possible to further increase the types of commands that can be input.
[0036]
Next, the claim2Embodiments of the described input device will be described.
[0037]
This input device is an input device further comprising an adjustment amount calculation means 5 in the input device according to claim 1 (FIG. 10).
[0038]
The adjustment amount calculation means 5 is programmed to calculate the movement amount (dx, dy) from the start point αf to the end point αe and output the adjustment amount D when the position α of the finger touching the button 1 moves. The software is incorporated into an electronic device such as a computer to be controlled by the input device together with the command determining means 4 and operated (FIG. 11).
[0039]
FIG. 12 shows an example of a program of the adjustment amount calculation means 5, which calculates only the movement amount dx in the X-axis direction and outputs the adjustment amount D. Note that the initial state of the coordinate value xf of the start point αf is an invalid value (null).
[0040]
In S1 of this program example, the presence or absence of a finger contact is determined by looking at the coordinate value x. If the coordinate value x is not an invalid value, it indicates that there is a finger touch. If the coordinate value x is an invalid value, it indicates that there is no finger contact. When there is no finger contact, the coordinate value xf is initialized (S5). In S2, the coordinate value xf is seen to determine whether the current contact position α is the start point αf or the end point αe. If the coordinate value xf is an initial value, it indicates that the current contact position α is the start point αf. If the coordinate value xf is not the initial value, it indicates that the current contact position α is the end point αe. When the current contact position α is the start point αf, the coordinate value x at this time is set as the coordinate value xf of the start point αf (S3). In S4, the coordinate value xf is subtracted from the coordinate value x to obtain the movement amount dx, and this value is output to the adjustment amount D.
[0041]
According to the above program, when the contact position α is α1, both the start point αf and the end point αe are α1, so the adjustment amount D is “0”. Subsequently, when the contact position α moves to α2, since the end point αe is α2, the adjustment amount D becomes dx1. Subsequently, when the contact position α moves to α3, since the end point αe is α3, the adjustment amount D becomes dx2.
[0042]
As described above, if the input device according to claim 1 is further provided with the adjustment amount calculation means 5, both the on / off input operation and the quantitative input operation can be performed only by the single button 1. Yes.
[0043]
[Example 1]
Next, an example in which the present invention is applied to a computer mouse will be described (FIG. 13). In the following description, only matters relating to the present invention will be explained, and explanations relating to prior art such as mouse cursor control will be omitted.
[0044]
A detection unit 2 a of position detection means is provided on the surface of the button 1 provided in the mouse body 101. The control unit 2b and the contact 3 of the position detection means are provided inside the mouse body 101. A position signal A and a contact signal B are output from the mouse body 101 and input to the computer 102 to be controlled by the mouse 101. The command determining means 4 and the adjustment amount calculating means 5 are installed in the computer 102 and operated (FIG. 14).
[0045]
The operating system or application software operating on the computer 102 operates in response to the control command C determined by the command determination unit 4 and the adjustment amount D output from the adjustment amount calculation unit 5 (not shown).
[0046]
The mouse 101 of this embodiment is used as follows to operate the computer 102 (FIG. 15).
[0047]
Normal selection operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper left position α6 on the detection unit 2a, and the button 1 is pressed.
[0048]
Cut operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower right position α3 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight upward, and the finger 1 is in contact with the upper right position α8 on the detection unit 2a. Press.
[0049]
Copying operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper left position α6 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the right, and the button 1 is pressed when the finger is in contact with the upper right position α8 on the detection unit 2a. Press.
[0050]
Paste operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper right position α8 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the left, and the button 1 is pressed when the finger is in contact with the upper left position α6 on the detection unit 2a. Press.
[0051]
Clearing operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the upper right position α8 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight downward, and when the finger is in contact with the lower right position α3 on the detection unit 2a, the button 1 Press.
[0052]
All selection operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower left position α1 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight upward, and when the finger is in contact with the upper left position α6 on the detection unit 2a, the button 1 Press.
[0053]
Canceling operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower right position α3 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the left, and the finger 1 is in contact with the lower left position α1 on the detection unit 2a. Press.
[0054]
Redo operation: When the finger is brought into contact with the lower left position α1 on the detection unit 2a, the contact position α is moved straight to the right, and the finger 1 is in contact with the lower right position α3 on the detection unit 2a. Press.
[0055]
Down scroll operation: The finger is brought into contact with the upper center position α7 on the detection unit 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight downward. Scrolls down in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0056]
Up scroll operation: A finger is brought into contact with the lower center position α2 on the detection unit 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight upward. Scrolls up in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0057]
Right scroll operation: The finger is brought into contact with the left center position α4 on the detection unit 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight to the right. Scroll right in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0058]
Left scroll operation: The finger is brought into contact with the right center position α5 on the detection unit 2a, and the contact position α is moved straight to the left. Scrolls left in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0059]
As described above, when the present invention is applied to a computer mouse, a large number of functions can be realized by simple operations even if the mouse body 101 has only one button 1.
[0060]
[Example 2]
Next, the example which implemented this invention for the controller for game machines is demonstrated. The game machine controller includes two input devices of the present invention (FIG. 16).
[0061]
A left button 11 is provided on the left side of the controller main body 201, and a detection unit 2al of a left button side position detecting means is provided on the surface of the left button 11. The control unit 2bl and the left button side contact 3l of the left button side position detecting means are provided inside the controller main body 201. The controller main body 201 outputs the left button side position signal Al and the left button side contact signal Bl, and inputs them to the game machine 202 to be controlled by the controller. The same applies to the right button 1r, the detection unit 2ar of the right button side position detection means, the control unit 2br of the right button side position detection means, the right button side contact 3r, the right button side position signal Ar, and the right button side contact signal Br. .
[0062]
The left button side command determining means 4l, the left button side adjustment amount calculating means 5l, the right button side command determining means 4r, and the right button side adjustment amount calculating means 5r are incorporated in the game software program 203 and installed in the game machine 202. (FIG. 17).
[0063]
The game software program 203 includes a left button side control command Cl determined by the left button side command determination means 4l, a left button side adjustment amount Dl output from the left button side adjustment amount calculation means 5l, and a right button side command determination means 4r. In response to the right button side control command Cr determined by, and the right button side adjustment amount Dr output from the right button side adjustment amount calculation means 5r (not shown).
[0064]
The controller 201 of this embodiment operates the game software program 203 as follows (FIG. 18). The command determining means 4l and 4r and the adjustment amount calculating means 5l and 5r are programmed exclusively for each game because they are incorporated into the game software program 203. Therefore, the operation method differs depending on the target game. In this operation example, an automobile competition game is assumed.
[0065]
Steering wheel right operation: The finger is brought into contact with the left position α11 on the left side detection unit 2al, and the contact position α is moved straight to the right. Turn the handle to the right in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0066]
Handle left operation: The finger is brought into contact with the right position αl4 on the left detection unit 2al, and the contact position α is moved straight to the left. The handle is turned to the left in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0067]
Right spin operation: The finger is brought into contact with the right position αl4 on the left detection unit 2al, and the left button 11 is pressed as it is.
[0068]
Left spin operation: A finger is brought into contact with the left position α11 on the left detection unit 2al, and the left button 11 is pressed as it is.
[0069]
Accelerator operation: The finger is brought into contact with the center position αr5 on the right detection unit 2ar, and the contact position α is moved straight upward. The accelerator is opened in proportion to the amount of movement of the contact position α.
[0070]
Brake operation: The finger is brought into contact with the center position αr5 on the right detection unit 2ar, and the contact position α is moved straight downward. The brake is applied in proportion to the movement amount of the contact position α.
[0071]
Shift-up operation: A finger is brought into contact with the right position αr4 on the right detection unit 2ar and the right button 1r is pressed as it is.
[0072]
Shift-down operation: A finger is brought into contact with the left position αr1 on the right detection unit 2ar and the right button 1r is pressed as it is.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
(1) According to the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, when an operator operates a button, a control command to be input is selected by bringing a finger into contact with the button and then drawing a predetermined locus with the finger. Can do many input operations with a single button. Therefore, it is possible to increase the functionality of the input device without being limited by the number of buttons provided.
(2) Furthermore, since the number of control commands that can be selected is determined by the number of movement order patterns of the position of the finger that touches the button, the number of control commands that can be selected may be set depending on the program of the command determination means. it can. Therefore, even with the same input device, the number of control commands that can be selected can be changed by changing the program of the command determining means.
(3) Furthermore, the movement order of the position of the finger touching the button is recorded, and the control command is determined based on the combination of the record and the state of the contact that operates in accordance with the button pressing operation. The control command can be determined when operated (contact is “on”), and also when the finger touches the button (contact is “off”).
(4) According to the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, even if an operation tool other than a button such as a lever or a dial is not added to the input device implementing the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, the button The adjustment amount can be input only on the surface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a system configuration diagram of an input device according to claim 1; (B) is a perspective view of a button and a contact provided with a detector. (C) is a figure which shows the relationship between the coordinate of a detection part, and the contact position of a finger.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a button and a contact provided with a detection unit. (B) is sectional drawing of a mode that the center of the button was pushed down. (C) And (d) is sectional drawing of a mode that the end of the button was pushed down.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of command determining means in the input device according to claim 1;(When the control command C is determined based on the position signal A and the contact signal B).
FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a program example in the case where the position on the detection unit is regarded as four positions in the command determination means in the input device according to claim 1; (B) is a figure which shows the division | segmentation of the position on a detection part. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.
FIG. 5A is a flowchart of a program example when the position on the detection unit is regarded as one position in the command determination means in the input device according to claim 1; (B) is a figure which shows the relationship between the division | segmentation of the position on a detection part, and a coordinate. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.
FIG. 6A is a flowchart of a program example when the command determination means in the input device according to claim 1 regards the positions on the detection unit as three positions. (B) is a figure which shows the division | segmentation of the position on a detection part. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.
FIG. 7A is a flowchart of a program example when the position on the detection unit is regarded as two positions in the command determination means in the input device according to claim 1; (B) is a figure which shows the division | segmentation of the position on a detection part. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.
FIG. 81It is a flowchart of the instruction | command determination means in the described input device(When determining the control command C based on the movement order At of the contact position α and the contact signal B).
FIG. 9A is a claim.1It is a flowchart of the example of a program of the instruction | command determination means in the described input device. (B) is a figure which shows the division | segmentation of the position on a detection part, and the movement order of the contact position of a finger. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.
FIG. 10 (a) is a claim.2It is a system block diagram of the described input device. (B) is a figure which shows the relationship between the movement of the contact position of a finger, and its movement amount.
FIG. 11 claims2In the input device describedAdjustment amount calculation meansIt is a flowchart of.
FIG. 12 (a) claims2In the input device describedAdjustment amount calculation meansIt is a flowchart of the example of a program. (B) is a figure which shows the relationship between the movement of the contact position of a finger, and its movement amount. (C) is a table summarizing the operation of this program.
FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a computer mouse according to the first embodiment. (B) is the figure which looked at the front part of this apparatus from the top.
FIG. 14 is a system configuration diagram of the first embodiment.
15 is a table summarizing the operation method of the computer mouse in Example 1. FIG.
FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a game machine controller according to a second embodiment. (B) is a perspective view of this apparatus.
FIG. 17 is a system configuration diagram of the second embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a table summarizing the operation method of the game machine controller according to the second embodiment.

Claims (2)

A single button with a flat surface that can be pressed ,
Position detecting means for outputting a position signal indicating the contact position by detecting a contact position of the finger relative to said button,
A contact that is located on the back side of the button and that operates in response to the pressing operation of the button , and outputs a contact signal that is “on” when pressed and “off” when released ;
In an input device that can perform multiple input operations with a single button consisting of
Based on the position signal output from the position detection means, the moving order of the position of the finger touching the button is recorded, and based on the recording and the state of the contact signal output from the contact , the recording is performed. When the contact signal is “on”, the control command is determined to be a predetermined first control command, and when the contact signal is “off”, the control command is set to a predetermined second An input device capable of performing a large number of input operations with a single button, characterized by comprising command determining means for determining each control content for each control content . In the input device which can perform many input operations with a single button according to claim 1,
Furthermore, it has an adjustment amount calculation means for calculating the movement amount of the position of the finger touching the button and outputting the adjustment amount based on the position signal output from the position detection means.
An input device that can perform multiple input operations with a single button .

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