JP2002073275A - Mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouse that also functions as the interface device of a storage medium. SOLUTION: This mouse 10 provided with a case 11, a movement detecting means 12 provided inside the case and at least two operation buttons 14 and 15 arranged on the side or top face of the case is further provided with a housing part 22 having an opening part 22a on the case surface to receive the storage medium 21 capable of storing data, a connector 23 to be electrically connected to a terminal part 21a provided at the edge of the storage medium when the storage medium is received by the housing part, and a data processing means which is connected to the connector and writes/reads data to/from the storage medium, and a storage medium ejecting means 24 for pushing out the storage medium received by the housing part toward the opening part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a coordinate input device, and more particularly to a mouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a coordinate input device, for example,
A so-called mouse that performs an input operation while moving on a plane is widely used. Such a mouse may be, for example, a mechanical movement detection unit configured to detect a rotation direction and a rotation amount of a ball rotatably supported in a case therein, or may be configured to optically detect a horizontal movement of a case. Optical movement detecting means.

[0003] According to the mouse constructed as described above, the case is moved horizontally, and the X or X is moved by mechanical or optical movement detecting means in accordance with the amount of movement.
The amount of movement in the Y direction is detected, and a detection signal is output to a connected personal computer or the like. Thus, coordinate input is performed, and various input operations can be performed by appropriately operating a plurality of operation buttons.

[0004]

In recent years, such a mouse having a USB standard interface has become widespread, and is commonly used with other keyboards and various peripheral devices provided in a personal computer or the like. USB connectors have become available.

On the other hand, in recent years, with the spread of digital cameras and the like, small storage media such as Compact Flash (registered trademark), smart media, and memory sticks have been used, and these storage media have been used. By using a medium, data captured by a digital camera or the like can be easily transferred to a personal computer, and data can be edited on the personal computer.

[0006] However, personal computers and the like which are frequently used at present do not often have an interface for directly accessing these storage media. Therefore, in order to use the storage medium in such a personal computer or the like, it is necessary to add an interface device for interconnecting the storage medium and the personal computer.

[0007] As such an interface device,
For example, an adapter to be inserted into a PC card slot is known. However, if such an adapter is used, the PC card slot is dedicated, which hinders the addition of other peripheral devices. There was a problem. Further, when the storage medium insertion unit is externally attached to a personal computer, it is necessary to newly secure a space for installing the insertion unit around the personal computer, and to connect the insertion unit to the adapter. There is a problem that a cable is required and the area around the personal computer becomes complicated.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a mouse that also functions as an interface device for a storage medium.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a case (11), a movement detecting means (12) provided in the case (11), and a side or upper surface of the case (11). At least two operation buttons (1
In a mouse (10) provided with 4) and (15),
An accommodating portion (22) having an opening (22a) in a case surface for receiving a storage medium (21) capable of holding data.
And a connector (2) that is electrically connected to a terminal (21a) provided at an edge of the storage medium (21) when the storage medium (21) is received in the storage section (22).
3), a data processing means connected to the connector (23) for writing and / or reading data to and from the storage medium (21), and the storage medium (21) received in the storage section (22). And a storage medium ejecting means (24) for pushing out toward the opening (22a).

[0010] In the mouse (10) according to the present invention, preferably, the storage medium removing means (24) includes a storage medium (2).
1) and a slider (25) supported so as to be slidable in the direction of taking out the storage medium (21).

In the mouse (10) according to the present invention, preferably, the slider (25) has a projection (25d) for engaging with a recess (21b) provided in the storage medium (21).

In the mouse (10) according to the present invention, preferably, the slider (25) has an operating section (2) projecting from a slide hole (11c) provided in a side surface of the case (11).
6).

In the mouse (10) according to the present invention, the slider (25) is preferably urged by a spring (25b) in a direction opposite to a direction in which the storage medium (21) is taken out.

The mouse (10) according to the present invention is preferably arranged such that the movement detecting means (12) and the data processing means comprise:
It is connected to various devices via a cable (19).

The mouse (10) according to the present invention is preferably arranged such that the movement detecting means (12) and the data processing means comprise:
Wirelessly connected to various devices.

According to the above arrangement, the user moves the case (11) in the X and Y directions, for example, on a desk, and the movement detecting means (12) detects the moving direction and the moving amount. Output to computer etc. Thus, coordinate input is performed. In addition, a predetermined input operation can be performed when the user operates at least two operation buttons (14) and (15) disposed on the side surface or the upper surface of the case (11).

Furthermore, the case (11) of the mouse (10)
By inserting the storage medium (21) from the opening (22a) into the storage section (22) provided in the storage medium (2),
The terminal (21a) at the edge of 1) is connected to the data processing means via the connector (23), so that the data processing means writes and reads data to and from the storage medium (21). Thus, various devices to which the mouse (10) is connected can use the storage medium (21) as auxiliary storage means, and can use the mouse (1).
0) to various devices, the storage medium (2)
1) can also be connected to various devices.

Then, the storage medium (21) is stored in the storage section (2).
In the case of removing from the storage medium (21), the user operates the storage medium removal means (24) to remove the storage medium (21).
Is pushed out of the storage section (22), and the end of the storage medium (21) is exposed from the opening (22a). Thereby, the user can store the storage medium (2) protruding from the opening (22a).
By holding the end of 1) by hand and pulling it out of the storage section (22), the storage medium (21) can be easily taken out.

In the case where the storage medium take-out means (24) is constituted by a slider (25) engaged with the storage medium (21) and slidably supported in the take-out direction of the storage medium (21). Is moved by sliding of the slider (25).
The storage medium (21) is opened together with the slider (25) in the opening (2).
By moving in the removal direction towards 2a),
The storage medium (21) is pushed out of the storage section (22), and the end of the storage medium (21) is exposed from the opening (22a).

The slider (25) is provided with a storage medium (2).
The projection (25) engaging with the concave portion (21b) provided in 1)
d), the protrusion (25d) of the slider (25) is provided with the concave portion (2) provided in the storage medium (21).
1b), the storage medium (21) is moved in the ejection direction by sliding of the slider (25).

The slider (25) is provided in the case (11).
When an operation section (26) protruding from a slide hole (11c) provided on the side face is provided, the user slides the operation section (26) protruding on the side face of the case (11) to thereby provide a slider. (25) slides and the storage medium (2)
1) is moved in the unloading direction.

The slider (25) includes a spring (25b)
When the storage medium (21) is urged in the direction opposite to the take-out direction of the storage medium (21) by the
When the terminal portion (21a) provided on the edge of the storage medium (21) is connected to the connector (23) and is received by the connector (2), the slider (25) slides in the removal direction carelessly. Therefore, the storage medium (21) can be reliably electrically connected to the connector (23).

When the movement detecting means (12) and the data processing means are connected to various devices via a cable (19), they can be used similarly to a conventional cable-connected mouse. it can.

When the movement detecting means (12) and the data processing means are wirelessly connected to various devices, they can be used as a wireless mouse, and a connection cable (19) Is unnecessary, so that the operability is improved and the portability is further improved. Note that the reference numerals in the parentheses are provided for easy understanding, and are merely examples.
It is not limited to these.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 to 4 show one embodiment of a mouse according to the present invention. 1 to 4, a mouse 10 includes a case 11 and a case 1.
1, an optical movement detecting means 12, an LED 13 as a light emitting means, two operation buttons 14 and 15 provided on an upper surface of the case 11, and two operating buttons 14 and 15 provided in the case 11. It is composed of switches 14a and 15a operated by operation buttons, a wheel 16 provided between the operation buttons 14 and 15, an optical lens system 17, and a storage medium adapter unit 20 for receiving a storage medium. ing. Incidentally, the optical movement detecting means 12, LE
D13 is mounted on a substrate 18 provided in the case 11. The case 11 is actually composed of a lower case 11a and an upper case 11b.

The optical movement detecting means 12 is configured as a semiconductor chip, and has a light receiving surface 12a on the lower surface. The optical movement detecting means 12 is commercially available as an optical sensor. Based on the reflected light incident from the light receiving surface 12a, the optical movement detecting means 12 determines a change in the surface state of the reflective surface, A relative movement direction and a movement amount in two directions are detected.

The LED 13 is mounted horizontally on the substrate 18 and emits light downward through the optical lens system 17. The switches 14a and 15a are attached to the lower case 11a of the case 11, and are turned on and off by pressing two operation buttons 14 and 15 provided on the upper surface. The wheel 16 is similarly attached to the lower case 11a of the case 11, and the amount of rotation is detected by a sensor (not shown).

The detection signal detected by the optical movement detecting means 12, the on / off of the switches 14a and 15a and the amount of rotation of the wheel 16 are determined by an appropriate processing circuit (not shown) formed on the substrate 18. After being processed through a USB control circuit (not shown), the signal is converted into a signal corresponding to the USB interface, and is further transmitted from a USB hub (not shown) via a cable 19 or by a wireless method such as infrared transmission. , To a personal computer or the like. In the case of the wireless system, a power supply battery can be built in the case 11.

The optical lens system 17 is disposed below the optical movement detecting means 12 between the substrate 18 and the bottom surface of the lower case 11a of the case 11. Then, the optical lens system 17 acts as a reflecting surface for the LED 13 and a convex lens for the light receiving surface 12a.
The light from the ED 13 is reflected downward and collected, and the light reflected from a reflecting surface (not shown) such as a desk surface is collected on the light receiving surface 12a of the optical movement detecting means 12. It has become.

The storage medium adapter unit 20 includes a storage part 22 for receiving the storage medium 21, a connector 23 provided at the innermost part of the storage part 22, and data processing means (not shown) connected to the connector 23. ) And storage medium take-out means 24. Here, the data processing means corresponds to the USB interface,
It is connected to the B hub.

The storage section 22 defines a flat rectangular parallelepiped internal space corresponding to the shape of the storage medium 21 (a memory stick in the case of the drawing), and is located on the front side of the upper case 11 b of the case 11. An opening 22a is provided.

The storage medium take-out means 24 is
2, a slider 25 supported on the case 11 so as to be slidable along the insertion direction (ie, removal direction) of the storage medium 21, an operation portion 26 extending laterally from the slider 25, It is composed of

The slider 25 is slidably supported by a guide shaft 25a provided on the case 11 and extending in the take-out direction, and is urged by a tension spring 25b in a direction opposite to the take-out direction. Further, the slider 25
Has a part 25c extending to the upper part of the storage part 22. The lower part of the extension part 25c is provided on the upper surface of the storage medium 21 via a guide groove 22b provided in the storage part 22. The projection 25d engages with the recess 21b. Reference numeral 25e in the figure is a guide rail that enables the slider 25 to run stably. The concave portion 21b on the upper surface of the storage medium 21 is not newly provided for taking out the storage medium 21, but is already provided in the commercially available storage medium 21. As described above, the protrusion 25d of the slider 25 is configured to engage with the concave portion 21b of the storage medium 21, but the protrusion 25d of the slider 25 engages with the insertion end of the storage medium 21. May be configured.

The operating portion 26 is integrally attached to the slider 25 inside the case 11 and passes through a slider hole 11c provided on the side surface of the lower case 11a of the case 11 and extending in a take-out direction. And Case 1
It is exposed on one side.

The mouse 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above.
USB plug (not shown) attached to the tip of
It is connected to a personal computer by connecting to a USB connector provided on the personal computer.

The mouse 10 functions as a mouse when placed on the surface of a desk or the like. At that time, LED
13 emits light, and the emitted light illuminates, via the optical lens system 17, a surface area such as a desk or the like on which the light receiving surface 12a of the optical movement detecting means 12 faces. As a result, the light reflected by the surface region enters the light receiving surface 12a of the optical movement detecting means 12 via the optical lens system 18.

In this state, the user moves the small mouse 10
When the case 11 is moved horizontally on the surface of a desk or the like, the reflected light incident on the light receiving surface 12a of the optical movement detecting means 12 changes with the relative movement of the surface area, and The movement detecting means 12 detects a relative moving direction and a moving amount with respect to the surface region based on the change of the reflected light. When the user operates the operation buttons 14 and 15, the switches 14 a and 15 a are operated by the operation buttons 14 and 15. When the user operates the wheel 16, a sensor (not shown) rotates the rotation amount. Is detected.

Thus, the detection signal of the optical movement detecting means 12, the on / off of the switches 14a and 15a and the rotation amount of the wheel 16 are processed by an appropriate processing circuit, and furthermore, the USB control circuit, the USB hub and the cable 1
9 to a personal computer or the like.
Thus, the cursor and the like are moved on the screen of the display device (not shown) of the personal computer in accordance with the moving direction and the moving amount of the case 11, and the appropriate operation is performed by operating the operation buttons 14, 15 and the wheel 16. Processing is performed.

The mouse 10 also functions as an adapter unit for the storage medium 21. In this case, first, the user inserts the storage medium 21 into the storage section 22 through the opening 22a. Then, in a state where the storage medium 21 is completely pushed in, the terminal portion 21 a at the edge of the storage medium 21 is electrically connected to the connector 23.

The storage medium 21 received in the storage section 22 in this manner is connected to the USB connector of the personal computer from the connector 23 via the USB hub and further via the cable 19, The data processing means writes and / or reads data to and from the storage medium 21 based on a command from the computer. In this case, since the slider 25 is urged in the direction opposite to the take-out direction by the tension of the spring 25b, the storage medium take-out means 24 inadvertently moves in the take-out direction,
There is no possibility that one terminal portion 21a comes off the connector 23.

When removing the storage medium 21 from the storage section 22, the user moves the operation section 26 exposed on the side surface of the case 11 in the removal direction. Thereby, the operation unit 2
The slider 25 integral with 6 moves in the removal direction similarly against the tension of the spring 25b, and at this time, the projection 25d moves while pushing the storage medium 21 in the removal direction.
Therefore, the storage medium 21 has the opening 22 a
Toward the opening 22 of the housing 22.
Stop at a position protruding by a predetermined dimension from a. here,
The user pulls out the end portion of the storage medium 21 protruding from the opening 22 a by hand and pulls out the storage medium 21 from the storage section 22. After that, the slider 25
It moves in the direction opposite to the take-out direction based on the tension of the spring 25b.

In this case, the storage medium adapter unit 20
Is connected to the personal computer at the same time without occupying the PC card slot and connecting the connection cable of the mouse 10 to the USB connector of the personal computer as in the prior art. It is possible to easily and easily connect to a personal computer without any trouble. Further, when the storage medium 21 is taken out, the storage medium 21 is stored in the storage section 22 by the storage medium taking out means 24.
Can be easily removed from

In the above embodiment, the mouse 10
Although the operation buttons 14, 15 and the wheel 16 are disposed on the upper surface or the side surface of the case 11 with respect to the case, the operation buttons are not limited to this, and the operation buttons may be arbitrary on the case to improve operability. May be arranged at the position. Further, in the above embodiment, the mouse 10 has two operation buttons 1
Although four and fifteen are provided, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to this and three or more operation buttons may be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, the optical movement detecting means 12 and the LED 13 are mounted on the board 18, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the board 18 may be omitted. In this case, each component, that is, the optical movement detecting means 1
2. The LED 13 is attached to a predetermined position on the inner surface of the lower case 11a or the upper case 11b of the case 11. In the above embodiment, the mouse 10 is a so-called US
The mouse is configured as a B interface mouse, but is not limited thereto, and may be configured as a PS / 2 standard mouse, or may be configured as a so-called wireless mouse using infrared rays or the like.

Further, in the above embodiment, the mouse 10 is configured to optically detect the horizontal movement of the mouse 10 by the optical movement detecting means 12 and the LED 13, but the present invention is not limited to this. The ball and the direction and amount of rotation of the ball are mechanically detected.
It is clear that the present invention can be applied to a mouse having a so-called mechanical movement detecting means. In the above embodiment, the mouse 10 is connected to a personal computer for use. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Obviously, the coordinate information may be input using the mouse 10 and the storage medium 21 may be connected to various devices that use the storage medium 21 as an auxiliary storage device.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the user can move the case in the XY directions, for example, on a desk, and the movement detecting means can detect the moving direction and the moving amount. For example, output to a personal computer or the like.
Thus, coordinate input is performed. Also,
A predetermined input operation can be performed by the user operating at least two operation buttons provided on the side surface or the upper surface of the case.

Further, by inserting the storage medium into the storage portion provided in the case of the mouse through the opening, the terminal at the edge of the storage medium is connected to the data processing means via the connector, so that the data can be stored. Processing means writes and reads data to and from the storage medium. Thereby, various devices to which the mouse is connected can use the storage medium as the auxiliary storage means, and by connecting the mouse to the various devices, the storage medium can also be connected to the various devices. it can.

When the storage medium is taken out of the storage section, the user operates the storage medium take-out means so that the storage medium is pushed out of the storage section and the end of the storage medium is exposed through the opening. . Accordingly, the user can easily take out the storage medium by holding the end of the storage medium protruding from the opening by hand and pulling the storage medium out of the storage section.

Thus, according to the present invention, an extremely excellent mouse functioning as an interface device for a storage medium can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a mouse according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially broken plan view showing the mouse of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mouse of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal direction.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of only the lower case showing the mouse of FIG. 1 in the left-right direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Mouse 11 Case 12 Optical movement detection means 13 LED 14 and 15 Operation buttons 14a and 15a Switch 16 Wheel 17 Optical lens system 18 Substrate 19 Cable 20 Storage medium adapter unit 21 Storage medium 21a Terminal 21b Concave 22 Housing 22a Opening 22b Guide groove 23 Connector 24 Storage medium removal means 25 Slider 25a Guide shaft 25b Spring 25c Extension 25d Projection 26 Operation unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A mouse having a case, a movement detecting means provided in the case, and at least two operation buttons provided on a side surface or an upper surface of the case. An accommodating portion having an opening on the surface of the case for receiving, a connector electrically connected to a terminal portion provided at an edge of the storage medium when the storage medium is received in the accommodating portion; A data processing unit connected to the connector for writing and / or reading data from / to the storage medium; and a storage medium take-out unit for pushing the storage medium received in the housing toward the opening. A mouse, characterized in that: 2. The storage medium according to claim 1, wherein said storage medium take-out means comprises a slider engaged with the storage medium and slidably supported in a direction in which the storage medium is taken out. mouse. 3. The mouse according to claim 2, wherein the slider has a projection that engages with a recess provided in the storage medium. 4. The mouse according to claim 2, wherein the slider has an operation portion protruding from a slide hole provided on a side surface of the case. 5. The mouse according to claim 2, wherein the slider is urged by a spring in a direction opposite to a direction in which the storage medium is taken out. 6. The mouse according to claim 1, wherein the movement detecting means and the data processing means are connected to various devices via a cable. 7. The mouse according to claim 1, wherein the movement detecting means and the data processing means are connected to various devices wirelessly.