JPH09222950A - Push-down power variable mouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouse with which an operator can set desirable push- down power by providing a push-down power varying mechanism concerning a pointing device for inputting coordinate information to various kinds of information equipments such as a personal computer. SOLUTION: This mouse is composed of a casing 6 composed of an upper cover 62 and a lower cover 61, a key top 71 which is composed of a push-down part 72 and an arm part 73 and locks the end of the arm part 73 onto the upper cover 62, and a control mechanism 8 for controlling the push-down power of the key top 71. In this case, the control mechanism 8 is composed of an alarm length control part 81 provided at the arm part 73 and a stopper 82 arranged under the arm length control part 81, the stopper 82 is composed of a control shaft 83, which is supported on the casing 6 so as to be turned and axially freely slid, and a supporting arm 84 protruded on the side face of the control shaft 83, and the arcuate arm length control part 81 with the axial center of the control shaft 83 as a center is provided with a cross-sectional shape for fitting the supporting arm 84 and has plural grooves 85 parallel with the control shaft 83 inside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device for inputting coordinate information to various information devices such as a personal computer, and more particularly, the pressing force of a key top can be arbitrarily selected according to the operator's preference. Regarding a variable mouse.

Information input devices called mice as well as keyboards are widely used in current information devices such as personal computers, and the rationalization and low price of mice have been increasing with the increasing demand for lower prices of personal computers, word processors and the like. Is becoming essential.

For example, the pressing force when clicking the push button switch is different depending on the operator, such as stronger or weaker, but in the conventional mouse, the pressing force required to click the push button switch is fixed and the operator can select it arbitrarily. Cannot be set to.

Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a variable pressing force type mouse which has a variable pressing force mechanism and which allows an operator to set a desired pressing force.

[0005]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a conventional mouse, FIG. 7 is a view showing the structure of a conventional key top, and FIG. 8 is a view showing the structure of a conventional upper cover.

In FIG. 6 (a), a conventional mouse has a casing 1 composed of a lower cover 11 made of resin, a holder 12 and an upper cover 13, and the lower cover 11 has a plurality of spacers 14 formed on a flat lower surface. It is supported by and can be freely moved on the operation surface 2.

A part of the ball 3 inserted into the space formed by the holder 12 and the lower cover 11 having an opening at the center projects from the opening, and the lower cover 11 moves in the direction in which the lower cover 11 moves as the lower cover 11 moves. A ball 3 is held so that it can roll freely on the operation surface 2.

As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the lower cover 11 is provided with a rotation detecting mechanism 4 for detecting the rotation angle of the ball 3 in the X-axis / Y-axis directions.
And a rotation angle detecting element 43 opposed to the rotation body 42.

The rotating shaft 41 to which the rotating body 42 is fixed is attached to the holder 12
Both ends are rotatably supported by bearing arms integrally formed with the rotating shaft 41 and the rotating body 42 which are brought into contact with the ball 3 when the ball 3 rolls on the operation surface 2 as the lower cover 11 moves. Rotates.

In general, the mouse has a signal input section 5 including a plurality of push button switches 51 and a key top 52 in addition to the rotation detecting mechanism 4, and a plurality of push button switches 51 as shown in FIG. 6 (a). Is mounted on a printed circuit board 53 mounted inside the lower cover 11.

The key top 52 has a push-down portion 54 exposed on the upper cover 13 and an arm portion 55 for locking the push-down portion 54 to the upper cover 13, and the arm portion 55 is attached to the upper cover 13.
When pressed down, the pressing rib 56 on the lower surface of the key top 52 is located above the push button switch 51.

As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the key top 52 formed separately from the upper cover has a plurality of pressing portions 54 and arm portions.
A square hole 57 for locking the key top 52 to the upper cover and a long hole 58 for positioning are provided at a fixed end of the arm portion 55.

In addition, the lower surface of each pressing portion 54 is shown in FIG.
Press-down rib 56 with a cross-shaped or circular cross-section as shown in (b)
When the pressing portion 54 is pressed, the arm portion 55 is bent and the push button switch (not shown) located immediately below is pressed via the bending pressing rib 56.

As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the conventional upper cover 13 has step portions 15 corresponding to the thickness of the key tops in the mounting area of the key tops, and the arm portions of the key tops which are opened at the step portions 15 respectively. It has a slit 16 for inserting the 55 and an elongated hole 17 for inserting the pressing rib.

The upper cover 13 is shown on the lower surface in FIG. 8 (b).
And as shown in FIG. 8 (c), it has a screw boss 18 for screwing into the lower cover, and hooks 19 and projections 20 corresponding to the square hole 57 and the long hole 58 of the arm portion 55 respectively for locking the key top. And are provided.

By inserting the arm portion 55 of the key top 52 from the slit 16 of the upper cover 13 and inserting the hooks 19 into the square holes 57 respectively, and shifting the positions, and inserting the protrusions 20 into the long holes 58, FIG. The key top 52 is locked to the upper cover 13 as shown in (c).

[0017]

The pressing force required when the push button switch is clicked differs depending on the operator, such as stronger or weaker. However, in the conventional mouse, as shown in the figure, the length from the locking square hole of the arm portion forming the key top to the pressing portion is constant.

That is, since the length from the locking square hole of the arm portion to the push-down portion differs depending on the model, the push-down force required for clicking varies, but in the case of the same model, the push-down force is fixed and the operator can There was a problem that it could not be set arbitrarily according to taste.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressing force variable mouse which has a pressing force variable mechanism and allows an operator to set a desired pressing force.

[0020]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of a mouse according to the present invention. Note that the same object is denoted by the same symbol throughout the drawings.

The above-mentioned problem is that the casing 6 is composed of the upper cover 62 and the lower cover 61 whose edges are brought into contact with each other so that the openings face each other, the pressing portion 72 and the arm portion 73, and the fixed end of the arm portion 73 is fixed. It has a key top 71 locked to the upper cover 62 and an adjusting mechanism 8 for adjusting the pressing force of the key top 71 from the outside, and the adjusting mechanism 8 is provided in the middle of the arm portion 73. 81 and a stopper 82 arranged below the arm length adjusting section 81.
It is composed of an adjusting shaft 83 that is supported by the housing 6 so as to be rotatable and slidable in the axial direction, and a supporting arm 84 that projects from the side surface of the adjusting shaft 83, and has an arc shape centered on the axis of the adjusting shaft 83. The arm length adjusting portion 81 has a cross-sectional shape into which the tip of the support arm 84 can be fitted, and has a plurality of grooves 85 parallel to the adjusting shaft 83 inside, and the adjusting shaft 83
Is achieved by the variable pressing force type mouse of the present invention in which the support arm 84 is biased by the coil spring 86 in the direction of fitting into the groove 85.

The key top has a pressing portion and an arm portion, and the fixed end of the arm portion is locked to the upper cover, and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the key top from the outside.
The adjusting mechanism includes an arm length adjusting section provided in the middle of the arm section and a stopper provided below the arm length adjusting section, and the stopper is rotatable by the housing and slidable in the axial direction. The arc-shaped arm length adjustment part, which consists of a supported adjustment shaft and a support arm protruding from the side of the adjustment shaft, has an arc-shaped arm length adjustment centered on the axis of the adjustment shaft. The mouse of the present invention, which has a plurality of grooves parallel to the adjustment axis on the inside, and the adjustment axis is biased by the coil spring in the direction in which the support arm fits into the groove, is provided from the outside inside the arm length adjustment section. By selecting the desired groove and inserting the tip of the bearing arm of the stopper, the length from the position where the arm contacts the tip of the bearing arm to the position where the pressing portion is supported changes the pressing force. Can be adjusted.

That is, it is possible to realize a depressing force variable mouse in which the operator has a depressing force varying mechanism and can set a depressing force desired by the operator.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 shows the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 are views showing the assigned indexes and scales.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), the mouse according to the present invention has a housing 6 made up of a resin lower cover 61, a holder 12 and an upper cover 62. The lower cover 61 has a plurality of flat lower surfaces. It is supported by the spacer 14 and can move freely on the operation surface 2.

A part of the ball 3 inserted into the space formed by the holder 12 and the lower cover 61 having an opening at the center projects from the opening, and the lower cover 61 moves in the direction in which the lower cover 61 moves as the lower cover 61 moves. A ball 3 is held so that it can roll freely on the operation surface 2.

The mouse has a mechanism for detecting the amount of rotation of the ball 3 and a signal input section 7 consisting of a plurality of push button switches 51 and a key top 71.
51 is a printed circuit board mounted inside the lower cover 61
It is mounted on the upper surface of 53.

The key top 71 has a push-down portion 72 and a flexible arm portion 73 whose fixed end is locked to the upper cover 62 to support the push-down portion 72. The arm portion 73 is locked to the upper cover 62. By doing so, the pressing rib 56 on the lower surface of the key top 71 is positioned on the push button switch 51.

The mouse of the present invention is different from the conventional mouse in that it has an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the key top from the outside, and the adjusting mechanism 8 has an arm length adjusting section as shown in FIG. 1 (b). 81 and a stopper 82 arranged below the arm length adjusting portion 81.

The stopper 82 has an adjusting shaft 83 which is orthogonal to the arm portion 73 of the key top 71 with a space therebetween, and a support arm 84 which projects to the side surface of the adjusting shaft 83. The adjusting shaft 83 of the stopper 82 is not shown. It can be rotated by the housing 6 and is supported at a plurality of positions so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

On the other hand, the key top 71 has an arc-shaped arm length adjusting section 81 centered on the axis of the adjusting shaft 83 in the middle of the arm section 73.
The arm length adjusting portion 81 is provided with a plurality of grooves 85 having a cross-sectional shape into which the tip of the supporting arm 84 can be fitted, on the inner side facing the adjusting shaft 83.

The adjusting shaft 83 is constantly urged by the action of the coil spring 86 in such a direction that the supporting arm 84 is fitted in the groove 85 of the arm length adjusting portion 81. For example, after the supporting arm 84 is released from the groove 85, Support arm 84 by selecting another groove 85 and letting go
Automatically fits into the groove 85.

In the mouse having such an adjusting mechanism, the support arm 84 is fitted into the groove 85 closest to the fixed end of the arm portion 73 so that the contact position between the arm portion 73 and the support arm 84 and the support position of the pressing portion 72. The length can be maximized and the pressing force can be minimized.

On the contrary, the groove 85 closest to the supporting position of the pressing portion 72
After selecting, the fitting of the support arm 84 that has been disengaged from the other groove 85 minimizes the length from the contact position between the arm 73 and the support arm 84 to the support position of the pressing portion 72, and the pressing force is reduced. Can be maximized.

The pressing force of the key top can be adjusted by rotating the stopper in this way, but the adjusting method differs depending on the configuration of the adjusting mechanism. Hereinafter, an embodiment of a mouse according to the present invention and a method for adjusting a pressing force in the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In any of the embodiments, a plurality of key tops 71 mounted on the upper cover 62 are connected at the fixed end side of the arm portion 73, and a plurality of square holes provided in the arm portion 73.
It is locked by inserting a plurality of hooks 63 included in the upper cover 62 into 74.

Adjusting shaft protruding from the upper cover 62
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the mouse having a structure in which the support arm 84 is released from the groove 85 by pushing the tip of 83 is used, as shown in FIG. It is inserted in 64.

A coil spring 86 that is fitted into the adjusting shaft 83 and slides the adjusting shaft 83 in the axial direction is a support arm 84 and a bearing 64 on the adjusting shaft 83.
The upper cover 62 which is disposed between the upper cover 62 and the adjustment shaft 83 and which bears the index 87 on the end face of the adjustment shaft 83 as shown in FIG. 5 (a).
The scale 88 is engraved on.

For example, by inserting the tip of the driver into the index 87 and pushing the adjusting shaft 83, the supporting arm 84 is removed from the groove 85 as shown in FIG. 2 (b), and the adjusting shaft 83 is rotated to support the supporting arm. Arm length adjuster 81 by adjusting 84 to other scale 88
The other groove 85 above is selected.

Further, in the mouse having a structure in which the support arm 84 is removed from the groove 85 by pulling out the adjustment shaft 83 protruding from the upper cover 62, one end of the adjustment shaft 83 has one end of the adjustment shaft 83 as shown in FIG. 3 (a). And the other end is fitted into a bearing 64 on the upper cover 62.

The coil spring 86, which is inserted into the adjusting shaft 83 and slides the adjusting shaft 83 in the axial direction, includes an upper cover 62 and a supporting arm 84.
And an upper cover which is provided between the adjustment shaft 83 and the side surface of the adjustment shaft 83 as shown in FIG.
The index 87 is engraved on 62.

The support arm 84 is disengaged from the groove 85 as shown in FIG. 3 (b) by hooking and pulling out, for example, a claw on the disk-shaped tip of the adjustment shaft 83, and the support shaft 84 is rotated to rotate the support arm. Arm length adjuster 81 by adjusting 84 to other scale 88
The other groove 85 above is selected.

In FIG. 5B, the upper cover 62
Is a recess around the adjusting shaft 83 that protects the protruding part of the adjusting shaft 83.
Although the mouse is provided with 65, the characteristic of the mouse having the structure for pulling out the adjusting shaft 83 does not change even if the recessed portion 65 is omitted because the protruding amount of the adjusting shaft 83 is small during use.

On the other hand, the upper cover 62 shown in FIG. 5 (a) has a recess 65 around the adjustment shaft 83 for protecting the protruding portion of the adjustment shaft 83.
Although it does not have a mouse, the mouse with a structure that pushes in the adjustment shaft 83 has a large protrusion amount of the adjustment shaft when used, and it is recessed for protection.
It is desirable to provide 65.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the key top and the adjusting mechanism correspond to each other in a ratio of 1: 1 and different pressing force can be set for each key top, but it is difficult to operate a plurality of adjusting mechanisms at the same time, Since it is necessary to adjust the pressing force for each top, adjusting the pressing force is troublesome.

The mouse shown in FIG. 4 (a) makes it possible to simultaneously operate a plurality of adjusting mechanisms. The adjusting shaft 83 has a plurality of supporting arms 84, and at least one end of the adjusting shaft 83 has an upper cover 62. The other end and the middle penetrate through the upper cover 62
It is fitted in the bearing 64 of the.

A coil spring 86 that is fitted into the adjusting shaft 83 and slides the adjusting shaft 83 in the axial direction is a support arm 84 and a bearing 64 on the adjusting shaft 83.
The upper cover 62 which is disposed between the upper cover 62 and the adjustment shaft 83 and which bears the index 87 on the end face of the adjustment shaft 83 as shown in FIG. 5 (a).
The scale 88 is engraved on.

For example, by inserting the tip of the driver into the index 87 and pushing the adjusting shaft 83, the supporting arm 84 is removed from the groove 85 as shown in FIG. 4 (b), and the adjusting shaft 83 is rotated to support the supporting arm. Arm length adjuster 81 by adjusting 84 to other scale 88
The other groove 85 above is selected.

In the mouse shown in FIG. 4 (a), the adjustment shaft 83 is pushed into the upper cover 62 when the support arm 84 is removed from the groove 85, but the other end of the adjustment shaft 83 is located at the other end of the upper cover 62.
The adjustment shaft 83 can be pulled out by constructing the adjustment shaft 83 so as to penetrate therethrough.

As described above, the key top has the pressing portion and the arm portion and the fixed end of the arm portion is locked to the upper cover, and the adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the key top from the outside. Is composed of an arm length adjusting part provided in the middle of the arm part and a stopper arranged below the arm length adjusting part, and the stopper is supported by the housing so as to be rotatable and axially slidable. The adjustment arm and the support arm protruding from the side of the adjustment shaft.The arc-shaped arm length adjustment part centered on the axis of the adjustment shaft has a cross-sectional shape into which the tip of the support arm can be fitted. The mouse of the present invention having a plurality of grooves parallel to the inside and the adjustment shaft being urged by the coil spring in the direction in which the supporting arm is fitted into the groove is provided on the inside of the arm length adjusting portion from the outside. Select the groove of and the tip of the bearing arm of the stopper The by fitting, it is possible to adjust the changes pressing force length to the position for supporting the pressing portion from contact with positions on the tip of the support arm of the arm portion.

That is, it is possible to realize a mouse having a variable pressing force, which is provided with a variable pressing force mechanism and which allows an operator to set a desired pressing force.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pressing force variable mouse which is provided with a pressing force variable mechanism and which allows an operator to set a desired pressing force.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a main part of a mouse according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing assigned indexes and scales.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional mouse.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional key top.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a structure of a conventional upper cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operation surface 3 Ball 6 Enclosure 7 Signal input section 8 Adjustment mechanism 12 Holder 14 Spacer 51 Push button switch 53 Printed circuit board 56 Push down rib 61 Lower cover 62 Upper cover 63 Hook 64 Bearing 65 Recess 71 Key top 72 Push down section 73 Arm section 74 Square Hole 81 Arm length adjustment part 82 Stopper 83 Adjustment shaft 84 Bearing arm 85 Groove 86 Coil spring 87 Index 88 Scale

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A casing including an upper cover and a lower cover, the edges of which are in contact with each other so that the openings face each other, a pressing portion and an arm portion, and a fixed end of the arm portion is engaged with the upper cover. A key top to be stopped, and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressing force of the key top from the outside. The adjusting mechanism includes an arm length adjusting section provided in the middle of the arm section, and the arm length adjusting section. Of the adjustment shaft, which is rotatably and axially slidably supported by the housing, and a support arm protruding to the side surface of the adjustment shaft. The arc-shaped arm length adjusting portion centered on the axis of the adjusting shaft has a cross-sectional shape into which the tip of the supporting arm can be fitted, and has a plurality of grooves parallel to the adjusting shaft inside, A method in which the adjustment arm has the support arm fitted into the groove by a coil spring. Pressing force variable type mice, characterized by comprising is biased. 2. The housing has a scale provided around a support hole through which the adjustment shaft penetrates, and the adjustment shaft comprises an index provided on an end surface or a side surface. A mouse having a variable pressing force as described. 3. The adjustment shaft has a scale provided on an end surface or a side surface thereof, and the housing comprises an index provided around a support hole through which the adjustment shaft penetrates. 1
A mouse having a variable pressing force as described. 4. The mouse having a variable pressing force according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a recess formed around the adjustment shaft as a means for protecting the tip of the adjustment shaft protruding from the wall surface.