JP2003108308A - Mouth with lateral scroll function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouse of good operability that easily permits a lateral scroll operation. SOLUTION: The mouse with lateral scroll function (10) is composed such that, in the mouse 10 including a coordinate information input part 12 provided in a case 11 and at least two operation buttons 13, 14 disposed in parallel on the outside of one end of the case, further, for performing so-called lateral scroll operation, a lateral scroll operation button 16, with a part thereof being exposed on the surface of the case, and a detection means 16b for detecting the amount of revolution and the depression of the lateral scroll operation button are provided within the case.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mouse for inputting coordinates using a computer or the like, and more particularly to a mouse capable of so-called horizontal scroll operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a coordinate input device for a computer or the like, for example, a so-called mouse which performs an input operation while moving on a plane has been widely used. Further, in recent years, various mice having a scroll function have been used in order to perform a so-called scroll operation on a so-called GUI screen displayed on a display device such as a computer.

Such a mouse with a scroll function is provided with a wheel rotatably supported with respect to the case and a switch in order to perform a scroll operation, and these wheels, levers and buttons can be operated. Is configured to generate a signal necessary for performing a scroll operation on the screen of a computer or the like.

[0004]

However, the mouse with a scroll function described above has the following problems. That is, in a mouse with a wheel, the wheel protruding from the surface of the case is rotated by a finger to generate a signal corresponding to a scroll operation, but in general, there is only one wheel.
Only the scroll operation in one direction, usually the vertical direction, can be performed on the screen, and the horizontal scroll cannot be performed.

On the other hand, there is a mouse provided with a second wheel for horizontal scrolling. In this case, when performing vertical scrolling and horizontal scrolling, one wheel is used to scroll in either direction. After performing the scroll operation, it is necessary to perform the scroll operation in the other direction by the other wheel, and the user has to move his / her finger from one wheel to the other wheel.
There was a problem of poor operability. Further, a mouse adapted to perform a scroll operation by operating a lever or button instead of the wheel has the same problem as the mouse provided with the wheel. As described above, in the conventional mouse with a scroll function, there is a problem that it is not possible to perform scroll operations in a plurality of directions at the same time, and it is difficult to perform a scroll operation in an arbitrary direction such as an oblique direction.

[0006] In view of the above points, the present invention has an object to provide a mouse having a good operability, which enables a horizontal scroll operation to be easily performed.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the above object is to provide a coordinate information input section provided in a case, and at least two operation buttons arranged side by side outside one end of the case. In order to perform a so-called horizontal scroll operation, a mouse including a horizontal scroll operation button and a rotation amount and a push of the horizontal scroll operation button are detected so that a part of the case is exposed on the surface of the case. The detection means is provided in the case,
This is achieved with a mouse that has a horizontal scroll function.

In the mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to the present invention, preferably, the horizontal scroll operation button is arranged on one side surface of the case so that a part thereof is exposed.

In the mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to the present invention, preferably, the horizontal scroll operation buttons are arranged so as to be partially exposed on both side surfaces of the case.

The mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to the present invention is preferably provided with a vertical scroll operation button in the case so that a part is exposed between the operation buttons in order to perform a so-called vertical scroll operation. There is.

According to the above structure, the user moves the case in the XY directions, for example, on the desk, so that the coordinate information input section mechanically or mechanically performs the relative movement between the bottom surface of the case and the top surface of the desk. Optically detect. As a result, normal coordinate input is performed. Further, a predetermined input operation can be performed by operating at least two operation buttons arranged side by side outside one end of the case.

When the user touches the surface of the horizontal scroll operation button protruding from at least one side surface of the case with the fingertip and rotates the horizontal scroll operation button, the rotation amount of the horizontal scroll operation button is reduced. Detected by the detection means, the coordinate input of the horizontal scroll operation is performed. Further, when the user touches the surface of the horizontal scroll operation button protruding from the side surface of the case with the fingertip and pushes the horizontal scroll operation button toward the inside of the case, the push of the horizontal scroll operation button is detected by the detection means. Is detected and a predetermined input operation is performed.

Therefore, a normal coordinate input is performed by moving the case on the desk surface or the like, and a normal input operation is performed by operating the operation button exposed on the surface of the case. Further, by rotating or pushing the horizontal scroll operation button, a part of which is exposed from the surface of the case, with the fingertip, the rotation or push of the horizontal scroll operation button is detected by the detection means. A coordinate input for the directional scroll and a predetermined input operation can be performed.

When the horizontal scroll operation button is provided on one side surface of the case so that a part thereof is exposed, the user pushes the horizontal scroll operation button with the fingertip of the thumb of the dominant hand. By rotating or pushing, it is possible to perform coordinate input and a predetermined input operation for a desired horizontal scroll operation.

In the case where the horizontal scroll operation buttons are provided so as to be partially exposed on both side surfaces of the case, whether the user is right-handed or left-handed, The same mouse with the horizontal scroll function can be used to input coordinate information for the horizontal scroll operation. As a result, a single mouse can be used for both right-handed and left-handed persons, so that production efficiency can be improved and cost can be reduced.

In order to perform a so-called vertical scroll operation, when the vertical scroll operation button is provided in the case so that a part is exposed between the operation buttons, the user can use the forefinger of the index finger. By operating the vertical scroll operation button and operating the horizontal scroll operation button with the fingertip of the thumb, both the vertical scroll operation and the horizontal scroll operation can be performed simultaneously without moving the finger.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a mouse 10 with a horizontal scroll function is a coordinate information input unit 1 provided in a case 11.
2 (see FIG. 2), two operation buttons 13 and 14, a vertical scroll button 15, a horizontal scroll button 16, and
Is equipped with.

The coordinate information input unit 12 has a known structure and is adapted to detect the amount of relative movement in the XY directions between the case 11 and the desk top surface. For example, the ball and the XY direction of the ball. Various types such as a mechanical type consisting of a rotation detection mechanism that detects the amount of rotation, or an optical type consisting of a light receiving unit that irradiates light to the desk top surface etc. and detects the relative movement amount of the desk top surface etc. by the reflected light Things are available.

Further, the above two operation buttons 13 and 14
Are arranged side by side on the upper surface of the front end of the case 11, and when the operation buttons 13 and 14 are operated, the click switch 13 provided in the case 11 is operated.
a and 14a (see FIG. 2) are turned on.

Further, the vertical scroll operation button 15 is used.
Has a known configuration, and the two operation buttons 13,
A wheel 15a rotatably arranged around a sideways rotating shaft in a region between 14 in a partially exposed state.
And a detection means 15b (see FIG. 2) for detecting the amount of rotation and pushing of the wheel 15a.

Then, the detection signal for normal coordinate input detected by the coordinate information input section 12, ON / OFF of the click switch, and the vertical scroll operation button 1 are displayed.
After the detection signals of the detection means by the rotation amount and the pushing movement of the wheel 5 are respectively sent to a printed circuit board (not shown) and processed through an appropriate processing circuit 17 (see FIG. 2),
It is adapted to be transmitted to a personal computer (not shown) via the cable 18, by a wireless system such as infrared transmission, or by a wireless system.

The above structure is the same as the conventional mouse having only the conventional vertical scroll function, but the mouse 10 with the horizontal scroll function according to the embodiment of the present invention is different in the following points. . That is, the mouse 10 with a scroll function is further provided with the horizontal scroll button 16 on at least one side surface of the case 11, for example, the left side surface, for the horizontal scroll operation.

The horizontal scroll button 16 has a structure similar to that of the vertical scroll operation button 15 and is arranged so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical rotation axis in a partially exposed state. Wheel 16a and second wheel 1
Second detection means 16b for detecting the amount of rotation and pushing of 6a
(See FIG. 2).

Then, the detection signal for the horizontal scroll operation detected by the detection means 16b is sent to a printed circuit board (not shown), processed by the processing circuit 17, and then passed through the cable 18. Alternatively, it is transmitted to a personal computer (not shown) by a wireless method such as infrared transmission or a wireless method.

The mouse 10 with a horizontal scroll function according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and first, the case of normal coordinate input will be described. When the user moves the case 11 of the mouse 10 horizontally on the surface of the desk or the like while the mouse 10 is placed on the surface of the desk or the like, the coordinate information input unit 12 causes the case 11 and the desk to move. By detecting the amount of relative movement in the XY direction with respect to the upper surface, etc., XY
As the coordinate position of the coordinate, the processing circuit 17 and the cable 18
Through a personal computer (not shown). Then, the user operates the operation button 1 of the mouse 10.
When operating 3, 14, these operation buttons 13, 14
Thus, the click switch is turned on, and similarly, the signal is sent to the personal computer (not shown) via the processing circuit 17 and the cable 18.

As a result, the cursor or the like is moved on the screen of the display device of the personal computer in accordance with the relative movement amount of the case 11 with respect to the desk top surface or the like, and the operation buttons 13 and 14 are operated. Processing is carried out.

In addition, the user uses the fingertip of the index finger to
By rotating or pushing the wheel 15a of the vertical scroll operation button 15 protruding from the upper surface of the case 11 of the coordinate input device 10, the rotation amount and the pushing movement of the wheel 15a are detected by the detection means 15b, and the vertical direction is detected. The coordinate position or the operation signal is sent to the personal computer via the processing circuit 17 and the cable 18. Thereby, the vertical scroll operation and the predetermined operation are performed on the screen of the display device of the personal computer in accordance with the rotation amount and the pushing movement of the vertical scroll operation button 15.

Furthermore, the user can use the fingertip of the thumb to
By rotating or pushing the second wheel 16a of the horizontal scroll operation button 16 protruding from the left side surface of the case 11 of the coordinate input device 10, the rotation amount and the pushing movement of the second wheel 16a are detected by the detecting means 16b. Is detected by and is sent to the personal computer via the processing circuit 17 and the cable 18 as a horizontal coordinate position or an operation signal. Thus, the horizontal scroll operation and the predetermined operation are performed on the screen of the display device of the personal computer in accordance with the rotation amount and the pressing of the horizontal scroll operation button 16.

As described above, according to the mouse 10 with the horizontal scroll function according to the embodiment of the present invention, by moving the case 11 in the horizontal direction on the surface of the desk or the like, it is used as a normal mouse, and the normal XY coordinates are used. Input can be performed, and the wheel 15a of the vertical scroll operation button 15 protruding from the upper surface of the case 11 can be rotated or pushed by the tip of the index finger to perform a vertical scroll operation. Further, the horizontal scroll operation button 16 protruding from the left side surface of the case 11
Rotate the second wheel 16a of the
Alternatively, by pushing it, it becomes possible to perform a scroll operation in the horizontal direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the mouse 10 with horizontal scroll function is provided with the horizontal scroll operation button 15 on the left side surface of the case 11 so that it can be operated by the fingertip of the thumb of the right hand for right-handed use. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for left-handed use, the horizontal scroll operation button 15 may be provided on the right side surface of the case 11 so as to be operated by the fingertip of the left thumb. Further, horizontal scroll operation buttons 15 may be provided on both side surfaces of the case 11 for both right-handed and left-handed users. In this case, it is not necessary to prepare both the right-handed type and the left-handed type, and the production cost can be reduced due to the effect of mass production.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mouse 10 with the horizontal scroll function is provided with the vertical scroll operation button 15, but the present invention is not limited to this and the present invention is applied to a mouse without the vertical scroll function. It is clear to get. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the mouse 10 with the horizontal scroll function has two operation buttons 1
It is obvious that the present invention can be applied to a mouse provided with three or more operation buttons, though not limited thereto.

In the above-described embodiment, the mouse 10 with a horizontal scroll function has been described as being connected to a personal computer for use. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be used in other devices that require coordinate input and scroll operation. It is obvious that the connection may be made to perform the coordinate input and the scroll operation.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the user touches the surface of the horizontal scroll operation button protruding from at least one side surface of the case with the fingertip to rotate the horizontal scroll operation button. Then, the rotation amount of the horizontal scroll operation button is detected by the detecting means, and the coordinate input of the horizontal scroll operation is performed. In addition, the user
When the fingertip touches the surface of the horizontal scroll operation button protruding from the side surface of the case and pushes the horizontal scroll operation button toward the inside of the case, the push of the horizontal scroll operation button is detected by the detection means, and a predetermined amount is detected. Input operation is performed.

Therefore, a normal coordinate input is performed by moving the case on the desk surface or the like, and a normal input operation is performed by operating the operation button exposed on the case surface. Further, by rotating or pushing the horizontal scroll operation button, a part of which is exposed from the surface of the case, with the fingertip, the rotation or push of the horizontal scroll operation button is detected by the detection means. A coordinate input for the directional scroll and a predetermined input operation can be performed.

Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an extremely excellent mouse which has a good operability and which can be easily scrolled in the lateral direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mouse with the horizontal scroll function of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 10 Mouse with horizontal scroll function 11 cases 12 Coordinate information input section 13, 14 Operation buttons 15 Vertical scroll operation button 16 Horizontal scroll operation buttons

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A mouse including a coordinate information input section provided in a case and at least two operation buttons arranged side by side outside one end of the case, further comprising a so-called horizontal scroll operation. In order to perform the operation, a horizontal scroll operation button and a detection means for detecting the rotation amount and the pushing movement of the horizontal scroll operation button are provided in the case so that a part of the surface of the case is exposed. A mouse with a horizontal scroll function. 2. The mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal scroll operation button is provided on one side surface of the case so as to be partially exposed. 3. The mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal scroll operation buttons are provided so as to be partially exposed on both side surfaces of the case. 4. In order to perform a so-called vertical scroll operation,
The mouse with a horizontal scroll function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a vertical scroll operation button is provided in the case so that a part is exposed between the operation buttons.