Data input device for compact electronic equipments

Abstract: An input device has a sliding member (12) so constructed as to move on a two dimensional coordinate system, a location detecting means (13; 15,16) which electrically detects orientation of the sliding member (12) within the coordinate system, and a switching means (14a,14b,14c 14d) for switching in rersponse to depression of the sliding member (12) in a direction perpendicular to the plane on the the coordinate system ist etablished

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to an input device which is qualified for using in entry of data for electronic equipment and so forth. More specifically, the invention relates to an input device, particularly adapted to enter operational data, such as desired orientation of curser and so forth, to a personal computer or so forth. Description of the Background Art Personal computers and other image processing equipments are provided with manually operable input device, such as mouse, light pen, tablet, joy-stick and so forth, to entry variety of data, such as identification data for orientation of display coordinates to be pointed. Such input devices enable the operator to easily input data by moving curser or orientation identifying marking to a desired position. The input devices are known as convenient for use because of capability of direct access of the display screen for identifying orientation to put data. Those prior proposed input devices are generally adapted for electronic equipments with relatively large display screen, such as a desk-top type personal computer, and so forth. A difficulty is encountered for such prior proposed input devices to apply for compact electronic equipments, such as a hand-held digitizer, pocketable game computer, lap-top type personal computers because too small size display screen. From WO-A-90/03013, which is to be regarded as state of the art pursuant to Art. 54(3) EPC, a device for inputting xy directions and a process is known for generating movement data comprising a sliding member disposed on two-dimensional coordinate system which is established in correspondence with the coordinate system of a display, a detector associated with said sliding member for detecting the coordinate position of said sliding member on the two-dimensional coordinate system, and switching means responsive to a force perpendicular to the coordinate system for permitting data entry at a location on said display corresponding to the sliding member coordinate position on the two-dimensional coordinate system identified by said sliding member position indicative signal. From US-A 4,092,532 a binary apparatus for motion control is known comprising radiant energy sources and sensors and a control element subject to an operators manipulation situated between the sources and the sensors. The control element is disposed to be movable in two spatial dimensions to selectively shadow sensors of two orthogonal arrays. The combined output of sensors of a first and a second array results in a digital control signal which represents the discrete position of the control element. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device which is applicable even for electronic equipments with small display screen. Further object of the invention is to provide an input device which can be built-in a compact equipments, such as a hand-held computer, a hand-held digitizer, a hand-held type or pocketable type game computer and so forth. In general, the input device has a sliding member so constructed as to move on a two dimensional coordinate system, a location detecting means which electrically detects orientation of the sliding member within the coordinate system, and a switching means for switching in response to depression of the sliding member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the coordinate system. According to the invention, an input device comprises: a sliding member (12) disposed on a two-dimensional coordinate plane which is established in correspondence with a coordinate system of a display (21), said sliding member (12) being movable on said two-dimensional coordinate plane for specifying a coordinate position in the coordinate system of said display (21), said sliding means (12) having an upward projection (12b) which is designed to be touched or accessed by the operator's finger, said sliding member (12) being further operable in a direction perpendicular to said two-dimensional coordinate plane for providing a data entry in response to a force perpendicular to said plane; a detector (13; 15, 16) associated with said sliding member (12) for detecting the coordinate position of said sliding member (12) on said two-dimensional coordinate plane, said detector generating a signal indicating the position of the sliding member, said position indicative signal having a first component representative of a first coordinate position of said sliding member (12) on a first coordinate axis of said two-dimensional coordinate plane and a second component representative of a second coordinate position of said sliding member (12) on a second coordinate axis of said two-dimensional coordinate plane; and a switching means (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) responsive to said force perpendicular to said plane for permitting a data entry command at a location on said display corresponding to the coordinate position of the sliding member (12) on said two-dimensional coordinate plane identified by said signal indicating the position of the sliding member. Preferably, the detector comprises a pair of flat plate form resistors and an electrically conductive sheet disposed therebetween. In the alternative, the detector may comprise a light array formed by a plurality of first light beams transferred between a plurality of first light emitting means and a plurality of photo sensing means in a first direction parallel to the first coordinate axis, and a plurality of second light beams transferred between a plurality of second light emitting means and a plurality of photo sensing means in a second direction parallel to the second coordinate axis. The switching means may be provided on the sliding member. In a preferred embodiment there is provided an electronic apparatus comprises a visual display (21) displaying information, said display having a movable marking identifying display position to access for entry of data and/or command thereto and an input device of the type mentioned above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiment but are for explanation and understanding only. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of an input device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the preferred embodiment of the input device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a location detecting component employed in the preferred embodiment of the input device of Fig. 1, which is illustrated in a partially cut-away form for explanatory purpose; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one example of application of the preferred embodiment of the input device for an electronic equipment; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another construction of the location detecting component to be employed in the preferred embodiment of the input device of Fig. 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of an input device, according to the present invention, is designed to be installed within a recess 10A formed in a front face 10 of an electronic equipment. The input device has a hollow casing 11. A sliding member 12 is disposed within the interior space of the casing for movement on a two-dimensional coordinate system defined by x- and y-axes. A location detector 13 is also disposed within the interior space of the casing 11. The location detector 13 has a detector surface oriented parallel to the plan on which the two-dimensional coordinate system is established. As can be seen, the casing 11 is mounted on a plurality of depression switches 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d respectively arranged on the bottom of the recess 10A. The casing 11 has an elastically deformable upper wall 11a having thinner thickness the remaining part of the casing. The casing 11 is also formed with a guide projections 11b which are projected from the bottom wall of the casing and have rounded tops. The guide projections 11b are placed at orientation radially distanced from the center of the for defining a clearance for receiving therein the location detector 13. The sliding member 12 is thus held between the upper wall 11a and the guide projections 11b. Therefore, the two-dimensional coordinate system on which the sliding member moves is defined therebetween. The sliding member 12 is formed with a downward projection 12a having lower end maintained in contact with the detector surface of the location detector 13. For assuing sliding contact between the lower end of the projection 12a of the sliding member 12 and the detector surface of the location detector 13, a given magnitude of downward force may be exerted on the sliding member by means of the upper wall 11a. The sliding member 12 also has an upward projection 12b which is designed to be touched or accessed by the operator's finger. With the shown construction, the slider member 12 is operated on the two-dimensional coordinate system for data entry along x- and y-axes as shown by arrows in Figs. 1 and 2. On the other hand, the switches 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d are designed to sense depression force greater than the force required for sliding motion of the sliding member 12. Namely, the switches 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d are not sensitive to the operational force for slidingly moving the sliding member to the desired orientation but are sensitive to the depression force which is greater than the operational force in downward direction. As shown in Fig. 3, the location detector 13 has a first resistor layer having a carbon layer on the lower surface, an electrically conductive layer 13b, such as sheet or film which is disposed beneath the carbon layer, and a second resistor layer 13c which is oriented beneath the electrically conductive layer 13b. Similarly to the first resistor layer 13a, the second resistor layer 13c has a carbon layer on the upper surface. Strip form electrodes Pa and Pb are provided along side edges of the first resistor layer 13a. Similarly, strip form electrodes Pc and Pd are provided along the side edges of the second resistor layer 13c. The pair of electrodes Pa and Pb are oriented in parallel relationship to each other. Similarly, the pair of electrodes Pc and Pd are oriented in parallel relationship to each other and in perpendicular to the pair of the electrodes Pa and Pb as shown. In the operation, the sliding member 12 is sliding operated on the two-dimensional coordinate system for identifying location on a display coordinate system to enter data. Then, the downward projection 12a shifts along x-and/or y-axes of the two dimensional coordinate system to be placed at an orientation corresponding to the desired coordinates in the display coordinate system. The operator thus may operate the slider member 12 on the two-dimensional coordinate system with observing the display screen with a visual marking of entry point, such as a curser or the equivalents thereof. With the force exerted on the sliding member 12 for sliding shifting the position on the two-dimensional coordinate system, the sliding member 12 is depressed with the operational force which is smaller than the depression force for data entry as set forth above, in a direction transverse to the plane of the two-dimensional coordinate system, i.e. in vertical direction. Here, it is assumed that the vertical force is exerted on the sliding member 12 at a point Q. The operational force is transmitted to the location detector 13 via the downward projection 12a. Then, at the orientation where the downward projection 12a is placed, the carbon layers of the first and second resistor layers 13a and 13c become into electrically conductive state with the conductive layer 13b. By this, the resistance between the pair of electrodes Pa and Pb is separated into RA and RB at the point Q. Similarly, the resistance between the electrodes Pc and Pd are separated into RC and RD at the point Q. Therefore, when a given voltage V is applied between the electrodes Pa and Pb, and between the electrodes Pc and Pd, the voltages between the lead terminal T of the conductive layer 13b and the electrodes Pa and Pc can be expressed by: VQX = RB/(RA + RB) VQY = RC/(RC + RD) Here, the voltage VQX between the terminal T and the electrode Pa represents x-axis coordinate of the point Q. Similarly, the voltage VQY between the terminal T and the electrode Pc represents y-axis coordinate of the point Q. Then, the x- and y-axes coordinates representative voltages VQX and VQY are input to a control section of the electronic equipments via an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The control section thus accept data enter for the point on the display having display coordinates corresponding to the point Q. After setting the marking on the display screen at a desired entry point of data, the sliding member 12 is depressed with the depression force greater than the operational force. As a result, at least one of the switches 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d is operated into ON position. The control section is responsive to turning ON of one of the switches 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d for accepting data, such as graphic data, character data and so forth at the designated point on the display. Fig. 4 shows one example of application of the shown embodiment of the input device for a hand-held type electric equipment. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the preferred embodiment of the input device is built-in a casing of the electric equipment 20. In the shown example, the equipment 20 has a display 21, a ten-key array 22, a function key array 23 and the preferred embodiment of the input device as generally represented by the reference numeral "24". In the shown construction, the input device 24 may be used for shifting a triangular cursor 21a on the display screen on the display coordinate system for identifying the data entry point. Though Fig. 4 shows one example of the hand-held type electronic equipment for which the input device according to the present invention is applicable, the layout of the operational keys and layout of the display are not at all essential to the subject matter of the invention. Therefore, the shown embodiment of the input device may be applicable any key and display arrangement of the hand-held electronic equipments. Furthermore, since the shown embodiment of the input device, can be compact, it may also be applicable for lap-top type personal computer and equivalent thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another construction of the location detector 13 which is also applicable for the shown embodiment of the input device. In the shown construction, the location detector 13 includes a sheet switch 15 which is formed as a pressure sensitive switch. The sheet switch 15 is disposed within a detector casing 16 with a vertical wall section 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D. A plurality of light emitting diodes Dx are arranged on the vertical wall section 16A. The diodes Dx are arranged in alignment along the horizontal edge of the vertical wall section with a given regular intervals. On the vertical wall 16B in opposition to the vertical wall section 16A, a plurality of photo diodes Px are provided in horizontal alignment with a regular intervals. Each of the photo diodes Px are designed to light emitted corresponding one of the light emitting diodes Dx. Similarly, a plurality of light emitting diodes Dy are arranged on the vertical wall section 16C. The diodes Dy are arranged in alignment along the horizontal edge of the vertical wall section with a given regular intervals. On the vertical wall 16D in opposition to the vertical wall section 16C, a plurality of photo diodes Py are provided in horizontal alignment with a regular intervals. Each of the photo diodes Py are designed to light emitted corresponding one of the light emitting diodes Dy. Therefore, as will be appreciated, a light array is formed in the location detector 13. As can be appreciated, the plurality of light beams transferred between the light emitting diodes Dx and the photo diodes Px in parallel to the x-axis of the two-dimensional coordinate system serve for forming a y-axis calibrate for detecting the y-axis coordinate of the sliding member. Similarly, the plurality of light beams transferred between the light emitting diodes Dy and the photo-diode Py in parallel to the y-axis of the coordinate system serve to form a x-axis calibrate for detecting the x-axis coordinate. With these light beams in x- and y-axes directions, light array can be established. In the shown embodiment, by pointing the downward projection 12a at a position Q on the sheet switch, one of the light beams along the x-axis and one of the light beams along the y-axis are interfered by the projection 12a. Since each light beams represents X- and y-axes coordinates, the coordinate position of the projection 12a can be identified by detecting the light beams interfered. For entry of data, the sheet switch is depressed with the depression force so that the force exerted onto the sheet switch becomes greater than a criterion of the sheet switch. By this, detection of the coordinate position of the sliding member can be done. While the present invention has been discussed in terms of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the disclosed embodiments are to be taken as for facilitating better understanding of the invention. The invention may be implemented in various fashions. Therefore, any possible embodiments and modifications of the embodiments which can be implemented without departing from the principle of the invention which are well defined in the appended claims, are to be regarded within the scope of the invention. For example, though the specific types of the location detectors are discussed in the disclosure, the location detector may be replaced with any other type of sensors or the like which can achieve the equivalent results to those discussed herein. Also, it is possible to provide the switch for enter of data on the sliding member.

Claims: An input device comprising: a sliding member (12) disposed on a two-dimensional coordinate plane which is established in correspondence with a coordinate system of a display (21), said sliding member (12) being movable on said two-dimensional coordinate plane for specifying a coordinate position in the coordinate system of said display (21), said sliding member (12) having an upward projection (12b) which is designed to be touched or accessed by the operator's finger, said sliding member (12) being further operable in a direction perpendicular to said two-dimensional coordinate plane for providing a data entry in response to a force perpendicular to said plane; a detector (13; 15, 16) associated with said sliding member (12) for detecting the coordinate position of said sliding member (12) on said two-dimensional coordinate plane, said detector generating a signal indicating the position of the sliding member, said position indicative signal having a first component representative of a first coordinate position of said sliding member (12) on a first coordinate axis of said two-dimensional coordinate plane and a second component representative of a second coordinate position of said sliding member (12) on a second coordinate axis of said two-dimensional coordinate plane; and a switching means (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) responsive to said force perpendicular to said plane for permitting a data entry command at a location on said display corresponding to the coordinate position of the sliding member (12) on said two-dimensional coordinate plane identified by said signal indicating the position of the sliding member. An input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a pair of flat plate-form resistors (13a, 13c) and an electrically conductive sheet (13b) disposed therebetween. An input device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a light array formed by a plurality of first light beams transferred between a plurality of first light emitting means (Dx) and a plurality of photo sensing means (Px) in a first direction parallel to said first coordinate axis and a plurality of second light beams transferred between a plurality of second light emitting means (Dy) and a plurality of photo sensing means (Py) in a second direction parallel to said second coordinate axis. An input device as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said switching means is provided on said sliding member (12). Electronic apparatus comprising a visual display (21) displaying information, said display having a movable marking identifying display position to access for entry of data and/or command thereto and an input device according to any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: YOSHIDA TADAO, YOSHIDA, TADAO
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G06F3
IPC codes: H01H25, G06F3