Manual implement for inputting incremental information by attitude control

摘要

An information input apparatus inputs information into a machine. An implement is manually operable to vary either of a position and a direction of the implement relative to a reference point. At least one light source is disposed at one of the implement and the reference point for transmitting an optical ray to the other of the implement and the reference point. A detector is disposed at the other of the implement and the reference point for receiving the optical ray to detect a physical variation of either of the position and the direction of the implement so as to input displacement information representative of an incremental/decremental amount into the machine according to the detected physical variation. The detector has a periodic pattern for spatially modulating the optical ray to form a periodic image which shifts in response to the physical variation of the implement. An image sensor of the detector has an array of pixels for capturing the shifting periodical image to output a corresponding periodic signal. A processor is provided for processing the periodic signal to extract therefrom the physical variation of the implement to thereby form the displacement information which is fed to the machine.