Position and image data generating unit

Claim 2

A position and image data generating unit which has a position data generating function and a function to input the image information from an object to be detected, .characterized by: a housing (12); position outputting means (42) installed in said housing (12) for providing data representing the position of said housing (12); image reading means (22) installed on said housing (12) for reading image information; and switching means (36) for switching the operation between said position outputting means (42) and said image reading means (22) in said housing (12).

Claim 3

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 1, in which said switching means (36) carries out control to have either one of said position outputting means (42) and said image reading means (22) to be operated.

Claim 4

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 2, in which said position outputting means includes a rolling ball (14) which makes contact with the surface (32) of the object, and means (36) for providing position data for said housing (12) based on the rolled distance of the rolling ball (14).

Claim 5

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising: guiding means (24) for regulating the direction of rolling of the rolling ball (14) to make it possible to move said housing (12) in a fixed direction when said image reading unit (22) is in operation.

Claim 6

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 4, in which said switching means comprises an elastic part (26) which is disposed between said rolling ball (14) and said housing (12) and a first switch (36) which outputs a signal, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement, to actuate said image reading means (22) as well as to interrupt the operation of said position ouputting means (42).

Claim 7

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 4, in which said switching means comprises an elastic part (26) which is inserted between said rolling ball (14) and said housing (12) and a first switch (36) which outputs a signal that actuates said image reading means (22) when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement.

Claim 8

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 5 or 6 in which said guiding means comprises a guiding roller (24) arranged in said housing for bringing, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by'a predetermined amount of displacement, said housing (12) to make contact with the surface of the object in order to make said housing (12) movable in a fixed direction.

Claim 9

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 5, in which said position outputting means further comprises rotary encoders (38,40) for measuring the rolled distances in the X and Y directions of the rolling ball (14) which rolls on the surface of the object, a position output section (42) for computing the total amount of displacement of said housing (22) from the numbers of pulses output by the rotary encoders (38,40) and a second switch (34) for causing output of the total amount of displacement of said housing computed at the position output section (42).

Claim 10

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 8, in which said image reading means comprises an image scanner (22) for reading the image information, and an image outputting section (44) for outputting image data corresponding to a pulse signal, by receiving the image from the image scanner (22) and the pulse signal from the rotary encoder (40) for the Y direction.

Claim 11

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 9, in which the first switch (36) is arranged, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement, to be turned on to start the operations of the image scanner (22) and the image output section (44) as well as to interrupt the operation of the position outputting section (42).

Claim 12

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 4., in which said switching means comprises a switch (36) for switching between operation and interruption of operation of said image reading means (22).

Claim 13

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 2, in which said position outputting means (42) is arranged for use with a lattice-like pattern provided beforehand on a surface, and comprises means for detecting how many of the lattice points are crossed in the X and Y directions.

Claim 14

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 12, in which said switching means (36) comprises a switch for switching between operation and interruption of operation of said image reading means (22).

Claim 15

A position and image data generating unit which has a position inputting function and a function for receiving image information from an object to be detected characterized by: a housing (12); position outputting means which includes a rolling ball (14) that makes contact with the surface of the object to be detected, for outputting the position data of said housing (12) based on the rolled distance of the rolling ball (14); an elastic part (26) which is inserted between said rolling ball (14) and said housing (12); an image scanner (22) for reading the image information; an image outputting section (44) which receives the image data from the image scanner (22) for outputting image data in accordance with distance moved in the direction of motion of the scanner; a guiding roller (24) arranged in said housing (12) which brings, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement, said housing (12) into a position to make contact with the surface of the object to be detected in order to make said housing (12) movable in a fixed direction; and a first switch (36) arranged to output, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement, a signal that causes the image outputting section (44) to start operation as well as to interrupt the operation of the position outputting means (42) that has been in operation.

Claim 16

A position and image data generating unit which has a position inputting function and a function for receiving image information from an object to be detected characterized by: a housing (12); position outputting means which includes a rolling ball (14) that makes contact with the surface of the object to be detected, for outputting the position data of said housing (12) based on the rolled distance of the rolling ball (14); an elastic part (26) which is inserted between said rolling ball (14) and said housing (12); an image scanner (22) for reading the image information; an image outputting section (44) which receives the image data from the image scanner (22) for outputting image data in accordance with distance moved in the direction of motion of the scanner; a guiding roller (24) arranged in said housing (12) which brings, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement, said housing (12) into a position to make contact with the surface of the object to be detected in order to make said housing (12) movable in a fixed direction; and a first switch (36) arranged to output, when the elastic part (26) is compressed by a predetermined amount of displacement, a signal that causes the image outputting section (44) to start operation as well as to interrupt the operation of the position outputting means (42) that has been in operation.

Claim 17

A position and image data generating unit as claimed in Claim 5, in which said position outputting means (42) further comprises rotary encoders (38,40) for measuring the rolled distances in the X and Y direction of the rolling ball (14) which rolls on the surface of the object, a position outputting section (42) for computing the total amount of displacement of said housing (12) from the numbers of pulses outputted by the rotary encoders (38,40), and a second switch (34) for causing output of the total amount of displacment of said housing (12) as computed at the position output section (42).