JP2003223279A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the space for the location of an input device while improving the operability in inputting numerical values, characters and so on. <P>SOLUTION: A mouse, which is an input device for determining the position of a cursor with respect to a computer, is provided with a keyboard for inputting the numerical values, the characters or function keys and a display member for displaying the numerical values, the characters or results of computing. By this, position information can be inputted without leaving a hand from the keyboard and the operability can be improved which reducing the operation space. Furthermore, a foot consisting of rubber or the like is provided in the display part material, and when the display material is stood so that a display may become visible, the foot plays a role for stopping a slide to prevent the mouse from moving. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device for a computer body, such as an input key and a pointing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a conventional keyboard is provided with input keys for inputting numerical values or characters, and the input position is specified by using a pointing device such as a mouse. Was being operated.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional input using a mouse or keyboard in such a computer main body, when the position information is input with the mouse during the input with the keyboard, the position is temporarily input from the keyboard. There is a problem in that the operability is remarkably deteriorated because the user has to release the button to grab the mouse, move the mouse to determine the position, press the click button, and then move the hand again on the keyboard. In addition to the keyboard, there was a problem that a large space was needed for the mouse and numeric keyboard. An object of the present invention is to improve the operability of inputting numerical values or characters and reduce the space of the input device.

[0004]

An input device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a keyboard and a click button on the upper surface, accommodates a track ball for a mouse on the lower surface, and interfaces with a computer main body. It is characterized by the points provided. A second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the input device according to the first aspect is provided with a display member for displaying data input by the keyboard. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the input device according to the second aspect, the legs of the end portion of the display member are projected downward by erecting the display member. Further, according to the invention described in claim 1, since the keyboard and the click button are provided on the upper surface, the track ball for the mouse is accommodated on the lower surface, and the interface with the computer main body is provided, it can be used as a mouse only. Instead, it can be used as an input device for data input.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an input device 10 according to the present invention will be described.
0, one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

The input device 100 is a combination of a key input device and a mouse which is a pointing device and has a size that fits in a palm. Input device 100
1, the input key 1, click button 2,
3, a scroll key 4, a display unit 8 to be described later, which is provided on the back side (inner surface), and a body case 6 are roughly configured, and are connected to a computer body 11 to be described later by a connecting cable 7.

In FIG. 1, the input key 1 is a body case 6
The keys are arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns on the upper surface of the, and are composed of numeric keys 0 to 9 including a decimal point, function keys for four arithmetic operations, a clear key, and the like.
The respective keys are arranged so as not to project from the main body case 6, and are configured so that no key input is made by mistake when the input device 100 is held by hand. In the click buttons 2 and 3 arranged above the input key 1, 2 operates as a left click key of the mouse and 3 operates as a right click key. Click button 2
The scroll key 4 between and is operated when scrolling the display screen of the computer main body 11 up and down.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the input device 100.
The upper surface is curved so that it fits easily in the palm of your hand. A mouse ball 13 is housed in the lower surface of the central portion of the main body case 6, and the input device 100 is moved to move a cursor or the like on the screen of the computer main body.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display member 5 can be opened and closed upward with the hinge shaft portion 12 as a center, and is provided with a display portion 8 such as a liquid crystal display device on the inside thereof. Display the calculation result. A pair of feet 9 and 9 made of rubber or the like are mounted above the display member 5, and these feet 9 and 9 are placed on a desk or the like when the display member 5 is opened as shown in FIG. The input device 100 itself is prevented from slipping by coming into contact with the mounting surface. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a protrusion 10 is integrally formed on the left side surface of the display member 5, and the protrusion 10 is used to open and close the display member 5.

FIG. 5 shows the input device 1 in the computer main body 11.
The state where 00 is attached is shown. Input device 100
The connection cable 7 is connected to a USB (universal serial bus) input terminal (not shown) of the computer main body 11.

Next, the operation of the input device 100 having the above configuration will be described. Input device 100 to computer main body 11
When it is used as an input means, the click buttons 2 and 3 operate as function determining buttons of the computer main body 11, and the scroll key 4 functions to scroll up and down the screen of the computer main body 11. To confirm the input position,
The input device 100 is moved to rotate the mouse ball 13, the pointer on the screen is moved, and the left click button 2 is pressed to determine the position. On the other hand, when the input device 100 is used as a calculator, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the display member 5 is rotated about the hinge shaft 12 so that the display portion 8 inside the display member 5 can be visually recognized. To do. In this state, when the input key 1 is used to operate a numerical key or a calculation key, the input numerical value and the calculation result are displayed on the display unit 8.
At this time, the foot portion 9 projects to the lower surface, so that the input device 1
00 The main body is fixed to the board without moving, and key input becomes easy.

As described above, this input device is convenient because it can be used as an electronic desk calculator without releasing the hand while inputting data. Although the above-mentioned input keys are keys for performing calculations on the display unit 8, they may be so-called numerical value input keys for directly sending numerical values input by the input keys 8 to the computer main body 11 and displaying them on the screen. The calculation result data displayed in the section 8 may be sent to the computer main body 11 to be displayed. Further, the input key 1 may be not only a key for calculation but also a data input key such as a character.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the keyboard and the click button are provided on the upper surface, the position information can be input without releasing the hand from the keyboard, and the operability is reduced while reducing the operation space. Can be improved and it can be used as an electronic desk calculator.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an input device according to the present invention in a substantially horizontal state.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the input device shown in FIG.

3 is a state in which a display unit of the input device shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the input device shown in FIG. 1 with a display unit opened.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Input key 2 Left click button 3 Right click button 4 scroll keys 5 Display member 6 body case 7 Connection cable 8 Display 9 feet 10 protrusions 11 computer body 12 Hinge shaft 13 mouse balls 100 input device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input device comprising a keyboard and a click button on an upper surface thereof, a track ball for a mouse accommodated on the lower surface thereof, and an interface with a computer main body. 2. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising a display member for displaying data input by the keyboard. 3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the legs of the end portion of the display member project downward by raising the display unit.