Input device and information processing apparatus

• US 7,209,119 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oguro, Masaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang; Regina
• Application Number:
  US11/078,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345161-163, 345/167, 200/6.A, 200/6.R
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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;

at least one button located so as to be inaccessible by said user'"'"'s fingers while said user'"'"'s, hand is holding said 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.