JPH11167464A - Trackball equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a conventional trackball device with a ball that only rotates and has only a coordinate input function, a plurality of switches must be provided on a casing. there were. SOLUTION: The trackball device according to the present invention comprises: an elastic support (12) for elastically supporting a ball (3);
A detection unit (15) provided at the bottom (4) of the casing (1) for detecting the depression of the ball (3), and a detection signal from the detection unit (15) when the ball (3) is pushed in. Is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a trackball device, and more particularly to a novel improvement for pushing a rotating ball to perform the same operation as a primary button by pushing the ball.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional trackball device of this type, although not shown, a ball rotatably provided in a case is provided with a two-axis rotation detector such as a resistor or an encoder. The two-axis rotation detector obtains a two-axis detection signal for inputting coordinates. Further, a primary button for a decision switch, a secondary button for a cancel switch, and a drag button are provided on the front side or the side of the casing.

[0003]

Since the conventional trackball apparatus is configured as described above, the following problems exist. That is, since the primary button, the secondary button, and the drag button are provided on the casing, there are many buttons, which hinders downsizing of the overall shape, and sometimes the button operation is erroneous.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and in particular, a trackball device in which the same operation as a primary button is performed by pushing a rotating ball by pushing the ball. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

A trackball device according to the present invention has a ball rotatably provided in a casing, and the upper surface of the ball projects outside through a guide hole formed in the casing. In a trackball device having a biaxial rotation detecting unit for detecting rotation of a ball in two axial directions, an elastic support member provided on the casing for elastically supporting the ball, and provided on a bottom of the casing. A detection unit for detecting depression of the ball, wherein a detection signal is obtained from the detection unit when the ball is pushed in,
The elastic support includes an arm that is urged upward by a spring and is rotatable, and a roller that is rotatably provided on an upper portion of the arm. The roller is in contact with the ball, and the detection is further performed. The unit is configured by a push button switch.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a trackball device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a casing having a rectangular box shape as a whole and having a round guide hole 2 at an upper portion thereof, and a ball 3 is rotatably provided in the casing 1. At the same time, the upper surface of the ball 3 projects outside from the guide hole 2.

On the inner surface of the bottom 4 of the casing 1,
A pair of supports 5 and 6 are provided. On each of the supports 5 and 6, arms 10 and 11 having rollers 8 and 9 are provided at positions indicated by solid lines and dotted lines via springs 7 composed of helical springs. It is provided rotatably. The spring 7 and each arm 10,
An elastic support 12 is constituted by 11 and each of the rollers 8 and 9.

Each of the rollers 8 and 9 is in contact with the outer surface 3a on the bottom side of the ball 3, and each elastic support 12 constantly urges the ball 3 upward, and the ball 3 is solid line. When the elastic support 12 is pushed down as shown by a dotted line from below, the respective elastic supports 12 are also pushed down. Further, the bottom 4 of the casing 1
At a substantially central position on the inner surface of the device, there is provided a detection unit 15 which is composed of a push button switch, a limit switch, a magnetic switch, and the like, and functions as a conventional primary switch, and the like. When the detector reaches the position indicated by the dotted line, the detection unit 15 is operated to obtain a detection signal (not shown).
A well-known two-axis rotation detector 3 for detecting the rotation of the ball 3
Reference numeral 0 denotes a roller 31, a rotating shaft 32, and a rotation detector 33 including a variable resistor or an encoder. In FIG. 2, only one shaft is shown, but actually, it is configured for two shafts. Have been. Further, a holding portion 34 for holding the rotating shaft 32 and the rotation detector 33 are provided so as to be vertically movable via a support spring 35 with respect to the bottom portion 4.
The roller 31 moves up and down according to the up and down movement of the
It is configured to contact.

Next, the operation will be described. First, in the state of FIG. 1, under the state where the ball 3 is at the position of the solid line,
When the ball 3 is rotated, the ball 3 and the two-axis rotation detector 3
Since 0 is linked, the rotation of the ball 3 is detected by the biaxial rotation detection unit 30 and a coordinate input signal is output. When the ball 3 is pushed down in the above-described state, the ball 3 is pushed down from the solid line to the position shown by the dotted line, and the detection unit 15 operates to achieve the function as the primary switch.
Is stopped, the ball 3 returns from the dotted line to the state indicated by the solid line, and only the ball 3 rotates again. The elastic support structure of the elastic support 12 and the biaxial rotation detecting unit 30 is not limited to the above-described structure, and the same operation can be obtained even when another structure such as a cylinder type or an elastic rubber type is used. be able to. Further, the detection unit 15 can have any switch function.

[0010]

The trackball device according to the present invention is configured as described above, so that the following effects can be obtained. That is, the detection unit can be operated when the ball is pressed down, and for example, the function of a primary switch can be obtained. Therefore, the number of switches provided on the casing can be reduced by one as compared with the conventional case, and downsizing and improvement in usability can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a trackball device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Casing 2 Guide hole 3 Ball 4 Bottom 7 Spring 8,9 Roller 10,11 Arm 12 Elastic support 15 Detector 30 Biaxial rotation detector

Claims (3)

[Claims] A ball (3) rotatably provided in a casing (1), and an upper surface of the ball (3) is externally guided from a guide hole (2) formed in the casing (1). A two-axis rotation detector that projects and detects the rotation of the ball (3) in two axial directions.
(30) In the trackball device having (30), an elastic support (12) provided on the casing (1) for elastically supporting the ball (3), and a bottom portion (4) of the casing (1) A detection unit (15) for detecting the depression of the ball (3) provided so that a detection signal is obtained from the detection unit (15) when the ball (3) is pushed in. A trackball device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The elastic support (12) is provided with an arm (10, 11) which is urged upward by a spring (7) and is rotatable, and is rotatably provided on the upper part of the arm (10, 11). A track ball device, comprising a plurality of rollers (8, 9), wherein the rollers (8, 9) are in contact with the ball (3). 3. The trackball device according to claim 1, wherein the detection section comprises a push button switch.