Abstract: In an input device capable of reliably detecting, when an operator brings an operating body close to or into contact with an operation plane, absolute position information irrespective of a contact area size, third electrode arrays are disposed closer to the operation plane relative to second electrode arrays in a normal direction of the operation plane, the second electrode arrays have a portion protruding from the corresponding third electrode arrays when viewed in the normal direction, and assuming that a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between first and third electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C1 and a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between the first and second electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C2, a position of the operating body in the normal direction is calculated based on a ratio ?C1/?C2.

Abstract: In an input device capable of reliably detecting, when an operator brings an operating body close to or into contact with an operation plane, absolute position information irrespective of a contact area size, third electrode arrays are disposed closer to the operation plane relative to second electrode arrays in a normal direction of the operation plane, the second electrode arrays have a portion protruding from the corresponding third electrode arrays when viewed in the normal direction, and assuming that a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between first and third electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C1 and a change amount of electrostatic capacitance between the first and second electrode arrays occurred by an operation of the operating body is denoted by ?C2, a position of the operating body in the normal direction is calculated based on a ratio ?C1/?C2.

Abstract: A touch pad with an antenna includes an electrode, control means for detecting proximity and a proximate position of an object on the basis of a change in capacitance which is associated with the proximity of the object to the electrode, an antenna, and antenna driving means for supplying power to the antenna. When the proximity of the object is not detected, the control means controls driving of the antenna driving means to set an output of the antenna to an output during ordinary driving. When the proximity of the object is detected, the control means controls driving of the antenna driving means to attenuate the output of the antenna with respect to the output during ordinary driving or to set the output of the antenna to zero.

Abstract: An input processing device includes an input pad; a detector which detects a position of an indicating object coming into contact with the input pad; and a processor which controls a display state of an image displayed on a display on the basis of an input signal obtained from the detector, wherein an input surface of the input pad is provided with a detection region for detecting a specific input operation, and wherein when the processor receives the input signal corresponding to the specific input operation given from the indicating object onto the detection region, the processor rotates the image.

Abstract: An input device includes a coordinate input member which has a predetermined area and detects a position touched with an indicator, and a detection member which detects that the coordinate input member has been pressed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an input device capable of decreasing the number of layers of a detecting portion to reduce manufacturing costs and easily deforming layers provided above a pressure sensitive detecting portion. A capacitance-type detecting portion that detects the contact position of a finger on the basis of a variation in capacitance is provided on a pressure sensitive detecting portion that includes a lower detection layer formed on a lower base sheet and an upper detection layer formed on an upper base sheet. A voltage is applied to the pressure sensitive detecting portion and the capacitance-type detecting portion such that the application times of the voltages do not overlap each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent interference between the detection operations of the two detecting portions.

Abstract: In order to turn on the main power unit, when it is off, of a computer in a turned-off state from a keyboard, power is supplied from an auxiliary power unit to a USB controller on the keyboard unit side and a power supply startup unit on the computer side, and on the other hand when power supply to a line switching unit is cut off, switching sections are switched over to connect signal lines of the USB controller and input terminals of a differential amplifying unit, respectively. When a specific signal is supplied from the keyboard unit, a power supply startup signal (power ON signal) is supplied from the power supply startup unit to the main power unit to enable the main power unit to be started up.

Abstract: In detecting units for detecting the rotating operation of a ball, respective photoemitters serving as light sources are intermittently driven to emit light and respective photodetectors receive the light. A control unit recognizes a moving speed in the X-axial direction and that in the Y-axial direction from detection signals obtained by the detecting units. In the control operation of the control unit, when an increase in operating speed is detected, a light emitting period of each of the photoemitters is reduced. When a decrease in operating speed is detected, the light emitting period of each photoemitter is extended.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning on a computer power supply in which when an input operation of a predetermined key is carried out, predetermined H signals are output to a first signal line and a second signal line of a USB chip provided in a keyboard. Since this signal combination is not a USB standard signal combination, they can be distinguished from ordinary data signals. Since a wake-up device which has received these signals outputs predetermined start-up signals to a main power supply, the main power supply can be turned on. When the main power supply is turned on, connections of a first relay contact and a second relay contact of a switching device switch are switched, whereby first signal lines and second signals between the host computer and a keyboard are connected together, making it possible to carry out communication using the signals. By virtue of this structure, it is possible to start up the host computer whose main power supply is in an off state by operating the keyboard.

Abstract: In detecting units for detecting the rotating operation of a ball, respective photoemitters serving as light sources are intermittently driven to emit light and respective photodetectors receive the light. A control unit recognizes a moving speed in the X-axial direction and that in the Y-axial direction from detection signals obtained by the detecting units. In the control operation of the control unit, when an increase in operating speed is detected, a light emitting period of each of the photoemitters is reduced. When a decrease in operating speed is detected, the light emitting period of each photoemitter is extended.

Abstract: A wireless keyboard, provided with an optical signal transmitter, includes an inputting function to an information processing device and a control function of an electrical appliance. The wireless keyboard includes a plurality of manufacturer codes for selectively performing optical control of a specific electrical appliance of a specific manufacturer. The electrical appliance is controlled by selecting a specific manufacturer code from the manufacturer codes and transmitting the specific manufacturer code. It is preferable that the wireless keyboard includes an abbreviation symbol corresponding to each manufacturer code. The manufacturer code is selected by inputting the abbreviation symbol.

Abstract: In order to turn on the main power unit, when it is off, of a computer in a turned-off state from a keyboard, power is supplied from an auxiliary power unit to a USB controller on the keyboard unit side and a power supply startup unit on the computer side, and on the other hand when power supply to a line switching unit is cut off, switching sections are switched over to connect signal lines of the USB controller and input terminals of a differential amplifying unit, respectively. When a specific signal is supplied from the keyboard unit, a power supply startup signal (power ON signal) is supplied from the power supply startup unit to the main power unit to enable the main power unit to be started up.

Abstract: An optical detecting apparatus designed to reduce the time taken to stabilize the operation after a moment at which a power supply for the apparatus is turned on, as well as to limit the power consumption in a standby state. Three operating modes: a normal mode, an intermittent mode, and a precharge mode are changed by controlling two switches sw-Led and sw-Ref. In the normal mode, both the switches sw-Led and sw-Ref are maintained in the on state and the circuit of the invention is used for the same operation as the conventional circuit. In the intermittent mode, for the purpose of achieving low power consumption in the standby state, both the switches sw-Led and sw-Ref are turned on and off at a predetermined on-off ratio to make the circuit operate in an intermittent manner (that is, by turning on and off light emitting diodes at a predetermined on-off ratio).

Abstract: When the ball of a mouse is rotated, an up/down counter outputs a count N according to the direction of rotation and the amount of rotation. A controller compresses the count N to seven-bit data according to a conversion table. The controller also attaches L-button data indicating the state of the L button of the mouse to the most significant bit of the compressed seven-bit data. Then, the controller changes the bit positions of the eight-bit data, and reverses each bit value. The eight-bit data to be transferred has been thus completed. The controller sends bit by bit in series the data from a lower bit to a signal processing unit.

Abstract: A circuit board comprises: a plurality of solder lands, a wiring pattern having a plurality of wiring lines connected to the solder lands, respectively, an output terminal formed at one end of each of the wiring lines of the wiring pattern, an integrated control circuit connected to the solder lands, and a grounding pattern to be held at a ground potential. The grounding pattern has grounding lines formed between the adjacent wiring lines of the wiring pattern, respectively, so as to be coupled to the wiring lines by capacitive coupling.

Abstract: A keyboard for reducing the power consumption of the controller when scanning the keys in the key matrix and/or transmitting the key codes of operated keys. The operation mode of the keyboard is switched from the normal mode to the stop mode to stop the operation of the clock signal generator and the operation of the controller including the generation of a scan signal for the key matrix when all keys arranged in the key matrix are held in the key-off state for longer than a predetermined period of time, for example five seconds, after any of the keys has been operated or when any of the keys in the key matrix has been keyed on and held in the key-on state for longer than a predetermined period of time, for example 60 seconds.

Abstract: A signal processing system which can perform cable transmission or optical transmission of data at the time of data transmission between a keyboard (1) and a signal processing unit to thereby has flexibility of data transmission. This signal processing system is composed of the keyboard (1), the signal processing unit and a receiving adapter unit. Further, the keyboard (1) consists of: a key matrix (6); a control portion (6) for outputting switch data corresponding to an operated key; a data transmitting portion (9) for outputting switch data through a cable (4); an optical data transmitting portion (10) for performing optical transmission of switch data; and a power supply (11).

Abstract: An operation inputting apparatus is disclosed by which, even if a load detection output remains after an operation of a stick type operation member is stopped by an operator, a load detection output which coincides with stopping of the operation of the stick type operation member can be obtained. A pressure detection sensor detects a load force applied to the stick type operation member upon operation of the stick type operation member, and a comparison circuit compares a load detection value obtained from the pressure detection sensor with a preset load value. A timer circuit adjusts a count value in response to a result of the comparison and detects the count value equal to zero to produce a zero detection output. A judgment level production section sets two judgment levels for presence or absence of an output in response to the zero detection output.

Abstract: A keyboard for lowering the power consumption for key code transmission and enhancing the reliability in code transmission. When key codes corresponding to an operated key in the laid out keys are transmitted to a signal processing unit, a status code indicating whether a function key (Shift, Control or Alt key) has been operated is also transmitted at the same time, transmitting no key-on repeat code that is obtained when one key is operated continuously as with a conventional keyboard.

Abstract: An operation inputting apparatus is disclosed by which, even if a load detection output remains after an operation of a stick type operation member is stopped by an operator, a load detection output which coincides with stopping of the operation of the stick type operation member can be obtained. A pressure detection sensor detects a load force applied to the stick type operation member upon operation of the stick type operation member, and a comparison circuit compares a load detection value obtained from the pressure detection sensor with a preset load value. A timer circuit adjusts a count value in response to a result of the comparison and detects the count value equal to zero to produce a zero detection output. A judgment level production section sets two judgment levels for presence or absence of an output in response to the zero detection output.