Input device and information processing apparatus

• US 20050162388A1
• 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 7,212,188 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 gripping part configured to be gripped by a user'"'"'s hand;

means for pointing located so as to be operable by a finger of the user'"'"'s hand while the user'"'"'s hand is holding the gripping part; and

means for rotating and means for pivoting furnished on top of the gripping part, wherein the means for rotating is able to be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise.

2. An input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

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 gripping part.

3. An input device according to claim 1, wherein:

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

4. An input device according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for pointing includes means for tilting crosswise and lengthwise and means for depressing.