| 摘要 |
<p><P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a versatile input device by using one input device both for a handheld trackball and a pen holding type mouse. <P>SOLUTION: The input device includes a rod-shaped case 2 that can be held by the fingers other than the thumb; a ball 3 whose portion other than its hemispherical part is exposed to the outside at a longitudinal end of the case 2 and which is rotated by the thumb when the case 2 is held by the fingers other than the thumb, the ball 3 having on its surface a pattern that can be optically observed; a ball support means 4 for pivotally supporting the ball 3 against the case 2 in such a manner that the ball is rotatable in all directions, the ball support means being movable axially with respect to the case 2; and an optical ball rotation detecting means 17 for detecting the direction and amount of rotation of the ball 3 by moving along the axis of the case 2 integrally with the ball support means 4, and detecting the movement of the pattern on the surface of the ball at the center of the axis of the ball support means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI</p> |
