Tilt-Rotation Pointing Mechanism for Accurate Coordinate Input
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pointing devices face challenges in achieving high accuracy for tilt and rotation operations due to their complex structure, which is not suitable for precise coordinate input in applications like endoscopes and robots.
Innovation Solution
A pointing device design featuring a tiltable operation member with protrusions that interact with a rotation member, allowing for accurate tilt and rotation operations without a complicated structure, utilizing a substrate with a rotation part that rotates in conjunction with the operation member, and optical sensors to detect the rotation amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional pointing device structure is used, then the device can perform basic pointing operations, but the structure becomes complicated and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The operation member is divided into distinct functional segments: a tiltable portion for coordinate input and a rotatable portion for menu selection. The rotation member is segmented with a detection portion that interacts with the operation member through a gap, separating the tilt and rotation detection functions into independent components that do not interfere with each other
Solution Approach 2:
A non-contact optical field serves as an intermediary between the operation member and rotation member. The optical sensor detects the position of the protrusion through the gap without physical contact, allowing the rotation member to rotate independently while still being driven by the operation member's movement
2Device complexity
If the rotation member is directly coupled to the operation member, then rotation detection is simplified, but erroneous detection occurs during tilting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The detection portion of the rotation member is designed with localized protrusions that correspond to specific angular positions. These localized features interact with the optical sensor only when the operation member is in the correct rotational position, allowing accurate rotation detection while ignoring tilting movements that occur in different spatial dimensions
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system separates tilt and rotation detection into different dimensional spaces. The gap between the operation member and rotation member creates a spatial separation where tilt movements occur in one dimension while rotation detection occurs in another, preventing cross-interference between the two operations
Data Source
AI summary
A pointing device includes: a substrate; an operation member that is provided tiltably with respect to the substrate, and includes a protrusion protruded from one of an inner wall and an outer wall; and a rotation member that is provided rotatably on the substrate, and includes a hole which the protrusion enters when the rotation member overlaps the operation member; wherein the rotation member rotates in conjunction with the operation member when the protrusion contacts an edge of the hole according to rotation of the operation member, wherein the hole is formed in a range in which the protrusion is movable by tilt of the operation member.