Abstract:
A coordinate input device comprising a wheel operable through rotation includes a plurality of rotating bodies disposed along a circumferential edge of the wheel for rotation and a rotating body rotating state detection means for detecting the rotating state of the rotating bodies.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a coordinate input device for facilitating the operation of a pointer for a display. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In recent years, GUIs(graphical User Interfaces) have been adopted so as to improve the operability of PCs, and mice and other pointing devices are widely used to point to icons on a display screen. 
   Most mice that are now commonly used are of a type that is adapted to output operation distances of a mouse moved by the user in the X-axis and the Y-axis directions and the operations of two click switches thereon. 
   Directions in and distances over which a mouse travels are decomposed in the X-axis and the Y-axis directions for detection. A cursor displayed on the screen is moved in response to the results of the detection and when the cursor overlaps an icon, a click switch is operated to activate an operation corresponding to the icon. 
   A mouse with a wheel comprises the mouse described above and an additional wheel. In a mouse of this type, rotations obtained by operating the wheel can be allocated, for instance, to a scroll function to scroll an application software on the screen, and this can serve to simplify the operation of application software that has become more complicated in recent years. 
   The aforesaid mouse with a wheel can be operated only in one direction, and therefore, in a case where the wheel rotation data are allocated as a scroll function to scroll through an application software on the screen, scrolling is limited to only one direction. In this case, a scroll bar is still needed for scrolling in the other direction. 
   Furthermore, the operation of a cursor by moving the mouse sometimes becomes difficult in a place which is too narrow to move the mouse around. In such a case, in addition to a first operation method for moving the mouse, a second operation method is desired to be provided in which a result similar to that obtained with the first operation method can be obtained without moving the mouse around. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Consequently, in view of the above problem, a first object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device that can perform two different operations relative to an application software with first and second operation methods at normal times and which can perform the first operation with the second operation method where the first operation method cannot be used. 
   In addition, in view of the aforesaid problem, a second object of the present invention is to provide a coordinate input device having a switch for switching between a first operation method for moving around a mouse and a second operation method in which a result similar to that obtained with the first operation method can be obtained without moving the mouse around. 
   With a view to attaining the above objects, a first invention provides a mouse with a wheel having rotating bodies that are capable of rotating about a frame on each side of the wheel. 
   According to the present invention, the wheel can rotate, and additionally the rotating body can rotate in a direction normal relative to the rotation of the polygonal wheel. 
   In addition, with a view to attaining the above objects, a second invention provides a coordinate input device having a switch for switching data output formats that are sent to a host. 
   According to the present invention, data output formats can be switched with the switch. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention will be more clearly understood from the description as set forth below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a principle drawing of a conventional mouse; 
       FIG. 2  is a first explanatory drawing regarding the detection of rotating directions and rotating distances of a slit disc; 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are second explanatory drawings regarding the detection of rotating directions and rotating distances of the slit disc; 
       FIGS. 4A to 4D  are a four-plane view of a conventional mouse; 
       FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of the conventional mouse; 
       FIGS. 6A to 6D  are a four-plane view of a conventional mouse with a wheel; 
       FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of a conventional mouse with a wheel; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the wheel construction of the conventional mouse with a wheel; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 10A to 10D  are a four-plane view of the mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the wheel with rotating bodies provided on the mouse according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a circuit diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 13A to 13C  show drawings of rotating bodies according to other embodiments; 
       FIG. 14  shows data output formats of the mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a pointing device having switches according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a circuit diagram of the pointing device having switches according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 17  shows data output formats of the pointing device having switches according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Before proceeding to a detailed description of the preferred embodiments, a prior art will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings relating thereto for a clearer understanding of the differences between the prior art and the present invention. 
     FIG. 1  is a principle drawing of a conventional mouse. A ball  10  rotates when the user operates the mouse. An X-direction shaft  11  and a Y-direction shaft  12  are disposed along an X-axis and a Y-axis that intersect at right angles relative to the ball  10  in such a manner as to come into contact with the ball  10 . In order to maintain the contact between the ball  10  and the X-direction shaft  11  and the Y-direction shaft  12 , a presser roller  15  is placed in a direction oriented at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the X-axis and the Y-axis. 
   An X-axis rotary encoder  25  and a Y-axis rotary encoder  26  are mounted, respectively, on distal end of the X-direction shaft  11  and the Y-direction shaft  12  for detection of the rotating directions and rotating distances of the ball  10  by decomposing them in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The X-axis rotary encoder  25  comprises an X-axis slit disc  13 , an X-axis light emitting device  16  and an X-axis light receiving device  17 , and the Y-axis rotary encoder  26  comprises a Y-axis slit disc  14 , a Y-axis light emitting device  18  and a Y-axis light receiving device  19 . Slits are formed at predetermined angles in the X-axis slit disc  13  and the Y-axis slit disc  14 , and light emitted from the X-axis light emitting device  16  and the Y-axis light emitting device  18  passes through the X-axis slit disc  13  and the Y-axis slit disc  14  and are then received by the X-axis light receiving device  17  and the Y-axis light receiving device  19 , respectively. 
     FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B are explanatory drawings explaining detection, by the rotary encoder, of the travelling directions and distances of the mouse, that is, the rotating directions and distances of the X-direction shaft  11  and the Y-direction shaft  12 . Here, for the sake of simplicity, a light emitting device  41 , a light receiving device  42  and a slit disc  43  shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B are regarded as corresponding, respectively, to the X-axis light emitting device  16  and the Y-axis light emitting device  18 , the X-axis light receiving device  17  and the Y-axis light receiving device  19 , and the X-axis slit disc  13  and the Y-axis slit disc  14  which are all shown in  FIG. 1 . In other words, with  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B rotations in both of the X-direction and the Y-direction can be described. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , two optical light receiving devices such as photoconductors  44 ,  45 , are arranged in parallel within the light receiving device  42 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, if it is assumed that pulses that are detected and converted into electric signals by the photoconductors  44 ,  45  are pulse A and pulse B, respectively, then, since the phase relation-ship between pulse A and pulse B is altered depending on the rotating direction of the slit disc  43 , the rotating direction of the slit disc  43  can be detected. 
     FIGS. 4A to 4D  are a four-plane view of a conventional mouse, in which  FIG. 4A  is a top plan view,  FIG. 4B  a front view,  FIG. 4C  a side view and  FIG. 4D  a rear view of the conventional mouse. The conventional mouse  20  is constructed by fitting a lower case  21  and an upper case  22  together, and thereafter inserting a key top  23  having incorporated therein click switches SW 1 , SW 2  in a front of the upper case  22  so that the key top is fitted in the upper case  22 , and the mouse is connected to the host via a cable  24 . 
     FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram of the conventional mouse. The X-axis rotary encoder  25  and the Y-axis rotary encoder  26  are connected to a ball rotation detector unit  32  within a control IC  31  built into the mouse  20 , and the left click switch SW 1  and the right click switch SW 2  are connected to a switch detector unit  33  within the control IC  31  built into the mouse. 
   The ball detector unit  32  within the control IC  31  detects the travelling direction and distance of the mouse  20  (hereinafter, referred to as ball coordinate data) from outputs from the X-axis rotary encoder  25  and the Y-axis rotary encoder  26 , and the data so detected are then transmitted to the host via the cable  24 . 
   A mechanical switch is used for the left click switch SW 1  and the right click switch SW 2  of the mouse. The control IC  31  constituted by a microprocessor transmits to the host, in a predetermined format, information representative of whether or not the click switches are depressed (hereinafter, referred to as SW 1 , SW 2  switch data). 
   The travelling direction and distance of the mouse are decomposed in the X-axis and Y-axis for detection, a cursor displayed on the screen is moved in response to the result of the detection, and when the cursor overlaps with an icon, the click switches are operated to thereby activate an operation corresponding the icon so selected. 
   A mouse with a wheel comprises a mouse as described above and an additional wheel. With this mouse with a wheel, a rotation that can be obtained through operation of the wheel can be allocated, for instance, to a scroll function to scroll through an application software on the screen, thereby making it possible to simplify the operation of application software that has been getting more complicated in recent years. 
     FIGS. 6A to 6D  are a four-plane view of a conventional mouse with a wheel, in which  FIG. 6A  is a top plan view,  FIG. 6B  a front view,  FIG. 6C  a side view and  FIG. 6D  a rear view thereof. This conventional mouse with a wheel is constructed by fitting the lower case  21  and the upper case  22  together, and thereafter inserting in a front of the upper case  22  a key top  23  having incorporated therein the click switches SW 1 , SW 2 , so that the key top  23  can be fitted in the upper case  22 . The mouse so constructed is then connected to the host via the cable  24 . Furthermore, an opening  61  is formed in the center of the key top  23  and a part of a wheel  62  is exposed to the outside via the opening. 
     FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of the conventional mouse with a wheel. A wheel rotary encoder  71  and a wheel rotation detector unit  67  are added to the circuit of the conventional mouse shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . 
     FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a construction of the wheel of the conventional mouse with a wheel. A wheel  62  is connected via a wheel shaft  63  to the wheel rotary encoder  71  comprising a wheel light emitting device  65 , a wheel light receiving device  66  and a wheel slit disc  64 , and the rotating direction and distance of the wheel  62  is detected using a method similar to that described referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B. 
   Information representative of the detected wheel rotating direction and distance (hereinafter, referred to as wheel rotation data) is transmitted to the host via the cable  24  in a predetermined format together with the ball coordinate data and the SW 1 , SW 2  switch data. 
   In a case where this wheel rotation data are allocated, for instance, as a vertical scroll function to scroll an application software vertically on the screen, the application software can be scrolled on the screen by operating the wheel  62  with the finger of the user in a direction in which scrolling is to be performed without moving the cursor. 
     FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In addition,  FIGS. 10A to 10D  are a four-plane view of the mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 10A  is a top plan view,  FIG. 10B  is a front view,  FIG. 10C  is a side view and  FIG. 10D  is a rear view thereof. A rear portion of the lower case  21  is covered with the upper case  22 . In addition, a front portion of the lower case  21  is covered with the top key  23  having formed therein the left click switch SW 1  and the right click switch SW 2 . Furthermore, the opening  61  is formed in the center of the key top  23 , and a part of a wheel  81  with rotating bodies is exposed to the outside from the opening. An operation signal of the mouse  80  is transmitted to the host via the cable  24 . A switch SW 4  is provided on a side of the mouse. 
     FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of the mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the wheel has a polygonal configuration, but the configuration of the wheel is not limited thereto. The wheel  81  with rotating bodies comprises a polygonal wheel  82 , spokes  83  connecting respective vertexes of the polygonal wheel  82  to the center thereof and a rotating body  84  and can rotate about the wheel shaft  63 . The rotating body  84  can rotate about a frame of each side of the polygonal wheel  82 . In this embodiment, the polygonal wheel  82  is of an octagonal configuration, but the configuration of the wheel is not regulated thereto. In addition, in this embodiment, the rotating body  84  is of a cylindrical configuration but, as will be described later, there is no limit to the configuration thereof. 
   The rotating body  84  resting on a frame that is positioned uppermost among the frames of the polygonal wheel  82  is exposed to the outside from the opening  61  formed in the center of the key top  23  of the mouse  80 , and the user can rotate the polygonal wheel  82  and the rotating body  84  with his or her finger. 
   A central portion  92  of the polygonal wheel  82  is supported on a wheel supporting portion  91 , and a switch SW 3  is disposed at a lower portion of the wheel  81  with rotating bodies. The central portion  92  of the polygonal wheel  82  is supported on the wheel support portion  91  via a slide mechanism  93  adapted to slide in vertical directions. In this embodiment, the slide mechanism takes the form of a spring. 
   When the user presses down the wheel  81  with rotating bodies exposed from the opening  61  with his or her finger, the polygonal wheel  82  is then slid and the rotating body  84  depresses the switch SW 3 . The switch SW 3  can be allocated a function of a middle click of a so-called three-button mouse. 
   The polygonal wheel  82  is connected via the wheel shaft  63  to the wheel rotary encoder  71  comprising the wheel light emitting device  65 , the wheel light receiving device  66  and the wheel slit disc  64 , and the rotating direction and distance of the polygonal wheel  82  are detected in a similar method to the one described referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B. The wheel rotation data representative of the detected rotating direction and distance of the polygonal wheel  82  are then transmitted to the host via the cable  24 . 
   The rotating body  84  resting on a frame that is positioned uppermost among the frames of the polygonal wheel  82  is in contact with a spherical shaft  85 , which is connected to a rotating body rotary encoder  72  comprising a rotating body light emitting device  87 , a rotating body light receiving device  88  and a rotating body slit disc  86 . When the user touches the rotating body  84  with his or her finger so as to rotate it, the spherical shaft  85  is rotated in response the rotation of the rotating body by the user and the rotating body slit disc  86  is then rotated. Thus, the rotating direction and distance of the rotating body  84  can be detected in a method similar to that described with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A and  3 B. 
   The information representative of the detected rotating direction and distance of the cylindrical rotating body  84  (hereinafter, referred to as rotating body rotation data) is then transmitted in a predetermined format to the host via the cable  24  together with the ball coordinate data, the wheel rotation data, and the switch data SW 1 , SW 2 , SW 3 . 
     FIG. 12  is a circuit diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotating body rotary encoder  72 , a rotating body rotation detector unit  89 , the switch SW 3  and a switch SW 4  are added to the circuit of the conventional mouse with a wheel shown in  FIG. 7 . 
   In the mouse  80  according to the present invention, a click feeling, which will be described below, is imparted to be felt in rotationally operating the polygonal wheel  82  and the rotating body  84  of the wheel  81  with rotating bodies with the finger of the user&#39;s hand in order to have a rough idea on the operating distance of the wheel  81  with rotating bodies. 
   First of all, as to the polygonal wheel  82 , the click feeling is imparted by providing at least an elastic projection  94  at the wheel support portion  91  such that the projection is caught between the respective spokes of the polygonal wheel  82 . This projection  94  is effective to fix the position of the polygonal wheel  82 . 
   Then, as to the rotating body  84 , the click feeling is imparted by providing a recessed and raised construction  95  in the interior of the rotating body  84  and also providing a projection  96  having a certain degree of elasticity on each of the frames of the respective sides of the polygonal wheel  83 . In addition, in this embodiment, the rotating body  84  takes the form of a cylinder, but it is needless to say that it is possible to construct the rotating body  84 , irrespective of the configuration thereof, so as to impart the click feeling. 
     FIGS. 13A to 13C  show drawings of other embodiments of the rotating body according to the present invention. A second embodiment shown in  FIG. 13A  provides a cylindrical rotating body  84   a  having formed therein recessed portions so that the fingers are caught thereat, a third embodiment shown in  FIG. 13B  provides a spherical rotating body  84   b , and a fourth embodiment shown in  FIG. 13C  provides a spherical rotating body  84   c  having formed therein a recessed portion. However, other configurations may be used. 
   In addition, the surface of the rotating body  84  may be covered with a resin, such as a rubber, providing friction in order to reduce the slippage encountered when the wheel  81  with rotating bodies is operated with the finger of the user. 
     FIG. 14  shows data output formats of the mouse having a wheel with rotating bodies according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The upper part of  FIG. 14  shows a normal output format in which a first byte represents the SW 1 , SW 2  and SW 3  switch data, a second byte the ball X-direction rotational data, a third byte the ball Y-direction, a fourth byte the rotating body rotational data and a fifth byte the ball Y-direction rotation data, and these data are sent to the host sequentially via the cable  24 . 
   Since the mouse cursor is moved by operating the rotating body wheel according to the present invention without moving the mouse main body in a place which is too narrow to move around the mouse, in the present invention there is provided a switch SW 4  for changing over the aforesaid data output formats. 
   In a case where the wheel  81  with the rotating body is operated by with the finger while depressing the format change-over switch SW 4 , for instance the data is sent in the format shown in the lower part of  FIG. 14  to the host via the cable  24 . The first byte represents the SW 1 , SW 2  and SW 3  switch data, the second byte the rotating body rotational data, the third byte the wheel rotational data, and the fourth and fifth bytes are not used. In the normal data output format, the second byte represents the ball X-direction rotational data and the third byte represents the ball Y-direction rotational data, and therefore by depressing the switch SW 4  the mouse cursor can be moved through the operation of the wheel with the rotating body. 
   In addition to the mouse, there exists a pointing device as a coordinate input device, and the aforesaid format change-over switch SW 4  can be applied to the pointing device. 
     FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a pointing device having a format change-over switch according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
   A pointing device  100  is adapted to output a displacement data by inclining a dome portion  101  with the finger of the user&#39;s hand. In this embodiment, there are provided a first switch SW 1 ′ and a second switch SW 2 ′ corresponding, respectively, to the functions of the left click switch and the right click switch of the above-described mouse, and the format change-over switch SW 4  is provided on a side of the pointing device  100 . 
     FIG. 16  is a circuit diagram of the pointing device having the format change-over switch according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. A dome portion displacement detection sensor unit  111  is connected to a dome portion displacement detector unit  112  inside a control IC  31 ′, and this control IC  31 ′ transmits to the host, via the cable  24 , the displacement direction and distance of the dome portion  100  detected by the dome portion displacement detection sensor unit  111  as X-direction displacement data and Y-direction displacement data. The first switch SW 1 ′ and the second switch SW 2 ′ are connected to a switch detector portion  33 ′ within the control IC  31 ′ built in the pointing device  100 . The control IC  31 ′ transmits to the host, via the cable  24 , the SW 1 ′, SW 2 ′ switch data which are information representative of operating states of the first switch SW 1 ′ and the second switch SW 2 ′ together with the X-direction displacement data and the Y-direction displacement data. 
     FIG. 17  shows data output formats of the pointing device provided with the format change-over according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The respective data are sent to the host, via the cable  24 , in the format shown in the upper part of  FIG. 17 . A first byte of the data output format represents the SW 1 ′, SW 2 ′ switch data, a second byte the X-direction displacement data of the dome portion  101 , and a third byte the Y-direction displacement data of the dome portion  101 . 
   In a case where the dome portion  101  is operated with the change-over switch SW 4  being depressed, the respective data are transmitted to the host via the cable  24  in a format such as shown in the lower part of  FIG. 17 . A first byte represents the SW 1 ′, SW 2 ′ switch data, second and third bytes are not used, a fourth byte represents the X-direction displacement data of the dome portion  101 , and a fifth byte the Y-direction displacement data of the dome portion  101 . In a case where the output data obtained when the change-over switch SW 4  is depressed are allocated as a vertical and horizontal scroll function to scroll through the application software in vertical and horizontal directions on the screen, when the dome portion  101  is operated with the finger so as to be inclined in a direction in which the application software is to be scrolled on the screen with the change-over switch being depressed, a scrolling of the application software on the screen can be effected without moving the cursor. 
   As has been described heretofore, according to the present invention, in the mouse with the wheel, rotating directions and distances that are normal to each other at right angles can be obtained by means of the wheel with the rotating body, and in a case where rotations of the two axes obtained through operation of the wheel with the rotating body are allocated as the vertical and horizontal scroll function to scroll through the application software on the screen in vertical and horizontal directions, it is possible to perform scrolling-up, -down, -left and -right with ease by operating the wheel with the rotating body with the finger. 
   In addition, it is possible to switch the data output formats for transmitting data to the host by providing the format change-over switch on the coordinate input device, and in the mouse having the wheel with the rotating body, rotations of the wheel with the rotating body that are perpendicular to each other can be allocated for instance as the scrool function to scroll through an application software on the screen. In other coordinate input devices such as a pointing device, a scroll of an application software on the screen is made possible without moving the cursor. It is needless to say that the change-over switch can be used to change over other functions.