Input device and information processing apparatus

• US 7,209,120 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:
  US11/078,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345161-163, 345167-169, 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 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, wherein means for pointing is tiltable crosswise and lengthwise and depressible;

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;

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; and

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