Abstract:
A cordless pointing device used for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen and selecting information displayed on the display screen. The cordless pointing device includes an operation device having an optical reflection surface, a light emitting and receiving unit, which is a separate unit from the operation device, and emits a light to the optical reflection surface of the operation device and receives the light reflected on the optical reflection surface of the operation device, a switch for generating an instruction on information pointed by the pointer, and a control unit that moves the pointer according to a movement of the operation device detected by the light emitting and receiving unit when the light is received and detects the instruction given by the switch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention generally relates to cordless pointing devices, and more particularly, to a cordless pointing device having a very thin-shaped operation unit to be operated by a user.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In recent years, a pointing device has been used as an input device installed in an information device such as a personal computer. The pointing device is used for moving a pointer shown on the display screen so as to select information and give an instruction to the computer. There are various types of pointing devices such as track pad, track ball, and mouse.  
         [0005]     Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-318661 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) discloses one of the aforementioned pointing devices. Document 1 describes a pointing device having an information display unit, a sensor, and a control unit. The information display unit displays information and the pointer for selecting the information. The sensor senses an optical image of a finger and detects a movement of the finger. The control unit moves the pointer based on the movement of the finger detected by the sensor. According to the pointing device disclosed in Document 1, the necessary information can be selected by moving the pointer displayed on the information display unit with only one finger.  
         [0006]     Among the above-mentioned various types of the pointing devices, the track pad or the track ball can be incorporated into, for example, a keyboard, and does not take up much space even after the installation of the pointing device. However, a problem arises in user-friendliness, for example, the operator is required for getting used to the pointing device.  
         [0007]     The pointing device described in Document 1 has an excellent user-friendliness when manipulating the pointer with one hand and holding a mobile terminal such as a mobile telephone in the other hand. In addition, the pointing device described in Document 1 does not take up much space even after the installation of the pointing device. However, when manipulating the pointer displayed on the display screen of a notebook PC, for example, there arises the same problem as the above-mentioned track pad or track ball in that the operator is required for getting used to the pointing device and the operation of the pointing device is not user-friendly. Moreover, the pointing device described in Document 1 reads optical images of a fingertip and then moves the pointer. It is to be noted that the fingertip cannot be focused on depending on the user&#39;s operation. If so, the optical image cannot be acquired completely.  
         [0008]     In contrast, a mouse is user-friendly and easy to use. Therefore, the mouse is employed in various information terminal devices represented by the personal computer. In these years, a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device are installed onto a main body of the mouse, which is known as an optical mouse, the pointer can be moved according to a moving direction of the mouse. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an optical mouse  52  includes an optical sensor  52   a  having the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device. The mouse  52  is manipulated on a desk  53  or the like. The optical sensor  52   a  receives a reflected light as shown by an arrow  54 , senses a movement of the mouse  52 , and reflects the movement in the pointer. Additionally, a wireless mouse has come into the market, and operability has been improved more than before. The wireless mouse is not connected with a code to the information terminal device such as a personal computer.  
         [0009]     A console drawer is one of the information terminal devices. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a console drawer  50  includes a display screen  55  that can be opened and closed like a notebook PC. The console drawer  50  can be mounted on a rack  51  having multiple drawers like a chest of drawers. The console drawer  50  includes a keyboard  56  and a mouse  52 . The operator manipulates the mouse  52  on a space in the vicinity of the keyboard  56 . Here, the display screen  55  that can be opened and closed employs a liquid crystal display, in many cases. However, referring to  FIG. 4 , it the mouse  52  is placed in the vicinity of the keyboard  56  and the display screen  55  is mistakenly closed, the mouse  52  might damage the liquid crystal display of the display  55 . Furthermore, the mouse  52  needs a certain space and height. In particular, the wireless mouse device includes a power supply such as a battery in the main body of the mouse, and thus there is a limitation of reducing the thickness of the mouse.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     It is a general object of the present invention to provide a cordless pointing device of a thin-shaped operation unit having excellent operability and user-friendliness as compared to the conventional mouse.  
         [0011]     According to one aspect of the present invention, preferably, there is provided a cordless pointing device used for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen and selecting information displayed on the display screen, the cordless pointing device includes an operation device having an optical reflection surface, a light emitting and receiving unit, which is a separate unit from the operation device, and emits a light to the optical reflection surface of the operation device and receives the light reflected on the optical reflection surface of the operation device, a switch for generating an instruction on information pointed by the pointer, and a control unit that moves the pointer according to a movement of the operation device detected by the light emitting and receiving unit when the light is received and detects the instruction given by the switch.  
         [0012]     According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, there is provided a keyboard including the above-mentioned cordless pointing device used for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen and selecting information displayed on the display screen.  
         [0013]     According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, there is provided an information terminal device includes an information input unit having the above-mentioned keyboard incorporated therein, and a display screen that can be opened and closed overlapping the information input unit, and the keyboard includes the above-mentioned cordless pointing device used for moving a pointer displayed on a display screen and selecting information displayed on the display screen.  
         [0014]     According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, there is provided an operation device including a reflection surface, and a portion operated by an operator&#39;s finger, a light being reflected on the reflection surface, the operation device being operated on a light emitting and receiving unit for emitting a light and receiving the light reflected by the reflection surface.  
         [0015]     According to another aspect of the present invention, preferably, there is provided a mouse pad including a light emitter for emitting a light when a current is applied thereto, a light receiver for receiving a reflected light of a light emitted by the light emitter, and a moving direction detection unit detecting a relative moving direction of the reflected light received by the light receiver.  
         [0016]     The mouse pad of the present invention emits and reflects a light, and thereby the thickness of the mouse can be reduced. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings, wherein:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional optical mouse:  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a connection state of a console drawer;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the console drawer into which a conventional mouse is incorporated;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates how the mouse gets into contact with a display screen in the console drawer having a conventional mouse incorporated thereinto;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a mouse in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates how the mouse reflects a light emitted from a light-emitting device of the mouse pad in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of a pointing device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates how the mouse is used in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a console drawer having the pointing device incorporated thereinto in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  is a plain view of a keyboard and a mouse pad of the console drawer shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the keyboard and the mouse pad of the console drawer shown in  FIG. 9 :  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the mouse in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a plain view of a keyboard and a mouse pad of the console drawer in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a mouse and a mouse pad in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     A description will now be given, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0033]     A description will be given of a first embodiment of the present invention, with reference to drawings.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0034]     A pointing device  3  includes a mouse  1  and a mouse pad  2  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The pointing device  3  is incorporated into a console drawer  4  shown in  FIG. 9 . The mouse  1  corresponds to an operation device, and the mouse pad  2  corresponds to a light emitting and receiving unit.  
         [0035]     First, a description will be given of the mouse  1 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the mouse  1 . The mouse  1  includes a plate  5 . The plate  5  has a double-layered structure into which a first plate  5   a  and a second plate  5   b  are laminated. The plate  5  includes a holder  7  so that the user may latch the holder  7  to a fingertip  6  thereof. The holder  7  is made of a material that can be loosened. For example, the material gets dented if it is pushed down from the top. A rubber band may be used instead of the holder  7 .  FIG. 6  shows how a light-emitting device included in the mouse pad  2  reflects the lights. The mouse pad  2  will be described later in detail. A bottom face of the plate  5 , that is, the bottom face of the first plate  5   a  has a plane optical reflection surface  5   a   1  for reflecting the light.  
         [0036]     In addition, a right button  8   a  and a left button  8   b  are arranged in a region close to one end of the surface of the second plate  8   b . The right button  8   a  and the left button  8   b  respectively have shapes of square column. Disc springs, which are not shown, are respectively provided for the right button  8   a  and the left button  8   b , and are arranged between the first plate  5   a  and the second plate  5   b  so that the fingertip  6  can easily sense feelings of pushdown of the right button  8   a  and the left button  8   b.    
         [0037]     Further, a mouse side coil  9  is printed on the first plate  5   a  of the mouse  1 . The mouse side coil  9  generates an induced electromotive force due to the electromagnetic induction when a current passes a mouse pad side coil  10 , which will be described later in detail.  FIG. 7  schematically illustrates the mouse side coil  9  of the mouse  1  and the mouse pad side coil  10  of the mouse pad  2 . The mouse side coil  9  is a part of a closed loop  11 , which is formed by pressing down the right button  8   a  or the left button  8   b . The closed loop  11  includes a first diode  12  and a second diode  13  so that current directions are different when the right button  8   a  is pushed down and the left button  8   b  is pushed down. An operation unit includes the mouse side coil  9 , the closed loop  11 , and the diodes  12  and  13 . The mouse side coil  9  corresponds to on a first coil. A switch corresponds to the right button  8   a  or the left button  8   b . The mouse  1  is thus configured.  
         [0038]     Next, a description will be given of the mouse pad  2 . The mouse pad  2  includes an optical sensor  15  in a plastic case  14 . The optical sensor  15  is composed of a light emitter and a light receiver. The light emitter of the optical sensor is installed so that the emitted light may not shoot the user. The user&#39;s eyes are thus protected. The light emitter is configured to darken the light if the movement has not been sensed for a certain period of time. The mouse  1  reflects the light emitted from the optical sensor  15  as shown by an arrow  20  in  FIG. 6 . The light receiver senses the reflected light and sends the result to a control unit  19 , which will be described later. Then, the optical sensor  15  detects the direction in which the mouse  1  moves.  
         [0039]     The mouse pad  2  includes the mouse pad side coil  10 , which is connected to an AC power supply  16 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The mouse pad side coil  10  is connected to the control unit  19  through diodes  17  and  18 . The control unit  19  detects the movement of the mouse  1  and that the right button  8   a  or the left button  8   b  has been pushed down, and reflects the detection in the movement of the pointer displayed on the display screen. The control unit  19  corresponds to a moving direction detection unit that detects a relative moving direction of the reflected light received by the light receiver. The mouse pad side coil  10  corresponds to an on-off state detection unit. The mouse pad side coil  10  corresponds to a second coil. For simplification, the plastic case  14  includes only the optical sensor  15  and other elements are omitted in  FIG. 6 . The optical sensor  15  in the plastic case  14  is omitted in  FIG. 7 . The mouse pad  2  is thus configured.  
         [0040]     Here, a description will be given of the detection of the mouse  1  and pushdown states of the right button  8   a  and the left button  8   b . First, the right button  8   a  is pushed down, and the closed loop  11  is formed including the mouse side coil  9 . The current flows through the mouse pad side coil  10  from the AC power supply  16 , generates a magnetic field, and the current passes in the direction of an arrow  21  due to the induced electromotive force. Then, the current passes through the mouse side coil  9  in the direction of the arrow  21 , another magnetic field, different from the above-mentioned one, is generated. This magnetic field changes the current flowing through the mouse pad side coil  10 . The control unit  19  detects the change of the current, and determines that the right button  8   a  has been pushed. Then, the control unit  19  outputs an output signal to a left button output  19   a . On the other hand, the left button  8   b  is pushed down, and the closed loop  11  is formed including the mouse side coil  9 . The current flows through the mouse pad side coil  10  from the AC power supply  16 , generates a magnetic field, and the current passes in the direction of an arrow  22  due to the induced electromotive force. The current flowing in the direction of the arrow  22  passes through the mouse side coil  9 , another magnetic field, different from the above-mentioned one, is generated. This magnetic field changes the current flowing through the mouse pad side coil  10 . The control unit  19  detects the change of the current, and determines that the left button  8   b  has been pushed. Then, the control unit  19  outputs the output signal to a left button output  19   b . Here, the current flows through the closed loop  11  in the direction of the arrow  21 , when the right button  8   a  is pushed down. The current flows through the closed loop  11  in the direction of the arrow  22 , in the case where the left button  8   b  is pushed down. Therefore, the changes in the currents flowing through the mouse pad side coil  10  are different. Judging from the difference in the changes, it is possible to determine where the right button  8   a  or the left button  8   b  has been pushed down. A magnetic field change detection unit is composed of the mouse pad side coil  10  and the control unit  19 .  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , when the pointing device  3  is used as described above, the fingertip  6  is latched to the holder  7  of the mouse  1 . How to operate is same as the conventional mouse, and the mouse  1  is manipulated on the mouse pad  2 .  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the above-mentioned pointing device  3  is incorporated into the console drawer  4 . The console drawer  4  includes a crystal liquid display  24 , and a keyboard  25 . The mouse pad  2  is incorporated on the right side of the keyboard  25 . The mouse  1  is to be operated on the mouse pad  2 .  FIG. 10  is a plain view of the keyboard  25  and the mouse pad  2 . The mouse pad  2  includes a frame  26 . The frame  26  denotes an operable range, and the optical sensor  15  can be detected in the range. That is to say, if the mouse  1  is operated within the frame  26 , it is possible to detect the movement of the mouse  1 . The frame  26  can be a guide or an indication for the user.  
         [0043]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the keyboard  25  and the mouse pad  2 . A top surface of the mouse pad  2  is arranged above keys  27  of the keyboard  25 . With this configuration, the mouse  1  is not in touch with the keys  27 . It is thus possible to operate the mouse  1  smoothly.  
         [0044]     The console drawer  4  is thus configured. The crystal liquid of the display  24  is not damaged, even if the display  24  is closed together with the mouse  1  placed on the mouse pad  2 .  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0045]     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to  FIG. 12 . A mouse  28  is different from the mouse  1  of the first embodiment of the present invention. The mouse  28  does not include the right button  8   a , the left button  8   b , or the mouse side coil  9 . That is to say, the mouse  28  is moved on the mouse pad  2  for only moving the pointer displayed on the display screen in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, any key on the keyboard  25  is assigned for the buttons corresponding to the right button  8   a  and the left button  8   b , or dedicated buttons are installed. With the above-mentioned mouse  28 , it is possible to operate the buttons with a left hand. The holder  7  in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as in the first embodiment of the present invention.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0046]     Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to  FIG. 13 . A keyboard  25  shown in  FIG. 13  is capable of housing the mouse pad  2  under the keyboard  25 . That is to say, the mouse pad  2  can be taken out when it is used, and can be overlapped under the keyboard  25  as arrows  29  or  30  when it is not used. It is thus possible to save space when the mouse pad  2  is not used.  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0047]     Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to  FIG. 14 . The mouse pad  2  shown in  FIG. 14  can be connected to the console drawer  4  with a cable  31  such as USB. With this configuration, the mouse pad  2  can be connected to various devices.  
         [0048]     The mouse pad of the present invention emits and reflects a light, and thereby the thickness of the mouse can be reduced.  
         [0049]     The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and other embodiments, variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0050]     The present invention is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-124693 filed on Apr. 20, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.