JP3796768B2 - pointing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a pointing device used for information processing equipment such as a personal computer and a word processor, a home game machine, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, pointing devices have been desired to have a switch function for detecting an operator's touch to save space, reduce assembly man-hours, and simplify operations.
[0003]
A conventional pointing device will be described below.
3 and 4 show the configuration of a conventional pointing device. 1 is a notebook-size personal computer as a main body, 2 is a keyboard on which a plurality of keys are arranged for input, 3 is a stick-like pointing device provided between the keys, and 4 is an input switch of the pointing device 3 It is. The pointing device 3 includes a rod 5, a rubber cap 6, and a load sensor 7. The operator operates the pointing device 3 with the index finger and operates the input switch 4 with another finger of the same hand or another hand. For this reason, the input switch 4 is disposed at a position away from the pointing device 3.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the input switch 4 needs to be arranged within the reach of the finger, so that the place is limited and the degree of freedom in design is lost. In addition, since it is a separate part from the pointing device 3, wiring and mounting parts are required, which increases the number of assembly steps, and in order to operate both the pointing device 3 and the input switch 4 with one hand. Skill was necessary and had the problem that it had to be operated with both hands.
[0005]
The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a pointing device having a small number of mounting steps and excellent operability.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Pointing device of the present invention to achieve this object, provided by such embedding a touch sensor for detecting a touch of an operator on the upper surface portion or the support portion of the stick-like pointing device to be mounted between the keyboard keys, pointing It has the function of an input switch for devices .
[0007]
[Action]
With this configuration, it is possible to provide a function of an input switch for the pointing device by providing a touch sensor that detects an operator's touch on the upper surface portion of the pointing device mounted between the keys of the keyboard. The input switch can be integrated to save space and reduce man-hours. Further, both the pointing device operation and the input switch operation can be performed with only one finger that is the same as the finger that operates the normal pointing device.
[0008]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0009]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a touch sensor attached on the rubber cap 6.
The operation of the pointing device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. The operator applies a force with the finger to the rubber cap 6 on the rod 5, and the control means reads the value of the load sensor 7 and moves the mouse cursor on the display. After moving to the target point, the finger is released and the touch sensor 8 is touched within the time t to operate the input switch for the pointing device (on the display functioning as the input switch 4 of the pointing device 3 shown in the prior art) Confirm the mouse cursor position) . Although it is conceivable that a finger touches the touch sensor 8 when a force is applied to the rubber cap 6, erroneous operation can be prevented by disabling simultaneous detection on the control means side of the pointing device 3. If there is a touch input exceeding the time t, it may be determined that the input is not due to the operator's intention, or may be determined as a new input.
[0010]
FIGS. 2B and 2C show examples of definitions of touch actions. This gives meaning to the time when the touch sensor 8 is touched. For example, after touching the touch sensor 8 for the time T, the finger is released only for the time T and then touched again for the time T. In this case, it is determined that the control means is turned on twice (double click). This applies to the operation of touching for 3T. Accordingly, since double-clicking can be realized with a single touch, there is an effect that finger movement is reduced and operability is improved. Similarly, a complicated operation can be defined as a simpler operation by combining the time T and the number of times of touching the touch sensor 8 in various ways.
[0011]
As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to move the mouse cursor on the display and operate the input switch for the pointing device with one finger. Also, it can be easily operated for beginners without special practice.
[0012]
Although the touch sensor 8 is disposed on the rubber cap 6 in the above embodiment, it may be disposed between the rubber cap 6 and the rod 5. In this case, since the touch sensor 8 does not appear on the appearance, the same aesthetic appearance as that of the conventional product can be maintained.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention, as described above, provided by such embedding a touch sensor for detecting a touch of an operator on the upper surface portion or the support portion of the stick-like pointing device to be mounted between the keyboard keys, said pointing device by the touch sensor Thus, the pointing device and the input switch portion for the pointing device are integrated to save space and reduce the number of assembly steps. Further, both the pointing device operation and the input switch operation for the pointing device can be performed with only one finger that is the same as the finger that operates the pointing device, so that even a beginner can easily operate the pointing device .
[0014]
The operator recognizes that the input switch operation for the pointing device is intended when the user is once released from the touched state and touched again within a predetermined time, and is touched or released following the operation. By defining a plurality of operations intended by the operator according to the combination of actions and the time when each action is performed, a complicated operation can be replaced with a simple operation, and the operability is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a timing chart when a pointing device is clicked according to an embodiment of the present invention. Timing chart (c) is a timing chart when the double click is defined. [FIG. 3] A perspective view of a conventional notebook-sized personal computer. [FIG. 4] A cross-sectional view of a conventional pointing device.
3 Pointing device 8 Touch sensor

Claims (3)

In the stick-like pointing device for moving a mouse cursor on the display to be mounted between the keyboard keys, only set a touch sensor for detecting that the operator touches the upper surface portion or the support portion, by the touch sensor A pointing device having a function of an input switch for the pointing device. Touched the case where it is again touched within a predetermined time once isolated and after that state, a pointing device of claim 1, wherein you to recognize as the operator intended input switch operation for a pointing device. When the operator is released from the touched state and touched again within a certain time , the operator recognizes that the input switch operation for the pointing device is intended, and the operation that is touched or released following the operation is performed. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of operations intended by the operator are defined by a combination and a time when each operation is performed.

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