COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE WITH SIX DEGREES OF FREEDOM FOR CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an improved input device with 6 degrees of freedom which provides position and azimuth information by allowing a detecting device arranged nearby a plane to detect light from at least some of light sources so as to find position and azimuth information regarding an input device. ;SOLUTION: The input device 10 includes a handle 12 and a plate 14 fitted to the upper end of the handle 12. Several LEDs 16 are mounted on the top surface of the plate 14. Those LEDs 16 can be turned on and off by using switches 15-1 to 15-3 fitted to the input device 10. Consequently, the input device 10 specifies at least three position parameters, i.e., the right-left direction, front- rear direction, and up-down direction and three angle parameters, i.e., the lateral swing angle, longitudinal swing angle, and yawing angle. Six degrees of freedom for controlling the movement of a three-dimensional object are provided for many applications.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2001,JPO