JPH031690B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a positional information input device that is effective for inputting handwritten figures drawn two-dimensionally on an operation panel into a computer online. be.

Conventional configuration and its problems Conventionally, the movement of a sphere attached to an object moving on a plane due to manual operation is converted into a signal.
The devices illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are considered as devices for obtaining position information of the object and inputting the position information into a computer or the like through a code or the like. To explain this, FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway vertical sectional view of a conventional position information input device, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view thereof. In those drawings, 1 is a grippable housing, and an iron sphere 2 is rotatably housed inside the housing.
Moreover, the lower part of the sphere 2 protrudes downward from an opening 3 provided at the bottom of the housing 1 and comes into contact with the mounting plane 4.

Further, the housing 1 is movably supported on the mounting plane 4 by the spherical body 2 and a plurality of balls 5 which are rotatably provided on the bottom surface of the housing 1.

The above-mentioned sphere 2 has 4
Rollers 7a, 7b, 7c rotatably provided at the four angles 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, respectively,
The horizontal position is regulated by touching 7d,
Further, the upward position is regulated by the center portion of the top surface coming into contact with a ball 8 that is rotatably disposed on the top center portion of the interior of the housing 1 . 9a and 9b
are potentiometers respectively connected to the rotating shafts 10a and 10b of a pair of rollers 7b and 7c whose extension lines are perpendicular to each other among the rollers 7a to 7d, and these potentiometers are connected to the rotational amounts of the rollers 7b and 7c. It is configured so that the resistance value changes accordingly, and is connected to the input section of the computer through a cord (not shown).

Next, the operation of this conventional example will be explained.

First, when the input operator grasps the housing 1 with his hand and moves it on the mounting plane 4, the housing 1
As the sphere 2 moves, the sphere 2 also rolls on the mounting plane 4. Then, the rollers 7a to 7b that are in contact with the outer periphery of the sphere 2 from all sides also rotate, and
The rotating shafts 10a and 10b also rotate. In this case, the sphere 2 rolls in the same direction as the moving direction of the housing 1, and rotates by an amount corresponding to the moving amount of the housing 1. Therefore, by detecting the rotation angles of the rollers 7b, 7c using the potentiometers 9a, 9b, positional information corresponding to the moving direction and amount of movement of the housing 1 can be detected.

However, the conventional position information input device described above has the following problems. That is, during operation of the position information input device, the movement of the sphere 2 on the mounting plane 4 is achieved by the sphere 2 being pushed by the rollers 7a to 7d within the housing 1, and Rotational motion is the sphere 2
This is achieved by the frictional force between the spherical body 2 and the mounting plane 4 acting in the tangential direction of the sphere 2, resulting in a rotational force. Here, if the operation speed of the position information input device is increased and the acceleration of its movement is increased, the placement plane 4 of the sphere 2
Regarding the upward movement, since the sphere 2 is supported within the housing 1, it moves with the same acceleration as the position information input device, but regarding the rotation of the sphere 2, the rotation of the sphere 2 is due to the difference between the sphere 2 and the mounting plane 4. Since the frictional force between them hardly changes, the rotational angular acceleration of the sphere 2 cannot be increased above a certain limit value. For this reason,
When the movement acceleration of the position information input device exceeds a certain value, the rotation of the sphere 2 will no longer follow the rotation of the sphere 2.
Slippage may occur between the position information input device and the mounting plane 4, and the distance that the position information input device actually moves on the mounting surface 4 differs from the value read by the position information input device from the rotation of the sphere 2. Become. Therefore, this conventional position information input device has a problem in that it must be operated slowly so that the movement acceleration does not become too large.

In addition, in the above-mentioned conventional location information input device,
In order to increase the upper limit of the movement acceleration, the force F that presses the sphere 2 from above can be increased to increase the frictional force between the sphere 2 and the mounting plane 4.
However, if this is done, the frictional force that acts in a direction that prevents the rotation of the sphere 1 will also increase, so that little effect can be expected.

As described above, in conventional position information input devices, in order for the distance traveled on the mounting plane to be equal to the measured value, it is necessary to roll the sphere without causing any slippage. It is necessary to operate the position information input device slowly or with force from above the position information input device, resulting in a poor operational feeling.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention solves the problems of the conventional example as described above, and the present invention is to roll the sphere without slipping as much as possible so that the actual movement amount of the position information input device can be read by the position information input device. Increase the upper limit of the operating acceleration of the position information input device when making the values equal,
In addition, the present invention provides a position information input device with improved operability.

Composition of the Invention The position information input device of the present invention rolls on a flat surface to read the movement of the position information input device, and the density at the center of the sphere is greater than the density at the outer shell of the sphere. Compared to a sphere with the same mass, radius, and uniform density, the frictional force between the sphere and the plane on which it rolls is the same. Therefore, the rotational force applied to the sphere is the same, but the sphere with higher density at the center has a smaller moment of inertia around the axis of rotation, so it rotates when the same rotational force is applied. This is to make it easier. Thereby, the range of movement acceleration of the sphere that can be followed by the rotation of the sphere can be increased, and the operational feeling can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the same embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view thereof. In those drawings, 11 is a position information input device, and 12 is a flat operation plate on which the position information input device 11 can be placed movably. Note that this does not necessarily have to be plate-shaped. Here, the position information input device 11
The housing 13 includes a grippable housing 13, a bottom plate 13a serving as a component of the housing 13, and a housing 13 including the bottom plate 13a on the operation plate 1.
Balls 14a, 14b, 1, such as steel balls, are rotatably disposed on the lower surface of the bottom plate 13a to be movably supported at a predetermined gap on the base plate 13a.
4c, 14d, and the lower part thereof protrudes downward from a circular hole 15 bored in the bottom plate 13a, and the operating plate 12
a sphere 16 rollably disposed within the housing 13 so as to be in contact with a surface of the sphere 16;
Rollers 17a, 17b, such as rubber rollers, are rotatably arranged so as to touch each other from all sides at four points on the outer periphery, that is, at 90 degree intervals when viewed from above, so as to restrict horizontal movement of the rollers.
17c, 17d and their rollers 17a to 17
d is rotatably supported on the bottom plate 13a,
Support members 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d that support those shafts 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d
Among the rollers 17a to 17d, the extension lines of the rotating shafts are perpendicular to each other, for example, 17b and 17c.
The encoders 20a and 20b are connected to the shafts 18b and 18c of the rollers 17b and 18c to detect the rotation angles of the rollers 17b and 17c, respectively, and provide positional information as an electrical signal.
Note that 21 is a code for transmitting the position information obtained by the encoders 20a and 20b to a device such as a computer. Note that instead of the cord 21, a wireless information transmission means using infrared rays or the like may be used.

As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the sphere 16 has a center portion 16a made of a material with a high density such as iron, and an outer shell portion 16b surrounding it made of a material such as rubber. It is made of a material with a lower density than that of 16a.

Further, the inner diameter of the circular hole 15 bored in the bottom plate 13a is made smaller than the outer diameter of the sphere 16 to prevent the sphere 16 from falling off unnecessarily when the position information input device 11 is lifted. Further, when the position information input device 11 is placed on the operation panel 12, the rollers 17a to 17d are
-17d and the center of the sphere 16 are provided so that a straight line is parallel to the upper surface of the operation plate 12.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the groove formation of the encoders 20a and 20b. In the figure, a light shielding plate 22 attached to the shafts 18b, 18c of the rollers 17b, 17c and rotating integrally with the rollers 17b, 17c is made of a material that does not transmit light. A large number of slits 23 are provided at equal intervals on the circumference. On the other hand, a light emitting diode 24 and a phototransistor 25 are provided corresponding to the slit positions of the light shielding plate 22 and sandwiching the light shielding plate 22 therebetween. As shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8, a constant voltage is applied to the light emitting diode 24 from a power source 26 so that it always emits light with a constant amount of light. Further, the phototransistor 25 is configured such that the output voltage obtained at the terminal 27 changes depending on the amount of light it receives. Therefore, when the position of the slit in the light-shielding plate 22 between the phototransistor 25 and the light-emitting diode 24 changes, the amount of light passing through it changes, and the output voltage of the phototransistor 25 also changes accordingly.

From the above, the light shielding plate 22 is
When rotating with c, the output voltage appearing at terminal 27 changes as shown in FIG. 9a.

Furthermore, another set of light emitting diodes 28 and phototransistors 29 are provided in the encoders 20a and 20b with a light shielding plate 22 in between, as shown in FIG. The light emitting diode 28 and the phototransistor 29 are arranged so that the output voltage of the phototransistor 25 and the phase thereof differ by approximately 90 degrees. Therefore, for example,
When the light shielding plate 22 rotates in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.
In contrast, the output voltage of the phototransistor 29 changes with a phase delay of 90° relative to the output voltage of the phototransistor 25, as shown in FIG. 9b. Conversely, when the light shielding plate 22 rotates in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 7, the output voltage of the phototransistor 29 changes in phase with the output voltage of the phototransistor 25 by 90 degrees.

The output voltages of phototransistors 25 and 29 are amplified by amplifiers 30 and 31, respectively, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the phase comparator 34 compares the phases of the two signals to detect the rotation direction of the light shielding plate 22, and the arithmetic unit 35 adds the number of waves of either signal. Thereby, the rotation angle of the light shielding plate 22 can be detected. Note that the signal detected by the arithmetic unit 35 is supplied to the computer main body and processed.

With the above configuration, the rotation direction and rotation angle of the rollers 17b and 17c can be detected.

Next, the operation and operation of this embodiment will be explained in detail. First, when the position information input device 11 is placed on the operation panel 12 and operated and moved, the sphere 16 also rolls in accordance with the direction of movement. At this time, the sphere 16 is moved by being pushed from the horizontal direction by the rollers 17a to 17d, and a rotational force is applied by the frictional force between the sphere 16 and the upper surface of the operation plate 12. It moves while being hit and rolling. In this case, when the acceleration at which the position information input device 11 is operated becomes large, the rotation of the sphere cannot be followed in the conventional example, and slippage begins to occur between the sphere and the upper surface of the operation plate, but the present invention As mentioned above, the density of the center part 16a of the sphere 16 is made higher than the density of the outer shell part 16b, and the mass is concentrated in the center part 16a of the sphere 16, so that the entire sphere has the same mass and the same radius. Compared to the case where a sphere composed of uniform density is used, the frictional force between the sphere and the top surface of the operation plate is the same, so
The rotational force applied to the sphere is the same, but the sphere with a higher density at the center has a smaller moment of inertia around the axis of rotation, making it easier to rotate. In other words, when the rotational torque applied to the sphere is T, the moment of inertia of the sphere around the axis of rotation is I, and the rotational angular acceleration of the sphere is θ¨, the formula T=Iθ¨ holds true, but the equation T=Iθ¨ holds true for the same mass. , compared to a sphere with the same radius and a uniform density, in the case of the present invention, the rotational torque T is the same, but by increasing the density at the center of the sphere, the rotation axis The moment of inertia around the
As a result, the rotational angular acceleration that the sphere can follow becomes large.

Note that the direction of rotation of the sphere 16 when it rolls coincides with the direction of movement of the position information input device 11. Further, as the sphere 16 rotates, the rollers 17a to 17a in contact with the sphere 16 are rotated.
17b also rotates, but each roller 17a~
17b rotates by an amount of rotation corresponding to the traveling direction of the sphere 16 and the angle formed by each roller. In other words, the distance that the sphere 16 has moved on the operation panel 12 is L.
If the angle between the traveling direction of the sphere 16 and the roller 17c is θ, then the rolling distance traveled by the roller 17c on the circumference is L _cps θ, and the roller 1
The rolling distance that 7b moves on the circumference is L _sio θ. At this time, the rotation angles of the rollers 17b and 17c have values that correspond to the rolling distances that these rollers have moved on their circumferences. Here, the straight line connecting the center of the sphere 16 and the center of the roller 17c is defined as the x-axis, and the sphere 1
If the straight line connecting the center of the ball 16 and the center of the roller 17b is the y-axis, then the value of the movement distance on the circumference of the roller described above is just the distance that the sphere 16 has moved in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction. Each becomes equal. Therefore, by detecting the rotation angles of the rollers 17b and 17c using the encoders 20a and 20b, the direction and amount of movement of the sphere 16 can be measured separately in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction.

Therefore, by processing the signals detected by the encoders 20a and 20b through the circuit shown in FIG. 10, signals corresponding to the respective rotational axis angles are generated, and these signals are further input into the computer main body. Possibly, the location information input device 11
It is possible to provide positional information on the movement trajectory of.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, the present invention provides a method in which the density of the center of the sphere for detecting the amount of movement of the position information input device is made higher than the density of the outer shell. By concentrating the mass, the moment of inertia around the axis of rotation is reduced, making it easier to rotate. Therefore, even if the operating acceleration of the position information input device increases, the rotation of the sphere can be easily followed, and the rotation of the sphere is easier to follow. , it becomes difficult for slippage to occur between it and the plane on which it rolls in contact. As a result, the distance actually moved by the position information input device can be made equal to the detected value of the amount of movement of the position information input device. Note that when the outer shell of the sphere is made of a rubber-based material, the coefficient of friction between the sphere and the plane increases, so a large rotational force can be obtained, making it even more difficult to slip.

From the above, unlike the conventional example mentioned above, there is no need to operate slowly, and there is no need to apply considerable force from above the position information input device, so it is possible to input position information with excellent operability. The device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a conventional position information input device, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of a conventional position information input device. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an example of a sphere used in the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram of the circuit configuration thereof, FIG. 9 is an output waveform diagram of the encoder, and FIG. 10 is a diagram of the signal processing circuit that can be used in the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example. 11...Position information input device, 12...Operation board,
13...Housing, 13a...Bottom plate, 14a~
14d...ball, 15...circular hole, 16...sphere, 16a...center, 16b...outer shell, 17
a to 17d... rollers, 18a to 18d... shafts,
19a-19d...Supporting member, 20a, 20b...
...Encoder.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A housing movable on a plane, a sphere rotatably provided on the housing so as to rotate as the housing moves on the plane, and rotation of the sphere causes rotation of the housing. The sphere is equipped with a position information detection means for detecting position information indicating the direction of movement and amount of movement and generating a signal according to the detected value, and the sphere has an inner core and an outer shell surrounding the outer periphery of the inner core. What is claimed is: 1. A position information input device characterized in that the inner core portion is made of a material having a higher density than the outer shell portion.