JP2001060139A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more improve operability concerning a pointing device for information equipment such as personal computer. SOLUTION: Concerning the pointing device called pad type, a detector 5 is integrated for detecting a console panel 4 for operating a pointer with a finger is pressed more than certain power, and operated similarly to the left click key of a mouse. A new switch function is added to such a console panel itself. Thus, when the surface of the console panel is traced with a finger and the pointer is moved to a prescribed position, a switch is turned on by pressing the console panel with the same finger and both pointer operation and left click operation can be simultaneously performed with one finger by tracing the surface of the console panel with the finger while a little stronger pressing it as it is. Thus, drag and drop operation or operation such as range designation can be simultaneously performed with one finger and the pointer can be more easily operated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device for information equipment such as a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional portable personal computer, a pointing device for operating a mouse pointer (hereinafter referred to as a pointer) on a screen is provided near a keyboard. A pointing device called a pad type shown in FIG. 1 is a pointing device that traces the operation plate with a finger, converts the movement into X-axis and Y-axis variations, and performs a pointer operation. Keys are separately installed near the operation panel.

[0003]

The above-mentioned pad type pointing device can easily operate the pointer on the screen by tracing up, down, left and right on the operation surface with a finger. However, since the pointer operation and the left click key of the mouse are set at different places, in the case of a compound operation where the pointer operation is performed while pressing the left click key (drag & drop operation, etc.), several fingers are used. It is necessary to use both at the same time or to operate with both hands, and there is a problem that the operability is lower than that of a commonly used mouse.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and
This is a pointing device that can simultaneously perform a composite operation such as a drop operation and a range designation with the same finger, thereby improving operability.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a detector for detecting a change when a newly pressed operation surface is slightly pressed with a finger is attached. The detector is turned ON when it is pressed with a certain force.
The state becomes the FF state. Detectors include those using a switch and those using a pressure sensor.

When a switch is used as a detector, the switch is turned on (ON state) when the operation plate moves (moves) when the operation plate is pressed with a certain force or more. When the pressing force is reduced or the finger is released from the operation plate, the operation plate itself is configured to return to the original position by a spring or the like. At that time, the switch is turned off. With such a structure, the pointer is traced on the operation plate with a finger to a target location, and when the pointer moves to a desired position, the detector (switch) is turned on by pressing the operation surface with the same finger as it is. By tracing the operation board with a finger while keeping it slightly pressed, two operations can be performed at once. This makes it easier to perform drag-and-drop and other complex operations than using the left click key with one finger and dragging the operation board with the other finger to operate the pointer. And excellent operability can be realized.

When a pressure sensor is used as a detector,
The structure is such that the force pressing the operation plate is transmitted to the pressure sensor. When a pressure signal exceeding a certain level is detected, the semiconductor switch is turned ON based on the signal, and OFF when it is lower than that.
State. With this structure, when the pointer moves to the desired position, press the operation surface with the same finger as it is to activate the pressure sensor, turn on the semiconductor switch based on the signal, and push slightly hard as it is By tracing the operation plate with a finger in a state where the pointer is left, the same operation (drag and drop, etc.) as when the pointer is operated while the left click key is pressed can be performed. As a result, a pointing device with excellent operability can be realized.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of an embodiment of a personal computer to which the present invention is applied. A computer body 1,
The display device 2 and the keyboard 3 are integrally formed. The computer body 1 is a central processing unit (CP)
U) and various storage devices, and the display device 2 is openable and closable. An operation plate 4 of a pointing device to which the present invention is applied is mounted in front of the keyboard. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the computer main body as viewed from above. FIG.
Is a right side view of the computer main body.

FIG. 5 is a view of the keyboard section of the main body as viewed from above. In this embodiment, a description will be given by using a switch as a detector. A microswitch 5 is provided below the operation plate 4 as a detector. The operation plate 4 moves up and down by about 1 mm, and is always lifted upward by the spring of the switch 5. The operation plate 4 does not move downward by the pressure of the finger when the operation surface is traced by the normal pointer operation. When the operation plate 4 is pressed with a force two to three times the cursor operation, the operation plate 4 moves downward, and the switch 5 Is set to be ON. In this embodiment, a switch 5 having the same function as the left click key is mounted below the operation plate 4. Further, the switch 6 is provided at the lower right of the operation plate as equivalent to a right click key. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the keyboard section as viewed from the front.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously perform a composite operation such as a pointer operation and a left click operation with the same finger by using a vertical change or a pressure change of the operation plate itself. This makes it possible to realize a more operable pointing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates a pointing device called a pad type used in an existing portable personal computer.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of a portable personal computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the keyboard section of the embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pointing device of the embodiment as viewed from the front.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer main body 2 Display device 3 Keyboard 4 Operation board 5 Micro switch (detector) 6 Right switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 2. Description of the Related Art In an information device such as a personal computer, there is a pointing device called a pad type as a device for operating a mouse pointer. The pointing device is characterized by a structure in which a detector for detecting the operation of the operation portion (operation plate) of the device by pressing it with a finger is newly combined. The detector is turned on by pressing the operation plate with a finger at a certain pressure or higher, and is turned off by weakening the pressing force. Use this detector as the left mouse click key. By doing so, the finger on the operation plate is operated up, down, left and right while the detector is operated (ON state) while pressing the operation plate slightly with a finger, so that the mouse pointer operation can be performed. Left click operation can be performed at the same time. As a result, even in a pointing device called a pad-type pointing device, it is possible to perform a composite operation such as a drag & drop operation and a range designation with one finger without using separate fingers.