JP2006127165A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard which is provided with a cursor operation means for inputting the moving operation of a cursor displayed on a display screen and a processing execution input means for determining prescribed processing execution for the cursor located on a prescribed position by the cursor operation means and which enables a user to effectively operate each of the means. <P>SOLUTION: The keyboard is provided with: an input key arrangement part on which a plurality of input keys are arranged by multicolumn/multistage arrangement; and the cursor operation means, in the input key arrangement part, for inputting the moving operation of the cursor displayed on the display screen, wherein the processing execution input means for determining the prescribed processing execution for the cursor located on the prescribed position by the cursor operation means is arranged adjacently to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cursor operation means for performing an input operation for moving a cursor displayed on a display screen, and a process execution input means for determining execution of a predetermined process for a cursor positioned at a predetermined position by the cursor operation means. It is related with the keyboard provided with.

  Conventionally, a cursor such as a pointing stick or a trackball for moving the cursor displayed on the display screen in an input key arrangement part in which a plurality of input keys are arranged side by side in multiple rows for inputting characters, etc. In a keyboard provided with operation means, a process execution input means for determining execution of a predetermined process at a cursor positioned at a predetermined position by the cursor operation means is an operation button or the like at the bottom of the input key arrangement unit. It was next door.

Then, by operating the cursor operation means with the thumb while operating the cursor operation means with the index finger of one hand, the cursor operation means and the process execution input means are operated with one hand (for example, (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-95691

  However, since the conventional keyboard is designed based on the assumption that the cursor operation means is operated with the index finger only, for a user who is difficult to operate the cursor operation means with the index finger, the user cannot move the cursor to the desired position. The position of the index finger that operates the cursor operation means is not fixed, and the position of the thumb that operates the process execution input means is not determined on the process execution input means. As a result, the operability is extremely poor.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and provide a keyboard that can favorably operate both the cursor operation means and the process execution input means.

  The keyboard of the present invention is a keyboard having an input key arrangement part in which a plurality of input keys are arranged in multiple rows and stages, and for performing a movement operation input of the cursor displayed on the display screen to the input key arrangement part. In the keyboard provided with the cursor operation means, a process execution input means for determining execution of a predetermined process for the cursor positioned at a predetermined position by the cursor operation means is provided adjacent to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement unit. It was to be.

The keyboard of the present invention is also characterized by the following points.
(1) The processing execution input unit is provided at a position where at least one of the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger is positioned when the thumb is positioned on the cursor operation unit.
(2) The processing execution input unit may change a distance from the cursor operation unit.
(3) When the processing execution input unit is separated from the cursor operation unit, the processing execution input unit is also separated from the input key arrangement unit. As you can see, it is variable in the diagonal direction.
(4) The cursor operating means is provided at a substantially central position of the right hand and left hand home positions of the input key arrangement portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard having an input key arrangement part in which a plurality of input keys are arranged in multiple rows and stages, and the cursor displayed on the display screen is moved to the input key arrangement part. In a keyboard provided with a cursor operation means for performing an operation input, a process execution input means for determining execution of a predetermined process for a cursor positioned at a predetermined position by the cursor operation means is provided at the top of the input key arrangement unit. Since it is arranged next to the upper stage, the processing execution input means can be operated with the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, etc., and the cursor operating means can be operated with the free thumb. Therefore, even a user who cannot operate the cursor operation means with his / her index finger can smoothly operate the cursor operation means and the process execution input means.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the processing execution input unit is provided at a position where at least one of the index finger, the middle finger, and the ring finger is positioned when the thumb is positioned on the cursor operation unit. The process execution input means can be operated with the same hand without difficulty while operating the cursor operation means, and the operability of the cursor operation means and the process execution input means can be further improved.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the process execution input means has a variable distance from the cursor operation means, the distance from the cursor operation means to the process execution input means is adjusted for each user. The process execution input means can be arranged at the position where it is most easily operated, and the operability of the cursor operation means and the process execution input means can be further improved.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the process execution input unit is separated from the cursor operation unit, the process execution input unit is also separated from the input key arrangement unit and close to the cursor operation unit. Since it is variable in the oblique direction so as to be close to the input key arrangement part, it is easy to adjust the distance from the cursor operation means to the process execution input means according to the size of the user's hand, The position of the process execution input means can be adjusted more easily.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the cursor operating means is provided at a substantially center position of the right hand and left hand home positions of the input key arrangement portion, the cursor operating means and processing are changed from the input key operation. The amount of hand movement when moving to the operation of the execution input means can be reduced, and the operability of the keyboard can be further improved.

  A keyboard according to the present invention includes an input key arrangement unit in which a plurality of input keys are arranged in multiple rows and stages, and a cursor operation for performing an input operation for moving a cursor displayed on a display screen in the input key arrangement unit. A pointing device such as a pointing stick or a trackball is provided as a means, and in particular, an operation button as a process execution input means for determining execution of a predetermined process in a cursor positioned at a predetermined position by the cursor operation means Is adjacent to the top of the input key arrangement section.

  Accordingly, the processing execution input unit can be operated with an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, or the like, whereby the cursor operation unit can be operated with an empty thumb. Therefore, even a person who cannot operate the cursor operation means with his / her index finger can operate the cursor operation means with the thumb and smoothly operate the cursor operation means and the process execution input means with one hand.

  In consideration of the position of the user's finger from the beginning, the processing execution input means is provided at a location where at least one of the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger is located when the thumb is positioned on the cursor operation means. By doing so, it becomes possible to operate the process execution input means with the same hand while operating the cursor operation means, and the operability of the cursor operation means and the process execution input means can be further improved.

  Further, the distance from the cursor operation means can be varied by moving the position of the process execution input means, and the distance from the cursor operation means to the process execution input means can be adjusted according to the size of the user's hand, etc. By doing so, it is possible to further improve the operability of the cursor operation means and the process execution input means by arranging the process execution input means at a position that is most easily operated for each user.

  In particular, when considering the relationship between the size of the hand and the position of the finger, the position of the remaining four fingers with respect to the thumb is separated in an oblique direction as the hand becomes larger. When separated from the operation means, the input key placement section is also separated from the operation means, and when approaching the cursor operation means, the cursor operation means is obliquely arranged so as to be close to the input key placement section. If the distance is varied, the distance from the cursor operation means to the processing execution input means can be adjusted more easily to a distance that matches the size of the user's hand.

  Further, if the cursor operating means is provided at a substantially central position of the right hand and left hand home positions of the input key arrangement portion, a hand for moving from the input key operation to the cursor operation means and the process execution input means is provided. Can be reduced, and the operability of the keyboard can be further improved.

  Hereinafter, specific embodiments of a keyboard according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, a case where the keyboard according to the present invention is applied to a notebook computer will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a keyboard according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, a keyboard A1 of this embodiment is integrated with a display B to form a notebook computer C, and input keys 2 for inputting characters and numbers are arranged in a multi-row multi-stage on the upper surface of the keyboard body 1. The input key arrangement unit 3 is provided side by side, and the cursor displayed on the display screen B1 of the display B is moved to the approximate center position of the right hand and left hand home positions of the input key arrangement unit 3. A pointing stick 4 as a cursor operating means for performing input is provided.

  In addition, two left and right operation buttons 5a and 5b as processing execution input means for determining predetermined processing execution at the position of the cursor are provided adjacent to the uppermost row of the input key arrangement unit 3. In particular, in this embodiment, when the thumb is positioned on the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a and 5b are arranged side by side in two places, a place where the index finger is located and a place where the ring finger is located. A wheel 6 is provided as a screen operation means for scrolling the display screen B1 of the display B between the operation buttons 5a and 5b and where the middle finger is located.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the operation buttons 5a, 5b, the wheel 6, and the pointing stick 4 are operated with the right hand, and the two operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 are operated with the pointing stick. 4, more specifically, above the input key 2 located at the third to sixth positions on the right side of the input key 2 adjacent to the pointing stick 4.

  When operating the operation buttons 5a, 5b, the wheel 6 and the pointing stick 4 on the keyboard A1 having the above-described configuration, the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, etc. are extended from the right hand home position of the input key arrangement unit 3. Thus, the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated, and the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated with good operability without much movement of the position of the hand H from the operation of the input key 2.

  Moreover, since the thumb is opened by operating the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 with the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, etc. as described above, the pointing stick 4 is operated with the empty thumb, and the pointing stick 4 is operated with one hand. The operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated. Accordingly, the operability of the pointing stick 4 is improved remarkably for a user who is difficult to operate the pointing stick 4 with the index finger, and the cursor displayed on the display screen B1 of the display B can be moved smoothly.

  In this embodiment, when the thumb is positioned on the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a and 5b are provided at the positions where the index finger and the ring finger are located. Therefore, the operation is performed with the same hand H while operating the pointing stick 4. It becomes possible to operate the buttons 5a and 5b without difficulty, and the operability of the pointing stick 4 and the operation buttons 5a and 5b can be further improved.

  The keyboard A1 of the present embodiment is based on the premise that the operation buttons 5a, 5b, the wheel 6, and the pointing stick 4 are operated with the right hand as described above, but the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel with the left hand. 6 and the pointing stick 4 are operated, the two operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 are placed on the left side of the pointing stick 4, contrary to the arrangement on the keyboard A1, specifically, What is necessary is just to arrange | position above the input key 2 located in the 3rd-6th on the left side from the input key 2 adjacent to the pointing stick 4. FIG.

  Further, the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 are provided at two positions on the right side and the left side of the pointing stick 4 so that the operation buttons 5a and 5b, the wheel 6 and the pointing stick 4 can be used with either the right hand or the left hand. May be operated with one hand.

  Further, the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 are provided not only at the position adjacent to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement unit 3 but also at the position adjacent to the lowermost stage, and operated with the thumb while operating the pointing stick 4 with the index finger. It is good also as a structure which can respond also to the user who wants to operate button 5a, 5b and the wheel 6. FIG.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the keyboard according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, in the keyboard A2 of the present embodiment, the operation buttons 5a and 5b as the process execution input means and the wheel 6 are slid along the support frame 7 adjacent to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement unit 3. The operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 on the support substrate 8 are also arranged by sliding the support substrate 8 in a direction away from or close to the input key placement portion 3. The distance from the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 to the pointing stick 4 is changed by moving.

  At this time, the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 are also separated from the input key arrangement unit 3 when they are separated from the pointing stick 4, and are also brought close to the input key arrangement unit 3 when they are close to the pointing stick 4. Move in the diagonal direction.

  Since configurations other than those described above are the same as the configuration of the keyboard A1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  When operating the operation buttons 5a, 5b, the wheel 6 and the pointing stick 4 on the keyboard A2 having the above-described configuration, the same hand H while operating the pointing stick 4 with the thumb as in the keyboard A1 of the first embodiment. The operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated with the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, etc., and the user who is difficult to operate the pointing stick 4 with the index finger can smoothly operate the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6. Can be operated.

  In particular, since the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 can be moved by sliding the support substrate 8 along the support frame 7, even if the size of the hand H is different for each user, By finely adjusting the positions of the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6, the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 can be positioned where the user can operate most easily. Therefore, the operability of the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a and 5b, and the wheel 6 can be improved.

  In addition, when the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 are separated from the pointing stick 4, they are also separated from the input key arrangement unit 3. When the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 are close to the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 Since the position of the remaining four fingers with respect to the thumb increases as the hand H increases, the position of the remaining four fingers with respect to the thumb decreases as the hand H decreases. The shape of the hand H in which the finger is approaching in the oblique direction can be matched with the moving direction of the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 described above, and the operation is performed according to the size of the user's hand H. The positions of the buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 can be adjusted more easily.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the keyboard according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the keyboard A3 of this embodiment has operation buttons 5a, 5b and a wheel 6 disposed on a support substrate 9 disposed in a portion adjacent to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement unit 3, and the support substrate. 9 is inclined in the thickness direction of the keyboard A3 from the side close to the input key arrangement part 3 to the side away from the side.

  In addition, the support substrate 8 is pivotally provided on the side close to the input key placement portion 3 with respect to the keyboard body 1, while the side separated from the input key placement portion 3 is provided in multiple stages in the thickness direction of the keyboard A3. The support substrate 10 is supported by any one of the support portions 10 of the keyboard body 1, and the inclination angle of the support substrate 9 changes depending on which support portion 10 of the support portions 10 provided in multiple stages supports the support substrate 9. I have to.

  Since configurations other than those described above are the same as the configuration of the keyboard A1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  When operating the operation buttons 5a, 5b, the wheel 6 and the pointing stick 4 on the keyboard A3 having the above-described configuration, the same hand H while operating the pointing stick 4 with the thumb as in the keyboard A1 of the first embodiment. The operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated with the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, etc., and the user who is difficult to operate the pointing stick 4 with the index finger can smoothly operate the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6. Can be operated.

  In particular, the support substrate 9 on which the operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 are disposed is inclined in the thickness direction of the keyboard A3 from the side closer to the input key arrangement portion 3 to the side away from the input key arrangement portion 3, and thus exerts effort. If not, the fingertips that are naturally curved in the palm direction can be naturally placed along the surfaces of the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 that are inclined together with the support substrate 9, and it is impossible without placing a burden on the hand H. The operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated without any change.

  In addition, since the tilt angle of the support substrate 9 can be changed, when the user's hand H is large, the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 on the support substrate 9 are operated by increasing the tilt angle. The size of the hand H can be absorbed by deeply inserting the fingertip to be inserted into the thickness direction of the keyboard A3. Conversely, when the user's hand H is small, the tilt angle is reduced so that the fingertip does not enter deeply in the thickness direction of the keyboard A3, so that the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be used even if the hand H is small. The fingertips can be easily reached. Thus, even if the size of the hand H is different for each user, the angle of the operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be finely adjusted to the angle that the user can operate most easily. The operability of the pointing stick 4, the operation buttons 5a and 5b, and the wheel 6 can be further improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the keyboard according to the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, the keyboard A4 of the present embodiment is not only provided with a pointing stick 4 as a cursor operating means at the approximate center position of the right-hand and left-hand home positions of the input key arrangement part 3, but also with input keys. A pointing stick 4 ′ as a second cursor operation means is provided adjacent to the uppermost part of the placement unit 3.

  In particular, the pointing stick 4 ′ adjacent to the top of the input key arrangement unit 3 is arranged closer to the center of the keyboard A 4 than the operation buttons 5 a, 5 b and the wheel 6, and the index finger is positioned on the pointing stick 4 ′. Sometimes, the left and right operation buttons 5a and 5b are positioned at the positions of the middle finger and the ring finger, respectively.

  Since configurations other than those described above are the same as the configuration of the keyboard A1 of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  When operating the operation buttons 5a, 5b, the wheel 6, and the pointing stick 4 on the keyboard A4 having the above-described configuration, the pointing stick 4 disposed on the input key arrangement unit 3 is the same as the keyboard A1 of the first embodiment. The operation buttons 5a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated with the index finger, middle finger, or ring finger of the same hand H while operating the thumb with the thumb, and the pointing stick 4 or the user who has difficulty operating the pointing stick 4 with the index finger smoothly The operation buttons 5a and 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated.

  On the other hand, if the user who wants to operate the pointing stick with his / her index finger operates the pointing stick 4 ′ adjacent to the top of the input key arrangement unit 3 with his / her index finger, the operation buttons 5 a, 5b and the wheel 6 can be operated, and the user can select whether to operate the pointing stick with the index finger or the pointing stick with the thumb according to his / her preference. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a variety of user preferences.

  Alternatively, the pointing stick 4 may not be provided at the center position of the input key arrangement unit 3, and only the pointing stick 4 ′ adjacent to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement unit 3 may be used as the cursor operation means.

It is a top view of a 1st embodiment of a keyboard concerning the present invention. It is a top view of 2nd Embodiment of the keyboard which concerns on this invention. It is a side view of 3rd Embodiment of the keyboard which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of 4th Embodiment of the keyboard which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A1 keyboard
A2 keyboard
A3 keyboard
A4 Keyboard B Display
B1 Display screen C Notebook PC H Hand 1 Keyboard body 2 Input key 3 Input key layout 4 Pointing stick 4 'Pointing stick
5a, 5b Operation buttons 6 Wheel 7 Support frame 8 Support substrate 9 Support substrate
10 Support section

Claims (5)

A keyboard having an input key arrangement part in which a plurality of input keys are arranged in multiple rows and columns, and the input key arrangement part is provided with a cursor operation means for performing an input operation for moving a cursor displayed on a display screen. Keyboard
A keyboard characterized in that processing execution input means for determining execution of predetermined processing at a cursor positioned at a predetermined position by the cursor operating means is provided adjacent to the uppermost stage of the input key arrangement unit.   The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the processing execution input unit is provided at a position where at least one of an index finger, a middle finger, and a ring finger is positioned when a thumb is positioned on the cursor operation unit.   3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the processing execution input unit has a variable distance from the cursor operation unit.   When the processing execution input unit is separated from the cursor operation unit, the processing execution input unit is also separated from the input key arrangement unit. When the processing execution input unit is close to the cursor operation unit, the processing execution input unit is also adjacent to the input key arrangement unit. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the keyboard is variable in an oblique direction. The keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cursor operating means is provided at a substantially central position of a home position for a right hand and a left hand of the input key arrangement portion.

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