JP2003140824A - Hand-held pointing device with ten key pad - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointing device with a ten-key pad arranged not to interfere with other functional operation buttons while allowing appropriate operation of ten-key input and mouse pointer operation without passing it to the other hand in the state of holding it in the palm of only one hand. SOLUTION: This pointing device is formed as a twofold casing 1 of a conformed form to be held in the palm, constituted to be foldable in two and developable. A track ball 12 and a scroll key 13 are arranged at an outward face 10a of a developing side casing 10 in developing. A ten-key pad 14 and a cursor key 15 are arranged at an opposed face 11a of a palm holding side casing 11 in developing, and a click button 16 is arranged at the side face. Each key of the ten-key pad 14 is arranged within an operable range only with the thumb on the palm holding side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a personal computer.
The present invention relates to a main body of a computer, a word processor, etc. (hereinafter abbreviated as "PC") or an input device to be used by connecting them to a keyboard, and particularly, to move and position input of a mouse pointer, The present invention relates to a pointing device with a ten-key pad for holding a palm, which enables efficient input of numerical values and operators in the palm-holding state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard for inputting numbers and characters to a personal computer is provided with a so-called numeric keypad in which number keys and operation keys are arranged in a grid for inputting numbers and operators. However, some notebook personal computers and the like have a keyboard and a ten-key board, which are separately formed, for efficient input operation.

Further, a personal computer is usually called a so-called mouse (trademark name), which is used to move a mouse pointer (or cursor) on the screen of the personal computer or to input a signal in synchronization with the operation of a rotary ball arranged on the bottom surface. ) Called pointing device is used. Furthermore, as other pointing devices, a rotary ball exposed on the upper surface of the housing is operated with a finger or a palm to perform a pointing operation, a track ball (trade name), and a lever is tilted in a moving direction to coordinate. Joystick (trade name) to move,
Also known is a track pad (trade name) or the like that moves a pointer by tracing a flat plate with a finger.

[0004]

By the way, the pointing devices such as the ten-key board, the mouse, the track ball, and the like are often independent products.
It is necessary to change the input for each input such as numeric input or cursor movement, and the complexity is an obstacle to efficient input operation.

Some personal computers also have complex products having these functions, but most of them are of the type that they are either placed on the desk or moved on the desk by covering them with the hands. It required a constant flat surface. In addition, there are some products that are operated by gripping with one hand, but the products that combine these multiple functions have multiple buttons and other operation parts arranged on the top surface of a single housing, so each of them has a single function. In response to a request for a single function operation, for example, a request for only a mouse operation or a numeric keypad operation, there was a complaint that the existence of other unnecessary function buttons or the like would rather hinder the operation.

As described above, at present, there is no product that can be quickly and reasonably and efficiently performed with only one hand without changing the appropriate operations such as ten-key input and mouse pointer operation. there were.

[0007]

[Object] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and in a state in which the palm is held with only one hand, the ten-key input and the mouse pointer operation are not changed and the quick operation can be performed with only one hand. (EN) Provided is a pointing device with a ten-key pad for holding a palm, which can be performed efficiently and reasonably and does not interfere with other function operation buttons even when a single function is requested.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the pointing device with a numeric keypad for holding a palm according to the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a two-folded case (1) which is adapted to hold the palm and is configured to be folded in two and expandable is provided.
A mouse pointer movement operation means (12) is arranged on the outward surface (10a) of (0), and a palm holding side casing (1
A numeric keypad (14) for inputting numerical values and operators is arranged on the facing surface (11b) of 1), and a click button (16) is arranged on the side surface.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, each key of the ten-key pad (14) according to the first aspect is arranged within a range that can be operated only by the thumb on the palm holding side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the outer surface (10a) of the unfolding side casing (10) at the time of unfolding according to the first or second aspect,
A scroll key (13) for scrolling the screen is arranged.

According to a fourth aspect, the facing surface (11) of the casing (11) on the palm holding side at the time of deployment according to the first, second or third aspect.
It is characterized in that a cursor key (15) for inputting a direction is arranged in b).

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A pointing device with a numeric keypad for holding a palm (hereinafter referred to as "the present device") of the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the present device of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 to 4 are explanatory diagrams showing an operating state of the present device of the present embodiment.

The device D of the present embodiment comprises a housing 1, a trackball 12, a scroll wheel 13 and a numeric keypad 1.
4, a cursor key 15, and a click key 16. It should be noted that the present device D of the present embodiment has been described on the premise of the operation with the right hand, but the left hand can be supported if it has a symmetrical shape.

The housing 1 constitutes the basic appearance of the device D, and has a substantially flat elliptic three-dimensional shape having a size and a shape such that the palm p can be lightly gripped and held (“palm holding”). And a palm-holding-side housing 11 and a deployment-side housing 10 that is folded in two by a hinge 2 arranged on the tip side of the palm p and is split into upper and lower parts so as to be unfoldable. In addition, the hinge 2 is provided with a moderation mechanism to ensure the maintenance of the folded state or the expanded state.

On the outward surface 10a of the unfolding side housing 10 at the time of unfolding, a 360-degree rotation trackball 12 for moving the mouse pointer is provided in a partially exposed state.
Further, in the vicinity thereof, as a scroll key for scrolling the screen, a scroll wheel 13 rotating about its axis is arranged in a state of being partially exposed from the outward surface 10a.

The numeric keypad 14 is arranged substantially in the center of the facing surface 11b of the palm-holding side casing 11, and is a numeral, an operator or the like, 0-9, +,-, x, /, =, comma. , Decimal point symbol, return key, and function keys are arranged within the fan-shaped range with the radius of the thumb t as the radius so that the thumb t on the palm holding side can be operated comfortably. ing.

The cursor key 15 is used for the palm-holding side housing 11
This is a direction indicating key arranged on the facing surface 11b, and is arranged near the ten-key 14 in the vicinity thereof. Further, the click key 16 is provided in the vicinity of the left end of the outward surface 11a of the palm-holding side casing 11 such that the index finger f and the middle finger m holding the right palm are held.
Two button switches are arranged within the range that can be operated with. Although the cable 3 for sending the output signal from the device D to the personal computer is connected to the palm-holding side casing 11 in the present embodiment, the cable 3 is used for wireless connection using infrared rays or radio waves. The configuration does not use 3.

[0019]

Operation of this Embodiment With the above configuration, the device D of this embodiment operates as follows. First, the operator places the palm holding side housing 11 of the present device D in a state where the deployment side housing 10 and the palm holding side housing 11 are closed on the palm p of the right hand, and the outward surface 10a of the deployment side housing 10 The trackball 12 and scroll wheel 13 exposed from the right
Operate with (Fig. 2).

Next, when it is necessary to input numbers, the facing surface 10b of the unfolding side housing 10 is unfolded until it is substantially horizontal with the palm holding side housing 11 (FIG. 3), and the palm holding side housing 11 faces. The surface 11b is exposed, and the numeric keypad 14 and the cursor key 1
5 will be operated with the thumb t of the right hand (FIG. 4). Also,
The click key 16 corresponds to the outward surface 11 of the palm-holding side casing 11.
Since it is provided in the vicinity of the left end of a, the index finger f of the right hand and the middle finger m of the right hand, m, in either the closed state or the deployed state.
It will be operated with.

[0021]

[Possibilities of Other Embodiments] In this embodiment, the trackball 12 is used as the moving operation means of the mouse pointer, but any device that can be operated in a handheld state may be used, for example, as a joystick or a trackpad. Good. Further, if the ten keys 14 are used for character input, the keyboard can be omitted because it can function as a keyboard substitute device.

[0022]

[Effect] The input device of the present invention has a structure in which a numeric keypad as a numerical value input means and a track ball as a pointer operation section are integrated, and the numerical value and the like can be input with one hand without being held. The device can be used for quick movement operations at the same time, and the operability is extremely high, thus improving work efficiency. In addition, by being handheld, there is no need to secure a place to put it on the desk.

Further, since the operation surfaces are arranged separately for each similar operation in a two-fold structure, there is no fear of mistakenly performing another operation at the time of the specific operation, and the existence of buttons having a plurality of functions is limited to the specific function. It does not hinder the operation. Furthermore, if the characters are input from the numeric keypad, the keyboard can be omitted because it functions as a keyboard substitute device, and the effect is remarkable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the device of the present embodiment,

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state of the device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state of the present device in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operating state of the present device in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

D This device 1 case 10 Deployment side housing 10a outward facing surface 10b facing surface 11 Palm-holding side case 11a outward facing surface 11b facing surface 12 trackball 13 scroll wheels 14 numeric keypad 15 Cursor key 16 click key 2 hinges 3 cables p palm t right thumb f Right index finger m right middle finger

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A double-folded casing (1) which is adapted to hold a palm and is configured to be folded in two and configured to be deployable, and an outward surface ( In 10a),
A mouse pointer movement operation means (12) is arranged, and a numeric keypad (14) for inputting numerical values and operators is arranged on the facing surface (11b) of the palm holding side housing (11) at the time of expansion, and on the side surface. Is a pointing device with a numeric keypad for holding a palm, which is provided with a click button (16). 2. A pointing device with a numeric keypad for holding a palm according to claim 1, wherein each key of the numeric keypad (14) is arranged within a range in which only the thumb on the palm holding side can be operated. 3. An outward facing surface (1) of a deployment side casing (10) at the time of deployment.
0a), scroll key (1
3. The pointing device with a numeric keypad for holding a palm according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 3) is arranged. 4. A cursor key (1) for inputting a direction on a facing surface (11b) of a palm holding side casing (11) when unfolded.
5) is arranged, Claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.
A pointing device with a numeric keypad for holding the described palm.