JPH0581931B2 - - Google Patents

Description

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

A prior application related to the wireless computer input device of the present invention is Japanese Patent Application No. 1-337309 filed on December 26, 1999 by the same applicant. The basic structural difference between the present invention and the invention of the above application is that the position of the pen-type input device is detected by detecting a light pulse from the pen-type input device, and the other configurations are almost the same. For the same or analogy, reference is made to the said application.

(Prior Art) For example, conventional computer input devices for clicking icons or moving a cursor on a graphics software display 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.

On the other hand, in recent years, character recognition, which recognizes and distinguishes characters written on a tablet and inputs them into a computer, has come to be used to input information without using a keyboard. However, even in this case, if the input to the computer were to be made via a wire, it would have the same drawbacks as described above.

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. In addition, since it is connected to a computer using wires, it has drawbacks such as being complicated and getting tangled when moving. Furthermore, similar drawbacks occurred when inputting by character recognition without using a keyboard.

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 solves the above-mentioned problems even when a character recognition method is used.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a pen-type input device having a light source capable of emitting pulses, and detecting incident light from the light source and detecting incident light from the light source. two incident angle detection units having light receiving elements configured to face in the direction of the corners; and a calculation unit that calculates the position of the pen-type input device from the two incident angles detected by the two incident angle detection units. The present invention employs a wireless computer input device characterized in that it has an input device main body having a main body and a main body having a main body.

(Example) Next, a preferred example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the wireless computer input device of the present invention, which includes a wireless input device main body and a pen-type input main body, when used in a personal computer, and FIG. 2 shows a character recognition device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention in which the wireless computer input device of the present invention is used in a personal computer incorporating FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing a light pulse pattern emitted from the input device, FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the mechanical configuration of two incident angle detection sections, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing rotating means of the incident angle detecting section, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing rotating position detecting means of the incident angle detecting section, and FIG. 9A and FIG. FIG. 9B is a schematic plan view for explaining the operation of the incident angle detection section, FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining calculation of the position of the pen-type input device, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the device main body.

Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a wireless computer input device that can use the configuration of a conventional computer as is. In Figure 1, CRT 2 and keyboard 3
A wireless input device main body (hereinafter simply referred to as the input device main body) 4 placed on a suitable support (for example, a desk) is connected to the tip of a mouse cable 6 from a personal computer main body 1 connected to the computer. A pen-type input device 5 is used in conjunction with the input device main body 4. Note that details of the input device main body 4 and the pen-type input device 5 will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which an input device main body 4 is used together with a personal computer main body 1 that incorporates a character recognition device and does not use a keyboard.
The input device main body 4 is constructed separately from the personal computer main body 1 and is placed in place of the keyboard, or is incorporated into the personal computer main body.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the pen type input device 4
It is shown. This pen-type input device 4 houses a battery therein, and has a charging terminal and a storage guide bar (not shown) as described in detail in the earlier patent application mentioned above. Further, the pen-type input device 4 has a light emitting diode (LED) 11 almost at the tip, two click switches 12 and 13 at an intermediate position, and a pen tip switch 14 at the tip. The light emitting diode 11 emits continuous light, but the emitted light is activated in normal mode (all clicks and switch and the nib switch are off), while the two click switches 12 and 13 are on, or when the nib switch is on, various light pulse patterns as shown in Fig. 4 are generated. It is converted and emitted.

FIG. 4 shows various light pulse patterns when the light pulse is in the normal mode, when the pen tip switch 11 is on, when the click switch 12 is on, and when the click switch 13 is on. The pen tip switch 11 is for distinguishing between when a signal is being input and when no signal is being input, and the two click switches are for inputting signals such as selection and cancellation used in a normal mouse. used when
It is also possible to omit the pen tip switch 11 and use any click switch to distinguish between the above-mentioned input and non-input times.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, two incident angle detection sections 22 are shown arranged inside the casing 20 of the input device main body 4 (FIG. 5). Since each incident angle detection section is configured symmetrically,
One of them will be explained below.

Mainly, as shown in FIG.
has a generally cylindrical frame 23, the bottom wall of which is provided with a shaft 21, which is supported on the casing 20 such that the frame 23 rotates.

A lens 24 is attached to a side wall of the frame 23, and a two-part photodetector (light receiving element) 25 is attached to the side wall of the frame 23 on the opposite side from the lens 24. Further, a linear motor coil 26 is attached to the rear part of the side wall of the frame. This linear motor coil 26
is arranged so as to be wound around a yoke 27 (FIG. 7) fixed to the casing 20, and a magnet 28 is fixed to the yoke 27. Therefore, the linear motor coil 26, the yoke 2
7 and magnet 28 constitute a linear motor.
This linear motor has a two-part photo detector 25
frame 23 to eliminate the difference in the amount of light incident on the
The purpose is to control the rotation of the

Further, a light emitting diode 29 is attached to the bottom wall of the frame 23, while a light emitting diode 29 is mounted on the bottom wall of the frame 23, and a light emitting diode 29 is mounted on the bottom wall of the frame 23.
A light receiving element, for example CCD line sensor 3, is placed at the position of
0 is fixed. Therefore, frame 23
The rotated position (corner) can be detected.

9A and 9B show the incident angle detection device 22
This explains the incident angle detection operation of the 9th A.
As shown in the figure, light from the light emitting diode 14 of the pen-type input device 5 is transmitted to the lens 24 of the incident angle detection device.
If there is a difference in the amount of light detected by the two-split photodetector 25 when the light enters the two-split photodetector 25 through the photodetector 25, the difference will be detected and the linear motor coil The frame 23 is rotated by controlling the current flowing through the frame 23 until there is no difference in the amount of light between the two photodetectors. FIG. 9B shows the lens 24 and two-part photodetector 2 attached to the frame by rotating the frame 23 in this way.
5 is in a straight line with the light emitting diode 14. As a result, the rotational position of the frame 23 is determined, and the angle of incidence is detected from that position.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, this figure is for explaining a calculation method for calculating the position of the pen-type input device 5 from the two detected angles of incidence.

As mentioned above, if the angles detected by the two incident angle detectors are α and β, and the distance l between any two fixed points of the incident angle detectors, then the position of the pen-type input device, e.g. The position of the light emitting diode 14 of the input device is determined by the following two equations: the equation of the straight line passing through the light emitting diode and one fixed point, and the equation of the straight line passing through the light emitting diode and the other fixed point. It can be determined from the coordinates of the light emitting diode).

y=tanα·x y=tanβ(x−l) From these equations, the intersection coordinates (x ₀ , x ₀ ) are as follows.

x ₀ = tanβ・l(tanβ−tanα) y ₀ =tanα・tanβ・l/(tanβ−tanα) Next, referring to FIG. 11, in FIG.
The circuit block of the input device body is shown. Light that enters the two-split photodetector 25 of one of the incident angle detection devices from the pen-type input device 4 is input to the differential amplifier 41 , where the difference in light amount is amplified and input to the comparison circuit 42 . The comparison circuit 42 causes a current corresponding to the difference in light intensity to flow through the linear motor coil via the current control circuit 43 to control the linear motor and direct the frame 23 toward the pen-type input device 4 .

The configuration of the other incident angle detection device is also the same in this respect.

The comparator circuit 42 also sends its output to a pulse pattern decoder 44 to identify whether it is normal operation as described above, a click switch, or a tip switch. The identified pulse pattern is transmitted to the computer via a cable.

In addition, angle sensor (CCD line sensor) 30
The angular position signal detected by is sent to the angle detection circuit 45, and the intersection point, that is, the position of the pen-type input device is determined by the intersection point coordinate calculation circuit 46. The determined coordinates are transmitted to the computer via a cable.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, since the present invention uses a wireless method of the computer input device, there is no restriction on the input environment, and the position and movement information of the pen-type input device can be obtained by simply moving in space. It is possible to eliminate defects such as entanglement due to wires.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment in which a wireless computer input device of the present invention, which includes a wireless input device main body and a pen-type input main body, is used in a personal computer. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment in which the wireless computer input device of the present invention is used in a personal computer incorporating a character recognition device. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pen-type input device. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing a light pulse pattern transmitted from the pen-type input device. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing the mechanical configuration of two incident angle detection sections. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing each incident angle detection section. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the rotation means of the incident angle detection section. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the rotational position detecting means of the incident angle detecting section. FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic plan views for explaining the operation of the incident angle detection section. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining calculation of the position of the pen-type input device. FIG. 11 is a circuit block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the input device main body. 1... Personal computer body, 2... CRT, 3... Keyboard, 4... Input device main body, 5... Pen type input device, 22... Incident angle detection device, 24... Lens, 25... 2-split photo detector .

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pen-type input device having a light source capable of emitting pulses, and 2. A light receiving element configured to detect incident light from the light source and face in the direction of the incident angle of the incident light. an input device main body having an input device main body having one incident angle detection unit and a calculation unit that calculates the position of the pen-type input device from the two incident angles detected by the two incident angle detection units, and The detection unit includes a substantially cylindrical frame supported rotatably, a lens attached to the frame to condense incident light from a pen-type input device, and a lens attached to the frame at a position opposite to the lens. a two-segment photodetector that detects the light condensed by the lens, and a frame so that the angle of incidence is determined by eliminating the difference in the light amount of the two-segment photodetector based on the difference between the two amounts of light detected by the two-segment photodetector. A wireless computer input device comprising a rotating means for rotating and a rotational position detecting means for detecting a rotational position of a frame. 2. The wireless computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes a linear motor comprising a coil attached to a frame, a yoke attached to a casing of the incident angle detection section, and a magnet fixed to the yoke. A wireless computer input device characterized by: 3. The wireless computer input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotational position detection means comprises an LED attached to a frame, and a CCD line sensor attached to a casing of the incident angle detection section.
A wireless computer input device comprising: