JPH08335137A - Keyboard with pointing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent an erroneous input from being generated by preventing the key operations of a keyboard from being made valid while a touch switch or a capacity detection sensor is touched. CONSTITUTION: This keyboard is equipped with a touch switch 5, which is provided on the upper surface part of a pointing device 2, having an electrode. When an operator touches the pointing device 2, the touch switch 5 is turned on. Corresponding to this on-signal, the following operations of a key 4 are not recognized until the operator separates a hand from the pointing device 2 again. Thus, even when the operator erroneously touches the key 4 during the operation of the pointing device 2, any unintended key input is not generated. Besides, since no input is recognized during the operation of the pointing device 2 even when the key 4 is touched, fingers not operating the pointing device 2, namely, 5 the fingers excepting for the forefinger in this case can be put on a keyboard 1 so that it can not be necessary to float up the fingers not to touch the key 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard with a pointing device which prevents unintended input even if a key is touched by mistake during operation of the pointing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a keyboard with a pointing device is required to have a structure for preventing an unintended input even when a key is touched by mistake when operating the pointing device.

A conventional keyboard with a pointing device will be described below. FIG. 3 shows the configuration of a conventional keyboard with a pointing device.
In FIG. 3, 1 is a keyboard, 2 is a stick-shaped pointing device mounted between the keys 4 of the keyboard 1, and 3 is the force and direction of the pointing device 2 when the force is applied to the pointing device 2. It is a strain sensor for doing.

The operation of the keyboard with a pointing device configured as described above will be described below. The operator can move the cursor on the display of the personal computer by operating the pointing device.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the pointing device 2 is operated,
There is a problem in that the key 4 of the keyboard 1 is accidentally touched and an unintended input is likely to occur.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a keyboard with a pointing device which can prevent the occurrence of erroneous input and is excellent in operability.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a keyboard with a pointing device of the present invention comprises:
A touch switch or a capacitance detection sensor for detecting a touch of an operator is provided on an upper surface portion of a stick-shaped pointing device mounted between keys of the keyboard, and the keyboard is provided while the touch switch or the capacitance detection sensor is being touched. The key operation of is not valid.

[0008]

With this configuration, a touch switch or a capacitance detection sensor for detecting the touch of the operator is provided on the upper surface of the pointing device mounted between the keys of the keyboard, and the touch switch or the capacitance detection sensor is touched. By preventing the key operation of the keyboard from being enabled during the period, it is possible to prevent an unintended input even when the key of the keyboard is accidentally touched when operating the pointing device.

[0009]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 is a touch switch having electrodes provided on the upper surface of the pointing device 2.

The operation of the keyboard with a pointing device constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. First, the operator uses the pointing device 2
The touch switch 5 is turned on by touching. By this ON signal, the subsequent operation of the key 4 is not recognized until the operator releases the pointing device 2 again.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if the operator accidentally touches the key 4 while operating the pointing device 2, unintended key input does not occur. Further, since the input is not recognized even if the key 4 is touched while the pointing device 2 is being operated, a finger not operating the pointing device 2, that is, a finger other than the index finger as shown in FIG. 1, may be placed on the keyboard. Therefore, fatigue can be reduced as compared with the work of floating the finger so as not to touch the key 4.

(Embodiment 2) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 6 denotes a capacitance detection sensor embedded in the upper surface portion of the pointing device 2 for detecting a capacitance change when the operator touches it.

The operation of the keyboard with a pointing device constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator touches the pointing device 2, the capacitance detection sensor 6 is activated, and this signal causes the same operation as in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, the touch switch or the capacitance detection sensor for detecting the touch of the operator is provided on the upper surface of the stick-shaped pointing device mounted between the keys of the keyboard. By preventing the key operation of the keyboard from being enabled while the capacitance detection sensor is being touched, when operating the pointing device, even if the key of the keyboard is accidentally touched, unintentional input is not caused. Also, since the input is not recognized even if the key is touched during the operation of the pointing device, a finger not operating the pointing device may be placed on the keyboard, so that the finger is floated without touching the key. Excellent pointing device that can reduce fatigue compared to work It is those that can be realized the keyboard.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a keyboard with a pointing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a pointing device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pointing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a keyboard with a conventional pointing device, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a conventional pointing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 keyboard 2 pointing device 4 key 5 touch switch 6 capacitance sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A touch switch for detecting a touch of an operator is provided on an upper surface portion of a stick-shaped pointing device mounted between keys of a keyboard, and a key operation of the keyboard is performed while the touch switch is being touched. A keyboard with a pointing device that is not enabled. 2. The keyboard with a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein a capacitance detection sensor is embedded in place of the touch switch.