Input apparatus with multi-mode switching function

(54) Title: ENTRY APPLIANCE WITH MULTI-MODE EXCHANGE FUNCTION (73) Holder (s): acer incorporated (72) Inventor (s): chueh-pin ko, jiann-jou chen (57) Abstract: An appliance input (1) with a multi-mode switching function is revealed. In one embodiment, the input device (1) includes a body (11), an arc surface touch module (12) and a control module (13). The arc surface touch module (12) is arranged on the body surface (11), and is used to input the two-dimensional positioning data. The control module (13) changes the input mode of said input device (1) based on the two-dimensional positioning data, and generates a control signal based on the triggered input mode and the two-dimensional positioning data. In another embodiment, with the transformation of two-dimensional positioning data into three-dimensional positioning data based on the geometric characteristics of the body, the control module (13) of the input device (1) activates the device input mode based on the data three-dimensional positioning signals and generates a control signal according to the three-dimensional positioning data.

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Field of the Invention

The example embodiments of the present invention refer to a field of the 5 electronic interface devices. More specifically, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an input device based on two-dimensional positioning data.

Foundations

Conventional electronic devices are often equipped with one or more typical flat input devices, such as a keyboard, a handwriting adapter, a flat touch panel, or an input device that requires an operational plan, such as a mouse or pointing device. Among the smaller electronic devices used with their hands, however, space is often inadequate for users to operate them in conjunction with the conventional flat entry device as described above. With electronic devices such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and cell phones that have become more powerful and more compact, the machine-user interface is always a challenge. A conventional solution is to provide touch panels through visual screens such as touch keys, electronic books, or electronic documents.

A problem associated with a conventional flat input device or touch keyboard is that the user's hand and fingers obstruct the user's ability to view the screen when the user tries to touch the keys. For example, selecting text using a finger on a portable screen can be tricky. Also, human hands are able to move in three-dimensional space, while a conventional human-machine interface device is typically only one-dimensional.

abstract

An input device with multi-mode switching function is revealed. The input device with multi-mode switching function includes a body, an arc surface touch module and a control module. The arc surface touch module is arranged on the body surface for positioning data entry

2/17 two-dimensional. The control module is operated to change the input mode of the input device based on the two-dimensional positioning data. In one embodiment, the control module is further operated to transform the two-dimensional positioning data into three-dimensional positioning data based on the geometric characteristics of the body, and to change the input device input mode based on the three-dimensional positioning data, and then generate a control signal based on the input mode triggered and the three-dimensional positioning data.

With these and other objectives, advantages and features of the invention that may become apparent hereinafter, the nature of the invention can be more clearly understood with reference to the detailed description of the invention, the embodiments and the various drawings included herein.

Brief Description of Drawings

The example embodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood with the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which, however, should not be considered to limit the invention to specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only .

Figure 1A shows a schematic diagram of an input device with a multi-mode exchange function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 1B illustrates a system using an input device with a multi-mode exchange function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 1C shows a front view of the input device with multi-mode switching function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2A illustrates an input mode diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2B-2E are block diagrams illustrating combinations of different two-dimensional positioning data received by an arc surface touch module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3A is a diagram illustrating an example of an input mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3B is a block diagram that illustrates a combination of

3/17 different two-dimensional positioning data detected by an arc surface touch module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3C illustrates an operation of an input mode column input device according to the present invention;

Figure 4A is a diagram illustrating another example of an input mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4B is a diagram illustrating a combination of varied two-dimensional positioning data received by an arc surface touch module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5A is a block diagram illustrating an alternative example of an input device with multi-mode switching function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5B illustrates the transformation of a two-dimensional coordinate into a three-dimensional coordinate of the arc surface touch module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5C illustrates a schematic diagram of transforming the X-axis coordinate into an X'-Z 'coordinate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6A illustrates an example of an input device with multi-mode switching function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6B illustrates a schematic operational diagram of an input device with a multi-mode change function in three-dimensional coordinates according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figures 7A-C illustrate another example of a column input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a method, system and apparatus for providing a user interface device that has a multi-mode switching function.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the detailed description that follows

4/17 of the example embodiments is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other achievements, by themselves, will readily suggest to those skilled in the art, who have the benefit of this revelation. We will now refer in detail to the implementations of the example achievements as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same indicative references will be used in the drawings and in the following detailed description to refer to the same or similar parts.

In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the components, process steps, and / or data structures described herein can be implemented using various types of operating systems, computer platforms, computer programs, and / or general purpose machines . In addition, those skilled in the art will recognize that devices of a less general nature, such as permanent connection devices, user programmable ports (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), or the like, can also be used without leaving the system. scope and spirit of the inventive concepts revealed here. Where a method comprises a series of process steps is implemented by a computer or a machine and those process steps can be stored as a series of instructions that can be read by the machine, these can be stored in a tangible medium, such as a device computer memory (for example, ROM (read-only memory), PROM (read-only programmable memory), EEPROM (read-only programmable, electrically erasable memory), flash memory, Jump drive, and the like), magnetic storage medium (for example, tape, magnetic disk drive, and the like), optical storage medium (for example, CDROM, DVD-ROM, paper card and paper tape and the like) and other known types of program memory.

Figures IA and 1B illustrate an input device 1 with multimode function in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Input device 1 includes a body 11, an arc surface touch module 12, and a control module 13. Alternatively, input device 1 is also known as the column input device 1. The terms “device input "and" column input device "can be used interchangeably. It should be noted that the concept highlighted

5/17 of the example embodiments of the present invention would not change if one or more blocks (circuits or elements) were added or removed from figure 1A-C.

In this embodiment, the body 11 is a tube-shaped object with a cylindrical surface, where the body 11 can be a cone, a sphere or any geometric object with arched surfaces. The arc surface touch module 12 is arranged on and / or covered over the body surface 11 to detect and / or input two-dimensional positioning data 121. The arc surface touch module 12, in one embodiment, is a flexible touch panel. The control module 13 activates the input mode of the input device 1 based on the two-dimensional positioning data 121. The two-dimensional positioning data 121, in one embodiment, includes information regarding the positions touched or detected on the arc surface touch module 12 by one hand. In addition, positioning data 121 may also include motion data, which indicates the touched object that moves along the arc surface touch module 12.

During an operation, when a user holds the input device 1 with different characteristics or handling positions, such as holding upright, holding backwards, sliding upright, sliding backwards, two-handed handling, holding like a brush, etc., the arc surface touch module 12 receives a combination of different two-dimensional positioning data in response to handling characteristics. The control module 13 is able to distinguish one of the characteristics or handling positions of the input device 1. For example, the control module is able to identify the handling characteristics based on the relative relationship of these two-dimensional positioning data, and trigger the input device 1 in the input mode according to the handling characteristic.

The input mode can be one of drawing mode, navigation mode, editing mode, multimedia transmission mode, keyboard mode, or the like. Several corresponding control signals are generated for different input modes. For example, the control signals for the previous page, next page and cursor movement can be generated under navigation mode. Alternatively, the control signals for transmission, pause, stop, forward and reverse can be generated under the transmission mode

6/17 multimedia.

Control mode 13 is operated to generate the control signals to control an electronic device 19 as shown in figure 1B, and the combination of input device 1 and electronic device 19 has several modes as follows:

(i) the input device 1 is fixedly arranged on the electronic device;

(ii) the input device 1 is an independent device that can be separated from the electronic device 19, and the input device 1 also includes a signal transmission module for transmitting a control signal via wireless connections to the electronic device 19 ;

(iii) the control module 13 of the input device 1 is arranged in the electronic device 19, and the body 11 and the arc surface touch module 12 of the input device 1 are integrated into an independent device, which can be separated from the electronic device 19. Input device 1 further includes a signal transmission module for transmitting two-dimensional positioning data 121 to control module 13, and then the module generates control signals and transmits them to electronic device 19.

Figure 1C shows a front view of the column input device, where the front view is also indicated by the letter D as shown in figure 1B. Like the input device 1, the column input device 1 includes a column-shaped body 11, an arcuate touch control module 12, and a signal transmission module (not shown in Figure 1B). The column body 11 is preferably a rod, cylindrical or pen-shaped. The arcuate touch control module 12 is installed in the column-shaped body 11.0 The arcuate touch control module 12 is used to perceive the two-dimensional data, and subsequently transmit the data based on the two-dimensional data to an electronic device 19 through the signal transmission module. The transmit signal is close to a position of the arcuate touch control module 12, or an offset by the user of the arcuate touch control module 12.

An advantage of using the input device is to increase the

7/17 operational convenience and the performance of a user interface device.

Another advantage of using the input device with multi-mode switching function is to adapt the input device to the anatomy of the hand, which allows a user to operate the input device more comfortably.

Yet another advantage of using the input device is that the input device can switch between multiple input modes, which increases data entry efficiency.

Referring back to figure 2B, a user holds the column-shaped input device 1 with one hand, and touches the arcuate touch control module 12 to control the electronic device 19, in which the controls include rolling, passing the pages up and down, bookmark digital content, and the like. The column-shaped input device 1, in one embodiment, can be conveniently stored in the electronic device 19, and thus the number of operation keys of the electronic device 19 can be minimized and the screen area can be increased.

The column-shaped input device 1, in one embodiment, includes at least one sensor to detect a physical quantity of the column-shaped input device 1, and the sensor preferably includes an acceleration sensor, a gravity sensor, a gyroscope or a digital compass to detect an acceleration, an angle of inclination, an angle of rotation or a face direction of the column-shaped input device 1. In addition, a signal based on two-dimensional data or a physical quantity detected by a sensor can be used to issue an operating instruction through an instruction identification module, which allows a user to use more complicated and diverse operating methods. The instruction identification module can be installed either on the column-shaped body 11 or on the electronic device 19.

Figures 2A and 2E illustrate combinations of varied two-dimensional positioning data detected by the arc surface touch module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that a plane 20 represents the touch position of the arc surface touch module shown in

8/17 figure 2B. The upper left corner of the plane 20 is the origin of the two-dimensional coordinates, where the arrows on the right point in the positive direction of an X-axis and the down arrows point in the positive direction of a Y-axis for a two-dimensional coordinate. It should be noted that the bottom right corner of the plane 20 is the maximum coordinate position. In this embodiment, the plane 20 is arranged on a cylindrical surface of the body 1, where the cut edge of 201 and 202 are joined and the upper part of the plane 20 is arranged at the rear end of the input device 1. The lower part of the plane 20 is arranged at the front end of the input device 1.

Figure 2A illustrates a user holding the front end of the input device 1. The user's thumb 291 touches area 21 on plane 20 and the index finger 292 area 22 on plane 20. The middle finger 293 touches area 23 on the plane 20, and part of the hand 294 between the thumb 291 and the index finger 292 touches area 24 of the plane 20. The arc surface touch module 12, in one embodiment, detects and inputs a two-dimensional position 211, a two-dimensional position 221, a two-dimensional position 231, and a two-dimensional position 241. As shown in figure 2B, the center point is used as the position of this area, but is not limited to this. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art can elaborate a relative relationship of the touch area and its position if necessary.

To increase the operational convenience of the input device 1, the user can operate without distinguishing the origin of the arc surface touch module

12. The control module 13 is configured to use relative movements of the plurality of touch areas to distinguish the user's handling characteristics from the input device 1. For example, the control module 13 receives four two-dimensional positioning data, as illustrated in the figure 2B, wherein the Y coordinate of the respective touch positions 211-231 is close to and greater than the Y coordinate of another touch position 241. As such, within a predetermined area according to the Y coordinate of touch position 241, the control module 13 can distinguish the user's handling characteristics as illustrated in figure 2^The. Hence, even if the absolute position of the touch area in figures 2C to 2E are all variants of the absolute positions as shown in figure 2B, the control module 13 receives the positioning data

Two-dimensional 9/17 as illustrated in figure 2B and figure 2E. Consequently, similar handling characteristics can be identified based on the relative positions.

Figures 3A-C illustrate alternative examples of handling characteristics related to the input modes of the input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The diagram shows the reception of the combination of the two-dimensional positioning data of the arc surface touch module in which a user holds the input device 1 inversely, that is to say the rear end of the input device 1. In one example, an instruction identification module determines whether or not a user holds a front end of the column-shaped input device 1 according to the two-dimensional position produced by the arcuate touch control module 12.

Referring again to Figure 3B, thumb 291 touches area 31 at the top of plane 20, while index finger 292 touches area 32 at the top of plane 20. Middle finger 293 touches area 33 at the top of plane 20, and a part of the hand between the thumb and index finger 292 touches area 34 at the top of plane 20. The arc surface touch module 12 senses and inputs two-dimensional positioning data 311, two-dimensional positioning data 321, two-dimensional positioning data 331 and two-dimensional positioning data 341. In Figure 3B, the Y coordinates of the respective two-dimensional positions 311 -331 are close and smaller than the two-dimensional position 341.

In another embodiment, if a sensor such as a gravity sensor of the column-shaped input device 1 in an opposite direction, the instruction identification module can produce an operating instruction for maintaining the column-shaped input device 1 in an direction other than the regular handling method. If the column-shaped input device 1 is held in an opposite direction, the column-shaped input device becomes an eraser eraser, and the user can move the column-shaped input device 1 to erase words.

In figure 3C, the instruction identification module similarly

10/17 determines whether or not the user holds a rear end of the column-shaped input device 1 or the input device 1 according to the two-dimensional position produced by the arcuate touch control module 12. If the user holds the front end of the column-shaped input device 1, another sensor such as a gyroscope or a direction detector can be installed to detect the direction of movement of a pointed end of the column-shaped input device 1. As such, the instruction identification module generates an instruction to move a cursor, so that the user can hold the front end of the column-shaped input device 1 to control the cursor on the electronic device screen 19.

If the user holds the rear end of the column-shaped input device 1, then the instruction identification module can be used to identify a predetermined operating movement of the user according to a physical quantity detected by another sensor to generate a corresponding operating instruction as shown in figure 2C. If the user holds the rear end of the column-shaped input device 1, it performs an operating movement with an arc shift along the direction Dl at the rear end. The instruction identification module becomes larger first and then smaller according to a physical quantity detected by a sensor, such as an acceleration detected by the acceleration detector. The direction detector can detect a displacement of the column-shaped input device 1 that moves from the upper right to the lower left position, and the instruction identification module can determine whether or not a user makes an arc movement in direction to the left to generate a corresponding operating instruction. For example, drawing an arc towards the left side gives an instruction to scroll to the next page, and drawing an arc towards the right side gives an instruction to move to the previous page.

The aforementioned instruction, if necessary, can include a volume adjustment instruction, a screen parameter adjustment instruction (such as brightness, rotation or size of a displayed area), a multimedia playback instruction or a navigation instruction for a document. The operating movement, if necessary, may include a movement of holding a pen, a movement of

11/17 grab the pen, and a movement of turning the pen, etc. Any operating movement determined by analyzing a signal from a touch control module or sensor is intended to be protected by the patent claim of the present invention.

Figures 4 AB illustrate an alternative handling feature for an input device input mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4B shows a combination reception of two-dimensional positioning data from the arc surface touch module 12 in which the user's hands hold both ends of the input device 1. The thumb 281 and index finger 282 of the left hand hold the front end of the input device 1, and the thumb 291 and index finger 292 of the right hand hold the rear end of the input device 1. The touched areas 43 and 44 are shown at the top of the plane 20. In figure 4B, the arc surface touch module 12 allows the user to enter the two-dimensional positioning data 411. Since the combination of two dimensions includes two distinct groups of two-dimensional positions, the Y coordinates of these groups are respectively the maximum and minimum values, which are significantly different from the combination of the two-dimensional positioning data illustrated in figures 2B-2E and 3B.

The control module 13 can distinguish a handling characteristic of the input device 1 based on the input of the two-dimensional positioning data 121 of the arc surface touch module. When the control module 13 can distinguish the handling characteristic of the input device 1 based on the two-dimensional positioning data 121, the input device 1 is subsequently switched to the corresponding input mode. The control module 13 subsequently generates a control signal based on the input of the two-dimensional positioning data 121 from the arc surface touch module.

With the identification of a handling position maintained by the vertical handling characteristics as shown in figure 2A, the control module 13 changes the input device 1 to the navigation mode. When the index finger 292 touches area 22 twice, the arc surface touch module 12 inputs two consecutive two-dimensional positioning data 221 into control module 13. The

I

12/17 control module 13 detects two rings in area 22 and generates a control signal for a “next page” command since control module 13 receives two consecutive two-dimensional positioning data 251. Similarly, a user doubles the index finger 292 to touch area 25 twice, and subsequently generates a control signal for a “previous page” command.

Similarly, with the identification of the input device 1, which is maintained by a reverse handling feature as shown in figure 3A, the control module 13 changes input device 1 to a multimedia transmission mode. When the control module 13 receives two consecutive two-dimensional positioning data 321, it distinguishes that the user has bent his index finger 292 to touch area 32 twice, and generate a control signal for a "transmit" command. If the control module 13 receives two consecutive two-dimensional positioning data 351, it distinguishes that the user has bent his index finger to touch area 35 twice and a control signal by a "pause" command is generated. If the control module 13 receives two-dimensional positioning data for a movement from area 32 to area 35, it distinguishes that the user has slid his index finger 292 towards area 32 towards area 35 and a control signal for a control command. “Fast forward” is generated. Conversely, if control module 13 distinguishes that the user has slid his index finger 292 towards area 35 towards area 32, a control signal for a “fast forward” command is then generated.

In another embodiment, with the identification of the input device 1, which is maintained by the two-handed handling characteristics as illustrated in figure 4A, the control module 13 changes the input device 1 to keyboard mode. When the control module 13 receives the two-dimensional positioning data from area 45, it generates a control signal for a “character entry” command, so the character entry changes based on the area touched. Area 45 is a numeric keypad, where area 451 can receive 3-digit input, while area 452 can receive 2-digit input.

It should be noted that the handling characteristics of the input device described above are in reference to the present achievements, any methods that may

13/17 distinguishing the handling characteristic of the input device through two-dimensional positioning data 121, are included within the scope of the present embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5A shows a schematic diagram illustrating an input device capable of performing multi-mode switching functions in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The input apparatus 5 includes a body 11, an arc surface touch module 12 and a control module 53. In this embodiment, body 11 is a tube-shaped object with a cylindrical surface. Alternatively, the body 11 can be a cylinder, a cone, a sphere or any geometric object with an arched surface. The arc surface touch module 12 is arranged on or wrapped over the body surface 11 to detect and / or input two-dimensional positioning data 121. The arc surface touch module 12 is preferably a flexible touch panel . The control module 53 is operable to transform the two-dimensional positioning data 121 into two-dimensional positioning data 531, and subsequently trigger the input mode of the input device 5 based on the two-dimensional positioning data 531.

Figure 5B-C illustrates schematic diagrams of two-dimensional and three-dimensional coordinates of the arc surface touch module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The schematic diagram transforms the X-axis coordinate into an X'-Z 'coordinate as shown in figure 5B. The arc surface touch module 12, in one example, is not connected at the bottom as shown in figure 5B. Alternatively, when the arc surface touch module 12 is arranged on the surface of the body 11, both sides of the edge are coupled to form a cylindrical object.

According to the geometric characteristics of the cylinder, the coordinate of the Y-axis of the three dimensions is parallel to the coordinate of the Y-axis of the two dimensions, like the Y-axis illustrated in figure 2B. The coordinate of the X axis 'and the coordinate of the Z axis' are derived from the transformation of the X-axis coordinate of the two dimensions of the arc surface touch module 12, for example, entirely involving the body 11 (the cylinder). The X-axis coordinate of the arc surface touch module 12 is

14/17 divided into four parts, which correspond to zero degrees, ninety degrees, one hundred and eighty degrees and two hundred and seventy degrees, respectively.

If the maximum X coordinate of the arc surface touch module 12 is 512 pixels, the body radius, for example, is 256 divided by π (π is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter), the position of the pixel zero number of the X coordinate is transformed into position 571 of the X'-Z 'coordinate, the position of one hundred and two eighths of pixel of the X coordinate is transformed into position 572 of the X'-Z' coordinate, the two hundred and fifty-sixth pixel of X coordinate is transformed into position 573 of the X'-Z 'coordinate, the three hundred and forty-fourth pixel of X coordinate is transformed to position 574 of the X'-Z' coordinate.

When the pixel of the arc surface touch module is distributed linearly, the angle position of the X'-Z 'coordinate can be calculated based on the X coordinate, for example, the X coordinate of position 59 is forty-three pixels which is one third of the distance from position 571 to position 572, so the angle 592 of position 59 is thirty degrees (90/3 = 30), so as to determine the X 'coordinate of position 59 is rxcos30 °, and the Z coordinate 'is rxsen30 °. For the same reason, if the X coordinate of position 58 is center and ninety-two pixels, then the angle 582 of position 58 is one hundred and thirty-five degrees (192/256 = 3/4), in order to determine the X coordinate 'position 58 is rxcosl35 °, and Z' is rx senl35 °. From the above explanation, by analyzing the geometric characteristics of the body that is surrounded by the arc surface touch module 12, the two-dimensional coordinates can then be transformed into three-dimensional coordinates.

By transforming the two-dimensional coordinates into the three-dimensional coordinates, more messages to distinguish the handling characteristic of the input device 11 can be generated. For example, position 294 is close to the part of the hand between the thumb and the index finger. Thus, position 294 is on the underside of input device 5, that is, the Z 'coordinate has a negative value. The Y 'axis is the parallel input device as shown in figure 6A. But, the user often neglects the axial direction of the input device during operation. In order to increase the operational convenience of the input device 5, the control module can then

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adjust the axial direction based on the area touched by users.

As an example of the vertical handling characteristic of the input device, control module 53 transforms two-dimensional coordinates into three-dimensional coordinates of positions 291-294, and uses three-dimensional coordinates to distinguish the vertical handling position. The principle for distinguishing is similar to the principle of using two-dimensional positioning data. Thus, unnecessary detailing of this is omitted. The control module 53 rests on the characteristic of position 294 arranged on the underside of the input device 1 and uses the three-dimensional coordinates of position 294 to adjust the parameters that are being used during the transformation process as described above. The transformation of the three-dimensional coordinates then confirms the status of the input device 1.

Subsequently, the control module 53 generates a control signal based on the three-dimensional positioning data 531 and activates the input modes. The direction of the touch movement can be identified by transforming the two-dimensional positioning data into three-dimensional positioning data. Figure 6 AB shows an operational schematic diagram illustrating an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. After the three-dimensional transformation, the movement from position 60 towards position 61 and position 62 towards position 63 are performed. Since both move in vertical directions, the control module 53 can generate the corresponding control signals accordingly. If not transformed using three-dimensional coordinates, the movement from position 60 towards position 61 and position 62 towards position 63 can be activated. Since both are moving in different directions, control module 53 is used to generating erroneous control signals.

Figures 7 AC illustrate schematic views of a column-shaped input device 7, a schematic view of these operations, and a front view of the column-shaped input device viewed from a direction of D3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. . The column-shaped input device 7 includes a column-shaped body 71, a plurality of touch control modules 72 and a signal transmission module 73. The column-shaped body 71 has a

16/17 plurality of face directions, and plurality of touch control modules 72 installed in each direction of the column-shaped body respectively. In this embodiment, the column-shaped body 71 as shown in figure 7A is a hexagonal column with six face directions, and touch control modules 72 are installed in the six face directions of the hexagonal column respectively as shown in figure 7C. It is notable that the hexagonal column is used to only illustrate the achievements of the present invention, but not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any column-shaped input device that has a plurality of touch control modules installed in a plurality of different planes of the column-shaped body such as a tetrahedral column or a triangular column is intended to be protected by the patent claim of this invention .

The touch control modules 72 are provided to input two-dimensional data, and these two-dimensional data are integrated into two-dimensional data on the same plane, and a signal based on the integrated two-dimensional data is transmitted to the electronic device via the transmission module. signal 73. Since the two-dimensional data from different touch control modules 72 is integrated, the data processing procedure is similar to that of the column-shaped input device as shown in figure IA.

The column-shaped input device 7, if necessary, may further include a sensor to detect a physical quantity of the column-shaped input device 7, and the sensor preferably includes an acceleration sensor, a gravity sensor, a gyroscope or a digital compass to detect acceleration, a tilt angle, a rotation angle or a face direction of the column-shaped input device 7. A signal based on two-dimensional data or a physical quantity detected by a sensor is used to generate an operating instruction through an instruction identification module to provide users with a more complex and diverse method of operation. The instruction identification modules can be installed in the column-shaped body 7 or in the electronic device. The aforementioned signal transmission module 73 is a wireless signal transmission module, such as a Bluetooth transmission module, a frequency transmission module

17/17 radio, an infrared transmission module, or a signal transmission module via cable, such as a USB transmission module or an IEEE1394 module.

In addition, the column-shaped input device of the invention, if necessary, can install a trigger element, such as a push button or a photo switch element, to provide a trigger signal for a mode instruction identification module. to generate an instruction. If the touch control module does not receive data input for a period of time, the sensor will be switched to an idle state to save energy.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based on its teachings, changes and modifications can be made without leaving this invention and its broader aspects. Thus, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such changes and modifications within their scope, since they are within the true spirit and scope of the exemplary achievements of the present invention.

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