JPH0574091B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to wireless computer input devices.

(Prior Art) For example, conventional computer input devices for clicking icons or moving a cursor on the display of graphics software include a mouse, a joystick, a light pen, etc.
All of them are attached to the computer body by wires.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in recent years, as small portable computers have been manufactured, input devices have also become required to have the ability to be used anywhere. Taking the currently widely used mouse as an example, it requires a flat surface to use, and while the surface is smooth, the ball inside the mouse must not slip. When operating on your lap, such as when using a laptop,
This type of mouse cannot be used. In addition to being inconvenient to carry because it is wired, the wires move every time you move the mouse, causing objects on the desk to get in the way and the wires getting tangled. Furthermore, considering other computer input devices, such as joysticks, they have the same drawbacks as above because they are all attached to the computer using wires.

Further, all of these input methods utilize two-dimensional movement of the cursor, but no consideration has been given to input forms in a three-dimensional space that may be required in the future.

As described above, conventional input devices, as typified by the mouse, have the disadvantage that the environment in which they are used is highly restricted, and that users have to take their hands off the keyboard to input data. Additionally, since it is connected to a computer using wires, it has drawbacks such as being complicated and getting tangled when moving. Furthermore, there was a fundamental problem that made it impossible to input data in three-dimensional space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless computer input device that can be used anywhere by eliminating the problems caused by wires and the conditions of the environment in which it is used. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless computer input device that can be easily modified to input three-dimensional values for future possibilities.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a pen-type input device that emits a position pulse, and a pen-type input device that receives the transmitted position pulse at two positions. The present invention employs a wireless computer input device characterized by having an input device main body that calculates the distance between the two positions.

(Example) Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first example of a wireless computer input device of the present invention, which consists of a wireless input device main body and a pen-type input device, when used in a personal computer.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a similar second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a pen-type input device, and FIG. 4 is a wireless input device. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the main body; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the wireless computer input device in which the wireless input device main body is built into the keyboard; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the keyboard of FIG. FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of the pen-type input device; FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of the wireless input device main body;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing initial pulses transmitted from the pulse transmitter/receiver of the pen-type input device, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing detection pulses transmitted from the pulse transmitter/receiver of the wireless input device main body. , 1st
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing position pulses transmitted from a pulse transmitter/receiver of a pen-type input device.

First, referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, each of FIGS. 1 through 4 shows a wireless computer input device that can utilize the configuration of a conventional computer as is. In Figure 1, CRT
2 and a wireless input device main body (hereinafter simply referred to as the input device main body) placed on a suitable support (for example, a desk) at the tip of a mouse cable 6 from the computer main body 1 connected to the keyboard 3.
4 are connected. When the pen type input device 5 is not in use, the storage/charging bore 39 of the input device main body 4
It is housed in the housing and held in a charged state, and when in use, it is configured to be pulled out from the housing/charging bore 39 and used. In this way, in the first embodiment, the input device body 4 can be connected instead of the conventional mouse, and a conventional computer can be used. In addition, 20 and 21 in the figure indicate pulse transmitters and receivers, respectively.
These operations will be described later with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, the input device main body 4 is configured to be fixed to the back surface of the keyboard 3 using a suitable fixture (not shown). Therefore, it can be placed on the front of the personal computer body 1 together with the keyboard 3, making it convenient to handle.

As shown in detail in FIG.
has a pulse transmitter/receiver 10 at the tip of its main body, a mouse switch 11, a click switch 12, and a click switch 13 at the front of the main body, and an accommodation guide bar 37 and a charging terminal 3 at the rear.
It has 8. Note that the inside of the main body has other functional elements, which will be described later in connection with FIG. 7.

The pulse transmitter/receiver 10 includes a sensor (not shown) that is an ultrasound-electrical transducer;
For example, when pressing the mouse switch 11 with the thumb, the input device transmits an initial pulse generated inside the main body, receives a detection pulse from the input device main body 4, and further transmits a detection pulse. When pressed, the mouse switch 11 causes the pulse transmitting/receiving device 10 to enter the transmitting/receiving state.
The click switches 12 and 13 operate as a click-on switch and a click-off switch when pressed with, for example, an index finger, and these click switches are effective only when the mouse switch 11 is pressed. The storage guide bar 37 serves as a guide when the pen-type input device 5 is stored in the storage/charging bore 39 of the input device main body 4. ).
The pen-type input device 5 in FIG. 3 is shown in a larger scale than the input device main body 4 in FIG. 4).

Therefore, the charging terminal 38 of the pen-type input device 5
is positioned with respect to a corresponding charging terminal (not shown) of the input device main body 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the input device main body 4 has two pulse transmitters/receivers 20 and 21, a mouse connector 36, a detecting section 8, a converting section 9, and a storage/charging bore 39.

The pulse emitters and receivers 20 and 21 include sensors (not shown) which, like the pulse emitter and receiver 10, are ultrasound-electrical transducers, one of which, for example the pulse emitter and receiver 20, Receive the initial pulse from the aforementioned pen type input device 4,
It also emits the aforementioned detection pulses, and both pulse transmitters/receivers 20 and 21 receive the aforementioned position pulses.

The mouse connector is for connecting with a conventional mouse cable. The specific circuit configuration and operation of the detection section 8 and the conversion section 9 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown a third embodiment of the present invention, which is a wireless computer input device with a built-in keyboard, in which the input device main body 4 is housed inside the keyboard 3. . Pulse transmitters/receivers 20 and 21 are attached to both sides of the rear upper surface of the keyboard 3.
Further, a storage/charging bore 39 is provided on the rear left side surface of the keyboard 3 (FIG. 5).

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the detection section 8, the conversion section 9
is arranged inside the main body of the keyboard 3, and a mouse connector 36 is attached to the back of the keyboard 3.

In this way, in the third embodiment, when an input device for a wireless computer is intended to be created from the beginning, it can be constructed as a built-in keyboard type, thereby eliminating the inconvenience of handling when the input device main body 4 is a separate unit. It is.

Next, the circuit configuration and operation of the wireless computer input device (pen type input device and input device main body) of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11.

Referring first to FIG. 7, a circuit block diagram of pen-type input device 5 is shown. The pulse transmitter/receiver 10 includes an ultrasound-electrical transducer as described above, and generates an initial pulse (see FIG. 9) and a position pulse (see FIG. 11) as described above.
and receives detection pulses (see Fig. 10). The pulse receiver/receiver 10 is a switch 14
The switch 14 switches between the α contact and the β contact according to a command from a control circuit 18, which will be described later. When the switch 14 is on the α contact side, it is connected to the transmitting pulse generator 15 and is in the transmitting state, and when it is on the β contact side, the amplifier 1
6. It is further connected to a detection circuit and is in a receiving state. The transmit pulse generator 15 generates an initial pulse or position pulse under the control of the control circuit 18 and sends it to the pulse transmitter/receiver 10 via the α contact of the switch 14 . Amplifier 16 is pulse transmitter/receiver 1
0 through the β contact of the switch 14, the detection circuit 17 identifies whether the signal is a detection pulse or not, and sends a signal to the control circuit 18 in the case of a detection pulse.

As mentioned above, the mouse switch 11 switches the pen-type input device into the transmitting/receiving state, and the click switches 12 and 13 generate click-on and click-off signals.

The control circuit 18 controls the operation of the entire pen-type input device, and mainly performs the following control. That is, (1) When the mouse switch 11 is pressed for the first time,
Switch the mouse switch 11 to the α contact side to set the transmitting state.

(2) In the transmitting state, cause the transmitting pulse generator to generate an initial pulse or a position pulse. In addition,
When a position pulse is generated, click switch 12,
A click switch signal is included in the position pulse depending on the state of 13 (pressed or not).

(3) After transmitting the initial pulse, switch the switch 14 to the β contact side to enter the receiving state.

(4) After detecting the detection pulse, turn switch 14 to α
Switch to the contact side to make the transmitting state. At this time, the transmission pulse generator 15 is instructed to generate the above-mentioned position pulse.

Further, the power source 19 is a power source that is charged by the charging terminal 15.

Next, referring to FIG. 8, a circuit block diagram of the input device main body 4 is shown. In this embodiment, the pulse transmitter/receiver 20 receives initial pulses and position pulses, and transmits detection pulses, as described above. In addition, pulse transmitter/receiver 2
1 is used for reception only in this embodiment, and receives the initial pulse and the position pulse.
Note that the initial pulse may be received by either one of the pulse transmitters and receivers. The two pulse transmitters/receivers 20 and 21 are connected to a detection unit 8, which includes a switch 22, an amplifier 23, a detector 24, a transmission pulse generator 25, an amplifier 26, a detection circuit 27, and a control circuit. 28, a clock 29, a counter A30, and a counter B31. The switch 22, amplifier 23, detection circuit 24, and transmission pulse generator 25 are the switch 14, amplifier 16, and detection circuit 17 of the pen-type input device 5 described above.
and the transmission pulse generator 15, respectively, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.
However, the transmitting pulse generator 25 differs from the transmitting pulse generator 15 in that it generates a detection pulse instead of the initial pulse and position pulse, and the detection circuit 24 detects the initial pulse and position pulse instead of the detection pulse. This is different from the detection circuit 17. Further, the amplifier 26 and the detection circuit 27 are the amplifier 16 and the detection circuit 1 of the pen-type input device 5.
7, but similarly to the detection circuit 24, it detects an initial pulse and a position pulse.

Clock 29 generates clock pulses, and counter A30 and counter B31
is for counting clock pulses from the time of reception of the initial pulse to the time of detection of each position pulse received by the pulse transmitter/receiver 20 and 21, and the count values of counters A and B are calculated by the pen type input device. 5 from the pulse transmitter/receiver 10 to the pulse transmitter/receiver 20 and 21 of the input device main body 4
(the position of the pen-type input device with respect to the input device main body). Note that in this embodiment, counters A and B start counting from the time of reception of the initial pulse.
For example, counting may be started from the time the detection pulse is transmitted.

The control circuit 28 controls the operation of the entire input device main body, and mainly performs the following control. That is, (1) when the power of the personal computer is turned on, the switch 22 is switched to the α contact to enter the receiving state. Also clock 2
9 to generate a clock pulse.

Note that the clock may be generated at the time of initial pulse detection.

(2) When an initial pulse is detected, the switch 22 is switched to the β contact to enter the transmitting state.

(3) When an initial pulse is detected, counter A30 and counter B31 start counting, and when a position pulse is detected, counters A and B are stopped at the rising edge of the main pulse of the position pulse, and the counts are read.

(4) After detecting the initial pulse, switch the switch 22 to the β contact to enter the transmitting state.

(5) After sending the detection pulse, switch the switch 22 to the α contact to enter the receiving state.

(6) The counted values of counters A and B are sent to an arithmetic circuit 32, which will be described later, and converted into orthogonal coordinates (X and Y coordinates) generated by a conventional mouse by a mouse pulse conversion circuit 33, which will also be described later.

The conversion section 9 includes an arithmetic circuit 32 and a mouse pulse conversion circuit 33. The arithmetic circuit 32 calculates the distance from the pulse transmitter/receiver 10 of the pen type input device 5 to each of the pulse transmitter/receivers 20 and 21 of the input device main body 4 based on the counts of counters A and B. The mouse pulse conversion circuit 33 converts the thus calculated values into the orthogonal coordinates of a conventional mouse and generates a pulse signal.

In addition, a connector 36, a power supply 34, and a charger 35 are provided, and the connector 36 sends the coordinate pulses generated by the mouse pulse conversion circuit 33 to the computer body through the mouse cable, and also supplies power from the computer body to the input device body. The power supply 34 supplies power to each functional element including the control circuit 28.

Next, the operation of the wireless computer input device of the present invention will be explained.

When the mouse switch 11 of the pen type input device 5 is pressed, its control circuit 18 confirms this and switches the switch 14 to the α contact. At the same time, the transmitting pulse generator 15 generates a pulse signal of an initial pulse as shown in FIG. 9, and the pulse transmitting/receiving device 10 starts transmitting the initial pulse. The control circuit 18 is
Immediately after the initial pulse is transmitted, the switch 14 is switched to the β contact to enter the receiving state.

The pulse transmitter/receiver 20 or 21 of the input device main body 4 receives this initial pulse. (Switch 22 is in the receiving state when the power is turned on.) This initial pulse is transmitted to amplifier 23 or 26.
The pulse then enters the detection circuit 24 or 27 and detects whether it is an initial pulse or not. When an initial pulse is detected in either pulse transmitter/receiver 20, control circuit 28 switches switch 22 to transmit. At the same time, clock counters A and B (30, 31) are started, and the transmission pulse generator 25 is commanded to transmit a detection pulse as shown in FIG. In response to this, the pulse transmitter/receiver 20 transmits a detection pulse.

On the other hand, the pen-type input device 5 waits for the detection pulse to arrive in a pulse receiving state after transmitting the initial pulse. However, mouse switch 11
must be pressed during this series of operations. The pulse transmitter/receiver 10 of the pen-type input device 5 receives the detection pulse transmitted from the input device main body 4, and the detection pulse is detected and confirmed by the detection circuit 17 via the amplifier 16. Upon receiving this detection, the control circuit 18 switches the switch 14 to transmit. At the same time, the state of the click switches 12 and 13 is checked and the output pulse generator 15 is commanded to generate a position pulse corresponding to the state. From this, from the pulse transmitter/receiver 10 to the click switch 1
A position pulse as shown in FIG. 11 containing information Nos. 2 and 13 is transmitted.

Here, the pulse width τmax (unit: msec) is the time required for the sound wave to travel a distance of approximately 70 cm.
In the case of this device, τmax was set to 2 msec. The dotted pulses are for click switches 12 and 13, and while the click switches are pressed,
A pulse is generated at this position.

When this position pulse is received by sensors 20 and 21 on input device main body 4, it is sent to detection circuits 24 and 2 via amplifiers 23 and 26, respectively.
7, the position pulse is detected. After confirming the detection of the position pulses, the control circuit 28 stops the counters A30 and B31 using the rising edge of the main pulse of each position pulse as a trigger. This value is sent to the arithmetic circuit 32,
This is data for determining the position of the pen-type input device 5. The position coordinates of the pen type input device 5 calculated by the arithmetic circuit 32 are calculated by the mouse pulse conversion circuit 33.
is converted into pulse information (orthogonal coordinates) used in conventional mice, and sent to the personal computer 1 through the connector 36. During this time, even if an initial pulse is received from the pen type input device 5, it is ignored.
After completing these series of operations, reception of the next initial pulse begins.

In this way, the pulse transmitter/receiver 20 and 21 of the input device main body 4 independently receive the position pulse transmitted from the pen-type input device 5, and at the same time stop the counter. To prevent malfunctions due to reflected waves, etc., the reception status of the main unit is stopped at a certain period of time after the clock counter starts. This is to prevent signals from leaking from other devices, such as when the input device main body 4 and the pen-type input device 5 are too far apart.

In this way, the pen type input device 5
The moving direction and moving distance of the cursor on the display of the CRT 2 are determined by, for example, the ON state of the click-on switch 12.

Although the present invention has been described above regarding two-dimensional movement, the present invention can also be easily applied to input forms in a three-dimensional space. That is,
Two pulse transmitters/receivers 20 of the input device main body 4
and 21, by providing other pulse transmitters/receivers and associated amplifiers, detection circuits, counters, etc., the position in three-dimensional space can be detected.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, the present invention uses a wireless method for the computer input device, so there are no restrictions on the input environment, and mouse movement information can be created simply by moving in space. This eliminates drawbacks such as wires getting tangled, and allows input without taking your hands off the keyboard.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment in which a wireless computer input device of the present invention, which includes an input device main body and a pen-type input device, is used in a personal computer. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second similar embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the pen-type input device. FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the input device main body. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of a wireless computer input device in which the input device main body is built into a keyboard. Figure 6 shows
FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the keyboard of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of the pen type input device. FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of the main body of the input device. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an initial pulse transmitted from the pulse transmitter/receiver of the pen type input device. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing detection pulses transmitted from the pulse transmitter/receiver of the input device main body. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing position pulses transmitted from the pulse transmitter/receiver of the pen type input device. 1... Personal computer body, 2... CRT, 3... Keyboard, 4... Input device main body, 5... Pen type input device, 6... Mouse cable, 8... Detection unit,
9... Conversion unit, 10... Pulse transmitter/receiver, 2
0,21...Pulse transmitter/receiver.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a wireless computer input device having a pen-type input device and an input device main body, (a) the pen-type input device includes: (i) a mouse switch for activating the pen-type input device; ii) two click switches that generate click-on and click-off signals; (iii) a pulse emitter/receiver that generates an initial pulse and a position pulse that includes click-on and click-off signals and receives a detection pulse; and (iv) an initial pulse generator. (b) an input device main body; (b) an input device body; (i) two pulse emitters/receivers, at least one of which receives an initial pulse, emits a detection pulse, and both of which receive a position pulse, and (ii) one of which generates a detection pulse and emits a pulse.・
(iii) two detection circuits that detect initial pulses from the pulse generator/receiver at least on one side and detect position pulses from the pulse generator/receiver on both sides; iv) Two pulses are transmitted from the time of initial pulse detection.
Count the clocks corresponding to the time until the position pulse received by the receiver is detected2.
(v) an arithmetic circuit that calculates positional information of the pen-type input device with respect to the input device main body by calculating the counted values of the two counters. 2. The wireless computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device main body further includes a mouse pulse conversion circuit for converting two pieces of position information into mouse pulses. 3. In a wireless computer input device having a pen type input device and an input device main body, (i) an initial pulse transmission means of the pen type input device that transmits an initial pulse, and (ii) an initial pulse from the initial pulse transmission means. (iii) a position pulse transmitting means of the pen-type input device that receives the detection pulse from the detection pulse transmitter and transmits the position pulse; , (iv) two position pulse receiving means of the input device main body that receive position pulses from the position pulse transmitting means, and (v) a clock from the time of initial pulse reception until the time of position pulse reception by the two position pulse reception means. (vi) distance calculation means of the input device main body, which calculates positional information of the pen-type input device with respect to the input device main body by calculating the counted values of the clock counting means; A wireless computer input device comprising: 4. The wireless computer input device according to claim 3, wherein the input device main body further includes mouse pulse conversion means for converting two pieces of positional information into mouse pulses. 5. The wireless computer input device according to claim 3, wherein the position pulse includes click-on and click-off information.