JP2538711Y2 - Portable information processing device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a word processor called a laptop type or a book type, and more particularly to a portable information processing apparatus for use in such a portable information processing apparatus. Related to a pointing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in personal computers and the like, a pointing device has been used for moving a cursor and selecting a selection item. A mouse and a trackball are typical examples of the pointing device.

In recent years, various portable personal computers called laptops or books have been developed and sold. This portable personal computer occupies less space on the desk than a personal computer called a desktop type, and it is lightweight, so it can be moved from the desk to another place when not in use It is very advantageous for use in offices and the like, and its introduction is being promoted. In addition, because of the advantage of being portable, the restrictions on where and how long you can use it, such as when you take it with you on a business trip or take it home, are also reduced. I am collecting.

[0004]

However, such a portable personal computer has a problem in terms of using a pointing device. That is,
In the case of the desktop type, the size of the pointing device is not particularly a problem, but in the case of the portable type, the size is a major problem because it is often carried.

[0005] In particular, since the trackball is embedded in the keyboard, the keyboard is inevitably enlarged, so that the main body itself is also enlarged, which is a countermeasure in the direction of reduction in size and weight. Further, since the mouse is separated from the main body, even if the main body can be made smaller, the whole system cannot be made smaller.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a new pointing device that does not impair the advantage of the small and lightweight portable information processing device as much as possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pointing device suitable for a portable information processing device.

[0008]

The present invention provides a portable information processing apparatus having a display device, comprising: a drawer member provided to be able to be pulled out from the main body of the portable information processing apparatus; And a built-in pointing device mechanism.

[0009]

The operation of the means of the present invention is as follows. Since the pointing device mechanism is incorporated in a drawer member provided so as to be able to be pulled out from the main body of the portable information processing device, the keyboard unit does not become large, and the pointing device can be separated from the portable information processing device. Absent. Therefore, the size of the portable information processing apparatus and the entire system does not increase, and a pointing device suitable for the portable information processing apparatus can be provided.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a laptop computer 1 as a portable information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 2 denotes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display. Reference numeral 3 denotes a handle for carrying the laptop computer 1, which is configured to be able to be pulled out in the direction of arrow A in the figure. Reference numeral 4 denotes a pointing device mechanism formed on the handle 3. 5 is a keyboard.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the laptop computer 1 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a CPU which controls the entire system. Reference numeral 12 denotes a memory, and 13 denotes a peripheral device such as a floppy disk drive. 14 and 15
Is an analog / digital (A / D) conversion circuit, which converts an analog signal input according to the operation of the pointing device mechanism 4 into a digital signal. 16 is an X direction detection circuit, and 17 is a Y direction detection circuit. These detection circuits 16 and 17 are based on digital signals from the A / D conversion circuits 14 and 15, and are provided with cursors (not shown) for "X direction" and "Y direction" based on the operation of the pointing device mechanism 4. The coordinate position of is detected. And
Reference numeral 18 denotes an input port which supplies detection outputs of the detection circuits 16 and 17 to the CPU 11. Further, the input port 18 supplies a signal supplied to the CPU 11 in response to the operation of the pointing device mechanism 4 in the “Z direction”.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the configuration of the pointing device mechanism 4. FIG. The pointing device mechanism 4 is provided on the handle 3. The handle 3 includes a drawer arm 20 configured to be able to be pulled out / pushed in a direction indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
It comprises a rail 21 rotatably mounted in the direction indicated by arrow B with respect to 0, and a grip portion 22 slidable along the rail 21 in the direction indicated by arrow C.

The cross section of the end of the rail 21
C-shaped resistance line 23 that rotates together with the rotation of
Is configured. The resistance line 23 is in contact with a conductive fixing piece 25 attached to a lid 24 fixed with respect to the drawer arm 20. The signal lines y1 and y2 are connected to one end of the resistance line 23 and the fixed contact piece 25, respectively.
Are connected, and these signal lines y1 and y2 are guided to the A / D conversion circuit 15 through the inside of the extraction arm 20. Accordingly, as the rail 21 rotates, the signal line y
1 and y2, that is, the distance between one end of the resistance line 23 and the fixed contact piece 25 changes, thereby changing the resistance value. The A / D conversion circuit 1 responds to the change in the resistance value.
5 is increased or decreased, the Y direction detection circuit 17 determines that the Y value
The coordinates of the direction cursor are detected, and the result is transmitted to the CPU 11 via the input port 18.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the rail 21 is provided with a notch hole 26 extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, and a sliding contact piece 27 is formed on the grip portion 22 through the notch hole 26. It is fixed. In the rail 21, the resistance rod 2
9 and the conductive rod 28 are passed along the longitudinal direction thereof,
The sliding contact piece 27 slides as the grip portion 22 moves in the illustrated arrow C direction in a state of contacting the resistance bar 28 and the conductive bar 29. Signal lines x1 and x2 are connected to the resistance rod 28 and the conductive rod 29, and these signal lines x1 and x2 are connected to the extraction arm 20.
It is guided to the A / D conversion circuit 14 through the inside. Accordingly, as the grip portion 22 slides, the distance between the signal lines x1 and x2, that is, the distance between one end of the resistance bar 28 and one end of the conductive bar 29 changes, thereby changing the resistance value. In accordance with the change in the resistance value, the digital signal value output from the A / D conversion circuit 14 increases and decreases, and X
The direction detection circuit 16 detects the cursor coordinates in the X direction based on the magnitude of the digital signal value, and transmits the result to the CPU 11 via the input port 18.

In order to detect the movement of the pull-out arm 20 in the direction indicated by the arrow Z in the figure, sensors 30 and 31 each composed of a microswitch or the like are provided in the main body.
The output signals z1 and z2 of 0 and 31 are transmitted to the CPU 11 through the input port 18.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a mode switch composed of a microswitch or the like, and is a mode in which the handle 3 is used only as a handle or a mode in which the pointing device mechanism 4 provided on the handle 3 is operated. Is used to notify the CPU 11 of

In the pointing device mechanism 4 having such a configuration, when the drawer arm 20 is fully extended, the rotation of the rail 21 and the sliding movement of the grip portion 22 are locked, and function simply as a part of the handle 3. .

When the laptop computer 1 is placed on a desk and the drawer arm 20 is slightly inserted, the lock is released, and the laptop computer 1 functions as a pointing device. That is, in this state, the grip portion 22 moves left and right (X direction) and also rotates (Y direction). These displacements can be known by the respective direction detection circuits 16 and 17. As a result, the CPU 11 can perform control to move the cursor in the X or Y direction in the same manner as when a normal pointing device is operated. The drawer arm 20 can be moved up and down (in the direction of the arrow z in the drawing) with a force of a certain level or more. Therefore, the movement in the z direction can be used for a click operation such as “select” or “reset” (corresponding to a mouse button).

Accordingly, the keyboard section does not become large and the pointing device does not become separated from the laptop computer 1, so that the portable information processing apparatus and the whole system do not become large, and the portable information processing apparatus and the system do not become large. A pointing device suitable for an information processing apparatus can be provided.

In the first embodiment, the amount of rotation and slide movement of the grip portion 22 is made to correspond to the absolute coordinates of the cursor, but this increases the stroke.

Therefore, as a second embodiment of the present invention, the left and right (X direction), rotation (Y
Direction (direction) returns to the origin (not shown), and the X and Y direction detection circuits 16 and 17 detect the relative movement amount according to the increase or decrease of the digital input value.
If the PU 11 controls the cursor movement in accordance with the relative movement amount, the problem of the stroke is solved.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a pointing device mechanism 4 using a touch panel 41 is incorporated in a handle 3. FIG. It is. The X direction and the Y direction are detected by the touch panel 41, and the Z direction is detected by a switch 42 provided on the lower surface of the touch panel 41. It should be noted that 43 in FIG.
Is a spring for returning the touch panel 41. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to provide a pointing device suitable for a portable information processing apparatus, as in the first embodiment. That is, the X and Y directions are specified on the upper surface of the touch panel 41, and the switch 42 is operated by pressing the touch panel 41 to specify the Z direction (click operation).

As described above, since there is no apparent increase in new devices, space efficiency is improved as compared with the case of employing a mouse or a trackball, and the pointing can be performed without increasing the size of the portable information processing apparatus and the entire system. Be able to provide devices.

In the above embodiment, the laptop computer 1 has been described as an example of a portable information processing apparatus. However, the present invention can be applied to various portable information processing apparatuses such as a book type other word processor, a personal computer, and the like. .

[0026]

According to the present invention, the keyboard section does not become large and the pointing device does not become separated from the portable information processing apparatus, so that the portable information processing apparatus and the whole system become large. Thus, a pointing device suitable for a portable information processing apparatus can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a configuration of a handle portion and a pointing device mechanism of the first embodiment;
(B) is a sectional view taken along line DD in (A).

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a configuration of a handle portion and a pointing device mechanism of the third embodiment;
(B) is a sectional view taken along line EE in (A).

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Portable information processing device, 2 ... Display device, 3 ... Handle,
4. Pointing device mechanism

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A portable information processing device having a display device, comprising: a drawer member provided to be able to be pulled out from a main body of the portable information processing device; and a pointing device mechanism incorporated in the drawer member. A portable information processing device characterized by the above-mentioned.