JP6285604B2 - Input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device for operating a computer.

  As an input device for operating a computer, a mouse that grasps a main body and moves it on a plane such as a desk is known. Although it is a mouse used to operate a desktop computer, it is easier to use than a touchpad that controls a computer by tracing the flat sensor provided on the palm of a laptop computer with your finger. Fortunately, many users use a mouse instead of a touchpad to operate a notebook computer.

  In recent years, the mouse body tends to increase in size as the functionality of the mouse increases. One of the methods for realizing higher functionality of the mouse is to provide various switches such as touch pad buttons on the mouse body. As a result, in addition to the movement of the pointer, which is an original function of the mouse, it is possible to realize functions that are realized by scrolling the screen and function keys originally on the keyboard with the mouse.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-288089

  As described above, with the increase in functionality of a mouse, it is easy to operate a computer with the mouse, but there is a problem that the mouse becomes large and portability is impaired.

  In addition, the use of a mouse pad is indispensable for achieving accurate pointer movement, so users of notebook computers are forced to carry a mouse pad with a mouse.

  In addition, since the movement of the pointer by the mouse requires the movement of the mouse, there is a problem that the movement area of the mouse must be secured in addition to the size of the mouse body. There is also a user interface such as a trackball that realizes a pointer without moving like a mouse, but because it realizes multiple functions, it is inevitable that it will be as large as a mouse.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an input device that can be miniaturized and has excellent portability.

  An input device according to the present invention is an input device that supplies an operation signal to a computer, and is a pair of first operation means arranged symmetrically with respect to a left region and a right region of one surface of a flat housing. And a second operating means arranged in a direction orthogonal to the straight line at a position substantially dividing the straight line connecting the first operating means, and a left region and a right region in the vicinity of the second operating means. And a pair of third operating means arranged symmetrically.

  According to the above configuration, since the first operating means, the second operating means, and the third operating means are provided on the flat casing, the input device can be flattened and reduced in size.

  In the above configuration, an isosceles triangle is formed in which each position where the first operation means is arranged is a base angle, and each position on the flat plate where the second operation means is arranged is an apex angle. Arrange so that.

  According to the above configuration, the first operating means, the second operating means, and the third operating means are arranged geometrically and efficiently on the flat plate housing in accordance with the arrangement of the operator's fingers. Thus, it is possible to provide an input device that can be miniaturized.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The said housing | casing can be made into a square. Alternatively, the casing can be circular.

  The case shape can be configured to be square or circular, but especially when it is configured to be circular, there is no dead space at the corners compared to when it is configured to be square, and it is even smaller than a square input device. Can be realized.

  The first operation means functions as a touch pad, and the second operation means functions as a scroll wheel.

  According to the said structure, the same function as a traditional mouse | mouth is realizable by providing a touchpad and a scroll wheel.

  The third operation means functions as a touch pad button.

  According to the said structure, the same function as a traditional mouse | mouth is realizable by providing a touchpad button.

  In the above configuration, it further functions as a touch pad.

  According to the above configuration, by adding a touch pad in addition to the touch pad button, it is possible to add a function.

  In the above configuration, the second operation means is an electronic wheel switch.

  According to the above configuration, the input device can be completely flattened.

  In the above configuration, the second operating means is a mechanical wheel switch.

  According to the above configuration, since the mechanical wheel switch mounted on the traditional mouse is mounted, the user who is used to the mouse can use the input device without feeling uncomfortable.

  In the input device of the present invention, the first operation means functions as a click pad, the second operation means functions as a touch pad, and the third operation means functions as a scroll pad.

  In the above configuration, the first operation means includes two click pads adjacent to each other, one click pad is arranged outside the casing, and the other click pad is arranged inside the casing.

  In the above configuration, the casing is a mobile terminal device, and the display screen of the mobile terminal device includes the first operation means, the second operation means, and the third operation means.

  According to the said structure, it becomes possible to use portable terminal devices, such as a mobile telephone and a tablet, as an input device of this invention.

  The above configuration includes a solar panel installed on one surface of the casing, and a battery that stores electric power generated by the solar panel.

  According to the said structure, the input device of this invention can be driven stably by providing the electric power generation function by a solar panel, and the electric power storage function by a battery. It is also possible to function as a mobile battery that supplies power stored in the internal battery to an external electronic device.

  A car electronics system comprising the input device of the present invention and an in-vehicle computer device controlled by the input device can be provided.

  According to the input device of the present invention, since the first operation means, the second operation means, and the third operation means are provided on the flat housing, the input device can be flattened and reduced in size. it can.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the computer system to which the input device of this invention is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the input device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a pair of touchpad arrange | positioned on the housing | casing shown in FIG. 2, a pair of touchpad button, and a scroll wheel. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the input device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the input device which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the use condition of the input device which concerns on the 8th Embodiment of this invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a computer system to which an input device of the present invention is applied. The computer system 100 includes a keyboard 101, a display 103 integrated with a computer, and an input device 105 (in the following drawings, which includes a flat housing for operating pointers and icons displayed on the display 103. 200, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1200, 1300). The input device 105 is connected to a computer wirelessly such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the input device according to the first embodiment. The input device 200 includes a pair of touch pads 203 and 205, a pair of touch pad buttons 207 and 209, and a scroll wheel 211 in a rectangular flat plate case 201. The pair of touch pads 203 and 205, the pair of touch pad buttons 207 and 209, and the scroll wheel 211 are arranged within the movement range of the operator's finger so that the operator can operate with the finger.

  The pair of touch pads 203 and 205 and the pair of touch pad buttons 207 and 209 are disposed on the housing 201 at positions that are symmetrical with each other. A scroll wheel 211 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the straight line at a position that substantially bisects a straight line connecting the pair of touch pads 203 and 205 arranged symmetrically on the housing 201. A pair of touch pad buttons 207 and 209 are arranged symmetrically in the vicinity of the scroll wheel 211 around the scroll wheel 211.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a pair of touch pads 203 and 205, a pair of touch pad buttons 207 and 209, and a scroll wheel 211 arranged on the housing 201. As shown in FIG. 3, isosceles sides on the housing 201 where the positions at which the pair of touch pads 203 and 205 are arranged are the base angle θ1 and the positions at which the scroll wheel 211 are arranged are the apex angle θ2. Triangles can be formed. When the casing 201 is square, the scroll wheel 211 is arranged on a diagonal line orthogonal to the diagonal line connecting the pair of touch pads 203 and 205.

  The pointer can be operated by the operator tracing the touch pads 203 and 205 with a finger in an arbitrary direction. When the operator presses the touch pad buttons 207 and 209, the function assigned to the touch pad buttons 207 and 209 can be executed. By scrolling the scroll wheel 211, the screen can be scrolled.

  The scroll wheel 211 may be a mechanical scroll wheel that scrolls the screen by rotating a vertically mounted disk-shaped wheel in addition to an electronic scroll wheel that scrolls the screen in response to an operator's finger.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a usage state of the input device 200. An operator's palm is placed as shown by a virtual line in accordance with a pair of touch pads 203 and 205 and a scroll wheel 211 arranged so as to form a triangle on the housing 201. As shown in the figure, when using the right hand (RH), the thumb is made to correspond to the touch pad 205, the index finger is made to correspond to the touch pad button 209, and the middle finger is made to correspond to the touch pad button 207. The scroll finger 211 is operated by moving the index finger or the middle finger to the scroll wheel 211.

  When using the left hand (refer to the symbol LH shown in FIG. 5), the thumb is made to correspond to the touch pad 203, the index finger is made to correspond to the touch pad button 207, and the middle finger is made to correspond to the touch pad button 209, If necessary, the scroll wheel 211 is operated by moving the index finger or the middle finger to the scroll wheel 211. Since the pair of touch pads 203 and 205 and the touch pad buttons 207 and 209 on the housing 201 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the scroll wheel 211, it is the same whether the operator uses the right hand or the left hand. The input device 200 can be operated with a sense.

  As described above, according to the input device 200 according to the present embodiment, since the touch pad, the touch pad button, and the scroll wheel are provided on the square flat casing, the input device 200 is flattened and reduced in size. can do. The input device 200 is provided with a touch pad, a touch pad button, and a scroll wheel, which are the same functions as a traditional mouse, but the touch pad, the touch pad button, and the scroll wheel are arranged according to the arrangement of the operator's fingers. Since it is efficiently arranged geometrically on the body, it can be miniaturized by flattening while realizing the same functions as a traditional mouse.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a usage state of the input device 500 according to the second embodiment. The difference from the input device 200 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is that a touch pad function is provided in the left and right regions near the scroll wheel 511 of the input device 500 and a touch pad switch function is provided in the left and right regions.

  According to the input device 500 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, touch pads 507 and 509 having enlarged operation areas near the scroll wheel are provided, and the functions of the touch pad buttons are provided in the touch pads 507 and 509. It becomes possible to achieve high functionality.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a usage state of the input device 600 according to the third embodiment. The difference from the input device 200 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is that the casing 201 of the input device 600 is circular while the casing 201 of the input device 200 is square. The arrangement relationship and functions of the touch pads 603 and 605, the touch pad buttons 607 and 609, and the scroll wheel 611 are the same as those of the input device 200 shown in FIGS.

  According to the input device 600 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, since the casing 603 has a circular shape, the dead space in the corner portion existing in the square input device 200 is eliminated, and the rectangular shape is obtained. Compared to the input device 200, the size can be further reduced.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a usage state of the input device 700 according to the fourth embodiment. In the input device 700 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the input device 700 has a circular shape of the casing 701, similar to the input device 600 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6. It is a thing.

  According to the input device 700 according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, touch pads 707 and 709 in which the operation area in the vicinity of the scroll wheel is enlarged are provided, and the functions of the touch pad buttons are provided in the touch pads 707 and 709. It becomes possible to achieve high functionality. Further, by making the shape of the housing 703 circular, the dead space in the corner portion existing in the square input device is eliminated, and the size can be further reduced as compared with the square input device.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an input device 800 according to the fifth embodiment. The input device 800 includes a pair of click pads 803 and 805, a pair of scroll pads 807 and 809, and a touch pad 811 disposed between the scroll pads 807 and 809, in a rectangular flat plate casing 801.

  The click pad 803 includes two click pads 803a and 803b adjacent to each other, the click pad 803a is disposed outside the housing 801, and the click pad 803b is disposed inside the housing 801. Similarly, the click pad 805 includes two click pads 805a and 805b adjacent to each other, the click pad 805a is disposed outside the housing 801, and the click pad 805b is disposed inside the housing 801.

  The pair of click pads 803 and 805, the pair of scroll pads 807 and 809, and the touch pad 811 are disposed within the movement range of the operator's finger so that the operator can operate with the finger.

  The pair of click pads 803 and 805, the pair of scroll pads 807 and 809, and the touch pad 811 are disposed on the housing 801 at positions that are symmetrical with each other. A touch pad 811 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the straight line at a position that substantially bisects a straight line connecting the pair of click pads 803 and 805 arranged symmetrically on the housing 801. A pair of scroll pads 807 and 809 are arranged symmetrically in the vicinity of the touch pad 811 with the touch pad 811 as the center.

  On the housing 801, an isosceles triangle can be formed in which the position at which the pair of click pads 203 and 205 are arranged is a base angle and the position at which the touch pad 811 is arranged is an apex angle. When the casing 801 is square, the touch pad 811 is arranged on a diagonal line that is orthogonal to the diagonal line that connects the pair of click pads 803 and 805.

  The function assigned to the click pads 803 and 805 can be executed by the operator pressing the click pads 803 and 805 with a finger. The pointer can be operated by the operator tracing the touch pad 811 with a finger. The screen can be scrolled by tracing the scroll pads 807 and 809 with a finger.

  The scroll pads 807 and 809 may be electronic scroll wheels that scroll the screen in response to an operator's finger, or may be mechanical scroll wheels that scroll a screen by rotating a vertically mounted disk-shaped wheel. good.

  9 to 11 are plan views showing the usage state of the input device 800. FIG. An operator's palm is placed as shown by a virtual line in accordance with a pair of click pads 803a, 805a, a scroll pad 807, and a touch pad 811 arranged so as to form a triangle on the housing 801.

  As shown in the figure, when using the left hand (LH), the thumb is made to correspond to the click pad 803, the index finger is made to correspond to the scroll pad 807, the middle finger and the ring finger are made to correspond to the touch pad 811, and the little finger is made to correspond to the click pad 805. (See FIG. 9). If necessary, the thumb is moved to the click pad 803b, the little finger is moved to the click pad 805b, and the click pads 803 and 805 are operated (see FIG. 10).

  When the right hand is used (see symbol RH shown in FIG. 10), the thumb corresponds to the click pad 805, the index finger corresponds to the scroll pad 809, the middle finger and the ring finger correspond to the touch pad 811, and the little finger click pad It arrange | positions so that it may correspond to 803. If necessary, the thumb is moved to the click pad 805b, the little finger is moved to the click pad 803b, and the click pads 803 and 805 are operated.

  Since the pair of click pads 803 and 805 and the pair of scroll pads 807 and 809 on the housing 801 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the touch pad 811, it is the same whether the operator uses the right hand or the left hand. The input device 800 can be operated with a simple feeling.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an input device 1200 according to the sixth embodiment. The difference from the input device 200 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that a solar panel 1213 is provided in the central region of the housing 1201. On the rectangular housing 1201, the central area other than the pair of touch pads 1203, 1205, the pair of touch pad buttons 1207, 1209 and the scroll wheel 1211 arranged in the range of movement of the operator's finger is A palm is placed, but a solar panel 1213 is installed in this area to perform solar power generation when not in use. The generated power is stored in a built-in battery (not shown).

  According to the input device 1200 according to the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the input device 1200 can be stably driven by including the power generation function and the power storage function. It is also possible to function as a mobile battery that supplies power stored in the internal battery to an external electronic device.

(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an input device 1300 according to the seventh embodiment. A portable terminal device casing 1301 is used as an input device 1300, and a pair of touch pads 1303 and 1305, a pair of touch pad buttons 1307 and 1309, and a scroll wheel 1311 are displayed on a display screen 1351 of the portable terminal device. is there. When an operator's finger traces the pair of touch pads 1303, 1305, the pair of touch pad buttons 1307, 1309 and the scroll wheel 1311 displayed on the display screen 1351, an operation signal is supplied to the computer in response to this movement.

  According to the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or a tablet can be used as the input device of the present invention.

(Eighth embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram illustrating a usage state of the input device 1400 according to the seventh embodiment. An input device 1400 according to the eighth embodiment is installed in a range that an operator's palm can reach during operation, for example, on a console box 1451, and controls in-vehicle computer devices such as a navigation system 1453, an audio system 1455, and an air conditioning system 1457. A car electronics system 1450 may be constructed.

  It can be used to operate a computer instead of a conventional mouse or trackball.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Computer system 101 Keyboard 103 Display 105 Input device 200 Input device 201 Case 203, 205 Touch pad 207, 209 Touch pad button 211 Scroll wheel 500 Input device 501 Case 503, 505 Touch pad 507, 509 Touch pad button 511 Scroll wheel 600 Input device 601 Case 603, 605 Touch pad 607, 609 Touch pad button 611 Scroll wheel 700 Input device 701 Case 703, 705 Touch pad 707, 709 Touch pad button 711 Scroll wheel 800 Input device 801 Case 803, 805 Click Pad 807, 809 Scroll pad 811 Touch pad 1200 Input device 1201 Case 1203, 1205 Touchpad 1207, 1209 Touchpad button 1211 Scroll wheel 1213 Solar panel 1300 Input device 1301 Case 1303, 1305 Touchpad 1307, 1309 Touchpad button 1311 Scroll wheel 1351 Display screen 1350 Car electronics system 1351 Console 1353 Navigation system 1355 Audio system 1357 Air conditioning system

Claims (13)

An input device that places an operator's palm on a flat casing and operates an operation means arranged within the movement range of the operator's finger to supply an operation signal to a computer, wherein the operation means includes:
A pair of first operating means arranged symmetrically with respect to the left area and the right area of one surface of the housing, and operating the pointer by tracing in any direction;
On the same surface as the first operating means, at a position substantially bisecting a straight line connecting the first operating means, and a second operating means arranged in a direction perpendicular to the straight line,
A pair of third operating means arranged symmetrically with respect to the left area and the right area of the second operating means on the same surface as the first operating means and the second operating means;
Including
An isosceles triangle is formed in which each position where the first operation means is arranged is a base angle, and the position on the housing where the second operation means is located is an apex angle. apparatus. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the casing is rectangular. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the casing is circular. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first operation unit functions as a touch pad, and the second operation unit functions as a scroll wheel. It said third operating means functions as a touch pad buttons, input device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The input device according to claim 5 , wherein the third operation unit further functions as a touch pad. The input device according to claim 4 , wherein the second operation means is an electronic scroll wheel. The input device according to claim 4 , wherein the second operation means is a mechanical scroll wheel. Functions as the first operating means clicks pad, said second operating means functions as a touch pad, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the third operating means functions as the scroll pad Input device. The first operating means includes two click pads adjacent to each other,
The input device according to claim 9, wherein one click pad is disposed outside the housing and the other click pad is disposed inside the housing. The input device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 , further comprising: a solar panel installed on one surface of the casing; and a battery that stores electric power generated by the solar panel. The housing is a portable terminal device, wherein the display screen of the mobile terminal device first operation means, any one of the second operating means and said third operating comprises means according to claim 1 to 7 The input device described in 1. A car electronics system comprising: the input device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 ; and an in-vehicle computer device controlled by the input device.

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