Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefits of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0060608, filed on Jun. 20, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a computer mouse, and more particularly, to a computer mouse including a grip portion and a sensor portion in order to minimize wrist fatigue and rapidly move a cursor on a screen. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A mouse is a computer input device that controls the movement of a cursor on a display screen during various computer tasks. A conventional mouse includes a sensor having a rubber or metal ball or an optical sensor in the center portion of a lower surface and at least one button and sometimes as many as three at an upper frontal portion, the buttons having different functions depending on a running program. The buttons are referred to as left and right buttons or selection and menu buttons. A wheel for scrolling through web pages and long documents is provided between the buttons. 
         [0006]    To use the conventional mouse, a user holds the mouse under a hand while the lower surface of the mouse is in contact with a supporting surface. In this state, the user&#39;s palm contacts the upper surface of the mouse, and the user can press one of the buttons by using a forefinger or a middle finger or rotate the wheel by using the middle finger. 
         [0007]    As described above, the conventional mouse includes a sensing unit in the center of the lower surface, so that a sensor moves according to movement of the hand. Therefore, there are problems in that the movement speed of the sensor is low, and the cursor cannot be moved fast enough to play a game or work. 
         [0008]    In addition, in order to move the cursor to the left or right on the computer screen, the user has to move the wrist to the left or right, and thus the wrist joint and muscles can be damaged. 
         [0009]    Moreover, since the user holds the mouse with the thumb, the middle finger or the ring finger, and the little finger, the positions of the fingers are not natural. Therefore, when the user uses the mouse for a long period of time, finger joints can also be damaged. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a computer mouse including a grip portion and a sensor, both of which have improved structures so that it is possible to reduce joint fatigue in the hand or wrist of a user and rapidly move a cursor on a computer screen during various computer tasks. 
         [0011]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion having a flat bottom surface and a longitudinal central grip axis; a grip central point located at the center of the longitudinal central grip axis; the grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; a vertical axis perpendicular to the surface and including the central point; a sensor portion which includes a sensor having a sensor central point located at the center of the sensor; the sensor being located distant in a forward direction from the grip portion; a vertical plane containing the vertical axis and the sensor central point; wherein the longitudinal central axis is angled from the vertical axis and tilted to the left or right with reference to the forward direction; a bottom grip point defined by the intersection between the vertical axis and the bottom surface; and wherein the bottom grip point is located substantially at the center of the bottom surface. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect of the present invention, the grip portion may include a thumb support to support the thumb of the user when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0013]    In addition, the grip portion may be formed so that a side portion of the hand of the user is in contact with the surface on which the computer mouse moves when the user holds the grip portion and further comprises a little finger support to support the little finger. 
         [0014]    The little finger support may include a ring finger support to support the ring finger of the user when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0015]    The grip portion and the sensor portion may be engaged with each other by a connection portion which is slanted from the grip portion. 
         [0016]    The sensor portion may be connected to the grip portion so that a distance between the sensor portion and the grip portion can be adjusted. 
         [0017]    The sensor portion may be connected to the grip portion so as to rotate about a connection point between the sensor portion and the grip portion. 
         [0018]    The grip portion may include a convex portion which protrudes at a portion which faces the palm of a user when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0019]    The computer mouse may further include an interface cable that extends from a side surface of the sensor portion. 
         [0020]    The sensor portion may further include a resolution control button that is controlled by the user via the forefinger or the middle finger when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0021]    The grip portion may further include a forward button and a backward button for forward and backward scrolling on a computer screen, wherein the forward button and the backward button are controlled by the thumb when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0022]    The sensor portion may further include a cooling fan which generates an air current toward the grip portion. 
         [0023]    The central axis of the grip portion may be tilted forward by a predetermined angle so that the top of the grip portion is located closer to the sensor than the bottom of the grip portion. 
         [0024]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse is moved; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the grip portion comprises a little finger support to support the little finger of a user when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0025]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the grip portion and the sensor portion are engaged with each other by a connection portion which protrudes forward from the grip portion and extends downward and is connected to the sensor portion. 
         [0026]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the grip portion comprises a convex portion which protrudes at a portion which faces the palm of a user when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0027]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction; and an interface cable that extends from a left or right side surface of the sensor portion. 
         [0028]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the sensor portion is connected to the grip portion so that a distance between the sensor portion and the grip portion can be adjusted. 
         [0029]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the sensor portion is connected to the grip portion so as to rotate about a connection point between the sensor portion and the grip portion. 
         [0030]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the sensor portion further comprises a resolution control button controlled by the user via the forefinger or middle finger of the user while the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0031]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the grip portion comprises a forward button and a backward button for scrolling forward and backward on a computer screen and controlled by the thumb of the user when the user holds the grip portion. 
         [0032]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a computer mouse including: a grip portion standing on a surface on which the computer mouse moves; and a sensor portion which includes a sensor which is distant from the grip portion in a forward direction, wherein the sensor portion comprises a cooling fan which generates an air current toward the grip portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a computer mouse according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are rear side and right side views of the computer mouse of  FIG. 1 , respectively; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the computer mouse of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0037]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are right rear and left front perspective views of the computer mouse of  FIG. 1 , respectively; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a computer mouse according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a computer mouse according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0041]      FIG. 1  is a left rear side view of a computer mouse  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2 and 3  are rear side and the right side views of the computer mouse  1 , respectively.  FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the computer mouse  1 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  are right rear side and left front side perspective views of the computer mouse  1  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , the computer mouse  1 , which is used as an input device of a computer, includes a grip portion  10 , a sensor portion  20 , a connection portion  30 , and an interface cable  40 . 
         [0043]    The grip portion  10  is standing on a surface  102  (see  FIG. 2 ) on which the computer mouse  1  moves horizontally. A user holds the grip portion  10  to use the mouse  1 . 
         [0044]    A virtual central axis  104  passing through the grip portion  10  is tilted to the left or right. The mouse according to the current embodiment is for a right-handed person. In this case, the central axis  104  is tilted to the left by a predetermined angle θ 1  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The predetermined angle θ 1  is defined between the surface  102  and the central axis  104  and may range from 45° to less than 90° in consideration of design ergonomics and convenience of the user. More preferably, the predetermined angle θ 1  may range from 70 to 80°. In the current embodiment, the predetermined angle is 75°. 
         [0045]    The grip portion  10  is shifted to the left or right according to the titled angle of the central axis. When the central axis  104  of the grip portion  10  is tilted to the left, the grip portion  10  is shifted to the right. 
         [0046]    Here, a shifted distance of the grip portion  10  is determined in consideration of the tilted angle of the central axis  104 . More specifically, when the central axis  104  is largely titled, the shifted distance is large, and when the central axis  104  is slightly tilted, the shifted distance is small. In the current embodiment, the shifted distance of the grip portion  10  to the right is substantially half a value obtained by multiplying the length_of the central axis  104  by cos(θ 1 ). 
         [0047]    Since the grip portion  10  is shifted to the right, a sensor  22  is disposed forward of a perpendicular lower point  107  of a central portion  106  of the central axis  104 . 
         [0048]    The central portion  106  of the central axis  104  is not a mathematically exact center point but a portion which indicates substantially half the length of the central axis  104 . The perpendicular lower point  107  is the point where a vertical line with respect to the central portion  106  of the central axis  104  intersects an underlying surface  11  of the grip portion  10 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , a virtual line which extends forward from the perpendicular lower point  107  is a central line  108 . The sensor  22  is substantially disposed on the central line  108 . 
         [0049]    When the sensor  22  is disposed forward of the perpendicular lower point  107 , the “forward” in the specification means a forward direction perpendicular to a transverse line from the left to the light. 
         [0050]    Although the central axis  104  of the grip portion  10  is tilted to the left, the grip portion  10  is shifted to the right proportionately to the tilted angle of the central axis  104  of the grip portion  10 , so that the sensor  22  is disposed forward of the virtual perpendicular lower point  107  of the central portion  106  of the central axis  104 . According to the aforementioned construction, a user who holds the grip portion  10  can move a mouse cursor on a display screen via the sensor  22  disposed forward of the center of the hand of the user. 
         [0051]    If the grip portion  10  is not shifted to the right and only the central axis  104  is tilted to the left, the sensor  22  is not disposed forward of the perpendicular lower point  107  of the central portion  106  of the grip portion  10  but is disposed to the right. In this case, the sensor  22  is not disposed forward of the center of the hand of the user who holds the grip portion. Therefore, the user may feel uncomfortable to move the cursor on a display screen by using the sensor  22  of the mouse  1 . 
         [0052]    The central axis  104  is tilted to the left because when the user puts his/her hand on a table in a natural manner and bends the fingers to make an empty space inside the palm, the space inside the hand approximately has a cylindrical shape, and a central axis of the cylinder in an upward direction is slightly tilted to the left. Therefore, in order not to damage the wrist joint and muscles when the grip portion  10  is hold for a long period of time, the central axis  104  of the grip portion  10  of the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment is tilted to the left to match the shape of the user&#39;s hand. 
         [0053]    The central axis  104  of the grip portion  10  is not a geometrical central axis of the grip portion  10  but a line which is aligned with a line passing through the center of the virtual cylindrical space formed inside the hand when the user holds the grip portion  10 . 
         [0054]    In the current embodiment, the mouse  1  is for a right-handed person, a mouse for a left-handed person may be constructed to be symmetrical to the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the central axis  104  of the computer mouse  1  according to the current embodiment is tilted forward at a predetermined angle θ 2 . The predetermined angle θ 2  may range from 50° to less than 90°, and is 65° in the current embodiment. The grip portion  10  is tilted forward at the predetermined angle θ 2  in order to position the hand naturally when the user holds the grip portion  10 . As described above, since the line passing through the center of the virtual space formed by the hand of the user is tilted forward, the central axis  104  of the grip portion  10  of the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment is also tilted at the predetermined angle θ 2 . If the predetermined angle θ 2  is larger or smaller than a value in the indicated range, the position of the hand can be unnatural. 
         [0056]    The grip portion  10  of the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment may further include a thumb support  12 . 
         [0057]    The thumb support  12  is disposed at a position to support the thumb of the user when the user holds the grip portion  10 . Therefore, the thumb support  12  is disposed to have a height of half the height of the grip portion  10  so that the user can put the thumb thereon comfortably. 
         [0058]    According to the current embodiment, the thumb support  12  includes a wheel button  122  so that the user can scroll the computer screen. The user manipulates the wheel button  122  by using the thumb. 
         [0059]    The grip portion  10  is formed so that a side portion of the hand of the user is placed on the surface  102  on which the mouse  1  is disposed when the user holds the grip portion  10 . More specifically, the grip portion  10  has such a height that the side portion of the hand is placed on the surface  102  when the user holds the grip portion  10 . If the side portion of the hand is not placed on the surface  102 , the user who manipulates the mouse  1  may feel fatigue in the wrist or arm, and may also feel uncomfortable to precisely manipulate the mouse  1 . 
         [0060]    The grip portion  10  includes a little finger support  14 . The little finger support  14  is formed at a position to support the little finger of the user when the user holds the grip portion  10 . The little finger support  14  has a shape of a thin plate. An upper portion of the little finger support  14  is provided with a ring finger support  142  to support the ring finger of the user. The little finger support  14  and the ring finger support  142  are illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0061]    The ring finger support  142  is also provided so that the ring finger and the little finger of the user do not overlap. Due to the little finger support  142 , a portion between the little finger and the ring finger does not sweat although the user uses the mouse over a long period of time. 
         [0062]    The grip portion  10  also includes a convex portion  16 . The convex portion  16  protrudes convexly to contact the palm of the user when the user holds the grip portion  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the convex portion  16  is formed at a right side surface of the grip portion  10 . The convex portion  16  supports the palm of the user who holds the tilted grip portion  10 . Therefore, due to the convex portion  16 , the user feels comfortable when holding the grip portion  10 . 
         [0063]    The mouse  1  according to the current embodiment also includes a depression portion  162 , which has a relatively concave shape at an upper portion of the convex portion  16  so that the user can feel more comfortable. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  or  3 , a concave portion  164  to allow the thumb to easily hold the grip portion  10  is formed at the upper portion of the grip portion  10 . 
         [0064]    The grip portion  10  further includes a forward button  17  and a backward button  172  for forward and backward scrolling on the computer screen, at positions where the user can control the forward and the backward buttons  17  and  172  by using the thumb while holding the grip portion  10 . For example, the buttons  17  and  172  may be used when the user wants to see other Internet web page than a currently displayed one. 
         [0065]    In addition, the grip portion  10  includes a selection button  18  at a position where the user can manipulate it by using the forefinger while holding the grip portion  10  and also includes a menu button  182  at a position where the user can manipulate it by using the middle finger. 
         [0066]    The selection button  18  is called a click button and has the same function as that of a button disposed at the upper left side of a conventional mouse. The menu button  182  has the same function as that of a button disposed at the upper right side of the conventional mouse. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the computer mouse  1  according to the current embodiment also includes a weight  19  which is detachable from the lower portion of the grip portion  10 . The weight  19  is disposed so that the center of gravity of the grip portion  10  is at a lower position and may be mounted at the perpendicular lower point  107  at the underlying surface  11  of the grip portion  10 . The weight  19  may be fixed to the lower portion of the grip portion  10  by using a fixing member  192  such as a screw. The weight  19  may have a different weight according to the preference or the need of the user. 
         [0068]    The sensor  20  includes the sensor  22  which is distant from the grip portion  10  in a forward direction. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the sensor  22  is provided at the center portion of a base  21  of the sensor portion  20  and contacts the surface  102  on which the mouse moves. In the current embodiment, the sensor  22  is an optical sensor but may also be a ball sensor. 
         [0069]    Since the sensor  22  is distant from the perpendicular lower point  107  of the central portion  106  of the central axis  104 , although the user slightly rotates the grip portion  10  about the perpendicular lower point  107 , the sensor  22  moves much. 
         [0070]    When the user properly rotates the grip portion  10  about the perpendicular lower point  107  while simultaneously moving the grip portion  10  forward, backward, to the left, and to the right, the user can easily move the sensor  22  with a relatively smaller amount of motion as compared with that of the conventional mouse. In addition, as described above, the sensor  22  is disposed forward of the perpendicular lower point  107 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the sensor  22  is disposed on the central line  108 . 
         [0071]    The sensor portion  20  of the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment includes a resolution control button  24 . The resolution control button  24  is used to control the resolution of the computer screen and is disposed at an upper rear side surface of the sensor portion  20  so as to be controlled by using the forefinger or the middle finger while the user is holding the grip portion. 
         [0072]    The connection portion  30  is used to connect the grip portion  10  to the sensor portion  20 . An end portion of the connection portion  30  protrudes forward from the grip portion  10  and extends downward so that the other end portion is connected to the sensor portion  20 . In addition, according to the current embodiment, the connection portion  30  protrudes from the thumb support  12  and extends so as to be engaged with a left side portion of the sensor portion  20 . 
         [0073]    Since the end portion of the connection portion  30  is disposed to be higher than the other end portion, when the user holds the grip portion  10 , the sensor portion  20  is effectively pressed by the weight of the hand and power of the user through the connection unit  30 . In addition, two underlying portions of the mouse, which are distant from each other, are in contact with the surface  102 , so that the user can comfortably manipulate the mouse  1 , and the sensor  22  is attached to the base  21  stably. 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , an interface cable  40  is an electric wire that connects an electric device such as a circuit substrate included in the computer mouse  1  to the computer. The interface cable  40  extends from a side surface of the sensor portion  20 . More specifically, the interface cable  40  is provided at a right side surface which meets a surface that faces forward of the sensor portion  20 . 
         [0075]    In the prior art, an interface cable of a conventional wired mouse extends from a lower central portion of a surface which faces forward. However, the interface cable  40  of the computer mouse  1  according to the current embodiment extends from the side surface. 
         [0076]    In general, when the user uses the computer mouse  1 , the computer mouse  1  is disposed to be closer to the user than the keyboard. In this case, if the interface cable  40  is disposed to face forward, the keyboard may interfere with the interface cable  40 . However, the interface cable  40  of the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment is provided to the side surface which faces to the right, so that the mouse  1  can be used without interference with the keyboard. In addition, since the mouse  1  according to the current embodiment is longer than the conventional mouse, the interface cable  40  that is provided to the side surface is more useful. 
         [0077]    Hereinafter, operations and effects of the computer mouse  1  according to the current embodiment will be described. 
         [0078]    Since the computer mouse  1  according to the current embodiment includes the grip portion  10 , which is tilted in one direction and shifted in other direction, and the sensor  22 , which his disposed substantially perpendicularly forward of the perpendicular lower point  107  of the central portion  106  of the central axis  104 , the user can move the sensor  22  rapidly and accurately while holding the grip portion  10 . 
         [0079]    The grip portion  10  and the sensor  22  of the computer mouse  1  are constructed in consideration of structures of the arm, the wrist, and the hand of the user, so that the user can use the mouse  1  over a long period of time without inconvenience. 
         [0080]    In addition, the computer mouse  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the thumb support  12 , the little finger support  14 , and the ring finger support  142 , so that the user can use the mouse  1  stably over a long period of time without fatigue in the fingers&#39; joints. 
         [0081]    Furthermore, since the computer mouse  1  includes the connection portion  30  to connect the grip portion  10  to the sensor portion  20 , the sensor  22  contacts the surface  102  and therefore the computer mouse  1  is stable. 
         [0082]    In addition, since the grip portion  10  of the computer mouse  1  is provided with the convex portion  16 , at least a portion of the palm of the user who holds the grip portion  10  can be supported by the convex portion  16 . In particular, since the grip portion  10  is tilted in one direction, the convex portion  16  which is formed at the other side surface of the grip portion  10  can support the portion of the palm of the user stably. Therefore, the hand of the user is stable and the user can use the mouse over a long period of time without feeling tired. 
         [0083]    In addition, since the computer mouse  1  includes the wheel  122 , the forward and backward buttons  17  and  172 , and the selection and menu buttons  18  and  182  in consideration of a position of each finger of the user who holds the grip portion  10 , the user can manipulate each button conveniently. 
         [0084]    Also, since the computer mouse  1  includes the interface cable  40  which is provided to the right side surface of the sensor portion  20 , the mouse  1  can be used without interference with the keyboard. 
         [0085]    According to the current embodiment, the forward and backward buttons  17  and  172 , selection and the menu buttons  18  and  182 , and the resolution control button  24  each have indicated functions. However, each of the buttons can have a different function according to the setting of a computer game program or as needed. 
         [0086]      FIG. 7  illustrates a computer mouse  1   a  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0087]    The computer mouse  1   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7  is different from the computer mouse  1  according to the previous embodiment in that a position of a sensor portion  20  can be changed and a cooling fan  50  and a light-emitting device  60  are further included. Hereinafter, only components which are different from those in the previous embodiment are described. 
         [0088]    The sensor portion  20  of the computer mouse  1   a  according to the current embodiment is connected to the grip portion  10  so that a distance between the sensor portion  20  and the grip portion  10  can be adjusted. More specifically, the sensor portion  20  is engaged with the grip portion  10  by a connection portion  30   a  so that a distance between a sensor  22  and the grip portion  10  can be adjusted. 
         [0089]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the connection portion  30   a  includes a pillar portion  32   a , an engagement portion  34   a , a penetration portion  36   a , and a fixing portion  38   a . The pillar portion  32   a  having a predetermined cross-section is fit into the penetrating portion  36   a  so as to slide therein. The pillar portion  32  is disposed at a desired position and is tightened by the fixing portion  38   a , which is a screw member. As a result, the distance between the sensor portion  20  and the grip portion  10  can be controlled. 
         [0090]    Therefore, the user can control the distance between the sensor portion  20  including the sensor  22  and the grip portion  10  according to a size of the hand or a type of a program or a game and also can control movement of the sensor  22  relative to the movement of the grip portion  10 . 
         [0091]    The computer mouse  1   a  according to the current embodiment includes the cooling fan  50  which generates an air current toward the grip portion  10 . According to the current embodiment, the cooling fan  50  is provided at an upper side surface of the sensor portion  20  and can be detachable as needed. 
         [0092]    When the user holds and manipulates the grip portion  10  of the mouse  1   a , particularly in gaming, the hand sweats. The cooling fan  50  according to the current embodiment generates and blows an air current to cool the hand of the user. Power needed for the cooling fan  50  may be supplied through the interface cable  40  from the computer. 
         [0093]    According to the current embodiment, the cooling fan  50  is externally provided at the upper portion of the sensor portion  20 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. A cooling fan may be included in a sensor portion. More specifically, referring to  FIG. 8 , the cooling fan may be provided at a rear side surface of the sensor portion  20  around the resolution control button  24  (after shifting or removing the resolution control button  24 ) so as to generate an air current toward the grip portion  10 . 
         [0094]    The sensor portion  20  of the computer mouse  1   a  according to the current embodiment includes the light-emitting device  60  which can emit light forward. The light-emitting device  60  may be constructed with a light-emitting diode (LED) or a laser generating device. The light emitted by the light-emitting device  60  may have straight characteristic. The light-emitting device  60  may be a laser generating device used for a laser pointer. 
         [0095]    The light-emitting device  60  can make the user feel better during a computer game. More specifically, during a computer game in which the user needs to aim at a target, the user may have the feeling that he/she virtually aims at the target with the light generated from the light-emitting device  60 . 
         [0096]      FIG. 8  illustrates a computer mouse  1   b  according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0097]    The computer mouse  1   b  illustrated in  FIG. 8  is different from the computer mouse  1  in that a sensor portion  20  is connected to the grip portion  10  and can be rotated about a connection point that functions as a central axis and is used to connect the sensor portion  20  to the grip portion. 
         [0098]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the sensor portion  20  is hinged to the other end portion of the connection portion  30   b . A point at which the sensor portion  20  is hinged is the connection point  32   b . The sensor portion  20  can be disposed at a desired position by rotating it about the engagement member  34   b  provided at the connection point  32   b  as the axis of rotation, and the engagement member  34   b  is then fixed. 
         [0099]    The user can rotate the sensor portion  20  with respect to the grip portion  10  and fix the sensor portion  20  at a desired position as needed. The sensor of the mouse  1   b  according to the current embodiment is basically disposed forward of the perpendicular lower point of the central portion of the central axis of the grip portion  10  but may be controlled to be disposed at the most proper position according a program or physical characteristic of the user. 
         [0100]    As described above, the user can rapidly and accurately move the computer mouse according to the present invention with a small amount of motion and over a long period of time without fatigue in the arm and wrist.

Technology Category: g