JPH1063413A - Input device for computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move a cursor without putting fingers away from a keyboard although nearly the same function with a conventional mouse is available by providing the keyboard with switches of the right and left buttons of the conventional mouse in addition to an input device main body for moving the cursor by rotating a ball. SOLUTION: The device main body 4 is placed on the floor, etc., and feet are mounted on the device main body 4, which is moved right and left, and forward and backward with the feet. Then the ball 3 is rotated and its rotational quantity is detected by sensors 12 and 13 through rolls 8 and 9 and disks 10 and 11, so that the cursor A is moved. After the cursor A is moved to a desired position, a switch 5 on the keyboard 6 for executing an instruction is operated. Thus, the cursor A is moved with the feet and the instruction is only executed by operating the switch 5 on the keyboard 6. Therefore, the fingers need not be put away from the keyboard 6, so the operability is greatly improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device attached to a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a computer has a mouse as an input device. This mouse has a ball on the back of the case and a switch on the front. Then, the cursor is moved by rotating the ball, and the command is executed by operating the switch with a finger.

[0003]

By the way, in order to operate such a mouse, it is necessary to temporarily release the finger from the keyboard. Therefore, the operation of the keyboard is discontinuous during that time, and the operation is troublesome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an input device for a computer which has almost the same functions as a conventional mouse but can move a cursor without releasing a finger from a keyboard. .

[0005]

In the input device of the computer according to the present invention, apart from the input device body for moving a cursor by rotating a ball, a switch provided with a right button and a left button of a conventional mouse is provided on a keyboard. ing.

According to the input device of the computer of the present invention, the foot is placed on the input device main body, the ball is rotated by the foot, the cursor is moved by the same technique as in the conventional mouse, and the keys on the keyboard are operated. Execute the instruction by In other words, information is provided to the computer as to whether or not one or both of the right button and the left button of the conventional mouse are pressed. This can be easily realized by transferring a part of the function of the interface between the mouse and the computer main body in the prior art to the interface between the keyboard and the computer main body.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows a computer and its input device.

An input device is a ball 3 for moving a cursor A on a display 2 in the computer 1.
And a keyboard 6 having a switch 5 for executing a command.

The ball 3 is rotatably supported so that a part of the main body 4 faces the bottom of the case 7. Rolls 8 and 9 are disposed in the case 7 so as to be in contact with the ball 3 and to be orthogonal to each other. Those rolls 8,
Discs 10 and 11 are fixed to the shaft end of 9, respectively, and sensors 12 and 13 such as photocouplers are arranged on the periphery of the discs 10 and 11 so as to sandwich the discs 10 and 11. The sensors 12 and 13 are connected to the computer 1 by a cord 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, a recess 15 for placing a foot is formed on the upper surface of the case 7, and as shown in FIG. Casters 16, 16 are installed on the bottom surface of. This recess 1
5 is to put the foot on the case 7 so that the foot
The casters 16 improve the mobility of the apparatus main body 4 by preventing the edge of the case 7 from touching the floor when the apparatus main body 4 is operated.

On the other hand, a switch 5 for executing a command is arranged on a keyboard 6.

In the input device configured as described above, the device main body 4 is placed on the floor or the like, a foot is placed on the device main body 4, and the device main body 4 is moved right and left and back and forth with the feet. Then ball 3
Is rotated, and the amount of rotation is equal to the rolls 8, 9 and the discs 10, 1.
The cursor A is detected by the sensors 12 and 13 via 1.

When the cursor A is moved to a desired position, a switch 5 for executing a command on the keyboard 6 is operated.

In the above embodiment, the switch 5 for executing an instruction is provided independently on the keyboard.
The switch 5 can also be used as a conventional key on the keyboard 6, for example, a function key 6a, a numeric keypad 6b, or the like.

In the above embodiment, the concave portion 15 is formed on the upper surface of the case 7 so that the foot does not slip on the case 7, but the upper surface of the case 7 may be roughened so as not to slip. Good. Further, in the above embodiment, in order to improve the mobility of the apparatus main body 4, the caster 1
Although the cases 6 and 16 are provided, the case 7 may be formed of a material having low frictional resistance, or a material having low frictional resistance may be adhered to the bottom surface of the case 7.

[0016]

As described above, according to the input device of the present invention, the cursor can be moved by the foot, and the command can be executed by operating the switch on the keyboard. Therefore, since it is not necessary to release the finger from the keyboard, the operation of the next keyboard can be performed continuously, and the operability is extremely improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a device main body in the input device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 computer 2 display 3 ball 4 device main body 5 switch 6 keyboard 7 case 8,9 roll 10,11 disk 12,13 sensor 14 code 15 recess 16 caster

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 8, 1996

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Patent application title: Computer input device

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An input device for a computer, wherein a switch for executing a command is provided on a keyboard, separately from an input device body for moving a cursor by rotating a ball. 2. The input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion for placing a foot is formed on an upper surface of the input device main body.