Input device and information processing apparatus

• US 20050156884A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oguro, Masaki
• Application Number:
  US11/071,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156884A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

The invention provides an input device which includes a gripping part, a pointing part, and at least one depressible part furnished in such a manner that while holding the gripping part by hand, a user may manipulate the pointing and depressible parts with fingertips to perform the same kinds of operations as those of a mouse. The input device may include a rotating and/or a pivoting part and at least one operating element which provide a still wider variety of functions when operated.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a base configured to be gripped by a user'"'"'s hand;

means for pointing that is operable by a finger of the user'"'"'s hand while the user'"'"'s hand is holding the base;

at least one means for depressing located at a rear portion of the base so as to be accessible by the finger of the user'"'"'s hand while a palm on the user'"'"'s hand is resting on a front sloped portion of the base; and

means for rotating furnished on top of the base.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein

the front sloped portion of the base is adapted in shape to the base of the palm on the user'"'"'s hand.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one means for depressing located so as to be operable by the finger of the user'"'"'s hand while the user'"'"'s hand is holding the base.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for pointing includes means for tilting at least crosswise and lengthwise.

5-22. -22. (canceled)