KR19990069690A - Pointing device on portable computer - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointing device of a portable computer, which makes it possible to conveniently use a pointing device, which is a kind of input means, in a portable computer to protrude out from a state stored in the computer body. An accommodating part formed in the bottom surface and having a through hole penetrating into the housing, a pointer detecting part installed in the housing and arranged on the same line as the through hole, coupled to the pointer detecting part and stored in the accommodating part, and from the accommodating part to the outside. A predetermined height protrudes, and the pointer operating portion for operating the pointer in the state, and the pointer operating portion coupled to the pointer detection portion is made up of the height adjusting means for adjusting the vertical height.

By using such a device, the point is not moved with only one finger but the point is moved with the whole hand, thereby reducing the burden on the index finger, and the user can use the same convenience as using a conventional mouse device with one hand. Will be provided by.

Description

A POINTING DEVICE OF A PORTABLE COMPUTER

The present invention relates to a portable computer, and more particularly, a pointing device, which is a kind of input means in a portable computer, projects outward from a state stored in a computer main body so that the pointing device can be conveniently used. A pointing device for a portable computer.

Recently, much effort has been made to develop a more convenient means than a keyboard for inputting data into a computer. For example, a touch screen capable of transmitting information to a computer by touching only a fingertip or a voice recognition system that listens to a human voice has been developed to obtain a good response. However, there are also many technical areas that need to be developed in order for the user and the computer to communicate perfectly.

On the other hand, as the user-oriented operating system has evolved, an operating system incorporating a graphic element has emerged. For this purpose, a pointing device such as a mouse for controlling the movement of a point displayed on the screen of the display device in an arbitrary direction is used for all computers. have.

In addition, a trackball or a touchpad is essentially installed in a portable computer which is used a lot these days.

1 is a perspective view showing a general portable computer.

Referring to this, the portable computer 10 includes a computer body 12 and a display panel 14. A keyboard 16 is provided on an upper surface of the computer main body 12, and a touch pad 18, which is one of pointing devices, and the touch pad 18 are provided on an upper surface of the computer main body 12 corresponding to the front of the keyboard. In the position close to the selection button 20, which serves as a right button and a left button of the mouse is installed.

However, in the portable computer 10, the user places an index finger on the touch panel 18 to move a point displayed on the screen of the display 14 and moves the point to a desired place. After moving the point, the user must double-click with the index finger placed on the touch pad 18 or press the selection button 20 for selection or execution. However, when the user double-clicks on the touch pad 18, there is a case in which selection is not made well due to a decrease in detection power due to a bite of a finger or a foreign substance. In addition, when the selection button 20 is used, the button pressing operation is very inconvenient because the user presses the selection button 20 using the thumb.

In this way, only one thumb and index finger in one hand of the user to move the point and the selection work, so if you work for a long time can be a burden on the fingers of the thumb and index finger and cause disease.

On the other hand, among the pointing devices, the mouse device is the one which is most convenient to use and the finger is comfortable. However, in order to use the mouse device in a portable computer, a flat and predetermined area of space where the mouse can be moved is required. This makes it very inconvenient to connect and use a mouse device in a portable computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to more efficiently and conveniently input execution commands and point movements when using a pointing device in a portable computer, and to reduce the burden on a user's finger. The present invention provides a pointing device for a new type of portable computer.

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional general portable computer,

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components constituting the pointing device of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a combined state of a pointing device of a portable computer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view of main parts of a pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5a and 5b is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main portion showing the height adjustment means of the pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views showing a state of use of the pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

32: computer body 32 ': housing

38: storing portion 38a: through hole

40: handle 42: body

44: cylinder projection 46: selection button

48: slide rib 50: stick portion

52: joint 54: slide groove

56: rubber ring 60: drum

62: joint groove 64: position detection switch

66: elastic member 68: connection connector

80: height adjustment means 82: button

84: positioning groove 86: hook portion

88: operating piece 90: spring

In order to achieve the above object, a pointing device for a portable computer according to the present invention includes a computer body having a housing; An accommodation part formed in the housing and having a through hole formed therein and penetrating into the housing; A pointer detector installed inside the housing and installed on the same line as the through hole; A pointer manipulator coupled to the pointer detector and accommodated in the accommodating portion, protruding a predetermined height from the accommodating portion to the outside, and operating the pointer in the state; It includes a height adjustment means for adjusting the vertical height of the pointer operating unit coupled to the pointer detection unit.

In the present invention as described above, the point operation portion has a selection button and the handle portion accommodated in the receiving portion; The point detecting unit is formed in a cylindrical shape and has a spherical joint at a lower end thereof, and an upper end of which is inserted into and coupled to a bottom of the handle part; A joint groove installed inside the housing and coupled to the joint of the stick part is coupled to the drum, and a plurality of position sensing switches for sensing the front, rear, left and right positions of the stick part are installed on the inner surface.

In the present invention, the height adjustment means and the button installed on the handle portion; A plurality of positioning grooves formed at predetermined intervals on an outer circumferential surface of the stick portion; A hook that is fitted to the positioning groove; An actuating piece hinged to an inner surface of the handle part such that the hook is separated from the crystal groove by pressing the button; Both ends are fixed to the inner surfaces of the operation piece and the handle, respectively, and include a spring for returning to the original state after pressing the button.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments, actions and effects of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6B.

2 is an exploded perspective view showing a pointing device of a portable computer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating main parts of FIG. 2. 4 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating main parts of the combined state of FIG. 3.

Referring to this, the portable computer 30 is composed of a computer body 32 and a display panel 34. A keyboard 36 is provided on an upper surface of the housing 32 'of the computer main body 32, and an accommodating portion 38 is formed on an upper surface of the housing 32' corresponding to the front of the keyboard 36. The through hole 38a which penetrates into the housing is formed in the bottom face of this accommodating part 38. As shown in FIG.

A point detector is installed in the housing 32 'on the same line as the through hole 38a. The storage unit 38 accommodates a point manipulation unit. This point operation unit is coupled with the point detection unit. The point manipulation unit may protrude a predetermined height from the state accommodated in the accommodation unit, and manipulate the point in the protruded state. And height adjustment means are provided in the said point operation part in order to protrude the said point operation part from the said accommodating part.

On the other hand, the point operation portion is composed of a body 42 having a general mouse shape that can be wrapped around the palm, and the handle portion 40 protruding from the bottom surface of the body 42 with a cylindrical protrusion 44 to a predetermined height. . The body 42 is provided with a selection button 46 in the portion where the middle finger and index finger is located when the user grabs by hand.

The point detection unit is coupled to the point operation unit and the stick unit 50 to move together in accordance with the operation of the point operation unit; It consists of a drum part 60 which detects and detects the movement of the stick part 50 largely. Here, the stick part 50 and the handle part 40 are coupled to each other as a separate component, so that the handle part 40 protrudes from the accommodating part 38.

On the other hand, the stick part 50 is made of a cylindrical shape and a spherical joint 52 is formed at the lower end, and the upper end is fitted into the cylindrical protrusion 44 of the point manipulation unit. The drum part 60 is installed inside the collinear housing 32 'of the through hole 38a. A joint groove 62 into which the joint 52 of the stick part 50 is fitted is coupled to the bottom surface. And a plurality of position detection switch 64 for detecting the front, rear, left and right position movement of the stick unit 50 is installed on the inner circumferential surface. On the other hand, the inner circumferential surface is provided with an elastic member 66 for vertically standing the stick portion 50 when there is no position movement of the stick portion 50.

On the outer surface of the drum unit 60 is provided a connection connector 68 connected to the switch (not shown) of the selection button 46 and the position detection switches 64 of the drum unit 60 by electrical wiring. It is. The connection connector 68 is electrically connected to the main board (not shown) of the computer main body 32 to transmit the position detection signal of the selection button 46 and the point to the main board.

5A and 5B, the height adjusting means 80 is provided with a button 82 on the handle portion 40, and a plurality of positioning grooves at predetermined intervals on the outer circumferential surface of the stick portion 50. 84 is formed in the vertical direction. The handle portion 40 is inserted into the positioning groove 84 and the handle portion 40 is separated from the positioning groove 84 by the pressing operation of the button 82. Operating piece 88 hinged to the inner surface of the), one end is fixed to the operating piece 88 and the other end is fixed to the inner surface of the handle portion 40 for returning to the original state after the pressing operation of the button 82 It consists of a spring 90.

On the other hand, a slide rib 48 is formed in the vertical direction on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical protrusion 44 of the handle portion 40, and the slide groove 54 in which the slide rib 48 is fitted into the stick portion 50 is formed. Form. The slide ribs 48 and the slide grooves 54 are formed to smoothly move up and down when the point operation portion protrudes from the storage portion by the positioning means 80.

The stick part 50 has a rubber ring 56 having a predetermined width at a position where the position detecting switch 64 is installed. The rubber ring 56 is installed so that the stick part 50, which is moved by the front, rear, left, and right movements of the handle part 40, can press the position detecting switch 64 more stably.

6A and 6B are partial cross-sectional views showing a state of use of the pointing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state accommodated in a computer main body, in which the handle 40 of the pointing device is accommodated in the housing 38. The drum part 60 is provided in the housing 32 'corresponding to the position of the through-hole 38a formed in the bottom face of this accommodating part 38. As shown in FIG. The joint 52 of the stick part 50 is fitted into the joint groove 62 formed in the bottom of this drum part 60, and is engaged.

And the upper end of the stick portion 50 is fitted to the cylindrical projection 44 of the handle portion 40 is coupled. In order to use the pointing device in such a state, the handle part 40 accommodated in the accommodating part 38 is first protruded to the outside.

To do so, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the button 82 installed on the body 42 of the handle part 40 is pressed. The button 82 is then pushed inward. At this time, the operating piece 88 connected to the button 82 rotates around the hinge portion. Then, the hook portion 86 formed at one end of the operation piece 88 is moved in the opposite direction to the pressing direction of the button 82 to be removed from the positioning groove 84. In this state, the handle 40 is pulled up and adjusted to a desired height. When the force of the button 82 is removed, the button 82 is moved in the opposite direction to the pushing direction by the spring 90. And by the spring 90, the said operation piece 88 rotates about a hinge, and the hook part 86 formed in the end of the operation piece 88 is fitted in the positioning groove 84 again.

As such, the state in which the handle 40 is protruded to a height easy to use by using the height adjusting means is illustrated in FIG. 6B. As shown in FIG. 6B, the user can grasp the handle by hand and move the point displayed on the screen of the display unit to a desired position. In addition, the selection button can conveniently click the selection button by pressing the thumb and index finger in this state.

By applying the present invention as described above, the point on the index finger can be reduced because the point is moved using the entire hand instead of the point. In addition, it can be stored in the computer main body and used to protrude when necessary, it is effective that the user can provide the same convenience in the portable computer using a conventional mouse device with one hand.

Claims (3)

A computer body 32 having a housing 32 '; An accommodating part 38 formed in the housing 32 'and having a through hole 38a formed therein and penetrating into the housing 32' at a bottom thereof; A pointer detector installed inside the housing 32 'and disposed on the same line as the through hole 38a; A pointer operating unit which is combined with the pointer detecting unit and accommodated in the receiving unit 38, protrudes a predetermined height from the receiving unit 38 to the outside, and manipulates the pointer in the state; It includes a height adjusting means for adjusting the vertical height of the pointer operation unit coupled to the pointer detection unit 80 to project the point operation unit to the desired height from the storage unit and move the point to the desired place by holding the point operation unit by hand Pointing device for a portable computer that can be used. The method of claim 1, The point manipulation section includes a handle section 40 having a selection button 46 and housed in the housing section 38; The point detection unit is made of a cylindrical shape and the lower end of the spherical joint 52 is formed and the upper end of the stick portion 50 is fitted to the bottom surface of the handle portion 40 and coupled; A joint groove 62 installed inside the housing 32 ′ and into which the joint 52 of the stick part 50 is fitted and coupled, and a plurality of positions for sensing the front, rear, left, and right positions of the stick part 50. Pointing device 64 is a pointing device of a portable computer comprising a drum (60) installed on the inner surface. The method of claim 2, The height adjusting means 80 and the button 82 is installed on the handle portion 40; A plurality of positioning grooves 84 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the stick part 50 at predetermined angles; A hook portion (86) fitted into the positioning groove (84); An operation piece 88 hinged to an inner surface of the handle portion 40 so that the hook portion 86 is separated from the positioning groove 84 by pressing the button 82; Both ends are fixed to the inner surfaces of the operating piece (88) and the handle portion 40, respectively, pointing device comprising a spring (90) for returning to the original state after the pressing operation of the button (82).