JPH0833071A - Remote operation coordinate input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To obtain a coordinate input device in which a pointer is displayed at a position in which an axis of a transceiver held in a hand is directed on a display surface of a controlled device and an icon can be selected by remote control. [Arrangement] A light transmitting unit 11 is provided in the main body 2, and a position detector 12 provided in the transmitter / receiver 1 receives an optical signal transmitted from the light transmitting unit 11 and is an orthogonal plane whose origin is the axis of the transmitter / receiver 1. The position of the light transmitter 11 of the upper main body 2 is detected, and the position when the light transmitter 11 is assumed to be located at the center of the display surface is calculated by the calculator 13 and the corrected position signal is transmitted. The light is transmitted from the light unit 7 to the main body 2, and the main body 2 sends the received position signal to the operated device 3, and the pointer is displayed on the surface of the display device 4 at a position corresponding to the position signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control coordinate input device (pointing device) for interactively operating an operated device such as a multimedia system or a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional coordinate input devices include a mouse and a trackball. These are usually provided with a spherical rotating body and a detection unit for detecting the amount of rotation of this spherical rotating body. In the case of a mouse, the spherical rotating body is contacted from the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. A rotary encoder is connected to the two small rollers, and rotational position information is extracted as a pulse signal from the rotary encoder and input to the operated device via a cable. In the case of a trackball, it is usually built in the operated device.

Among the conventional coordinate input devices, the mouse is moved on a flat base, and the trackball is displayed on the operated device by rotating a spherical rotating body in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Move the selection position mark (hereinafter referred to as "pointer") displayed on the screen, place this pointer on the icon displayed on the display screen, and click the select button to confirm that the icon is selected. It is configured to send the selected signal shown to the operated device. It should be noted that remote control input devices of this type are disclosed in JP-A-4-153726 and JP-A-63-163.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 214820.

[0004]

Since the conventional coordinate input device is constructed as described above, a flat base is required for a mouse, and both the mouse and the trackball are placed in the immediate vicinity of the operated device. There was a problem that it could only be operated.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and does not require a flat base for operating the coordinate input device, and can be operated by remote operation at a position remote from the operated device. The purpose is to obtain the device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, means for transmitting to a transceiver a reference signal and a selection signal as optical signals in the axial direction of the transceiver according to an operation of an operator,
A means for detecting the position of the light emitting source of the main body on an orthogonal plane whose origin is the directional axis of the transceiver by receiving the optical signal returned from the main body which has received the optical signal, and the position information of the main body from the position information. A means for calculating the position when the light transmitting portion is positioned at the center of the display surface of the display device, and a means for transmitting the corrected position signal as an optical signal in the axial direction,
Means provided in the main body for receiving the optical signal sent from the transceiver, means for sending the position signal to the operated device when the received light signal is a position signal, and the received light signal for the selection signal In some cases, it is provided with means for sending to the operated device a selection signal indicating that the icon pointed to by the pointer at that time has been selected.

Further, the transmitter / receiver is provided with means for turning on / off the operation of the position detector, and when it is turned off,
The position signal immediately before that is continuously transmitted.

Further, the transceiver is provided with a signal sending means for displaying a menu on the display surface of the controlled device, and when the main body receives the menu display signal, the menu sending signal is sent to the operated device. It is equipped with a means to do. Further, the position detecting means of the transmitter / receiver is configured to form an optical signal from the main body on the two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when the reference optical signal is sent from the transceiver to the main body, the reply optical signal is sent back from the main body. The position detector receives the return optical signal and detects the position of the light emitting source on the orthogonal plane whose origin is the axis line directed by the transceiver. The calculation means calculates a position signal in which the displacement position when the axis of the transmitter / receiver is directed to the center of the display surface is corrected from the position information, and sends the position signal from the light sending means as an optical signal. The main body receives this optical signal and sends this position signal to the operated device. The operated device displays the pointer using this position signal as position information from the center of the display surface. Therefore, the position where the pointer is displayed is displayed at the position when the axis of the transceiver is directed to the center of the display surface, and moves when the direction of the transceiver is changed. Next, when the selection switch is pressed by the transmitter / receiver, a selection light signal is sent out, and the main body which received this sends the selection signal to the operated device. The operated device starts the operation of the icon designated by the icon.

Further, the transmitter / receiver is provided with means for turning on / off the operation of the position detector, and when it is turned off, the position data immediately before that is continuously transmitted, so that the operation of the position detector is turned off. By doing so, the pointer on the display surface can be made stationary, and by turning it on, the pointer can be moved.

Further, since the transceiver is provided with the menu display signal transmitting means, it is possible to display an arbitrary menu screen on the display surface of the operated device by one-touch operation.

[0012]

【Example】

Example 1. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a transceiver, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a position of a main body provided in a display device. It is applied to a coordinate input device of a personal computer, 1 is a transmitter / receiver, 2 is a main body, 3 is an operated device, which is provided with a display device 4, on which an icon indicating different operation contents is displayed. There is. Information is transmitted between the transceiver 1 and the main body 2 by an infrared signal, and the main body 2 is built in the operated device 3 or connected by a communication line to transmit the signal.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG. When the operator presses the switch 5 of the transceiver 1, the reference signal is transmitted from the reference signal transmitter 6,
From the light transmitting unit 7 formed of an infrared light emitting element, an optical signal is transmitted in the axial direction of the transceiver 1. When the light receiving unit 8 provided in the main body 2 receives this optical signal and confirms that the microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer") 9 is the reference signal, a reply signal is sent from the transmitter 10 after a certain time a1. Is transmitted, and this reply signal is transmitted as an optical signal from the light transmitting section 11 composed of an infrared light emitting element, and at the same time, the main body 2 enters a position signal reception standby state.
The transmitter / receiver 1 receives the return signal from the main body 2 at the position detector 12, and obtains the position (X, Y axis coordinate values) of the light transmitter 11 on the orthogonal plane with the axis of the transmitter / receiver 1 as the origin. To detect. The calculation unit 13 performs a calculation from the position information to correct the displacement amount when the axis of the transceiver 1 is directed to the center of the display surface of the display device 4, and the position signal is sent to the position signal transmitter 14. It is converted into a pulse signal, and is transmitted from the light transmitting unit 7 in the axial direction.

This light signal is received by the light receiving portion 8 of the main body 2, and when the microcomputer 9 recognizes it as a position signal, the position signal is output to the coordinate / selection signal output device 15, and the coordinate / selection signal output device 15 is output. Is converted into a signal of the same format as the mouse signal and output to the operated device 3. The operated device displays a pointer on the display surface of the display device 4.

The position where this pointer is displayed is the main body 2
Is arranged at a position close to the center of the display surface of the display device 4, for example, immediately below the display surface on the center line of the display surface as shown in FIG.
If the arithmetic unit 13 performs an arithmetic operation for correcting the distance from the center of the display surface to the main body 2, when the axis line of the transceiver 1 faces the main body 2, the pointer is displayed in the center of the display surface. When the direction of the transceiver 1 is changed, the pointer can be moved according to the direction and the displacement angle.

Next, the operator operates the direction of the transceiver 1 to move the pointer to a desired icon displayed on the display surface, and presses the selection button 16 provided on the transceiver 1 to select a signal. A selection signal is transmitted from the transmitter 17, and the selection signal and the position signal from the position signal transmitter 14 are sequentially transmitted from the light transmitter 7 to the main body 2. The microcomputer 9 discriminates the selection signal received by the light receiving unit 8 from the position signal, and causes the operated device 3 to output the position signal and the selection signal via the coordinate / selection signal output device 15.

Next, the structure and operation of the position detector 4 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the principle of operation of the position detector 12, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element, which is the main part of the position detector 12. The position detector 12 includes a filter 19 for cutting visible light. The optical lens 20 and the two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element 21 are provided, and as shown in FIG. 2, when the operator holds the transmitter / receiver 1 in his hand and directs its axis toward the main body 2, It is attached to the transceiver 1 so as to face it. The visible light cut filter 19 allows only infrared rays to pass therethrough, thereby preventing malfunction due to fluorescent lamps, sunlight, and the like. The optical axis of the optical lens 20 coincides with the center line of the two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element 21, and is installed so as to form an image on the surface thereof. This two-dimensional semiconductor detection element 21 is called a double-sided split type and has a P-type resistance layer 22.
And N-type resistive layer 23 and the N ^- In the semiconductor device and the layer 24 is formed, P-type resistive layer 22 and the N-type resistive layer 23, is formed on the high resistance layer of the resistance values in order to provide a position detecting function, Position detection in the X-axis direction is performed by the P-type resistance layer 22 on the front surface and the X-axis direction electrodes 25 and 26 provided at both ends in the X-axis direction, and the N-type resistance layer 23 on the back surface and the Y-axis direction thereof are detected. Position detection in the Y-axis direction is performed by the Y-axis direction electrodes 27 and 28 provided at both ends of the.

Next, the relationship between the P-type and N-type resistance layers and the position detecting function will be described. The same amount of positive and negative charges generated in the semiconductor by the incident infrared light pass through the junction and become positive charges in the P-type resistance layer 22 and negative charges in the N-type resistance layer 23 near the incident point. Appears. It is utilized that the non-uniform negative charge distribution in the N-type resistance layer 23 creates a charge flow in the N-type resistance layer 23. At this time, the charge is 2
This is the direction in which the three-dimensional semiconductor detection element 21 flows.

The relationship between the incident position of infrared light and the current obtained from each of the electrodes 21 to 24 is as follows. I _X1 = I ₀ (1 / 2-x / L _X ) (1) I _X2 = I ₀ (1 / 2-x / L _X ) (2) I _Y1 = I ₀ (1 / 2- y / L _Y ) (3) I _Y2 = I ₀ (1 / 2-y / L _Y ) (4) I ₀ : Total current (I ₀ = I _X1 + I _X2 = I _Y1 + I _Y2 ) I _X1 : Current at X-axis direction electrode 25 I _X2 : Current at X-axis direction electrode 26 I _Y1 : Current at Y-axis direction electrode 27 I _Y2 : Current at Y-axis direction electrode 28 L _X : X-axis direction electrode Distance (light-receiving surface) L _Y : Y-axis direction electrode (light-receiving surface) length x: X coordinate of incident position when the coordinate axis is centered on the light-receiving surface y: When coordinate axis is centered on the light-receiving surface Y coordinate of incident position In this case, since the PN junction needs to be operated in a reverse bias state, the Y direction electrodes 27 and 28 are the X direction electrodes 25,
26, and the electrodes 25 and 26, 27 and 2
8 have the same potential.

The arithmetic unit 13 is a two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element 2
1 detection information I _X1 , I _X2 , I _Y1 , I _Y2
Based on the above, the following calculation is performed to obtain the coordinates of the incident position of infrared light. The coordinates in the X-axis direction are I _X2 / (I _X1 + I _X2 ) = 1 / 2−x / L _X (5) or (I _X2 −I _X1 ) / (I _X1 + I _X2 ) = 2x / L _X ... (6) The coordinates in the Y-axis direction are I _Y2 / (I _Y1 + I _Y2 ) = 1 / 2−y / L _Y (7) or (I _Y2 −I _Y1 ) / (I _Y1 + I _Y2 ) = 2y / L _Y (8) Further, based on the result obtained by the above equation, the position when the light transmitter 11 is located at the center of the display surface of the display device 4 is calculated, and the position is calculated. The corrected position signal is output to the position signal transmitter 14.

A position signal indicating the position on the display surface corresponding to the incident position of the infrared light transmitted from the position signal transmitter 14 is given to the microcomputer 9 via the light transmitting unit 7 and the light receiving unit 8, and the microcomputer 9 Reference numeral 9 gives this position signal to the coordinate / selection signal output device 15, which is converted into a mouse coordinate signal by the coordinate / selection signal output device 15 and given to the operated device 3, and the display device 4
A pointer is displayed on the display surface of.

As described above, the pointer is displayed at a position corresponding to the position on the optical axis of the optical lens 20, so that it is changed when the direction of the axis of the transceiver 1 (that is, the optical axis of the optical lens 20) is changed. The pointer can be moved in the direction by a distance corresponding to the amount of change.

Embodiment 2 FIG. In the first embodiment, the position detector 12
Although the two-sided split type two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element 21 is used for the above, the improved surface split type two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element 29 is used.
May be used. 7 is a sectional view of the improved surface division type two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element 29, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view thereof.
The first to fourth electrodes 30 to 33 are provided at four corners on the diagonal of the P-type resistance layer 22 provided on the surface of the N layer 24, respectively. A common electrode 34 is provided on the back surface of the N layer 24.

The relationship between the infrared ray incident position and the current obtained from each of the electrodes 30 to 33 in the second embodiment is as follows. I ₁ + I ₂ = I ₀ (1 / 2-x / L _X ) (9) I ₃ + I ₄ = I ₀ (1/2 + x / L _X ) (10) I ₂ + I ₃ = I ₀ ( 1 / 2-y / L _Y ) (11) I ₁ + I ₄ = I ₀ (1/2 + y / L _Y ) (12) I ₀ : Total current (I ₀ = I ₁ + I ₂ + I ₃ + I) ₄ ) I ₁ : Current at the first electrode 30 I ₂ : Current at the second electrode 31 I ₃ : Current at the third electrode 32 I ₄ : Current at the fourth electrode 33 L _X : X receiving surface of the axial length L _Y: the light-receiving surface of the Y-axis length x: X coordinate of the incident position when the coordinate axes taken on a light receiving surface center y: the incidence position when the coordinate axes taken on a light receiving surface center Y coordinate In this case as well, since the PN junction needs to be operated in the reverse bias state, the common electrode 34 on the rear surface is
To 33 (all have the same potential).

The calculation unit 13 detects the detected information I ₁ ,
The following calculation is performed based on I ₂ , I ₃ , and I ₄ to obtain the coordinates of the incident position of infrared light. The coordinate in the X-axis direction is (I ₁ + I ₂ ) / (I ₁ + I ₂ + I ₃ + I ₄ ) = 1 / 2−x / L _X (13) or (I ₃ + I ₄ ) − (I ₁ + I ₂ ) / (I ₁ + I ₂ + I ₃ + I ₄ ) = 2x / L _X (14) The coordinate in the Y-axis direction is (I ₂ + I ₃ ) / (I ₁ + I ₂ + I ₃ + I ₄ ) = 1 / 2-y / L _Y (15) or (I ₁ + I ₄ )-(I ₂ + I ₃ ) / (I ₁ + I ₂ + I ₃ + I ₄ ) = 2y / L _Y (16)

According to the second embodiment, the position detecting accuracy is improved as compared with the two-sided split type two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element.

Embodiment 3 FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transceiver of the third embodiment, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding portions. In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a movement switch provided in the transceiver 1, which turns on / off the position detection information output from the position detector 12 to the calculation unit 13. A menu display switch 36 sends a menu display signal from the menu display signal generator 37 to the light transmitting section 7 when pressed. Further, the main body 2 is provided with a menu display signal output device 38, and when the microcomputer 9 recognizes the signal received by the light receiving unit 8 as the menu display signal, sends the menu display signal to the operated device 3. , A menu 40 is displayed at a predetermined position on the display surface 39 of the display device 4, as shown in FIG.

When the operator operates the movement switch 35 to turn it on, the coordinate input device of the third embodiment having such a configuration moves the pointer on the display surface 39 in the direction in which the direction of the transceiver 1 is changed. However, when the movement switch 35 is turned off, the arithmetic unit 13 continues to output the position signal when it is turned off, so that the pointer stands still at the position when it was turned off.

Further, the operator selects the menu display switch 36.
When is pressed, the menu 40 is displayed on the display surface 39.
A menu can be selected by turning on the movement switch 36 to adjust the orientation of the transceiver 1, and by moving the pointer to a desired menu item and pressing the selection switch 16.

[0030]

According to the present invention, the position of the main body from the axis pointed to by the transceiver is detected by exchanging optical signals, and the pointer displayed on the display surface of the operated device is detected based on this position signal. Since the position is determined, the position of the pointer can be moved only by changing the direction of the transceiver, and the operation can be performed at a position away from the operated device.

Further, by incorporating the main body of the coordinate input device in the display device of the operated device, it becomes possible to operate as if the pointer on the display surface is pointed directly by the transceiver, and the operability is improved. .

Since the pointer can be moved or stopped by turning the movement switch on or off, the pointer can be used instead of the pointer.

Further, by operating the menu display switch, an arbitrary menu screen can be displayed on the display surface by one-touch operation, so that an operation suitable for easier multimedia presentation can be performed. Further, since the position detecting means is composed of the two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element, the structure is simple and the reliability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a transceiver according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a mounting position of a main body according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of signal transfer between the transceiver and the main body of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the position detector according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element forming the position detector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an improved surface type two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element used in Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block circuit diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a transceiver according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display surface of an operated device according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 transceiver, 2 main body, 3 operated device, 4 display device, 5 switch, 6 reference signal transmitter, 7 light transmitting unit,
8 light receiving unit, 9 microcomputer, 10 transmitter, 11 light transmitting unit, 12 position detector, 13 arithmetic unit,
14 position signal transmitter, 15 coordinate / selection signal output device,
16 selection switch, 17 selection signal transmitter, 19 visible light cut filter, 20 optical lens, 21 two-dimensional semiconductor position detection element, 22 P-type resistance layer, 23 N-type resistance layer, 24 N ^- layer, 25, 26 X Axial electrodes, 2
7, 28 Y-axis direction electrode, 29 Improved surface division type two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element, 30 to 33 First to fourth electrodes,
34 common electrode, 35 movement switch, 36 menu display switch, 37 menu display signal transmitter, 38
Menu display signal output device, 39 display screen, 40 menu.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main body disposed near a display surface on which an icon for selecting an operation of a device to be operated is displayed, and the main body is remotely operated so as to transfer a signal by an optical signal. A transmitter / receiver is provided, and the transmitter / receiver receives an optical signal sent from the main body, and detects a position of an emission source of the optical signal on an orthogonal plane whose origin is an axis to which the transmitter / receiver is directed. Position detecting means, calculating means for calculating a corrected position when the light transmitting section of the main body is located at the center of the display surface from the detected position information, the corrected position signal and the operator. And a means for sending out a reference signal and a selection signal which are input according to the operation of 1.
Means for receiving the optical signal and converting it into an electrical signal; means for sending the optical signal toward the transceiver when the received signal is a reference signal; and position for the position signal when the signal is a position signal. Means for sending a signal to the operated device, and means for sending to the operated device a selection signal indicating that the icon pointed by the pointer has been selected by the operator when it is a selection signal. A remote-controlled coordinate input device provided. 2. The transmitter / receiver includes means for turning on / off the operation of the position detecting means in response to an operation of an operator, and a position signal immediately before being turned off from the arithmetic unit when the operation of the position detecting means is turned off. 2. The remote control coordinate input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a means for continuously sending out. 3. The transmitter / receiver is provided with means for transmitting a signal for displaying a menu on the display surface of the controlled device, and
2. The remote control coordinate input device according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with means for transmitting the menu display signal to the operated device when the menu display signal is received. 4. The position detecting means of the transmitter / receiver is configured to form an optical signal from the main body on a two-dimensional semiconductor position detecting element. The remote control coordinate input device according to any one of claims.