Operation inputting apparatus

• US 5,680,154 A
• Filed: 05/24/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shiga, Sadakazu, Komatsu, Masaru, Numata, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US08/449,039
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/168, 345/145
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An operation inputting apparatus is disclosed by which, even if a load detection output remains after an operation of a stick type operation member is stopped by an operator, a load detection output which coincides with stopping of the operation of the stick type operation member can be obtained. A pressure detection sensor detects a load force applied to the stick type operation member upon operation of the stick type operation member, and a comparison circuit compares a load detection value obtained from the pressure detection sensor with a preset load value. A timer circuit adjusts a count value in response to a result of the comparison and detects the count value equal to zero to produce a zero detection output. A judgment level production section sets two judgment levels for presence or absence of an output in response to the zero detection output. The judgment levels are set such that the judgment level for presence or absence of an output when the zero detection output is supplied is higher than the judgment level for presence or absence of an output when the zero detection output is not supplied.

Claims

1. An operation inputting apparatus for generating a cursor control signal used to control the position of a cursor on a display screen, the apparatus comprising:

an operation member;

a pressure detection sensor connected to the operation member for detecting a load force applied to said operation member, and for generating a detector signal having a voltage level which is related to the detected load force;

an analog to digital converter for converting the detector signal into digital data;

a comparison circuit for comparing the digital data with a preset load value, and for generating a comparison result having a first value when the digital data is greater than the preset load value, and a second value when the digital data is less than the preset load value;

a timer circuit for generating a timing value, the timing value being increased when the comparison result has the first value, and the timing value being decreased when the comparison result has the second value;

output judgment level setting means for generating a judgment signal, wherein the judgment signal is at a first level when the timing value is less than a predetermined time, and the judgement signal is at a second level when the timing value is greater than the predetermined time; and

a processor for comparing the digital data with the judgement signal, for generating a cursor control signal having a first value when the digital data is greater than the judgement signal, and for generating a cursor control signal which has a second value when the digital data is less than the judgement signal.

2. An operation inputting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operation member is a stick-type coordinate inputting apparatus and said pressure detection sensor is one of:

(a) a strain gauge,

(b) a resistance detecting device,

(c) a capacitance detecting device, and

(d) a pressure sensitive rubber member; and

wherein the detector signal is based on one of a resistance value and a capacitance value.

3. An operation inputting apparatus for generating a cursor control signal used to control the position of a cursor on a display screen, the apparatus comprising:

a operation member;

a pressure detection sensor connected to the operation member for detecting a load force applied to said operation member, and for generating a detector signal having a voltage level which is related to the detected load force;

an analog to digital converter for converting the detector signal into digital data;

cursor movement speed setting means for receiving the digital signal and for generating a cursor speed control signal in accordance with a magnitude of the load force, wherein said cursor speed control signal varies linearly with respect to a variation of the load force while the digital data is less than a fixed value, and wherein the cursor speed control signal varies non-linearly with respect to a variation of the load force when the digital data is greater than the fixed value.