Portable information input apparatus
View Patent ↗An input apparatus allowing the improved operability of data entry without noticeable volume changes of a portable device itself and further allowing easy entry of a positional coordinate, a curve, and the like is disclosed. The input apparatus is detachably coupled to the portable device and is provided with a coordinate information generator for generating coordinate information depending on a movement on a flat surface to control a position of a cursor on a display of the portable device. Therefore, the input apparatus is removed from the portable device and the singly input apparatus can output coordinate information to the portable device by sliding it on a desk. The input apparatus preferably incorporates a battery for supplying power to the portable device when the input apparatus is coupled to the portable device.
1. An input apparatus for inputting information to an information processing device provided with a display, the input apparatus comprising:
a coupling mechanism for detachably coupling the input apparatus to a predetermined portion formed in the information processing device;
a coordinate information generator for generating, when said input apparatus is removed from said information processing apparatus by detaching same using said coupling mechanism, coordinate information in accordance with a movement of the input apparatus on a flat surface to control a position of a cursor on the display of the information processing device;
a cable for electrically connecting the input apparatus to the information processing device; and
a battery accommodating portion for accommodating a battery that supplies power to the information processing device when the input apparatus is coupled to the predetermined portion of the information processing device by the coupling mechanism.
2. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing apparatus is a portable telephone.
3. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an electric contact portion for electrically connecting the battery to the information processing device when the input apparatus is coupled to the predetermined portion of the information processing device by the coupling mechanism.
4. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cable is allowed to be pulled out from a rewinding mechanism provided in the information processing device when the input apparatus is removed from the predetermined portion of the information processing device.
5. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector connected to one end of the cable, for detachably connecting the input apparatus to the information processing device through the cable; and
a cable accommodating space formed in the input apparatus, for accommodating the cable with the connector therein.
6. The input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least two buttons functioning as right-click and left-click buttons of a mouse when the input apparatus is separated from the predetermined portion of the information processing device and functioning as right cursor and left cursor keys when the input apparatus is coupled to the predetermined portion of the information processing device by the coupling mechanism.
7. The input apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a keypad including a ten-key pad.
8. An input apparatus for inputting information to an information processing device provided with a display, the input apparatus comprising:
a coupling mechanism for detachably coupling the input apparatus to a predetermined portion formed in the information processing device;
a coordinate information generator for generating coordinate information in accordance with a movement of the input apparatus on a flat surface to control a position of a cursor on the display of the information processing device;
a cable for electrically connecting the input apparatus to the information processing device;
a battery accommodating portion for accommodating a battery that supplies power to the information processing device when the input apparatus is coupled to the predetermined portion of the information processing device by the coupling mechanism; and
an electric contact portion for electrically connecting the battery to the information processing device when the input apparatus is coupled to the predetermined portion of the information processing device by the coupling mechanism;
wherein the information processing device includes a secondary battery, which is charged by the battery of the input apparatus when the input apparatus is coupled to the predetermined portion of the information processing device by the coupling mechanism.
9. A portable telephone apparatus comprising:
a display;
an input device for inputting coordinate information to the portable telephone apparatus to control a position of a cursor on the display, the coordinate information varying depending on a movement of the input device on a flat surface;
a coupling mechanism for detachably coupling the input device to a handset of the portable telephone apparatus;
a battery accommodating portion for accommodating a battery that supplies power to the portable telephone apparatus when the input device is coupled to the handset of the portable telephone apparatus by the coupling mechanism;
a secondary battery, which is charged by the battery of the input device when the input device is coupled to the handset of the portable telephone apparatus by the coupling mechanism; and
wherein the input device has a first electric contact portion and the handset of the portable telephone apparatus has a second electric contact portion, wherein the first and second electric contact portions are electrically connected to each other when the input device is coupled to the handset by the coupling mechanism.