JPH0675693A - Three-dimensional pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a three-dimensional pointing device which is excellent in operability and can be used even in the case of a three-dimensional space presented by a spatial operation type three-dimensional display. A pointer 23 operated by an operator is provided with a sensor 23 for outputting a signal indicating its own position and orientation.
Is installed. The output of the sensor 23 is received by the computer 14. The computer 14 calculates a position separated from the position of the sensor 23 by a certain distance L in a certain direction, and sets it as an actual designated point 24. An image showing the pointing point 24 and the pointer extension portion 25 connected to the pointing point 24 is displayed on the display panel 11 by 3
Appear in the dimensional space 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for pointing a position in a three-dimensional space presented by a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Flying mice, data gloves, and the like are known as devices for pointing an arbitrary position in a three-dimensional space. In these three-dimensional pointing devices, usually, a pointer operated by an operator is equipped with a sensor that outputs a signal indicating its own position, and the position of this sensor is used as a pointing point.

However, the three constructed as described above
In the three-dimensional pointing device, the position of the sensor is used as the pointing point, so that the entire pointer needs to be moved to point each position in the three-dimensional space.
For this reason, there is a problem that the amount of operation increases and operator fatigue occurs. Further, in particular, in the case of the three-dimensional space presented by the spatial operation type three-dimensional display, since the pointer cannot be put in this three-dimensional space,
There was also a problem that it could not be used.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional 3
The dimensional pointing device has not only poor operability but also a problem that it cannot be used in the case of a three-dimensional space presented by a spatial operation type three-dimensional display.

Therefore, the present invention is excellent in operability and is presented by a spatial operation type three-dimensional display.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional pointing device that can be used even in the case of a three-dimensional space.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, in a three-dimensional pointing device according to the present invention, a pointer operated by an operator, the position of the pointer mounted on the pointer, and the attitude of the pointer are displayed. A sensor that outputs a signal indicating the above, and the output of this sensor is converted to set an actual pointing point at a position apart from the position of the sensor by a certain distance in a certain direction. And an image processing means to appear inside.

[0007]

The actual pointing point is set at a position distant from the position of the sensor by a certain distance in a certain direction, and at least an image showing the pointing point is made to appear in the three-dimensional space. It can also be used in the case of a 3D space presented by a 3D display. In addition, since the actual pointing point is set at a certain distance from the position of the sensor in a certain direction, the pointer can be operated only with the degree of freedom of the joint beyond the wrist, similar to chopsticks and pencils. You can perform pointing work without moving the whole. Therefore, the operator's fatigue can be reduced, and the pointing operation can be accurately performed.

[0008]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which a three-dimensional pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is pointing in a three-dimensional space presented by a spatial operation type three-dimensional display. That is, in the figure, 1 indicates a display device, and 2 indicates a three-dimensional space presented by the display device 1.

The display device 1 includes a display plate 11 formed by arranging a plurality of light emitting elements in a matrix, and a drive mechanism for reciprocating the display plate 11 in a direction indicated by a solid arrow 12 at a constant speed. 13 and the cross-sectional image corresponding to the position of the display plate 11 is displayed on the display plate 11,
Calculator 1 for raising a desired stereoscopic image in the dimensional space 2
It is composed of 4 and.

Reference numeral 21 in the drawing denotes a three-dimensional pointing device. This three-dimensional pointing device 21 is formed in a short pencil shape and is operated by an operator. A pointer 22 is attached to the pointer 22, and is sensitive to a magnetic field for position detection applied by a magnetic field generator (not shown), for example. And a sensor 23 that outputs a signal corresponding to the position of the rectangular coordinate set in advance in a region including the three-dimensional space 2 and the attitude of the pointer 22, and the position of the sensor 23 by introducing the output of the sensor 23. An actual pointing point 24 is set at a position separated by a certain distance L in the direction, and an image showing the pointing point 24 and the pointer extension portion 25 connected to the pointing point 24 appears in the three-dimensional space 2 through the display plate 11 described above. And image processing means. In this example, the computer 14 described above also serves as the image processing means.

The computer 14 calculates the coordinates of the designated point 24 by the algorithm shown in FIG. In the figure, P indicates the position coordinates detected by the sensor 23, and D indicates the direction of the pointer 22 also detected by the sensor 23.

With such a configuration, it is possible to point any position in the three-dimensional space 2 without inserting the pointer 22 in the three-dimensional space 2. At this time, an image showing the actual pointing point 24 and the pointer extension portion 25 connected to the actual pointing point appears in the three-dimensional space 2. Therefore, a pointing operation may be performed while observing the image and the pointer may be placed in the three-dimensional space 2. It is possible to ensure the same operability as when putting it in and operating it. Therefore, the spatial operation method 3
Even in the case of the three-dimensional space 2 presented by the three-dimensional display, it can be used without any trouble. Also, the sensor 2
Since the actual pointing point 24 is set at a position away from the position 3 in a certain direction by a certain distance L, the pointer 22 can be operated only by the degree of freedom of the joint beyond the wrist, like a chopstick or a pencil. You can perform pointing tasks without moving your entire arm. Therefore, it is possible to reduce operator fatigue and contribute to an accurate pointing operation.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the position detection magnetic field is detected by the sensor mounted on the pointer,
Although the position and the posture are detected, any one can be used as long as it can detect the position and the posture in a non-contact manner by detecting the positions of two different points on the pointer with a sensor. Good. Moreover, only the point of presentation was presented 3
You may make it appear in a dimensional space.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a three-dimensional pointing device which is excellent in operability and can be used without any trouble even in the case of a three-dimensional space presented by a spatial operation type three-dimensional display. Can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an example of pointing in a three-dimensional space with a three-dimensional pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an algorithm for calculating an actual designated point in the same device.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display device 2 ... Presented three-dimensional space 11 ... Display board 13 ... Driving mechanism 14 ... Calculator 21 ... Three-dimensional pointing device 22 ... Pointer 23 ... Sensor 24 ... Pointing point 25 ... Pointer extension part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pointing device for pointing a position in a three-dimensional space presented by a display,
A pointer operated by an operator, a sensor mounted on the pointer for outputting a signal indicating the position of the user and the attitude of the pointer, and an output of the sensor for converting a fixed distance in a certain direction from the position of the sensor. A three-dimensional pointing device comprising an image processing means for setting an actual pointing point at a distant position and causing at least an image showing the pointing point to appear in the three-dimensional space.