JP2018163480A - Mouse device - Google Patents

Abstract

A mouse device capable of sufficiently pursuing improvement of a user's click feeling associated with a click operation and improvement in quietness is provided.
SOLUTION: A hollow casing, a switch arranged in the casing, an operation unit provided at an upper part of the casing and movable in a substantially vertical direction of the casing, and the movement of the operation unit is transmitted to the switch. In the mouse device including the transmitting unit, the switch includes an input unit that receives an operation input by its own movement, and the distal end of the transmitting unit can make point contact with the input unit in a cross section along the moving direction of the operating unit. Has a shape.
[Selection] Figure 15

Description

  The present invention relates to a mouse device including a housing, a switch arranged in the housing, and a transmission unit that transmits movement of an operation unit provided in the housing to the switch.

  A mouse device that is connected to an information processing apparatus typified by a personal computer and transmits a user's coordinate designation and operation input to the information processing apparatus is well known. In a general mouse device, a switch called a micro switch is arranged in a hollow casing, and when the user presses down a pressable operation section provided on the top of the casing, the pressing section moves the operation section downward. The movement of the operation unit is transmitted to the switch by a bar.

  In recent years, considering the operation of the mouse device in places where quietness is required such as in offices, when the operation input to the switch, the click sound accompanying the operation of the return spring provided inside the switch has been reduced A micro switch (hereinafter referred to as a silent type micro switch) is realized, and a mouse device using the silent type micro switch (hereinafter referred to as a silent type mouse device) is realized. As a silent type micro switch that is currently put into practical use, one having an input unit that accepts an operation input by a bar by its own vertical movement is known. A conventional silent mouse device using such a silent microswitch will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a conventional silent mouse device using a silent microswitch, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway sectional view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part D in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part G in FIG.

  In these drawings, the conventional silent mouse device M has a housing 1 having a hollow interior. On the upper surface of the housing 1 in FIG. 1, when the user holds the housing 1 of the mouse device M so as to wrap it with a palm, a pair of operation units 2, 3 are provided at positions corresponding to the tip portions of the index finger and middle finger. Is provided.

  The operation units 2 and 3 are supported in a cantilevered state by the housing 1 at the rear ends (left end portions in FIG. 2) of the operation units 2 and 3. 1 is provided so as to be able to swing in the substantially vertical direction of FIGS. In addition, since the operation portions 2 and 3 are formed in a substantially flat plate shape as shown in FIG. 2, the operation portions 2 and 3 are twisted in the vertical direction of FIG. Are provided so as to be swingable substantially in the left-right direction.

  A bottom plate 1a extending in a substantially horizontal direction (left and right directions in FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided at the bottom (lower portion in FIG. 2) of the housing 1, and is an upper surface of the bottom plate 1a. A pair of silent microswitches 4 are provided at positions opposite to 2 and 3. The microswitch 4 includes a substantially cubic body 4a and a substantially cylindrical input portion 4b that can move in the vertical direction in FIGS. 2 and 3 with respect to the body 4a. The micro switch 4 is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 1a so that the input portion 4b can move substantially vertically in FIGS. As shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper surface 4 c of the input unit 4 b is a flat input surface extending in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the input unit 4 b, that is, in the left-right direction in FIGS. 4 and 5. Is formed.

  2 on the lower surface of the operation units 2 and 3, rod-shaped transmission units 5 and 6 extending from the lower surface of the operation units 2 and 3 toward the microswitch 4 in the vertical direction of FIGS. 2 and 3, that is, in the vertical direction. Is provided. The tip portions (lower end portions in FIGS. 2 and 3) 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are the same as the input surface 4c of the input portion 4b of the microswitch 4 as shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and FIG. 5, each is formed on a flat surface extending in the left-right direction.

  Thereby, since the transmission parts 5 and 6 move up and down similarly with the up-and-down movement of the operation parts 2 and 3, when a user presses down the operation parts 2 and 3 with the index finger or the middle finger and performs an operation input operation, As the operating parts 2 and 3 are moved downward, the transmission parts 5 and 6 are similarly moved downward, and the tip parts 5a and 6a come into contact with the input surface 4c of the input part 4b of the microswitch 4 to be further lowered. , The input unit 4b of the microswitch 4 is pressed downward, and as a result, the operation input to the operation units 2 and 3 is transmitted to the input unit 4b of the microswitch 4.

  Although not shown, the micro switch 4 includes a spring that can be moved up and down provided below the input unit 4b in FIGS. 2 and 3 and a switch unit that is provided below the spring. When the input unit 4b moves downward against the urging force of the switch, the switch is pressed by the spring to perform an operation input. When the user stops the pressing operation of the operation units 2 and 3, the switch unit is pressed by the urging force of the spring. The input unit 4b is moved upward and the transmission units 5 and 6 are also moved upward to return to the positions shown in FIGS. Such a series of operations may be referred to as a click operation.

  As an example, the mouse device M is a mechanism for detecting, as coordinate values, the distance and direction in which the bottom plate 1a of the housing 1 is placed on a substantially horizontal operation surface and the housing 1 horizontally moves on the operation surface. A mechanism composed of a pair of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a light receiving unit, and a circuit that outputs an operation input of this mechanism and the microswitch 4 as an electrical signal are provided, and the mechanism in FIGS. 1 to 5 and the subsequent drawings. Further, illustration of the circuit is omitted.

JP2013-117939A

  However, in the above-described conventional silent mouse device M, since the operation units 2 and 3 are supported in a cantilevered state with respect to the housing 1, the improvement of the user's click feeling associated with the click operation described above and the silent operation are performed. There was a possibility that it was not possible to fully pursue improvement in performance. This point will be described in detail below.

  As an example, let us consider a case where the user presses the position of the operation unit 2 (part K in FIG. 1) corresponding to a position directly below the micro switch 4. As a result of the pressing operation by the user, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. 6 and 8, the operation unit 2 moves downward, and accordingly, the transmission unit 5 also moves downward, and as a result, the input unit 4b is moved downward. Although the operation input is performed, the operation unit 2 is supported in a cantilevered state with respect to the housing 1 as described above, and therefore, the vertical direction of the housing 1 is supported with the support portion of the housing 1 as a fulcrum. It is provided so as to be able to swing.

  Accordingly, the transmission unit 5 moves downward and leftward in FIG. 8 as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 8, and as a result, pushes the input unit 4b downward and leftward (inclined by 1 degree in FIG. 8). It will be. For this reason, there is a possibility that smooth downward movement of the input unit 4b may be hindered. As a result, there is a possibility that improvement of the user's click feeling associated with the click operation and improvement in quietness cannot be sufficiently pursued. It was.

  Similarly, consider a case where the user depresses a position slightly shifted from directly below the micro switch 4, specifically, the position of the operation unit 2 corresponding to the left end portion in FIG. 11 of the operation unit 2 (L portion in FIG. 1). . As a result of the pressing operation by the user, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. 10 and 12, the operation unit 2 moves downward, and accordingly, the transmission unit 5 also moves downward, and as a result, the input unit 4 b is moved downward. As described above, the operation unit 2 is supported in a cantilevered state with respect to the housing 1 as described above. Therefore, the vertical direction of the housing 1 and the support portion of the housing 1 are supported. It is provided so as to be swingable in the left-right direction.

Accordingly, the transmission unit 5 moves downward and leftward in FIG. 8 as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 12, and also tilts and moves leftward in FIG. 13 as shown in FIG. 12 down and to the left, and further to the right in FIG. 13 (inclined by 1.62 degrees in FIG. 13). For this reason, there is a possibility that the smooth downward movement of the input unit 4b may be further hindered. As a result, there is a possibility that improvement of the user's click feeling associated with the click operation and improvement in quietness cannot be sufficiently pursued. there were.
Further, the state where the input unit 4b does not smoothly move downward is repeated, and there is a problem that the input unit 4b is not pressed as intended, or that the button does not return after being pressed.

  In addition, although the tip part 5a, 6a of the transmission parts 5 and 6 of the mouse device M is provided with an abutment block made of a material whose material hardness is higher than that of the transmission parts 5 and 6, a technique for preventing wear has been proposed. Even if it is such a technique (refer patent document 1), the possibility that the input part 4b may be hindered from moving downward smoothly cannot be excluded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a mouse device capable of sufficiently pursuing improvement of a user's click feeling associated with a click operation and improvement of quietness in a silent mouse device. One of its purposes.

  The present invention includes a hollow casing, a switch disposed in the casing, an operation unit that is provided on an upper part of the casing and is movable in a substantially vertical direction of the casing, and transmits the movement of the operation unit to the switch. The present invention is applied to a mouse device including a transmission unit that performs the above-described operation. The switch includes an input unit that receives an operation input by its own movement, and the tip of the transmission unit has a shape that allows point contact with the input unit in a cross section along the moving direction of the operation unit. Solves at least one of the challenges.

  In the present invention, the distal end of the transmission unit has a shape that can make point contact with the input unit in a cross section along the movement direction of the operation unit, and therefore the movement of the operation unit is not strictly along the vertical direction. Even in this case, the input portion of the switch can be moved in a state substantially along the moving direction.

  Here, it is preferable that the distal end portion of the transmission portion has a shape capable of making line contact with the input portion, and further, the distal end portion of the transmission portion preferably has a shape capable of making point contact with the input portion.

  Further, it is preferable that the input unit is movable in a substantially vertical direction of the housing, and an operation input is performed by the vertical movement.

  The operation unit is provided so as to be able to swing in a substantially vertical direction around the fulcrum provided in the housing, and the transmission unit swings in a substantially vertical direction of the housing as the operation unit swings. Further, the operation unit is provided so as to be able to swing in a substantially left-right direction of the casing around a fulcrum provided in the casing, and the transmission unit is substantially omitted from the casing as the operation unit swings. It is preferable to swing in the left-right direction.

  And it is preferable that an input part has a substantially flat input surface which can contact | abut to the front-end | tip part of a transmission part.

  In addition, the present invention provides a hollow casing, a switch disposed in the casing, an operation unit that is provided on an upper part of the casing and is movable in a substantially vertical direction of the casing, and switches the movement of the operation unit. The present invention is applied to a mouse device including a transmission unit that transmits to a mouse. The switch includes an input unit that receives an operation input by moving the casing along a substantially vertical direction, and the tip of the transmission unit has a shape that allows the input unit to move along the moving direction. By being formed, at least one of the above-described problems is solved.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the mouse | mouth apparatus which can fully pursue the improvement of the user's click feeling accompanying click operation and the improvement of silence can be implement | achieved.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the mouse device to which this invention is applied. It is a partially broken sectional view of the conventional mouse device. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is the D section enlarged view of FIG. It is the G section enlarged view of FIG. It is a partially broken sectional view in the state where K section of Drawing 1 was pushed down. It is BB arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is the E section enlarged view of FIG. It is the H section enlarged view of FIG. It is a partially broken sectional view in the state where L section of Drawing 1 was pushed down. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the F section enlarged view of FIG. It is the I section enlarged view of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part D corresponding to FIG. 2 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a G portion corresponding to FIG. 3 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion E corresponding to FIG. 6 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion H corresponding to FIG. 7 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the F section enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 10 in the mouse device which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion I corresponding to FIG. 11 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a D part corresponding to FIG. 2 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a G portion corresponding to FIG. 3 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion E corresponding to FIG. 6 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion H corresponding to FIG. 7 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion F corresponding to FIG. 10 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a portion I corresponding to FIG. 11 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment)
With reference to FIGS. 14-19, the mouse | mouth apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. 14 is an enlarged view of a portion D corresponding to FIG. 2 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a portion G corresponding to FIG. 3 in the mouse device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view.

  The mouse device M of the present invention including this embodiment differs from the above-described conventional silent mouse device M only in the shapes of the tip portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6, and the other configurations are the conventional silent devices. The type mouse device M is substantially the same. Accordingly, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified.

  The mouse device M of the present embodiment has a shape in which the tip portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 can make point contact with the input portion 4b of the microswitch 4 in a cross section along the moving direction of the operation portions 2 and 3. There is a feature in having. More specifically, as best shown in FIG. 15, the tip portions 5 a and 6 a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are arranged in the vertical direction of the housing 1 (the vertical direction in FIG. 15), that is, the operation portions 2 and 3. It is formed in a shape capable of making point contact with the input portion 4b of the microswitch 4 along a cross section along the vertical direction that is the moving direction.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the tip portions 5 a, 6 a of the transmission portions 5, 6 have a triangular prism shape that is convex downward when viewed in a cross section along the vertical direction of the housing 1. The triangular prism is formed so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the casing 1 (left-right direction in FIG. 14). Therefore, the front end portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are formed in a shape that allows line contact with the input portion 4b.

  Accordingly, when the user presses down the position of the operation unit 2 (part K in FIG. 1) corresponding to the position immediately below the micro switch 4, the operation unit 2 moves downward as shown by the dotted line in FIG. The part 5 also moves downward, and as a result, the input part 4b is moved downward and an operation input is performed.

  At this time, similarly to the conventional silent mouse device M, the operation unit 2 is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction of the housing 1 with the support portion of the housing 1 as a fulcrum. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 16, it moves downward and leftward in FIG. However, since the distal end portion 5a of the transmission portion 5 is formed in a shape capable of line contact with the input portion 4b, the transmission portion 5 moves from the transmission portion 5 to the input portion 4b by moving in the left direction in FIG. 16 is hardly transmitted to the input unit 4b, and only the pressing force is transmitted from the transmitting unit 5 to the input unit 4b in the downward direction of FIG. As a result, the input unit 4b is pressed almost only downward.

  Similarly, when the user depresses a position (L portion in FIG. 1) slightly deviated from directly below the micro switch 4, the operation unit 2 moves downward as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5 also moves downward, and as a result, the input unit 4b is moved downward and an operation input is performed.

  At this time, as with the conventional silent mouse device M, the operation unit 2 is supported in a cantilevered state with respect to the housing 1, so that the transmission unit 5 is shown in the lower part of FIG. 19 (and tilted by 1 degree in the example of FIG. 18), and tilted to the left of FIG. 19 (by 1.62 degrees in the example of FIG. 19) as shown in FIG. However, since the distal end portion 5a of the transmission portion 5 is formed in a shape that allows line contact with the input portion 4b, the transmission portion 5 moves to the left in FIG. 18 from the transmission portion 5 to the input portion 4b. 18 is hardly transmitted to the input unit 4b, and the transmission unit 5 is inclined to the left side of FIG. 19 to move the transmission unit 5 to the input unit 4b to FIG. The pressing force in the right direction is hardly transmitted to the input unit 4b, and only the pressing force is transmitted from the transmitting unit 5 to the input unit 4b in the downward direction in FIG. As a result, the input unit 4b is pressed almost only downward.

  Therefore, according to the mouse device M of the present embodiment, the input unit 4b can be smoothly moved downward along with the operation input by depressing the operation units 2 and 3. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to sufficiently pursue the improvement of the user's click feeling associated with the click operation and the improvement of the silence. Further, the input unit 4b smoothly moves downward and is pressed as intended, and the button does not return after being pressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 is an enlarged view of a portion D corresponding to FIG. 2 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 21 is a portion G corresponding to FIG. 3 in the mouse device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view.

  In the mouse device M of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the distal end portions 5 a and 6 a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are arranged in the vertical direction of the housing 1 (the vertical direction in FIGS. 20 and 21). That is, it is formed in a shape that can be brought into point contact with the input portion 4 b of the microswitch 4 along a cross section along the vertical direction that is the moving direction of the operation portions 2 and 3.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the tip portions 5 a and 6 a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are formed in a hemispherical shape with a convex downward. Therefore, the front end portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are formed in a shape that can make point contact with the input portion 4b.

  Therefore, when the user depresses the position of the operation unit 2 corresponding to the position immediately below the micro switch 4 (K section in FIG. 1), the operation unit 2 moves downward as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. The part 5 also moves downward, and as a result, the input part 4b is moved downward and an operation input is performed.

  At this time, since the operation unit 2 is provided to be swingable in the vertical direction of the housing 1 with the support portion of the housing 1 as a fulcrum, the transmission unit 5 is downward in FIG. 22 as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. Since the tip 5a of the transmission part 5 is formed in a shape that can be point-contacted with the input part 4b, it moves from the transmission part 5 to the left (and inclines only by 1 degree in the example of FIG. 22). Only the pressing force is transmitted to the input unit 4b in the downward direction of FIG. As a result, the input unit 4b is pressed almost only downward.

  Similarly, when the user depresses a position (L portion in FIG. 1) slightly shifted from just below the micro switch 4, the operation unit 2 moves downward as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 5 also moves downward, and as a result, the input unit 4b is moved downward and an operation input is performed.

  At this time, the transmission unit 5 moves downward and leftward in FIG. 24 as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 24 (and inclines only by 1 degree in the example of FIG. 24), and at the left side of FIG. 25 as shown in FIG. 25 (only 1.62 degrees in the example of FIG. 25), but the tip 5a of the transmission part 5 is formed in a shape that can be point-contacted with the input part 4b. Only the pressing force is transmitted to the part 4b in the downward direction of FIG. As a result, the input unit 4b is pressed almost only downward.

  Therefore, also with the mouse device M of the present embodiment, the input unit 4b can be smoothly moved downward along with the operation input by depressing the operation units 2 and 3. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to sufficiently pursue the improvement of the user's click feeling associated with the click operation and the improvement of the silence. Further, the input unit 4b smoothly moves downward and is pressed as intended, and the button does not return after being pressed.

(Modification)
The details of the mouse device of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. As an example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the tip portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 are formed in a shape capable of line contact or point contact with the input portion 4b. If the tip portions 5a and 6a have a shape that can make point contact with the input portion 4b in the cross section along the moving direction of the operation portions 2 and 3, the shape is not particularly limited.

  Furthermore, the tip portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 may be formed in a shape capable of moving the input portion 4b along its moving direction. As an example, the tip portions 5a and 6a of the transmission portions 5 and 6 may be formed as convex portions having a cross shape in plan view when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the input surface 4c of the input portion 4b.

M mouse device 1 housing 2, 3 operation unit 4 micro switch 4b input unit 4c input surface 5, 6 transmission unit 5a, 6a tip

Claims (8)

A hollow casing, a switch arranged in the casing, an operation unit provided on the upper part of the casing and movable in a substantially vertical direction of the casing, and the movement of the operation unit transmitted to the switch In a mouse device comprising a transmission unit that
The switch includes an input unit through which an operation input is performed by its own movement,
The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the transmission unit has a shape capable of making point contact with the input unit in a cross section along a moving direction of the operation unit.   The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein a distal end portion of the transmission portion has a shape that allows line contact with the input portion.   The mouse device according to claim 2, wherein a tip portion of the transmission unit has a shape capable of making point contact with the input unit.   The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is movable in a substantially vertical direction of the housing, and an operation input is performed by the vertical movement.   The operation portion is provided so as to be able to swing in a substantially vertical direction of the housing around a fulcrum provided in the housing, and the transmission portion is provided in a substantially vertical direction of the housing as the operation portion swings. The mouse device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mouse device is swung.   The operation portion is provided so as to be able to swing in a substantially left-right direction of the housing around a fulcrum provided in the housing, and the transmission portion is provided in a substantially left-right direction of the housing as the operation portion swings. The mouse device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the mouse device is swung.   The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit has a substantially flat input surface that can abut on a distal end of the transmission unit. A hollow casing, a switch arranged in the casing, an operation unit provided on the upper part of the casing and movable in a substantially vertical direction of the casing, and the movement of the operation unit transmitted to the switch In a mouse device comprising a transmission unit that
The switch includes an input unit through which operation input is performed by movement of the housing along a substantially vertical direction.
The mouse device according to claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the transmitting portion is formed in a shape capable of moving the input portion along a moving direction thereof.

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