JP2000029629A - Handy input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handy input device capable of operating a mouse without securing a space for placing a pad. SOLUTION: In the case of turning a surface upwards and supporting a track ball 18 by a first roller group, that is in a state where the track ball 18 is partially exposed from a hole part 14 an operation is performed on a mouse pad. On the other hand, in the case of turning a bottom surface upwards and supporting the track ball 18 by a second roller group, that is in the state where the track ball 18 is present inside a mouse main body 10, the track ball 18 is rotated with the finger of a user and the operation is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handy input device used as an input device for a computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a mouse is used as an input device of a computer. This mouse has a configuration in which a sphere called a trackball is supported by rollers. By moving this mouse on a flat mouse pad, the direction and distance of the movement are sensed, and the direction and distance are detected. A pointer such as a cursor on the display is moved in correspondence.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a mouse which is a conventional handy input device. In the figure, reference numeral 40 denotes a mouse body. The mouse body 40 has a flat bottom surface and a curved surface. The mouse main body 40 includes a main body cover 41 and a click switch cover 42 constituting the front side,
It is assembled from the lower cover 43 constituting the bottom side. The mouse body 40 has a substantially elliptical shape. A hole 44 is formed on the bottom surface of the mouse body 40.

[0004] Inside the mouse body 40, an X-axis pointer roller 45, a Y-axis pointer roller 46, and a guide roller 47 are arranged so that their roller faces face inward. The track ball 48 is supported by the X-axis pointer roller 45, the Y-axis pointer roller 46, and the guide roller 47, and the track ball 48 is rotatable.

In the vicinity of the X-axis pointer roller 45 and the Y-axis pointer roller 46, a rotation driving means 49 and a sensor 50 for sensing the movement thereof are arranged, respectively. Therefore, by sensing the movement of the X-axis pointer roller 45 and the Y-axis pointer roller 46 with the sensor 50, the direction and distance of the movement of the trackball 48 can be reflected in the pointer movement.

[0006]

When using a conventional mouse, the cursor on the display cannot be moved without rolling the trackball on a flat mouse pad. Therefore, there is a need for a place for placing a mouse pad large enough to roll a trackball.

However, if a space for placing the mouse pad on the desk is secured, it is not possible to secure a sufficient space on the desk for spreading documents and the like. Also,
When using a notebook personal computer or the like, there is a case where no space for using the mouse is secured at all. In such a case, it is desired that the mouse can be operated without securing a space for placing the mouse pad.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a handy input device that can operate a mouse without securing a space for placing a pad.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has taken the following means. The present invention relates to a handy input device for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen, comprising: a device main body having a hole in a bottom surface; and a sphere having a size enough to be partially exposed from the hole. And a first roller group including a plurality of rollers capable of rotating the sphere while supporting the sphere in a state of being partially exposed from the hole, and the sphere in the apparatus main body. And a second roller group comprising a plurality of rollers capable of rotating the sphere, and a pointer displayed on a display screen by using the first and second roller groups. The handy input device is characterized in that the handy input device can be moved.

The present invention is also a handy input device for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen, comprising: a device main body having a hole in a bottom surface; A sphere having a size, a roller group including a plurality of rollers capable of rotating the sphere while supporting the sphere partially exposed from the hole, and A rotating member that supports the sphere and that can rotate the sphere, wherein a pointer displayed on a display screen can be moved by using the roller group and the rotating member. To provide a handy input device.

[0011] According to these configurations, the user can hold the device with the surface facing the palm, for example, and operate the sphere with the thumb to move the pointer displayed on the display screen. Thus, the mouse can be operated without securing a space for placing the pad.

In the present invention, when the pointer displayed on the display screen is moved by using the second roller group or the rotating member, the pointer is provided at a position on the apparatus main body where the user can easily press the pointer. It is preferable to further include an input switch provided.

According to this configuration, the user can easily press the second roller group or the rotating member when using the second roller group or the rotating member, so that the operability can be further improved.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the rotary member be in a state in which a switch other than the pressing input is in a non-input state. In addition, it is preferable to perform the pressing input by using a sphere.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a handy input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a bottom view and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a mouse body. The mouse body 10
The bottom surface is flat and the surface has a curved shape. The mouse main body 10 is assembled from a main body cover 11 and a click switch cover 12 constituting the front side, and a lower cover 13 constituting the bottom side. In addition, mouse body 1
0 has a substantially elliptical shape. A hole 14 is formed in the bottom surface of the mouse body 10.

On the bottom side inside the mouse main body 10, a first X-axis pointer roller 15, a first Y-axis pointer roller 16, and a first guide roller 17 are oriented such that their roller faces face inward. It is arranged to.
When the surface is directed upward, the trackball 1 is moved by the first X-axis pointer roller 15, the first Y-axis pointer roller 16, and the first guide roller 17.
8 is supported, and the trackball 18 is rotatable. Here, the first X-axis pointer roller 15, the first Y-axis pointer roller 16, and the first
Is referred to as a first roller group.

A second X-axis pointer roller 19, a second Y-axis pointer roller 20, and a second guide roller 21 are provided on the surface inside the mouse body 10.
Are arranged with their roller faces inward. When the bottom surface faces upward, the second X-axis pointer roller 19, the second Y-axis pointer roller 2
The track ball 18 is supported by the 0 and second guide rollers 21 and the track ball 18 is rotatable. Here, the second X-axis pointer roller 19, the second Y-axis pointer roller 20, and the second guide roller 21 are referred to as a second roller group.

First and second X-axis pointer rollers,
In the vicinity of the first and second Y-axis pointer rollers, a rotation driving unit and a sensor for sensing the movement thereof are arranged, respectively. Therefore, by sensing the movements of the first and second X-axis pointer rollers and the first and second Y-axis pointer rollers with sensors, the direction and distance of the movement of the trackball are reflected in the pointer movement. Can be.

In the state where the trackball 18 is supported by the second roller group inside the mouse main body 10, a click switch 22 is disposed at a position where the trackball 18 is turned on by pressing the trackball 18.

In the mouse having the above structure, when the trackball 18 is supported by the first roller group with the surface facing upward, that is, when the trackball 18 is partially exposed from the hole 14, Can be operated on the pad. The operation in this case is the same as the normal operation.

On the other hand, when the trackball 18 is supported by the second roller group with the bottom face upward, that is, when the position of the trackball 18 is changed and the trackball 18 is inside the mouse main body 10, the trackball 18 is moved by the user's finger. 18 can be rotated to operate. Thus, the mouse operation can be performed without securing the space for the mouse pad. In this case, the trackball 1
When the track ball 18 is pushed in, the track ball 18 pushes the click switch 22 to turn on the switch.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing a configuration of a handy input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a bottom view and FIG. 2B is a sectional view. In the device shown in FIG. 2, the trackball 18 is supported by the first roller group and can contact the leaf spring 23. The leaf spring 23 is provided with a knob 24 provided on the main body cover 11.
Attached to a cam 25 connected to the cam. Thus, a rotating member is configured. The cam 25 has a large diameter portion 25.
a, and the small-diameter portion 25b. The track ball 18 is supported by the first roller group and the leaf spring 23 by pressing the leaf spring 23 with the large-diameter portion 25a. This allows the user to rotate the trackball 18 with the user's finger to operate the device with the bottom surface facing upward. In this case, it is preferable that switches other than the click switch 22 are set to the non-input state in the rotating member. In this case, by pushing the trackball 18 in, the trackball 1
8 presses the click switch 22 to turn on the switch.

When the large diameter portion 25a is not in contact with the leaf spring 23, the surface of the trackball 1 is turned upward.
8 can be operated on the mouse pad in a state where the track ball 18 is supported by the first roller group, that is, in a state where the trackball 18 is partially exposed from the hole portion 14. The operation in this case is the same as the normal operation.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a tact switch button 26 for a click switch may be provided outside the mouse body 10. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the tact switch button 26 at a position where the user can easily press the mouse when holding the mouse in his hand. Thereby, the operability can be further improved.

[0025]

As described above, the handy input device according to the present invention can be operated on the mouse pad when the sphere is supported by the first roller group with the front surface facing upward, and the bottom surface faces upward. In the case where the sphere is supported by the second roller group, the sphere can be rotated and operated with the user's finger, so that the mouse can be operated without securing a space for placing the pad. . This allows
The mouse can be operated anywhere, and the posture of the user can be freely set. As a result, the convenience of a mouse can be extended to a portable computer such as a notebook computer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a handy input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a bottom view and (b) is a cross-sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a handy input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a bottom view and (b)
Is a sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a use state of a handy input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional handy input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Mouse body, 11 Body cover, 12 Click switch cover, 13 Lower cover, 14 Hole, 15
First X-axis pointer roller, 16... First Y-axis pointer roller, 17... First guide roller, 18.
Trackball, 19: second pointer roller for X-axis, 20: second pointer roller for Y-axis, 21: second
Guide roller, 22 ... click switch, 23 ... leaf spring, 24 ... knob, 25a ... large diameter part, 25b ... small diameter part,
25 ... Cam, 26 ... Press button.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A handy input device for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen, comprising: a device main body having a hole on a bottom surface; and a size enough to be partially exposed from the hole. A sphere, a first roller group including a plurality of rollers capable of rotating the sphere while supporting the sphere partially exposed from the hole, and And a second roller group configured of a plurality of rollers capable of rotating the sphere while supporting the sphere, wherein the first and second roller groups are used to display on a display screen. A handy input device capable of moving a pointer. 2. A handy input device for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen, comprising: a device main body having a hole on a bottom surface; and a size enough to be partially exposed from the hole. A sphere, a roller group configured by a plurality of rollers capable of rotating the sphere while supporting the sphere partially exposed from the hole, and supporting the sphere in the apparatus main body. And a rotating member capable of rotating the sphere, and a pointer displayed on a display screen can be moved by using the roller group and the rotating member. . 3. When the pointer displayed on a display screen is moved by use of the second roller group or the rotating member, the pointer is provided at a position of the apparatus main body that facilitates a user's pressing input. The handy input device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an input switch. 4. The handy input device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary member turns off a switch other than a pressing input. 5. When a pointer displayed on a display screen is moved by using the second roller group or the rotating member, a pressing input is performed by a sphere. The handy input device as described.