Pen-grip type of input apparatus and input apparatus

• US 5,940,158 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Nesamac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Japan Nesamac Corporation
• Inventors: Kawabata, Kazuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, LUNYI
• Application Number:
  US08/727,524
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158-159, 345/160, 345/168, 345/169, 345/174, 345/179, 341/22.34, 400/473, 400/485, 400/486, 400/488, 178/18.19, 178/18.01, 178/19.01, 178/19.05, 178/20.01, 463/37
• US Class Current: 349/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

This invention provides a pointing device which gives a feeling of operation closer to the feel of people without requiring an operation space. While a writing instrument having a pen grip (2) fitted thereto is held by a hand, a gripping force is applied by fingers as if a line were drawn in a moving direction of a cursor (the line need not be drawn in practice). The pressures of the fingers are measured by strain gauges (28a, 28b, and 28c), which send their corresponding voltage values to a CPU (40). The CPU (40) calculates the moving direction and distance of the cursor on the basis of the voltage values. Then, receiving the data, the cursor is moved to a designated position. When a microswitch (110) is pushed, the cursor position is made definite.

Claims

1. An input device moving a cursor being displayed on a screen, comprising:

a supporter provided around a writing instrument having an axis;

pressure measuring means for detecting a change in pressure applied by each of at least three fingers of a writing worker, said pressure measuring means provided around said supporter and having sensor elements corresponding to the at least three fingers, said each sensor element measuring finger pressures in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the longitudinal writing instrument;

at least three gravity detecting means for detecting gravity direction, said gravity detecting means being provided around the writing instrument;

recognizing means for recognizing held status of the writing instrument on the basis of the output from the gravity detecting means; and

analyzing means for determining which output of said pressure detecting means corresponds to which finger of the writing worker on the basis of the output from the gravity detecting means, obtaining output showing the pressure change outputted by said pressure measuring means, calculating therefrom direction and distance to be moved of a cursor in the light of output value of each finger and then outputting the calculated data.

2. An input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the changes in pressure detected by the pressure measuring means are pressure changes applied by a middle finger, an index finger and a thumb of the writer.

3. An input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said pressure measuring means comprises;

an elastic member; and

strain gages coupled with elastic member.

4. An input device in accordance with claim 1 further including;

fixing signal generating means for generating a fixing signal, and

output means for obtaining the fixing signal and thereafter outputting data regarding cursor position.

5. An input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein

when the output from each of the sensor elements is less than a threshold value, there is no change in position of the cursor.

6. An input device for moving a cursor being displayed on a screen, comprising:

a pen having an axis;

pressure measuring means for detecting a change in pressure applied by each of at least three fingers of a writing worker, said pressure measuring means provided around said pen and having sensor elements corresponding to the at least three fingers, said each sensor element measuring finger pressures in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the longitudinal pen;

at least three gravity detecting means for detecting gravity direction, said gravity detecting means being provided around said pen;

recognizing means for recognizing held status of said pen on the basis of the output from the gravity detecting means; and

analyzing means for determining which output of said pressure detecting means corresponds to which finger of the writing worker on the basis of the output from the gravity detecting means, obtaining output showing the pressure change outputted by said pressure measuring means, calculating therefrom direction and distance to be moved of a cursor in the light of output value of each finger and then outputting the calculated data.

7. An input device in accordance with claim 6, wherein

the changes in pressure detected by the pressure measuring means are pressure changes applied by a middle finger, an index finger and a thumb of the writer.

8. An input device in accordance with claim 6, wherein

said pressure measuring means comprises;

an elastic member; and

strain gages coupled with the elastic member.

9. An input device in accordance with claim 6 further including;

fixing signal generating means for generating a fixing signal, and

output means for obtaining the fixing signal and thereafter outputting data regarding cursor position.

10. An input device in accordance with claim 6, wherein

when the output from each of the sensor elements is less than a threshold value, there is no change in position of the cursor.