JPH04326113A - Mouse and track ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a device having both functions of a mouse and a track ball by providing a rotary coupling part which couples a 1st case equipped with a ball and encoders and a 2nd case equipped with button switches and an electric circuit, which processes and transmits a signal to the outside, in a mutually rotatable state. CONSTITUTION:The 1st case 1 is equipped with the ball 2 which projects out of the case surface partially and is rotatable and a couple of encoders 3 which detect the rotation of the ball 2 divisionally as rotation components in two right-angled directions and transduce them into an electric signal. The 2nd case 3 is equipped with the button switch 5 arranged on the top of the case, the button switch 5 arranged in the case, and the electric circuit 6 which processes the signal of the encoder 3 and sends it to external equipment through a cord 7. The 1st case 1 and 2nd case 4 are formed to the same sectional shape size and coupled by the rotary coupling part 8 in contact rotatably on an axis concentric with the center of the section.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Object of the invention]

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a man-machine interface input device for electronic equipment and information processing equipment.

0003

[Prior Art] Pointing devices for electronic computers (
A mouse and a trackball are commonly used as devices for pointing to a point on a display screen. A mouse is a device that fits in a person's hand, and has a ball on the bottom that rolls back and forth, left and right, and a button switch on the top. The amount of movement of the device is determined by the rolling of the ball, and the cursor is moved on the display screen. The use of a mouse requires a large flat surface on which to move it.

[0004] A trackball is used stationary and has a button switch and a ball on its top surface. The ball is mainly rotated by the fingers, and the amount and direction of the cursor movement is derived from the amount of rotation. With a trackball, you only need to move the ball, but it takes some skill to control the movement of the cursor on the screen by rotating the ball.

[0005] In this way, the mouse and trackball are
have contradictory characteristics.

[0006]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In situations where the operating environment of the pointing device changes frequently (such as when a portable computer is moved from place to place), it may be necessary to have both a mouse and a trackball. . However, this is complicated and increases costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to realize a mouse-cum-trackball that has both the functions of a mouse and a trackball in one pointing device.

[Configuration of the invention]

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A trackball that can also be used as a mouse according to the present invention includes a ball that partially protrudes from the case surface to be freely rotatable, and the rotation of this ball is detected by dividing it into two rotations at right angles, and an electric current is generated. a first case equipped with an encoder that converts the signals into signals; a second case equipped with a button switch arranged on the top surface of the case and an electronic circuit arranged inside the case that processes the signals of the button switch and encoder and transmits them to the outside; This configuration includes a rotational coupling portion that rotatably connects both of these cases to each other.

0010

[Function] In the mouse trackball of the present invention, the first case and the second case are rotatably connected, so it can be used as a mouse by pointing the button switch upward and the protruding surface of the ball downward. , it can be used as a trackball if both the switch and the protruding surfaces of the ball face upward.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be explained in detail below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show a trackball that can also be used as a mouse according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the first case 1 includes a ball 2 that partially protrudes from the case surface and is freely rotatable, and the rotation of this ball 2 is divided into two rotations at right angles and detected respectively. A set of two encoders 3 (only one encoder is shown in the figure) is provided for converting the signal into an electric signal.

The second case 4 includes a button switch 5 arranged on the upper surface of the case and an electronic circuit 6 arranged inside the case for processing signals from the button switch 5 and the encoder 3 and transmitting the signals to external equipment via a cord 7. It is equipped with

The first case 1 and the second case 4 are made to have the same cross-sectional shape and dimensions, and are closely connected to each other by a rotating coupling portion 8 so as to be rotatable and close to each other around an axis concentric with the center of the cross-section. It consists of a trackball that doubles as a mouse. Therefore, this trackball that doubles as a mouse can be compacted into a size that fits in a person's hand.

In the mouse trackball of the embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above, the first case 1 and the second case 4 can rotate about the axis of the rotary coupling part 8 independently of each other. 1 case 1 to 2 case 4 to 180
Even if the first case 1 is turned upside down by rotating the button switch 5, the second case 4 can keep the button switch 5 facing upward.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1(a), if the first case 1 is placed on a flat surface with the ball protruding surface facing downward and the second case 4 is placed on a flat surface with the button switch 5 facing upward, this can also be used as a mouse. The trackball allows operations such as moving on a plane and pressing the button switch 5 in the same way as a general mouse.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1(b), if the first case 1 is placed with the ball protruding surface facing upward and the second case 4 is placed with the button switch 5 facing upward, it can be used as a regular trackball. Similarly, operations such as rotating the ball 2 or pressing the button switch 5 with the fingers of the hand are possible.

Therefore, even if the environment in which the pointing device is used changes frequently, such as when a wide flat surface is available or not, and it is necessary to prepare both a mouse and a trackball, the mouse and trackball of the present invention can be used as both a mouse and a trackball. This is very convenient as you can deal with this problem by preparing one trackball.

[0019]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the ball is partially protruded from the case surface and is rotatable, and the rotation of this ball is detected by dividing it into two rotations at right angles, and electrical signals are generated. a first case equipped with an encoder that converts into a second case; a second case equipped with a button switch disposed on the top surface of the case and an electronic circuit disposed inside the case that processes the signals of the button switch and encoder and transmits them to the outside; By creating a trackball that can be used as a mouse and equipped with a rotary joint that rotatably connects both cases to each other, it can be used as a mouse by pointing the button switch upwards and the protruding surface of the ball downwards, allowing both the switch and the ball to function as a mouse. It can be used as a trackball by turning both protruding surfaces upward. Therefore, even if the environment in which the pointing device is used changes frequently, such as being able to use a wide flat surface or not, there is no need to prepare both a mouse and a trackball, eliminating complexity and unnecessary costs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 shows a trackball that can also be used as a mouse according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1(a) is a schematic sectional view showing the state in which it is used as a mouse, and FIG. 1(b) shows the state in which it is used as a trackball. It is a schematic sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...First case 2...Ball 3...Encoder 4...Second case 5...Button switch 6...Electronic circuit 8...Rotating joint

Claims (1)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A first case comprising a rotatable ball that partially protrudes from the case surface, and an encoder that detects the rotation of the ball by dividing it into two rotations at right angles and converts it into an electrical signal; a second case including a button switch disposed on the top surface and an electronic circuit disposed within the case for processing and transmitting signals from the button switch and the encoder to the outside; and a rotary coupling portion that rotatably connects both cases to each other. A trackball that can also be used as a mouse.