JP2005115783A - Track ball device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a track ball device capable of feeding back an operating state of a determination switch to an operator as a sense of touch. <P>SOLUTION: The track ball device is provided with: a track ball unit 12 having a rotational amount detection means 11 for forming a track ball 2 rotatably held in a unit case 1 movably supported in a Z axis direction to be forcibly rotated in an X axis direction and a Y axis direction by an X axis driving unit 6 and a Y axis driving unit 10 and detecting the rotational amount of the track ball 2 in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction; a Z axis driving unit 20 for forcibly moving the track ball unit 12 in the Z axis direction; a pressure contact detection means 21 for detecting a pressure contact state of the track ball unit 12 in the Z axis direction; and a control means 22 for controlling the drive of the X axis driving unit 6, the Y axis driving unit 10 and the Z axis driving unit 20 on the basis of a detection result of the rotational amount detection means 11 and a detection result of the pressure contact detection means 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a trackball device that allows an operator to feed back a click feeling to the operator as a tactile sensation.

  Conventionally, a trackball device has been adopted as means for performing a desired operation by moving an indicated point such as a mouse pointer or a cursor appearing on a display screen to an arbitrary position on the screen.

  The trackball device includes a trackball that is held in a housing so as to be rotatable in all directions, and a pair of roller members that are in contact with the trackball and are rotatably supported by an operator. The configuration is such that the ball itself is rotated to perform a pointing operation to align the cursor with the display coordinates of the operation target on the screen of the display device. The operation target can be operated by confirming the selection of the operation target by clicking the confirmation button arranged near the trackball. Note that the screen of the display device is configured to display necessary selection screens sequentially by the control unit attribute selected by the control unit.

  And the trackball apparatus of such a structure is employ | adopted as an in-vehicle input device, for example. More specifically, for example, when it is desired to use an in-vehicle television, a track is selected from items to be operated such as a television, an audio, an air conditioner, and a car navigation system displayed on the screen of the display device. Rotate the ball to move the cursor on the screen to the display coordinates of the television and press the confirm button to confirm the selection of the operation target.

  When a television is selected in this way, the control unit performs necessary operations such as a channel selection screen, a screen for adjusting a volume level and a screen display color, etc. according to the attribute. Can be displayed on the display device. Here, matching with an attribute means matching with the function of the operation target. For example, if you want to operate an air conditioner, first select the air conditioner from the display screen, and select the function selection screen such as heating / cooling / dehumidification / air blowing by the control unit according to its attributes A screen for performing necessary operations such as a screen for selecting an air volume and a wind direction is displayed on the display device. Similarly, for other operation objects, a screen for performing a necessary operation is displayed on the display device in accordance with the attribute of the selected operation object.

  In each display screen expanded according to the attribute, the trackball is rotated from the displayed operation target selection item, the cursor on the screen is aligned with the display coordinates of the operation target, and the vicinity of the trackball. By pressing the arranged confirmation button, the selection of the operation target is confirmed.

  Also, as a similar trackball device, a trackball device in which a mechanism as a confirmation button is added to the trackball and the confirmation button is not provided separately is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). ).

  The trackball device includes a trackball that is rotatable in all directions in the housing, and is held so as to be movable in the direction of the inner surface of the bottom of the housing. And a switch comprising a roller member and contacts arranged to face the lower surface of the trackball and the inner surface of the bottom of the housing. Then, the operator rotates the trackball itself, moves the cursor to the display coordinates of the operation target on the screen of the display device, performs a pointing operation, and presses the trackball toward the inner surface of the bottom portion of the housing so as to face each other. The operation target can be operated by closing the contact arranged and performing a confirmation switch operation to turn on the switch. The screen of the display device is configured to display necessary selection screens sequentially by the control unit attribute selected by the control unit.

  Furthermore, in recent years, in a trackball device, the driving force of a driving source such as a motor is transmitted to the trackball, thereby providing a tactile sensation such as a clicking sensation on the operation target where the point indicated by the cursor on the display screen is located. A configuration for feeding back to the operator or feeding back an erroneous operation of the trackball as a tactile sensation such as vibration is also employed (see Patent Documents 4 and 5).

  For example, a roller disposed at a position in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the trackball is rotationally driven in a direction opposite to the current rotation direction of the trackball by the driving force of the driving source to apply a braking force to the trackball. This allows the operator to grasp through the tactile sensation that the current cursor movement direction is incorrect, and conversely, the rotation drive by the driving force of the drive source of the roller is stopped, and the trackball is allowed to rotate freely. By doing so, the operator is made aware that the moving direction of the cursor is correct.

JP-A-1-290021 JP-A-9-319514 JP 2001-265527 A JP-A-10-320115 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-305938

  As described above, various types of trackball devices configured to feed back information related to the pointing operation to the operator as a tactile sensation have been developed in the past, and the display coordinates of the operation target can be viewed while the operator looks at the screen of the display device. Therefore, it is possible to easily switch on / off a desired electronic device, select a function, and adjust a selected function while encouraging safe driving.

  However, a configuration for confirming whether or not the confirmation switch operation has been normally performed has not been adopted.

  In other words, in order to confirm whether or not the confirmation switch operation has been normally performed, it is necessary to look at the display screen to be developed or when the operation target is operated, for example, when the air conditioner is operated. The present situation is that it can be confirmed for the first time by an event such as the desired air flowing out from the air outlet in the vehicle.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a trackball device that can feed back the operation state of the confirmation switch to the operator as a feeling not only for the pointing operation but also for the confirmation switch operation in the trackball device. To do.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a trackball device according to the present invention includes a trackball held in a unit case supported so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction so as to be rotatable in all directions. A trackball unit formed by a drive unit so as to be able to be forcibly rotated in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction and provided with a rotation amount detection means for detecting the rotation amount of the trackball in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction And, based on the detection result of the rotation amount detection means and the detection result of the pressure detection means, the X-axis drive unit and the Y-axis, and the pressure detection means for detecting the pressing state of the trackball unit in the Z-axis direction. Control means for controlling the drive of the shaft drive unit.

  Further, in the trackball device according to the present invention, the pressing detection means is disposed on an inner bottom portion of the unit case, and the trackball unit is placed in a recess formed in a housing of the trackball device. The ball is stored while being supported so that the pressure applied to the pressure detecting means is constant when the ball is not operated and when the ball is rotated in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

  Furthermore, the trackball apparatus of the present invention includes a Z-axis drive unit for forcibly moving the trackball unit in the Z-axis direction, and the control means detects the detection result of the rotation amount detection means and the detection of the pressure detection means. Based on the result, the driving of the Z-axis drive unit is also controlled.

  According to the trackball device of the present invention configured as described above, in the pointing operation of moving the cursor on the screen onto the coordinate area indicating the desired operation target by rotating the trackball, By controlling the driving of the motor connected via the transmission member to each roller member disposed in contact with the roller member, for example, the roller member can be controlled according to the operation displacement of the operator. An operation feeling can be transmitted to the operator via the trackball by applying a load or the like. Further, in the switch operation for determining the desired operation target by pushing down the trackball, for example, by controlling the Z-axis drive unit by the control means, for example, the operation displacement of the operator (the trackball The operation feeling can be transmitted to the operator via the trackball by causing the trackball unit to move up and down finely according to the pressure state in the Z-axis direction) to generate vibration.

  As a result, the operator who senses the displacement of the trackball and the result of the switch operation with the tactile sensation has a problem with the operation target operation or the operation itself, and the desired operation target is normally confirmed by the switch operation. It becomes possible to know the operation state of the confirmation switch such as whether or not it is necessary without looking at the display screen or the like.

  Further, by storing the trackball unit in a recess formed in the housing of the trackball unit so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction, when the switch operation is performed, the result of the switch operation is given to the operator. It is possible to stabilize the movement of the trackball unit when the operation feeling is transmitted through the trackball.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main part of an embodiment of the trackball apparatus according to the present invention.

  A trackball device according to the present invention includes a spherical trackball 2 held in a unit case 1 serving as a casing so as to be rotatable in all directions, abutting the trackball 2 and being rotatable in the X-axis direction. A supported roller member (hereinafter referred to as X-axis roller) 4, a motor (hereinafter referred to as X-axis motor) 5 for driving the X-axis roller, and a driving force of the X-axis motor 4 are transmitted to the X-axis motor 4. And an X-axis drive unit 6 comprising a drive transmission means 6 for performing the above-described operation. The unit case 1 drives a roller member (hereinafter referred to as a Y-axis roller) 7 that is in contact with the trackball 2 and rotatably supported in the Y-axis direction orthogonal to the X-axis, and the Y-axis roller 7. A Y-axis drive unit 10 comprising a motor (hereinafter referred to as a Y-axis motor) 8 and a drive transmission means 9 for transmitting the driving force of the Y-axis motor 8 to the Y-axis roller 7. Furthermore, the unit case 1 includes a trackball position sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) as rotation amount detection means for detecting the rotation amount of the trackball 2 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. These X-axis drive unit 6, Y-axis drive unit 10, and trackball position sensor 11 constitute a trackball unit 12.

  In the present embodiment, the trackball unit 12 is supported by a spring member 15 disposed on an inner bottom portion of the recess 14 in a recess 14 formed on the upper surface of the housing 13 of the trackball device. And is slidable on the peripheral wall that constitutes the housing and is movable in the Z-axis direction.

  The trackball device according to the present embodiment further includes a rack 16 formed on the housing 13 so as to extend in the Z-axis direction on the outer peripheral wall of the unit case 1 of the trackball unit 12, and the rack 16. , A pinion 17 that is rotatably supported, a motor (hereinafter referred to as a Z-axis motor) 18 that drives the pinion 17, and a drive transmission means that transmits the driving force of the Z-axis motor 18 to the pinion 17. A Z-axis drive unit 20 is provided. The trackball device is disposed at the inner bottom of the recess 14 of the housing 13 and is a Z-axis pressure sensor as a pressure detection means for detecting the pressure state of the trackball unit 12 in the Z-axis direction. 21 and the drive of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 based on the detection result of the rotation amount detection means, and the Z-axis motor 18 based on the detection result of the Z-axis pressure sensor 21. And a control means 22 for controlling driving.

  More specifically, the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 disposed in the trackball unit 12 are in contact with the trackball 2, and from the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 during tactile response, Each is configured to rotate in each direction by the driving force transmitted through the X-axis drive unit 6 and the Y-axis drive unit 10. As the X-axis roller 3 and the Y-axis roller 7, it is preferable to use an elastic body such as rubber or polyurethane having a large coefficient of friction with the trackball 2 and having appropriate elasticity. Further, as the shape of the roller, a cylindrical shape, a substantially disk shape, or the like can be used.

  As each drive transmission means 9 for transmitting a driving force from the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8, a gear mechanism is used in this embodiment, but a pulley and a belt may be used. Further, the axes of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 may be directly connected to the rotation axes of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis roller 7, respectively. In this case, the motor shaft functions as the drive transmission means 9.

  The trackball position sensor 113 detects the amount of rotation of the trackball 2 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the fine pattern formed on the peripheral surface of the trackball 2 is detected. A trackball position sensor 11 that observes and detects the amount of rotation in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction is disposed so as to face the peripheral surface of the trackball 2. The trackball position sensor 11 may be configured to include a detector such as an encoder for each of the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

  In the present embodiment, the rack 16 constituting the Z-axis drive unit 20 has an opening formed in the peripheral wall of the unit case 1 in the unit case 1 slidably accommodated in the recess 14 of the housing 13. It extends to the Z axis so as to face outward from the part.

  The pinion 17 is disposed in the housing 13 so as to mesh with the rack 16, and the drive transmission means 19 is supplied from the Z-axis motor 18 also disposed in the housing 13 during a tactile response. It is comprised so that it may rotate with the driving force transmitted via.

  In the present embodiment, a gear mechanism is used as the drive transmission means 19 for transmitting the driving force from the Z-axis motor 18, but a pulley and a belt may be used. Further, the axis of the Z-axis motor 18 may be directly connected to the rotation axis of the pinion 17. In this case, the motor shaft functions as the drive transmission means 19.

  Further, the spring member 15 disposed on the inner bottom portion of the recess 14 of the housing 13 is configured so that the Z-axis pressure sensitive sensor is used when the trackball 2 is not operated and when the trackball 2 is rotated in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The trackball unit 12 is supported so that the pressure applied to the pressure sensor 21, that is, the load sensed by the Z-axis pressure sensor 21 is always constant. The Z-axis pressure sensor 21 is pressed when the trackball 2 is pressed by an operator against the bias of the spring member 15 and the trackball unit 12 moves in the Z-axis direction. The state is configured to be detected based on a load change.

  The trackball position sensor 11 and the Z-axis pressure sensor 21 are connected to a control means 22, and the control means 22 detects the trackball 2 detected by the trackball position sensor 11 in the X-axis direction. Further, the driving of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 is controlled based on the detection result of the rotation amount in the Y-axis direction, and the change in the load on the trackball 2 detected by the Z-axis pressure sensor 21 is detected. And a control means 22 for controlling the driving of the Z-axis motor 18 based on the result or the like.

  The control method in the control means 22 is not limited to the method described above. For example, on the basis of the detection result of the Z-axis pressure sensor 21, the drive of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 is controlled so that the pressing state of the trackball 2 is fed back to the operator as a tactile sensation. It is also possible to control. In the case of such control, the Z-axis drive unit 20 can be omitted. Conversely, based on the detection result of the amount of rotation of the trackball 2 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction detected by the trackball position sensor 11, the driving of the Z-axis motor 18 is controlled, and the trackball 2 It is also possible to perform control so as to feed back to the operator a tactile sensation that the operation is not normally performed.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of the control means 22 and the signal flow.

  The control unit 2213 includes, for example, an A / D (Analog / Digital) converter 23 that converts an analog signal such as a rotation amount into a digital signal, and a D / A (Digital / Analog) converter 24 that converts a digital signal into an analog signal. And a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 25 for comparing rotation amounts and the like. The control means 22 is a control table in which the rotation amount detection result and load change detection result are associated with the drive control methods of the motors 4, 8, 18, and information for processing other functions. ROM (Read-Only Memory) 26 is stored.

  The A / D converter 23, the D / A converter 24, and the ROM 26 are connected to the CPU 25, respectively. The CPU 25 detects the rotation amount of the trackball 2 obtained from the trackball position sensor 11 or the Z-axis pressure sensor 21 via the A / D converter 23 and the detection result (signal) in the Z-axis direction. ) With reference to various control tables such as trackball feeling data and Z-axis operation feeling data stored in the ROM 26, a control method is selected, and each of the motors 4, 8, 18 through the D / A converter 24 is selected. It is comprised so that the drive of can be controlled.

  The trackball device configured in this manner moves the cursor on the screen in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction by rotating the trackball 2 in the pointing operation on the screen, and the operation confirmation switch operation In this case, when the trackball 2 is pressed, the operation content selected by the pointing operation is confirmed and functions as an operation unit of the electronic device.

  Further, the control means 22 controls the driving of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 so that the load resistance with respect to the rotation of the trackball 2 is made small at predetermined intervals. The trackball unit 12 is moved up and down in the recess 14 by controlling so as to give the trackball 2 an operational feeling like knocking or by driving the Z-axis motor 18. The operator controls the trackball 2 so that it feels like a slight vibration, and feels the operating state of the pointing operation and the confirmation switch operation using the trackball 2 to the operator. Can be fed back.

  Such a trackball device is suitable for an operation unit that selects an electronic device to be operated from electronic devices such as an air conditioner, a radio, a television, a CD player, and a car navigation system.

  As one example of the control, as a pointing operation, as a result of the operator rotating the trackball 2 by hand, a state where the cursor is positioned within the display coordinates of the air conditioner is displayed on the screen. In other words, when the air conditioner is selected, the control means 22 controls the driving of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8, and repeatedly repeats the load resistance against the rotation of the trackball 2 at predetermined intervals. The operation target currently selected by the operator is an air conditioner by controlling the operation so that the operation feels in a state of knocking (hereinafter referred to as “air conditioner selection sign”) to the trackball 2. It can be touched.

  Similarly, when the state where the cursor is located within the display coordinates of the radio is displayed on the screen, that is, when the radio is selected, the load resistance against the rotation of the trackball 2 is indicated by the air conditioner selection sign. When the operation target currently selected by the operator is a radio, it is repeatedly generated at a constant interval different from the above and is controlled so as to give the trackball 2 an operational feeling like knocking. It can be touched.

  When the operator wants to confirm the pointing operation as it is, the operator presses the trackball 2 in the Z-axis direction as a confirmation switch operation. At this time, the control means 22 determines the load change of the Z-axis pressure sensitive sensor 21. If it can be determined that there is a load change recognized as a normal click operation, the Z-axis motor 18 is driven. The reciprocating movement of the trackball unit 12 in the Z-axis direction through the drive transmission means 19, the pinion 17 and the rack 16 is repeated one or more times. As a result, the operator can feel that a normal selection switch operation has been performed.

  Note that the amount of movement, speed, etc., reciprocated in the Z-axis direction can be controlled to be proportional to the magnitude of the load change sensed by the Z-axis pressure sensor 21.

  Further, the control means 22 controls the driving of the X-axis motor 4 and the Y-axis motor 8 to increase the load of rotation of the trackball 2 or to indicate that there is a problem with the operation of the operation target or the operation itself, It is also possible to control the driving of the Z-axis motor 18 so as to notify the operator by vibrating the trackball 2 in the Z-axis direction.

  Thus, if the result of the confirmation switch operation can be immediately fed back to the operator as a tactile sensation, in order to confirm whether the confirmation switch operation has been performed normally, it is necessary to visually check the display screen to be developed. Also disappear. Therefore, in the case of an in-vehicle device, safe driving is encouraged. In addition, even if it is impossible to immediately feel whether or not the confirmation operation target has been selected normally, such as adjusting the temperature of an air conditioner, if the feedback that the confirmation switch operation is normally performed is fed back, the operator Can rest assured.

  Then, as in the present embodiment, by providing a function of the confirmation switch operation to the trackball device, it becomes possible to omit the arrangement of the confirmation button or the like that was conventionally provided separately from the trackball 2, Therefore, it is possible to realize the downsizing of the electronic device itself on which the trackball device is mounted.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change is possible as needed. For example, the trackball unit may be supported so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction, and may not be slidably supported in the recess of the housing as in the present embodiment. Further, the mechanism for moving the trackball unit in the Z-axis direction is not limited to a mechanism using a rack and a pinion as in this embodiment. Further, the pressing detection means may be a capacitance sensor instead of a pressure sensitive sensor as in the present embodiment.

The principal part block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the trackball apparatus of this invention Conceptual diagram of the configuration of control means and signal flow in this embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unit case 2 Track ball 3 X-axis roller 4 X-axis motor 5 Drive transmission means 6 X-axis drive unit 7 Y-axis roller 8 Y-axis motor 9 Drive transmission means 10 Y-axis drive unit 11 Track ball position sensor 12 Track ball unit 13 Housing 14 Recess 15 Spring member 16 Rack 17 Pinion 18 Z-axis motor 19 Drive transmission means 20 Z-axis drive unit 21 Z-axis pressure sensor
22 control means 23 A / D converter 24 D / A converter 25 CPU
26 ROM

Claims (3)

Trackballs held in a unit case supported so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction so as to be rotatable in all directions can be forcibly rotated in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by the X-axis drive unit and the Y-axis drive unit. A trackball unit having rotation amount detection means for detecting the rotation amount of the trackball in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction,
A pressing detection means for detecting a pressing state of the trackball unit in the Z-axis direction;
Control means for controlling the driving of the X-axis drive unit and the Y-axis drive unit based on the detection result of the rotation amount detection means and the detection result of the pressure detection means;
A trackball device comprising:   The pressing detection means is disposed on the inner bottom of the unit case, and the trackball unit is placed in a recess formed in the housing of the trackball device in the X-axis direction when the trackball is not operated. The trackball device according to claim 1, wherein the trackball device is supported while being supported so that the pressure applied to the pressure detection means during rotation in the Y-axis direction is constant.   A Z-axis drive unit for forcibly moving the trackball unit in the Z-axis direction, and the control means further drives the Z-axis based on a detection result of the rotation amount detection means and a detection result of the press detection means. The trackball device according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the unit is also controlled.