JPH1195923A - Mouse with additional function operating mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouse equipped with a scroll function operating mechanism of a simple structure and high operability. SOLUTION: On a circuit board 14 inside a main body case 11 of the mouse 1, two tact switches 16-1 and 16-2 for scroll are arranged while being opposed back and forth, a microswitch 17 for scroll mode switching is arranged near these tact switches, one handle 18 for controlling these switches is supported while being floated on the base of the main body case so as to be tiltable back and forth and moved up and down between two tact switches, and an operating button 13 operable with the tip of a finger is attached on the top of this handle while being exposed outside the main body case.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a mouse as an input device of a computer to which a window is applied, and more particularly to a mouse having an additional function operation mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a computer to which Windows is applied, an indication mark called an icon is displayed on a screen of a display, and an operation such as opening a desired program or document is designated by selecting and specifying the icon with a cursor. can do. A mouse is used to move the cursor and select and specify an icon. That is, the mouse has a movement detection mechanism for detecting the movement, and the detection signal controls the movement of the cursor in accordance with the movement of the mouse.
As the movement detecting mechanism, there is a mechanism having a photodetector for reading the light reflection pattern of the rotating ball, or a mechanism having an optical coupler for detecting the rotation of the rotating ball and an encoder including a perforated rotating plate. Further, a click switch mechanism for moving the cursor and designating the selected icon is provided. The click switch mechanism has a micro switch provided on a circuit board and a click operation button for manually operating the micro switch from outside. The click operation button is exposed on the outer surface of the mouse body case. In some cases, two or three click switches and click operation buttons are provided.

On the other hand, there is a bitmap memory image as an image displayed in a window on a display, and this image is scrolled to continuously move and display a display unit on the display. Conventionally, this scroll has been performed by selecting an icon called a scroll bar with a cursor by operating a mouse and operating a click switch.

Recently, for example, US Pat.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 530,455 or the like, a mouse provided with an additional function of controlling scrolling has been put to practical use so that the scrolling operation can be performed with the mouse. The mouse additionally has a scroll function selection switch and a control wheel for controlling the amount of scrolling. The control wheel is rotatably provided in the main body case in a state where a part of its outer surface is exposed so as to protrude from the main body case. An electrical signal indicating the direction and amount of rotation of the control wheel is generated as a scroll signal by a photoelectric encoder including an optical coupler for converting the rotation of the control wheel into an electric signal and a perforated rotating plate. The rotation support mechanism of the control wheel is elastically floated, and the scroll function selection switch can be driven by depressing the control wheel.

[0005] As the mouse with the above-mentioned scroll control additional function operation mechanism, there is a mouse sold as "IntelliMouse" by Microsoft Corporation in the United States. In this "IntelliMouse", press the control wheel to operate the scroll function selection switch, select the up / down scroll mode, and then rotate the control wheel with your finger. In the direction of rotation according to the amount of rotation. Note that in the scroll operation mode, when the mouse is moved in a certain distance and in any direction, the signal detected by the movement detector indicates the bitmap memory image on the display in the moving direction of the mouse (ie, up and down). It is also used as a signal to scroll by an amount proportional to the distance (to the left and right). In the case of the movement detection scroll operation mode, a mark serving as a reference for the movement direction and the distance of the mouse is displayed at the position of the cursor at that time by pressing the control wheel and selecting the movement detection scroll operation mode, and thereafter, By moving the mouse, the cursor is moved away from the mark in response, so that the moving direction and the distance can be visually recognized.

[0006]

However, in the above-described mouse with the conventional scroll control additional function operation mechanism, a wheel is used for scroll control, and scrolling is performed by rotating the wheel with a finger. There is an advantage that the scroll amount can be adjusted by adjusting the rotation amount of the wheel, but it is necessary to continuously reciprocate the finger to repeatedly rotate the hole during scrolling. The reciprocation of this finger
This is very troublesome for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mouse having a simple scroll function operation mechanism capable of stably continuing a continuous scroll signal without requiring reciprocation of a finger.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mouse having an additional function operation mechanism that can be used for controlling not only the scroll function but also other additional functions.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a main body case, a movement detecting mechanism provided to be exposed to the outside in the main body case for detecting movement of a mouse for controlling cursor movement, and a click operation. An icon click switch mechanism having a button on the outer surface of the main body case, a circuit board, and the additional function operation mechanism, the mouse including:
In a mouse with an additional function operation mechanism as an input device of a computer associated with a display for displaying the cursor and icons on the screen and displaying a desired image, the additional function operation mechanisms are spaced apart from each other on the substrate. And a first switch and a second switch disposed opposite to each other, a third switch disposed in the vicinity of the first and second switches except for an interval between the first and second switches, and the first and second switches.
A first operation for contacting with the first switch and operating the first switch when inclined toward the first switch, and is elastically floated and supported on the bottom surface of the main body case at intervals between the switches. A second operating portion for operating the second switch by contacting the second switch when tilted toward the second switch; and a third operating portion for pressing the third switch downward against elasticity. A switch operating rod having a third operating portion for operating the third switch by contacting the switch; and a switch operating rod attached to the top of the operating rod and operable from outside the main body case. And a switch operation button having an operation surface exposed from an upper outer surface.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the operation surface of the switch operation button is a concave surface having a concave central portion or a surface protruding in a convex shape.

The operation surface of the switch operation button is elongated in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second switches face each other, and has a concave portion at the center in the length direction. There may be.

According to another aspect of the present invention, two click operation buttons of the icon click switch mechanism are provided in parallel on the main body case, and the switch operation buttons are It is located between the click operation buttons.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the additional function is a function of scrolling an image displayed on the display, and the third switch outputs a switching signal for switching an operation mode of the scroll function. The first and second switches are for supplying a scroll signal for scrolling the display image upward and downward in the up-down scroll mode.

In the operation mode of the scroll function, the first and second switches are for generating a continuous scroll signal for the upward and downward continuous scroll, and the movement detection mechanism is provided. And a scroll signal for scrolling the image in the moving direction of the mouse.

The main body case has a generally elongated oval shape as a whole in a top view, and the two click operation buttons are provided at the end of the elongated egg shape having a larger curvature in the elongated direction. May be provided in parallel.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a mouse 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a main body case 11 made of a synthetic resin comprising an upper case 11a and a lower case 11b, Two click operation buttons 12-1 and 12-2 exposed on the outer surface of the upper case 11a, and a scroll operation for operating a scroll function as an additional function provided on the outer surface of the upper case 11a. And a button 13. The main body case 11 has a generally elongated oval shape as a whole in a top view, and two click operation buttons 12-1 and 12-2 are provided at the end having a larger curvature of the elongated oval shape. The scroll operation button 13 is provided in parallel with the slender direction, and the scroll operation button 13 is disposed between both the click operation buttons 12-1 and 12-2.

Referring to FIG. 2, in body case 11,
A circuit board 14 mounted in the lower case, and two microswitches 12a and 12b fixed on the circuit board 14 as icon click switches
And These micro switches 12a and 1
2b, each of the click operation buttons 12-1 and 12-2 is driven so that its movable contact is driven by pressing down the click operation buttons 12-1 and 12-2.
It is located below. In order to detect the movement of the mouse that controls the movement of the cursor, a known movement detection mechanism 1
5 are provided. The movement detection mechanism 15 includes a ball 15a installed in the lower case 11b so as to be rotatable by friction with the surface by moving the mouse on a desk or other surface, and a rotation of the ball in the x and y directions. It has two well-known photoelectric encoders 15-1 and 15-2 for converting the speed into an electric signal. These photoelectric encoders 15-1 and 15-2 are arranged on the circuit board 14.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 in addition to FIG. 2, the switch section of the scroll function operation mechanism including the scroll operation button 13 is provided with first and second opposing and spaced apart arrangements on the circuit board 14. A second switch 16-1 and 16-2, a third switch 17 fixedly arranged on the circuit board 14 near the first and second switches 16-1 and 16-2 except for an interval, And an operation rod 18 having an operation section for operating these switches. First
And the second switches 16-1 and 16-2 are shown as tact switches in the illustrated example. An example in which a microswitch is used as the third switch is illustrated. These switches are provided with contact pieces (indicated by reference numerals 16a and 17a) made of an insulator which operate the operating rod 18 to contact the operating portion thereof and drive the movable contact, and are elastically protruded from the switch housing. Therefore, when the operating force of the operating rod is lost, the operation is automatically restored, which is convenient.

The circuit board 14 has an opening 14a at a portion between the first and second switches 16-1 and 16-2, through which the operating rod 18 passes.
b is elastically floated and supported by a coil spring 19 on the bottom surface of the first switch 16-1, and when tilted toward the first switch 16-1, comes into contact with the contact piece 16a of the first switch 16-1 to operate the switch. The first operation unit 18a and the operation unit 1
A second operating portion 18b which is provided on the opposite side of the second switch 16-2 and which contacts the contact piece 16a of the second switch 16-2 to operate the second switch 16-2 when inclined toward the second switch 16-2; Having. Further, the operating rod 18 has a third operating portion 18c for operating the third switch by contacting the contact piece 17a of the third switch 17 when pressed downward against the elasticity of the spring 19. ing.

The operating rod 18 is actually composed of an upper part 18-1 and a lower part 18-2, as shown in FIG. Has become. Thereby, both parts can be molded by resin molding using a mold.
The hole for receiving the coil spring 19 is provided in the lower part 18-2 as shown. Upper part 18
As shown in FIG. 3, a scroll operation button 13 is attached to the top of -1.

The operation of the mouse according to this embodiment will be described.

Click operation buttons 12-1 and 12-
2 and the operation of the movement detection mechanism 15 are the same as those in the related art, and a description of these operations will be omitted.

When the scroll operation button 13 is pressed,
The operating rod 18 descends against the elasticity of the spring 19, and the contact piece 17 of the third switch 17 is
As a is depressed, the switch is turned on and an electrical signal is generated. This electric signal is used as a mode switching signal. Thus, the control circuit (C
PU) and the computer and display connected thereto are switched to the movement detection scroll operation mode. Further, the scroll operation button 13
When the mode switching signal is generated by pressing, the scroll function becomes the up-down scroll mode.

In the up / down scroll mode of the scroll function, the scroll operation button 13 is lightly pushed forward (to the right in FIG. 1), and the operation rod 18 is moved to the first switch 1.
When the first operation portion 18a is pressed against the contact piece 16a of the first switch 16-1, the first operation portion 18a is tilted toward 6-1.
The switch 16-1 is turned on, and an electric signal is generated during the on. Using the signal from the first switch 16-1 as an upward continuous scroll signal, the display image on the display can be continuously scrolled upward. When the pressing force of the scroll operation button 13 is released, the first switch 16
-1 turns off, and the generation of the upward continuous scroll signal stops.

In the up / down scroll mode of the scroll function, the scroll operation button 13 is lightly pulled backward (to the left in FIG. 1), and the operation lever 18 is moved to the second switch 1
6-2, the second operating portion 18b is brought into press contact with the contact piece 16a of the second switch 16-2.
The switch 16-2 is turned on, and an electric signal is generated during the on. Using the signal from the second switch 16-2 as a continuous downward scroll signal, the display image on the display can be continuously scrolled downward. When the pressing force of the scroll operation button 13 is released, the second switch 1
6-2 is turned off, and the generation of the downward continuous scroll signal is stopped.

The continuous control of scrolling is only required to operate the scroll operation button 13 lightly. When scrolling is continued, it is not necessary to reciprocate the finger quickly to rotate the wheel, and the scroll operation button 13 is moved forward or backward. Since it is only necessary to keep pressing the button lightly, continuous scrolling can be performed easily and stably, and the operation is not troublesome. In the movement detection scroll operation mode, it is possible to perform scrolling by moving the mouse in response to an output signal from the movement detection mechanism 15 in the same manner as in the related art, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the above embodiment, the scroll operation button 13 has an operation surface on the upper surface thereof which is slender in the front and rear directions, and has a state in which the center in the length direction is depressed. Therefore, at the time of use, the scroll operation button 13 and the operating rod 18 can be easily and reliably inclined forward and backward by touching the tip of the finger to the depression and lightly pushing back and forth, thereby facilitating the operation. Furthermore, the scroll operation button 13
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, notches 2
2 should be provided.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modification of the scroll operation button 13. FIG. This button has a circular top view, and a central portion thereof has a concave surface 13a. Even with this shape, the tip of the finger hits the depression,
The operation rod 18 can be easily and surely tilted back and forth without finger slippage.

FIG. 7 shows the scroll operation button 13
As shown in the figure, the operation surface of the button is
3b can also be formed. In this shape, the operating rod 18 can be easily and reliably tilted back and forth without slipping by operating so that the operating force of the finger is applied to the convex upward slope.

In the above, the case where the additional function operating mechanism of the mouse according to the present invention is used for scroll control has been described. Needless to say, it can be used for other controls such as the control of.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mouse with an additional function operation mechanism capable of stably generating control signals for additional functions.
There is an advantage that high-speed scrolling can be performed stably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a mouse according to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a)
Is a plan view, and (b) is a side view.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the mouse of FIG. 1 with an upper case removed.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional side view of the scroll function operation mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the scroll function operation mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mouse according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a scroll operation button in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a scroll operation button according to still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mouse 11 body case 12-1, 12-2 click operation button 13 scroll operation button 14 circuit board 15 movement detection mechanism 16-1 first switch 16-2 second switch 17 third switch 18 operating rod 19 coil spring

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A main body case, a movement detecting mechanism provided to be exposed to the outside in the main body case for detecting movement of a mouse for controlling movement of a cursor, and a click operation button on an outer surface of the main body case. An input device for a computer, comprising: a mouse for providing an icon click switch mechanism, a circuit board, and an additional function operation mechanism, the display being used to display the cursor and icons on a screen and to display a desired image. In the mouse with an additional function operation mechanism as described above, the additional function operation mechanism includes: a first and a second switch disposed on the substrate so as to face each other at an interval; and an interval between the first and the second switches. A third switch disposed in the vicinity of the main switch, and a third switch disposed in a space between the first and second switches. A first operating portion that is elastically floated and supported on the bottom surface and contacts the first switch to operate the first switch when tilted toward the first switch; and tilts toward the second switch. And a second operating portion for operating the second switch by contacting the second switch, and contacting the third switch when pressed downward against elasticity.
A switch operating rod having a third operating portion for operating the switch; and an operating surface attached to the top of the operating rod and exposed from an upper outer surface of the main body case so as to be operable from outside the main body case. A mouse with an additional function operation mechanism, characterized in that the mouse has a switch operation button. 2. The mouse with an additional function operation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the operation surface of the switch operation button has a concave surface with a concave central portion. 3. The mouse with an additional function operation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the operation surface of the switch operation button has a projecting surface in a convex shape at the center. 4. An operation surface of the switch operation button is elongated in a direction facing the first and second switches, and a central portion in the length direction is a concave surface. The mouse with an additional function operation mechanism according to claim 1. 5. A click operation button of the icon click switch mechanism is provided on the main body case in parallel.
The mouse with the additional function operation mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mouse is provided, and the switch operation button is arranged between the two click operation buttons. 6. The additional function is a function of scrolling an image displayed on the display.
The switch is for supplying a switching signal of an operation mode of a scroll function. The first and second switches are scroll signals for scrolling the display image upward and downward, respectively, in a vertical scroll mode of a scroll function. The mouse with an additional function operation mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mouse is provided for supplying a mouse. 7. In the operation mode of the scroll function, the first and second switches are for generating the upward and downward continuous scroll signals, and the movement detection mechanism is provided with a mouse. The mouse with an additional function operation mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the mouse is provided with a scroll signal for scrolling in a moving direction. 8. The main body case has a generally elongated oval shape as a whole in a top view, and the two click operation buttons are provided at the end of the elongated egg shape having a larger curvature. The mouse with an additional function operation mechanism according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the mouse is provided in parallel with the direction of (1).