JP4097368B2 - Trackball - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a trackball for outputting an operation signal corresponding to the movement of the ball.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recent personal computers and the like use not only a keyboard but also a trackball, and operate a pointing device and a cursor on the screen.
[0003]
Here, an ordinary trackball is configured to detect the rotational movement amount of a ball that is rotatably supported by, for example, an optical sensor, and output the detected rotational movement amount of the ball as an operation signal. A two-dimensional coordinate operation signal (pointing device operation signal) can be output.
[0004]
However, in such a conventional trackball, for example, when outputting an operation signal of a coordinate system other than the two-dimensional coordinates composed of the X-axis and the Y-axis, the trackball is moved by a specially provided function changeover switch or the like. It is necessary to change the input mode according to the change or to provide another new coordinate input device. For this reason, operability was also poor.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and it is possible to output an operation signal of a coordinate system other than two-dimensional coordinates without separately providing a function switching switch or another new coordinate input device, In addition, the object is to obtain a trackball with improved operability.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The trackball according to the invention of claim 1 is provided around a ball supported rotatably in all directions of three-dimensional coordinates, and is engaged with the ball by being pressed. A rotary member that rotates the ball about the vertical axis of the three-dimensional coordinates, a ball movement amount detection unit that detects a rotational movement amount of the ball in a predetermined direction, and when the ball is directly operated, The rotation movement amount of the ball detected by the ball movement amount detection means is output as a movement along the left and right axes and the front and rear axes of the three-dimensional coordinates, and the ball is rotated around the vertical axis by the rotary member. Control means for outputting an operation signal as an angular displacement about the vertical axis when the amount of rotation of the ball detected by the ball movement amount detection means is It is provided.
[0007]
In the trackball according to claim 1, when the ball is directly operated by the operator, the rotational movement amount of the ball in a predetermined direction is detected by the ball movement amount detection means, and further, the detected rotation of the ball is detected by the control means. The movement amount is output as an operation signal for movement along the left and right axes and the front and rear axes of the three-dimensional coordinates.
[0008]
On the other hand, when the ball is rotated around the vertical axis of the three-dimensional coordinates by pressing the rotary member, the rotation amount of the ball around the vertical axis is detected by the ball movement amount detection means, and the control means Thus, the detected rotation amount of the ball is output as an operation signal for angular displacement about the vertical axis.
[0009]
In this way, the trackball according to claim 1 directly operates the ball itself to generate an operation signal (so-called two-dimensional coordinate operation signal) for movement along the left-right axis and the front-rear axis among the three-dimensional coordinates. In addition to being able to output, it is not necessary to separately provide a function selector switch or another new coordinate input device. An operation signal can be output. In addition, the operation direction of the ball via the rotary member becomes a natural one that matches human sensitivity, and the operability is improved.
[0010]
The trackball according to a second aspect of the present invention is the trackball according to the first aspect, wherein the control means is configured to perform the direct operation after the ball is rotated around the vertical axis by the rotary member. An operation signal is output as the amount of rotational movement of the ball as an angle-of-attack displacement with respect to the left and right axes of the three-dimensional coordinates.
[0011]
In the trackball according to the second aspect, when the ball is once rotated around the vertical axis by the rotary member, a so-called mode change is performed. That is, after the ball is rotated around the vertical axis by the rotary member, the rotational movement amount of the ball by the subsequent direct operation is output as an operation signal for the angle-of-attack displacement with respect to the left and right axes of the three-dimensional coordinates.
[0012]
As described above, the trackball according to claim 2 directly operates the ball itself to generate an operation signal (so-called two-dimensional coordinate operation signal) for movement along the left-right axis and the front-rear axis among the three-dimensional coordinates. In addition to being able to output, it is possible not only to output an operation signal for the angular displacement around the vertical axis by simply pressing the rotary member with the finger down from the ball, but also to the left and right axes. An operation signal for angular displacement can also be output, which is more effective.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall configuration of a trackball 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the overall configuration of the trackball 10. Is shown.
[0014]
The trackball 10 includes a ball 12. The ball 12 is configured as a sphere and is held in the base 16 via a ball bearing 14. The ball 12 is supported so as to be rotatable in all directions of three-dimensional coordinates, and rotates around each of the X axis (left and right axis), Y axis (front and rear axis), and Z axis (vertical axis). It is possible. A dot pattern for detecting the amount of movement described later is printed on the lower surface side of the ball 12.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, the rotation of the ball 12 around the X axis is indicated by an arrow a, the rotation around the Y axis is indicated by an arrow b, and the rotation around the Z axis is indicated by an arrow c.
[0016]
An operation knob 18 as a rotary member is disposed around the ball. The operation knob 18 is formed in a ring shape as a whole, and is placed on a flange 20 provided on the upper end of the base 16 with the upper portion of the ball 12 exposed to the outside from the central opening portion. A cover 22 is attached so as to sandwich the periphery of the operation knob 18. Further, the peripheral edge portion on the back surface side of the operation knob 18 is formed in a spherical shape, and this spherical surface portion is in contact with the flange portion 20 of the base 16. As a result, when the operation knob 18 is pressed, the operation knob 18 is centered and the inner periphery of the central opening contacts the ball 12. By rotating the operation knob 18 in this state, the ball 12 is rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) together with the operation knob 18 by a frictional force with the operation knob 18.
[0017]
A return spring 24 is disposed between the peripheral portion of the operation knob 18 and the flange portion 20 of the base 16. Further, a positioning convex portion 26 is formed on the peripheral portion of the operation knob 18, and a convex portion 28 is also formed on the cover 22 corresponding to the convex portion 26. Thus, when the pressing operation force of the operation knob 18 is released, the operation knob 18 is automatically returned to the initial position while being guided by the convex portions 26 and 28 by the urging force of the return spring 24. It has become.
[0018]
An image recognition unit 30 serving as a ball movement amount detection unit is disposed at a position facing the lower surface of the ball 12 of the base 16. The image recognizing unit 30 optically detects the dot pattern printed on the surface of the ball 12 to move each of the balls 12 around the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis based on the movement amount of the dot pattern. The amount can be detected. The image recognition unit 30 is connected to a general processing circuit 32 as a control means, and can calculate an operation signal corresponding to the movement amount of the ball 12 and output it to a computer.
[0019]
Here, a predetermined “operation mode” is set in the integrated processing circuit 32, and an operation signal is output based on this “operation mode”. For example, when the ball 12 is directly operated, the rotational movement amount of the ball 12 detected by the image recognition unit 30 is operated as movement along the X axis (left and right axis) and the Y axis (front and rear axis) of the three-dimensional coordinates. In addition to outputting a signal, when the ball 12 is rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) by the operation knob 18 described above, the rotation amount of the ball 12 detected by the image recognition unit 30 is set around the Z axis (vertical axis). An operation signal is output as the angular displacement.
[0020]
Furthermore, when the ball 12 is rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) by the operation knob 18, the total processing circuit 32 calculates the rotational movement amount of the ball 12 by the subsequent direct operation as the X axis among the three-dimensional coordinates. An operation signal is output as an angle-of-attack displacement with respect to the (left-right axis). Furthermore, the “operation mode” at this point is maintained as long as the operation continues, and is not switched until a confirmation operation such as a push enter operation is input.
[0021]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
[0022]
In the trackball 10 having the above configuration, when the ball 12 is directly operated by the operator, the rotational movement amount of the ball 12 in the predetermined direction is detected by the image recognition unit 30 and further detected by the integrated processing circuit 32. The rotational movement amount of the ball 12 is output as an operation signal for movement along the X-axis (left-right axis) and Y-axis (front-rear axis) of the three-dimensional coordinates.
[0023]
On the other hand, when the ball 12 is rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) of the three-dimensional coordinates by pressing the operation knob 18, the amount of rotation of the ball 12 around the Z axis (vertical axis) is recognized as an image. Further, the rotation amount of the detected ball 12 is output as an operation signal for angular displacement around the Z axis (vertical axis) by the integrated processing circuit 32.
[0024]
In the trackball 10, the operation mode is changed when the ball 12 is once rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) by the operation knob 18. That is, after the ball 12 is rotated around the Z axis (vertical axis) by the operation knob 18, the rotational movement amount of the ball 12 by the subsequent direct operation is an angle of attack with respect to the X axis (left and right axis) of the three-dimensional coordinates. It is output as an operation signal for displacement.
[0025]
Therefore, the trackball 10 can be used for 3D-CAD, 3D-graphics creation software, 3D-navigation maps, video games, and the like. For example, when a cursor, a selection target object or a peripheral element (non-selected object / map) based on 3D data is drawn on the screen, the X axis (left / right axis) of the cursor or selection target object by direct operation of the ball 12 ) And the movement (coordinate position) along the Y-axis (front-rear axis), and the viewpoint can be moved by operating the ball 12 via the operation knob 18. Further, thereafter, if the ball 12 is directly operated again, the viewpoint attack angle (attack angle displacement with respect to the X axis (left and right axis)) can be adjusted.
[0026]
As described above, the trackball 10 according to the present embodiment is operated for movement along the X-axis (left-right axis) and the Y-axis (front-back axis) in the three-dimensional coordinates by directly operating the ball 12 itself. Signals (so-called two-dimensional coordinate operation signals) can be output, and the operation knob 18 can be pressed by lowering the finger from the ball 12 without separately providing a function switching switch or another new coordinate input device. It is possible to output an operation signal for angular displacement around the Z axis (vertical axis). In addition, the operation direction of the ball 12 via the operation knob 18 becomes a natural one that matches human sensitivity, and the operability is improved. Furthermore, the operation signal for the angle-of-attack displacement with respect to the X axis (left and right axis) can be output without being limited to this, which is more effective.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the trackball according to the present invention can output an operation signal of a coordinate system other than two-dimensional coordinates without providing a function changeover switch or another new coordinate input device, and has operability. It has an excellent effect of improving.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an overall configuration of a trackball according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the overall configuration of the trackball according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Track ball 12 Ball 16 Base 18 Operation knob (rotary member)
20 heel part 30 image recognition part (ball movement amount detection means)
32 Total processing circuit (control means)

Claims (2)

A ball supported rotatably in all directions of the three-dimensional coordinates;
A rotary member provided around the ball and engaged with the ball by being pressed to rotate the ball about the vertical axis of the three-dimensional coordinates;
Ball movement amount detection means for detecting the rotational movement amount of the ball in a predetermined direction;
When the ball is directly operated, the rotational movement amount of the ball detected by the ball movement amount detection means is output as a movement along the left and right axes and the front and rear axes of the three-dimensional coordinates, and the rotary member Control means for outputting an operation signal with the amount of rotation of the ball detected by the ball movement amount detection means as an angular displacement about the vertical axis when the ball is rotated about the vertical axis by:
Trackball with The control means, when the ball is rotated around the vertical axis by the rotary member, the subsequent rotational movement amount of the ball by the direct operation as the angle of attack displacement with respect to the left and right axis of the three-dimensional coordinates 2. The trackball according to claim 1, wherein an operation signal is output.

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