JP2005202559A - Portable input device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device possible to deform the whole thereof, protect inner electronic components, and become large in use and small in carry, and durable for rain and dust in the open air. <P>SOLUTION: The portable input device is configured to evacuate air from inside an outer package 6 by using a pump 5 when carried. Thereby, the outer package 6 made of stretch and waterproof material such as a rubber or vinyl can be shrunk and a whole of a mouse can be made smaller. Since the outer package 6 can be shrinked, the input device can be housed in a narrow space by folding it. Further, when using the mouse, the whole of the mouse can be made bigger by blowing up air by the pump 5 inside the outer package 6 to expand it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device for sending a signal to an electronic device such as a computer, and more particularly to an input device with improved portability.

  Computer input devices include a mouse and a keyboard. In addition to mechanical mice that use balls to detect the direction and distance of movement, there are also optical mice that perform detection using an optical sensor installed on the bottom of the mouse. There are various input devices such as a keyboard on which a large number of buttons to be input are arranged and a touch pad for detecting the position of an operator's finger. Currently, not only wired communication but also wireless communication is used for communication between the input device and the host computer.

  With the spread of laptop computers, computers are now transported everywhere and used outdoors. When carrying a notebook computer and various input devices in a bag, the smaller the input device, the better the storage and convenience. However, if the input device is too small, it is inconvenient when inputting by hand. In the past, for this reason, it was only possible to reduce the size to a size that can be operated by hand. Therefore, an input device that is small when carried and large when used is required. In addition, an input device that is assumed to be used outdoors, which is disadvantageous to electronic devices such as rain and dust, is required.

As an example of an input device that can change the size, Patent Document 1 invents a mouse that can change the size of a hand-held portion in a mouse that uses a ball. In this method, the mouse's palm can be expanded and contracted by an air sac, and the size can be changed according to the user's hand.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-307679

  Conventional input devices cannot be made smaller than the size that can be operated by hand.

  In the conventional technique such as Patent Document 1, although the size of the receiving portion of the input device can be changed in accordance with the size of the user's hand, the whole cannot be enlarged or reduced. When the input device is carried, it is necessary to make the entire input device small because it is stored in a narrow place such as a user's pocket or inside a bag. Moreover, since it is not assumed to be used outdoors, conventional input devices have no function of protecting internal electronic components from water and dust.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device that can deform the entire input device, protect internal electronic components, is large when used, small when carried, and can withstand rain and dust outdoors. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention solves this problem by using a stretchable and waterproof material such as rubber or vinyl for the exterior of the input device. The portable input device of the present invention comprises a sensor unit that converts an operator's operation into an electrical signal, a communication unit that communicates with a host computer, and an exterior unit. In the present invention, the exterior of the input device is stretched like rubber or vinyl. This can be solved by using materials that are waterproof or waterproof.

  Since the main body of the portable input device of the present invention can be extended and contracted, the portable input device is small when carried and can be enlarged to be easily operated when used. When a waterproof material is used for the exterior, internal electronic components can be prevented from being flooded.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
A mouse capable of changing the shape of the exterior part will be described as a specific embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a mouse which is a portable input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mouse in a contracted state.

  In the figure, the mouse includes a button 1 that detects that the operator has pressed the button with a finger and generates an electric signal, a position detection means 2 that detects the direction and amount of movement of the mouse by the operator, A communication unit 4 for transmitting information from the button 1 and the position detection means 2 to the computer (not shown) via the cable 3, a pump 5 for taking air into and out of the mouse body, the button 1 and the position detection means 2 And the communication part 4 and the exterior part 6 made of a stretchable material to which the pump 5 is attached.

  Here, the position detection means 2 may use a ball or may use an optical sensor. In general, an optical sensor can have a smaller height dimension than a ball.

  Moreover, as a material of the exterior part 6, a stretchable or waterproof material such as rubber or vinyl is used.

  In the mouse configured as described above, when carrying it in a bag or the like, the exterior portion 6 is contracted by removing the air inside the exterior portion 6 using the pump 5, and the entire mouse is made small as shown in FIG. can do.

  Since the exterior portion 6 can be expanded and contracted, it can be folded and stored even in a narrow place. For example, a storage portion can be provided in a notebook computer and stored therein.

  When using a mouse, the exterior portion 6 can be expanded by inflating the interior of the exterior portion 6 with the pump 5 to enlarge the entire mouse.

  Since the exterior portion 6 allows only the air inside to be removed using the pump 5, it naturally has waterproofness and dustproofness with respect to components inside the mouse. It is also possible to automate the pump 5 so that when the communication unit 4 and the host computer are connected by the cable 3, the pump 5 automatically operates and the mouse swells.

  In this case, there are a method of obtaining power for driving the pump 5 from the cable 3 connected to the host computer, a method of having a battery inside the mouse, and a method of attaching a power supply device and a power cable to the mouse.

(Embodiment 2)
In order to make the internal airtightness higher than in the first embodiment, a mouse in which internal electronic components are sealed with a waterproof material will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a mouse which is a portable input device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, the mouse includes a button 11 that detects that the operator has pressed the button with a finger and generates an electrical signal, a position detection unit 12 that detects the direction and amount of movement of the mouse by the operator, A communication unit 13 that wirelessly transmits information of the button 11 and the position detection means 12 to a host computer (not shown), an inner bag 14 made of a stretchable and waterproof material, and the inside of the inner bag 14 A pump 15 for taking in and out air, a communication unit 13, a button 11, a battery 16 for supplying power to the pump 15, a button 11, a position detection means 12, a communication unit 13, an inner bag 14, a pump 15 and a battery 16 are attached. And an exterior portion 17 made of a waterproof and waterproof material.

  Here, the position detection unit 12 may use a ball or may use an optical sensor.

  Moreover, as a material of the inner bag 14 and the exterior part 17, the raw material which has elasticity and waterproofness like rubber | gum and vinyl is used.

  In the mouse configured as described above, the inner bag 14 can take in and out air through the pump 15. Further, even when the entire mouse gets wet or water enters the inner bag 14, the communication unit 13, the position detection means 12, the button 11, and the battery 16 are sealed between the inner bag 14 and the exterior unit 17. To prevent flooding. When carrying, the mouse can be made smaller by removing the air in the inner bag 14 with the pump 15.

  Moreover, since the exterior part 17 and the inner bag 14 can be expanded-contracted, it can also be folded and stored in a narrow place.

  The communication unit 13 can be either wired or wireless communication. However, since the wireless unit does not need to pass a cable through the exterior unit 17, it is desirable to improve airtightness. Needless to say, the portable input device according to the present embodiment is not only waterproof but also has high dust resistance when used in a place with a lot of dust.

(Embodiment 3)
A mouse using a material that does not expand and contract at the bottom to flatten the bottom is explained. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a mouse which is a portable input device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, the mouse includes a button 21 that detects that the operator has pressed the button with a finger and generates an electric signal, a position detection unit 22 that detects the direction and amount of movement of the mouse by the operator, A communication unit 24 for transmitting information of the button 21 and the position detection means 22 to the computer (not shown) of the computer via the cable 23, a pump 25 for taking air into and out of the mouse body, the button 21 and the position detection means 22, It comprises an exterior part 26 made of a stretchable material to which the communication part 24 and the pump 25 are attached, and a bottom part 27 made of a material that does not stretch.

  Here, the position detection means 22 may use a ball or may use an optical sensor.

  Further, as the material of the exterior portion 26, a stretchable or waterproof material such as rubber or vinyl is used.

  Since the mouse slides on the desk, it is desirable that the bottom surface is flat, and the bottom portion 27 is flattened using a non-stretchable material such as metal or hard plastic.

  In the mouse configured as described above, if the air inside the mouse is removed by the pump 25, the exterior portion 26 contracts and the entire mouse can be made smaller.

  Unlike other embodiments, it cannot be folded, but it contracts along the bottom 27, making it easy to handle, easy to store, and easy to carry. Moreover, since the exterior part 26 allows only the air inside to escape through the pump 25, it naturally has waterproofness and dustproofness for the parts inside the mouse.

(Embodiment 4)
As another embodiment, a keyboard having an extendable exterior part will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a keyboard that is a portable input device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the figure, the keyboard detects a button pressed by the operator with a finger, generates a plurality of buttons 31, and sends information about the button 31 to a host computer (not shown) via a cable 32. The communication part 33 to transmit, the pump 34 which draws air in and out of the keyboard main body, the button 31, the communication part 33, and the exterior part 35 made of a stretchable material to which the pump 34 is attached.

  Here, as the material of the exterior portion 35, a stretchable or waterproof material such as rubber or vinyl is used.

  In the keyboard configured as described above, the plurality of buttons 31 are respectively fixed at specific positions of the exterior portion 35, and the exterior portion 35 expands when air is introduced by the pump 34 to form a keyboard.

  On the other hand, it will be smaller if it is removed from the air, and it can be stored in a small space. A large keyboard that is easy to operate can be folded and stored in a bag for carrying.

  Since the exterior portion 35 allows only the air inside to escape through the pump 34, it naturally has waterproof and dustproof properties for the components inside the mouse.

  In each of the above embodiments, a pump for taking air in and out is built in the input device. However, this may be a simple valve, and air may be taken in and out from the outside by a pump or other methods. .

  The input device according to the present invention has a function of increasing the size to a size that is small when carried and easy to operate when used, and is useful as a portable input device or the like.

  In addition, it is useful as a portable input device when an electronic device is used outdoors in rainy weather or in a place with a lot of dust.

Sectional drawing of Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing when the first embodiment of the present invention contracts Sectional drawing of Embodiment 2 of this invention Sectional drawing of Embodiment 3 of this invention Sectional drawing of Embodiment 4 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1, 11, 21, 31 Buttons 2, 12, 22 Position detection means 4, 13, 24, 33 Communication unit 5, 15, 25, 34 Pump 6, 17, 26, 35 Exterior unit 14 Inner bag 16 Battery 27 Bottom

Claims (14)

A sensor unit that converts an operator's operation into an electrical signal;
A communication unit connected to the sensor unit for receiving an electrical signal and outputting the signal to the outside;
An exterior part to which the sensor part and the communication part are attached;
In an input device consisting of
A portable input device, wherein the exterior part is made of a stretchable material. A sensor unit that converts an operator's operation into an electrical signal;
A communication unit connected to the sensor unit for receiving an electrical signal and outputting the signal to the outside;
An exterior part to which the sensor part and the communication part are attached;
In an input device consisting of
The portable input device according to claim 1, wherein the exterior part is made of a material that does not allow water and dust to pass through, and seals the sensor part and the communication part. An inner bag made of a material that does not allow water and dust to pass through the inside of the exterior part, and sealed by disposing a sensor part and a communication part between the inner bag and the exterior part. 2. The portable input device according to 2. The portable input device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a valve for shutting off intake air, exhaust air, and air to the exterior portion in order to enlarge and reduce the exterior portion. The portable input device according to claim 3, further comprising a valve for shutting off intake air, exhaust air, and air to the inner bag in order to enlarge and reduce the inner bag. The portable input device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a part of the exterior portion is made of a material that does not expand and contract to adjust the shape after the enlargement. The portable input device according to claim 6, wherein the bottom portion of the exterior portion is made of a material that does not expand and contract. The portable input device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the stretchable material and the material that cannot pass water and dust are rubber or vinyl. 9. The portable input device according to claim 6, wherein the material that does not expand and contract is a metal or a hard plastic. The portable input device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein a pump is used as a valve for shutting off intake air, exhaust air, and air to the exterior portion or the inner bag. The portable input device according to claim 10, wherein the pump is automatically operated when the communication unit and the host computer are connected. The portable input device according to claim 1, wherein wireless communication is used for the communication unit. The portable input device according to claim 1, further comprising a position detection unit. The portable input device according to claim 12, wherein the position detection means uses an optical sensor.

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