JPH06139013A - Pointing device and electronic equipment using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a pointing device which can be held at a part of the main body of an electronic equipment in a freely attachable/detachable way, can be used with high operability, and also can improve its input efficiency by setting a casing into a lock hole which is used in a folded state of a display means in a freely attachable/detachable way via an attachment member. CONSTITUTION:A track ball 2 serving as a pointing device is attached onto the right side face 1A of a casing of an electronic equipment 1. A device attachment member 20 is attached by means of a lock hole 11 which is used in a folded state of a display device 8. The part 20 includes a support arm 20A which supports the ball 2 and a fixed arm 20B which is fitted into the hole 11 by means of the elasticity at the side of the equipment 1. Both arms 20A and 20B are made of an elastic material and unified together in a single body. The member 20 and the ball 2 can be freely attached and detached to each other. Then an engagement projection 20D can be elastically attached to an attachment part 2D formed in a support groove 2A when an end part 20C of the arm 20A is put into the groove 2A formed at the lower face side of the ball 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device and an electronic device in which the pointing device is used. More specifically, the pointing device and the pointing device used as an auxiliary acquisition means for electronic devices such as personal computers and word processors are used. Related to electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recent electronic devices have abundant expansion functions, and for example, as shown in FIG. 11, input is often made using a pointing device such as a trackball.

A trackball 2 used in such an electronic device 1 is provided with input switches 3 and 4, an operation ball 5 and a connection cable 6. Then, the operator connects the connection cable 6 to the electronic device 1, and, for example,
The operation ball 5 is used to move the cursor on the screen, and the input switch 3 or 4 is pressed to specify the range.

On the other hand, the electronic device 1 is provided with a keyboard 7 as a means of obtaining, a display 8 which can be tilted up and down, a pull-out type handle 9 for carrying the device 1 and a palm rest. When not in use or when carrying it, the display 8 is tilted and the locking claw 10 on the display 8 side is engaged with the engagement hole 11 on the main body side of the device 1 to form a compact form. You can Reference numeral 12 is a knob that is provided on the side surface of the display unit 8 and that releases the above-mentioned locked state when the display unit 8 is pulled up.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional pointing device 2 and the electronic device 1 using the pointing device 2, the trackball 2 is placed on a desk while being connected to the electronic device 1, for example. It is slippery and uncomfortable to use. Further, when the distance between the trackball 2 and the keyboard 7 is increased, the operator uses one hand to move the trackball 2
Therefore, the input efficiency is poor because the trackball 2 must be released and the hand must be moved toward the keyboard 7 each time the keyboard is operated.

An object of the present invention is to pay attention to the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in order to solve the problems, a pointing device can be detachably held in a part of an electronic equipment main body, which is convenient for an operator. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device and an electronic device using the pointing device that can improve input efficiency and contribute to protection of storage.

[0007]

In order to achieve such an object, the first mode of the pointing device of the present invention is
In a pointing device used for an electronic device having a keyboard and a tiltable display means and having an independent housing, a locking hole formed near the keyboard and used in a folded state of the display means. In addition, it is characterized in that the housing is detachable via a mounting member.

A second form of the pointing device of the present invention is used in an electronic device equipped with a keyboard,
In a pointing device having an independent housing, an elastic body that can be pushed and protruded is provided on a side surface of the housing, and the housing can be fitted in a recess near the keyboard by elastic force of the elastic body. It is characterized by having done.

Furthermore, an electronic device using the pointing device of the present invention is provided with a handle that can be pulled out and stored, and an electronic device that has an independent housing and is capable of inputting is provided between the handle and the handle. A return means for returning the handle from the pulled-out state to the stored state is provided, and a space into which the housing of the pointing device can be fitted is formed between the handle and the handle in the pulled-out state. It is what

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the pointing device of the present invention, the locking hole used in the folded state of the display means remains open in the operating state of the electronic device. The pointing device can be mounted via the keyboard, and the locking hole is provided near the keyboard, so that the operator can selectively operate the keyboard and the pointing device.

According to the second aspect of the pointing device of the present invention, the housing can be fitted in the recess near the keyboard by the elastic force of the elastic body provided on the side surface of the housing of the pointing device. The device can be easily attached to and detached from the electronic device, and the operator can freely operate the keyboard and pointing device separately.

Further, according to the electronic apparatus in which the pointing device of the present invention is used, the return means provided between the handle and the apparatus body is used to form the handle between the handle and the apparatus body in the pulled-out state. The device that can hold the pointing device in the space
The handle can also be used as a palm rest by retaining the handle in the pulled-out state by the handle retaining means.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. In this example, a trackball 2 which is a pointing device has a right side surface 1A of a casing of an electronic device 1 as shown in FIG.
20 is a support member (hereinafter simply referred to as a mounting member) for mounting. The device mounting member 20 of this example is mounted using the engagement hole 11 (see FIG. 11) used when the display 8 is folded and stored. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the mounting member 20 is integrally formed of an elastic body,
Support arm 20A for supporting trackball 2 and electronic device 1
The fixed arm 20 that is elastically fitted into the side engaging hole 11
B and.

The mounting member 20 and the trackball 2 can be easily attached and detached, and for this reason, the mounting member support arm 20A has an engaging projection 20D at the end 20C bent along the lower surface of the trackball. By forming this end portion 20C into the support groove 2A on the lower surface side of the trackball, the engaging projection 20D can be elastically attached to the attachment portion 2D in the support groove 2A. Further, the track ball 2 can be detached from the mounting member 20 by pulling out the end portion 20C from the support groove 2A against the elasticity. Reference numeral 20E denotes a U-shaped spring portion formed at the tip of the fixed arm 20B. The spring portion 20E is bent in the direction indicated by the arrow A,
By inserting it into the engaging hole 11, the spring portion 20E can be widened in the direction of arrow A and the trackball 2 can be maintained in a supported state.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this example, when the trackball 2 is used together with its mounting member in a state where it is detached from the electronic device, the mounting member does not interfere with the operation of the trackball. Therefore, the mounting member 30 according to the present embodiment is only rotatable at a portion corresponding to the fixed arm 20B of the mounting member 20 shown in the first embodiment, and is rotatable in the support hole 2B of the trackball 2 via the support pin 30A. Installed on.

Therefore, when the trackball 2 is mounted using the engaging hole 11 as in the first embodiment, the mounting member 30 is kept in the state shown in (A) and the spring portion 30E at the support end is provided. May be engaged with the engagement hole 11. Also, when operating with the electronic device 1 removed,
As shown in (B), the mounting member 30 is attached to the support pin 30.
Rotate it around A and put 2C on the side of the trackball 2.
The U-shaped spring portion 30E is fitted to the hole 2F formed in the ball side surface 2C in accordance with the shape of the U-shaped spring portion 30E, so that the ball 2 can be kept in a shape that does not hinder the operation. it can.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the mounting member can also be used as a protective cover for the ball surface when it is not used. FIG. 3A shows a mounting state of the mounting member when the trackball 2 is mounted on the electronic device 1 as shown in FIG.
(B) shows the ball surface protection state by the mounting member. Reference numeral 40 denotes the mounting member, and in the mounting member 40 of this example, the support arm 40A is formed into a key-shaped hand shape so as to receive the bottom surface 2G of the trackball 2. Reference numeral 40C is a spherical surface portion formed on the receiving surface 40B of the support arm 40A so as to match the protruding spherical surface of the operation ball 5. Therefore, when the trackball 2 is not used, (B)
As shown in FIG. 3, the mounting member 40 is mounted upside down in the opposite manner to the state shown in FIG. It is possible to prevent dust or the like from entering the housing and hindering the rotation of the operation ball 5 or causing an erroneous input operation. Moreover, it is not necessary to prepare another protective component.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this example, when the trackball 2 is not used, the end of the connection cable 6 detached from the main body of the electronic device 1 is held by a part of the mounting member so that the cable 6 is stored around the trackball 2. It is a thing. In FIG. 4, 4
Reference numeral 0 is a mounting member similar to that of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
Here, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the spring property is provided to the spring portion 40E provided at the support end of the support arm 40A in a state where the mounting member 40 is used as a protection member for the ball surface 2H of the trackball 2. It is used to grip the vicinity of the connector portion 13 of the connection cable 6. The cable 6 may be wound around the track ball 2 in the middle as shown in the figure. Here, 40D is a cover for the input switch.

In this embodiment, an example of application to the mounting member 40 according to the form of the third embodiment has been shown. However, the mounting member 30 according to the form of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 may be used. Is also possible.

As in the above-described embodiments, the pointing device can be attached or detached or can be engaged with the engaging hole of the electronic device body when the display is folded by using the elastic attachment member of the elastic body. Therefore, the operability of the trackball can be improved, and the mounting member can be used for various purposes such as a protective cover when the trackball is not used.

Next, another embodiment of the pointing device according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the fifth embodiment according to the present invention. Here, 50 is a leaf spring portion projecting outward from the side surface of the trackball 2 by a protrusion amount α. on the other hand,
In the electronic device 1, the handle 9 is configured to be pulled out in the front direction by at least the width W of the trackball 2 as shown in the figure. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the trackball 2 is pulled out to the front side of the handle 9 of the electronic device 1, and the trackball is provided in the space 14 formed between the device body 1 and the handle 9. Two
Push in from above. Thus, the leaf spring portion 50 projecting from the side surface of the trackball 2 is engaged with the recessed portion 9A provided on the back surface side of the handle 9 by the spring force, for example, as shown in FIG. It is easy to operate and can be maintained in a stable state.
It never falls off.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the spring portion 50A projecting from the side surface of the trackball 2 is not separated from the spring portion 50 shown in FIGS. The elasticity of the case 2L of the trackball 2 itself may be used to form the trackball 2 integrally with the case 2L. Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
A is provided on the other side surface of the trackball 2, and the recess 1B to which the spring portion 50A is engaged faces the space 14 (see (A) of FIG. 6) between the handle 9 and the device 1 side. It may be formed on the side surface of the above, and may be attached by utilizing the spring property of the spring portion 50A. Further, the spring portion 50 as shown in FIG. 6 can of course be engaged as shown in FIG. 7C, but although not shown, springs can be provided on both side surfaces of the trackball 2. It goes without saying that it is possible to provide the parts and to attach both spring parts to the back surface side of the handle 9 and the facing surface side of the main body of the device 1.

According to the fifth embodiment, a pointing device such as a trackball is fixed near the keyboard and on the front side, and the operator can freely operate the keyboard and the pointing device with his / her hand at the home position. Moreover, since the handle can be set as described above, the operation can be performed in a compact state.

FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment according to the present invention.
In the embodiments described below, a pointing device such as a trackball is held between the handle and the device body by the spring force of a spring provided between the electronic device and the handle.

FIG. 8A shows a state in which the trackball 2 is held in the space 14 between the main body of the electronic device 1 and the handle 9. In this example, the main body side of the device 1 is shown. A support groove 1C is formed on the device 1 side so that a part of the trackball 2 is fitted therein. Thus, the trackball 2 is restrained from moving along the longitudinal direction of the handle 9. FIG. 8B shows a cross section taken along line XX ′ of FIG. Here, 9B is a handle connecting arm attached to both ends of the handle 9, and 9C pulls the handle 9 toward the main body of the electronic device 1 when the handle 9 is not used by urging the connecting arm 9B in the arrow direction. A return spring 15 to be stored is a spring hook member that hooks one end of the return spring 9C.

According to this embodiment, the handle 9 is shown in FIG.
Then, the stepped portion 9D of the handle connecting arm 9B is brought into contact with the inside of the case 1D of the device 1 by pulling it out to the left against the spring force of the spring 9C, and between the handle 9 and the case 1D of the device 1. It is possible to keep the space 14 in. Therefore, it suffices to insert the trackball 2 from above using the space 14 as shown in FIG. 8 (A), and then release the hand that pulls out the handle 9 to contact the spring force of the spring 9C. The trackball 2 can be held at a predetermined position by the frictional force between the contacting walls. Although not shown, the height of the trackball 2 is formed slightly lower than the height of the handle 9 or the main body of the device 1, and a stepped portion is formed near the lower end of the wall surface of the handle 9 or the device 1 side. The bottom surface of the trackball 2 may be brought into contact with the stepped portion.

FIG. 8C is a further modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. In this example, a foldable stopper 16 is provided on the side of the handle 9. The stopper 16 is swingably supported around a pin boss 9E protruding from the handle 9. Therefore, the trackball 2 is attached to the device 1
When it is not necessary to attach the device to the main body and use it, the stopper 16 is pulled up to the position shown in FIG. 8C to stop the handle 9 from being returned to the case 1D side of the device 1 by the spring 9C. The handle 9 can also be used as a palm rest.

FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention. This example is intended to reduce the number of parts in the form shown in the sixth embodiment. That is, in this example, the handle connecting arms 9B provided at both ends of the handle 9 are coupled by the coupling beam 9F parallel to the handle 9 to form them in a frame shape, and the coupling beam 9F and the case 1D of the device 1 are formed. One spring 9G is interposed between the inner surface and the inner surface.
Therefore, the handle 9 in the stored state can be pulled out against the spring force of the spring 9G, and the trackball 2 can be held in the space 14 formed therebetween by utilizing the spring force of the spring 9G. . It is needless to say that the present embodiment can be provided with the stopper 16 as shown in FIG. 8C so that the handle 9 can be used also as a palm rest.

FIG. 10 shows a common configuration example applicable to any of the fifth to seventh embodiments. Here, 17 is the inside of the trackball 2 or the handle 9 or the case 1D of the device 1.
The non-slip members are attached to at least one of the surfaces of the sides that contact each other. The anti-slip member 17 is preferably made of a material that can provide a sufficiently large coefficient of friction between the surfaces in contact with each other. Also, in this example, the handle 9
Although the anti-slip member 17 is provided between the inner side of the and the side surface of the track ball 2 that abuts against it, as a matter of course, it is not limited to such a position as described above.

As described in the fifth to seventh embodiments, the pulling-out spring provided on the handle that can be pulled out and stored or the spring force of the spring provided on the pointing device is used to move the pointing device to the handle and electronic equipment. Since it is supported between the main body and the body, the operator can use the keyboard and trackball at the same time to input freely, and when the trackball is not used, the handle is used as a palm rest. It became possible.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the pointing device of the present invention, the casing is provided through a mounting member in a locking hole which is formed near the keyboard and is used in a folded state of the display means. Since the device is detachable, the pointing device can be fixed to the electronic device by the mounting member by using the locking hole used when the display means is folded near the keyboard, and the operability can be further improved. it can.

According to the second aspect, an elastic body which can be pushed and protruded is arranged on the side surface of the housing, and the housing is fitted into the concave portion near the keyboard by the elastic force of the elastic body. Since it is wearable, the pointing device can be easily attached to and detached from the main body of the device, and the pointing device which is easy for the operator to use can be provided.

Furthermore, according to the electronic apparatus using the pointing device of the present invention, a return means for returning the handle from the pulled-out state to the stored state is provided between the handle and the handle in the pulled-out state. Since a space in which the housing of the pointing device can be fitted is formed between the handle and the device, the handle returning means provided between the handle and the handle allows the pointing device to be easily and securely provided between the handle and the device body. Therefore, the handle can be effectively used, and when the pointing device is not used, the handle can be held in the pulled-out position to be used as a palm rest.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention by a perspective view (A) of the whole and a sectional view (B) taken along line XX ′ of (A).

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a pointing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a state (A) when mounted on a device and a state (B) when stored.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a pointing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention in a state (A) when mounted on a device and a ball protection state (B) when stored.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of a pointing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a pointing device is mounted on an electronic apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG.
It is explanatory drawing shown by the X'line sectional view (B).

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the overall configuration of a modified example of the fifth embodiment (A), a cross-sectional view of a pointing device mounted on an electronic device (B), and a cross-sectional view of a different mounting form in a mounted state. It is explanatory drawing shown by (C).

FIG. 8 is a sectional view (C) of the sixth embodiment of the present invention when the pointing device is mounted on an electronic device (A), a section (B) taken along line XX ′ of (A), and an application example when the pointing device is not mounted (C). It is an explanatory view shown by.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a partially crushed structure of a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a configuration of a common application example according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic equipment 1A Housing side surface 1B Recess 1D Case 2 Trackball 2A Support groove 2B Support hole 2F Hole 2L Case 5 Operation ball 6 Connection cable 7 Keyboard 8 Display 9 Handle 9B Connecting arm 9C, 9G Spring 10 Locking claw 11 Engagement Joint hole 14 Space 20,30,40 Mounting member 20A, 40A Support arm 20B Fixed arm 20E, 30E, 40E Spring part 40B Receiving surface 50 Leaf spring part 50A Spring part

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A pointing device used in an electronic device having a keyboard and a tiltable display means and having an independent housing, which is provided near the keyboard and used in a folded state of the display means. A pointing device, wherein the housing is detachably attached to the locking hole by means of an attachment member. 2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member is foldably stored along the housing. 3. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member is detachable from the housing and functions as a protective cover of the input operation unit depending on its top and bottom. 4. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member is elastically engaged with the locking hole. 5. A pointing device used in an electronic device equipped with a keyboard and having an independent housing, wherein an elastic body which can be pushed and protruded is provided on a side surface of the housing,
A pointing device, wherein the housing can be fitted into a recess near the keyboard by elastic force of the elastic body. 6. The pointing device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic body is formed integrally with the housing. 7. The electronic device has a handle that can be pulled out and stored, and a recess near the keyboard is formed between the handle and the handle when the handle is pulled out. The pointing device according to item 6. 8. An electronic device having a handle which can be pulled out and stored and which is capable of inputting with a pointing device having an independent housing, and a return means for returning the handle from the pulled state to the stored state between the handle and the handle. And a space in which the housing of the pointing device can be fitted is formed between the handle and the handle in the pulled-out state. 9. The electronic device according to claim 8, further comprising: a handle restraining means capable of holding the handle in the pulled-out state between the handle and the handle. 10. The non-slip member is arranged on a surface in contact with the housing of the pointing device in a state where the housing of the pointing device is fitted in a space between the housing and the handle. Electronic device described.