JPH05241683A - Input device with track ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by putting a track ball on a comfortable position. CONSTITUTION:A track ball unit 2 having a track ball 3 coupled with a switch 4 is pivotally secured to the lower corner of a keyboard on the front of a notebook-type personal computer 1 by an attaching shaft 7 and pulled out from the computer main body when it is used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device with a trackball in which an electronic device such as a computer is provided with a trackball (pointing device) together with an input means such as a keyboard for inputting information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, Windows
Interactive graphic operation applications that use pointing devices such as s) are becoming mainstream, and there are many examples of using a mouse as a pointing device. However, in order to operate the mouse, such as on a flat desk. Since it requires a place, the mouse can be operated only for thin boxes that are convenient for carrying, such as laptops and notebook computers (personal computers) that are used in narrow spaces or in non-planar areas. It gets harder.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a conventional notebook type personal computer. In the case of FIG. 7, a trackball unit is used as a pointing device which does not take up a place of operation instead of a mouse.

A notebook type personal computer 10 is provided with a trackball unit 11 at a position between a keyboard 14 and an LCD display 15. The trackball unit 11 has a trackball 12 rotatably held at the upper part thereof. The trackball 12 is provided with a switch 13 for selecting and executing an instruction to be displayed on the display, and the trackball 12 is provided with an X-direction sensor and a Y-direction sensor for detecting the X and Y coordinates from the rotation angle (the direction sensor is shown in FIG. Not shown).

First, when the trackball 12 is rotated, its rotation angle is detected by the X-direction sensor and the Y-direction sensor. The values of the X coordinate component and the Y coordinate component are read by the detected signal, and the coordinate position of the cursor on the display is determined.

Taking the case of drawing a straight line on the display as an example, the trackball 12 is rotated, the cursor is placed on the symbol indicating the straight line drawing command, and the switch 13 is clicked to select the trackball 12. Then, the cursor is aligned with the start point of the straight line, the switch 13 is clicked to determine the start point, the cursor is moved to the end point, and the switch 13 is clicked to draw a straight line from the start point to the end point.

[0007]

However, in the prior art shown in FIG. 7, the trackball 12 which is originally hard to use as compared with the mouse is provided in the narrow space between the front keyboard 14 and the front display 15. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation position is in front of the keyboard 14 and the operability with a finger is poor.

Further, in the prior art shown in FIG. 7, since the trackball unit 11 is provided in a narrow space, the trackball unit including the diameter of the trackball 12 itself is included so as not to disturb the surroundings. There is a problem that it is difficult to increase the diameter of the trackball to make it easier to use because there is a constraint that the size of 11 must be reduced so that the body of the personal computer 10 does not become large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an input device with a trackball which is easy to use by improving the operability and increasing the diameter of the trackball.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an input device with a trackball, which comprises an input means such as a keyboard and a trackball, wherein the trackball is provided at the lower corner of the keyboard. The feature is that it can be pulled out.

[0011]

With the above configuration, the trackball for selecting and executing an instruction on the display is stored in a position corresponding to the front corner of the PC body under the keyboard when not in use, and when in use Since it is pulled out to the outside so that it can be operated side by side with the keyboard, the operability of the trackball is improved and a storage space can be secured, so that the diameter of the trackball can be increased to make it easier to use.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a top view of a notebook computer to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a side view, FIG. 4 is a perspective view, and FIG.

In these figures, a trackball for moving the input position of data to be displayed on the display 6 is located at the lower right side of the main body of the notebook computer 1 (see the drawing on FIG. 1) and the side end portion of the lower part of the keyboard 5. Unit 2 is provided.

The trackball unit 2 has a trackball 3 rotatably held on the top and a display 6.
The switch 4 for selecting and executing the above command and the rotation direction detection system (not shown) such as the X and Y direction sensors are integrated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the trackball unit 2 attached to the lower right side end portion of the notebook type personal computer 1 by a mounting shaft 7 so as to be drawn out is placed in the main body case of the personal computer 1 when not in use. When it is stored and used, it is operated by pulling it out to the right centering on the mounting shaft 7 as shown in FIG.

In the case of the present embodiment, since the trackball unit 2 is housed in the case body of the personal computer 1, the diameter of the trackball 3 can be made large within the allowable range of the body height H. Alternatively, the trackball unit 2 may be attached at the lower left side or the side end of the main body of the personal computer 1 for left-handed use.

Next, an actual operation will be described by taking a case of drawing a straight line as an example. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the trackball unit 2 is pulled out to the outside of the case of the personal computer 1 in the right direction (in the direction of the arrow) about the mounting shaft 7 as a rotation shaft to a position where the stopper is fully engaged, and the trackball 3 is rotated. The cursor interlocking with the trackball is placed on the symbol on the title bar indicating the linear drawing command on the display 6, and the switch 4 is clicked to select the command. Further, rotate the trackball 3 to bring the cursor to the starting point of the straight line, click the switch 4 to set the starting point, move the cursor to the starting point, and click the switch 4 to draw a straight line from the starting point to the ending point. It When the operation of the trackball is completed, the trackball unit 2 is rotated to the left (in the opposite direction of the arrow) and stored in the personal computer 1.

In this embodiment as described above, the trackball unit 2 can be pulled out of the main body and can be operated in front of the keyboard 5 side by side. The trackball 3 and the switch 4 can be operated by the fingers of the right hand and the left hand. Since the keyboard 5 can be operated with a finger and the operability is improved, and the diameter of the trackball 3 is increased, it is easy to use and the detection accuracy of the rotation direction data is improved. In the above embodiment, the trackball of the present invention is applied to a notebook type personal computer, but the present invention is not limited to this and can be widely applied to word processors and the like.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the trackball is provided at the lower corner of the keyboard, the operability is improved and it is easy to use, and it is housed in the main body when not in use. Since it is placed, it has an effect such as a clean design.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a notebook computer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a usage state of the personal computer shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a conventional notebook computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Notebook type personal computer 2 Trackball unit 3 Trackball 4 Switch 5 Keyboard (input means) 6 Display 7 Mounting axis

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input device with a trackball comprising an input means such as a keyboard and a trackball, wherein the trackball is retractably housed in a lower corner of the keyboard. ..