Input device and information processing apparatus

• US 20050162386A1
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oguro, Masaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,120 B2
• 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 including a front sloped portion shaped to receive a palm on a user'"'"'s hand;

means for pointing located so as to be operable by a finger of the user'"'"'s hand while the palm of the user'"'"'s hand is resting on the base;

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

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

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover configured to be mounted onto an upper surface of the input device, the cover including pictorial patterns or characters visible to the user.

3. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover configured to be mounted to an upper surface of the input device, the cover being comprised of a transparent or translucent material.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for pointing includes a means for titling crosswise and lengthwise.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein:

the means for pointing includes means for titling crosswise and lengthwise and includes a means for depressing.