JP2006134190A - Mouse with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mouse with a camera achieving enhancement of operability. <P>SOLUTION: A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera 30 incorporating a CCD element 32, an optical component 33 in a case 31 is detachably combined, through a locking mechanism 17, with a camera mounting section 13 formed in the housing 5 of a mouse main body. Releasing the locking mechanism 17 removes the CCD camera from the housing 5 of the mouse main body to photograph an object. In this way, the small hand-carried CCD camera is moved at a free angle to photograph the object at the optimum angle. In addition, fixing the removed CCD camera to an appropriate position, for example, allows fix point-shoot for the continuously moving object and conducts an information input operation without a re-setting operation in the course of photographing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mouse that is connected to a personal computer or the like and performs an input operation of information or the like on a monitor screen. More specifically, the present invention includes a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) camera to capture a subject and image information. The present invention relates to a camera-equipped mouse having a function of capturing as a camera.

  The mouse is connected to a personal computer or the like, and moves the cursor or mouse pointer to an appropriate position on the screen of the monitor, or performs an information input operation by specifying a range or the like. The mouse is provided with a position detection mechanism having a trackball and an encoder for detecting the rotation of the trackball in the housing and provided with a click button. By moving the gripping and operating the housing, the position detection mechanism moves the movement direction and the movement amount. Is detected. The mouse moves a cursor on the monitor screen by a position detection signal output from the position detection mechanism, and operates a click button at a predetermined position to input various information corresponding to the screen.

  As a mouse, an optical mouse having a position detection mechanism using infrared rays instead of a trackball is also provided. The optical mouse reduces the weight and enables smooth movement, and increases the efficiency of the internal space of the housing. A mouse needs to have a certain size because it is gripped and used so as to enclose the housing, and a multi-functionality can be achieved by installing appropriate additional functions inside the housing in which the space is made more efficient. It is done.

As a mouse, for example, a mouse with a camera having a function of capturing a suitable subject and capturing it as image information by mounting a small CCD camera is also provided (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). In such a mouse with a camera, for example, a release button provided on the housing of the mouse body is operated in a state where the input mode of the personal computer is set to the camera mode. The camera mouse transmits image information captured by the CCD camera to a personal computer so that the image is displayed on the monitor.
JP 2000-349985 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-23944 JP-A-2003-274261

  By the way, the conventional mouse with a camera has a structure in which the housing of the mouse body also serves as the housing of the CCD camera, and the release button is arranged with the imaging lens facing the appropriate position of the housing. In a conventional mouse with a camera, the focus of the CCD camera is generally fixed, and when photographing a predetermined subject, the mouse body is lifted to determine the CCD camera's imaging lens at an appropriate angle and focus. It was necessary to perform an operation to match and shoot.

  In the conventional mouse with a camera, there is a problem that the cord connected to the personal computer is twisted and the operability is deteriorated due to the operation of determining the shooting angle by appropriately moving the mouse body vertically and horizontally. there were. Further, the conventional mouse with a camera is not suitable for applications such as fixed-point imaging of changes over time of a subject because the camera body is photographed while the mouse body is lifted. Furthermore, with a conventional mouse with a camera, image quality deteriorates due to camera shake, etc., and during the shooting, it is necessary to interrupt the information input operation and move the cursor to the original position in the input mode. There was a problem that efficiency was lowered.

  Therefore, the present invention has been proposed for the purpose of providing a mouse with a camera that improves usability.

  The mouse with a camera according to the present invention that achieves the above-described object performs an information input operation by moving the cursor to an appropriate position on the screen of the monitor, and includes a CCD camera to capture an image of a subject as image information. Has the function to capture. A mouse with a camera is detachably combined with a camera mounting part in which a resin case containing a CCD element and optical components is formed in a housing of a mouse body via a lock mechanism.

  In a mouse with a camera, the CCD camera can be removed from the housing of the mouse body by using a lock mechanism as necessary. In a mouse with a camera, a small CCD camera can be held and moved to any angle, and the subject can be photographed at an optimum angle. In addition, in a mouse with a camera, for example, by fixing a removed CCD camera at an appropriate position, it is possible to take a fixed-point image of a continuously changing subject or to perform an information input operation without performing a resetting operation in the middle of shooting. To be done.

  The mouse with a camera has an elastic locking piece whose locking mechanism is formed by a rectangular piece of an uncut portion formed by forming a substantially U-shaped groove on the side surface of the CCD camera case, and an engagement convex portion is formed on the tip side. And an engagement recess formed on the housing side of the mouse body and engaged with an engagement protrusion of the elastic lock piece. A mouse with a camera is provided with a guide hole made of a through hole formed in the housing of the mouse body so as to face the elastic locking piece on the case side, and an operation portion provided on the outer surface of the housing. And a lock release mechanism configured by the lock release button.

  In a mouse with a camera, the lock release button is operated by pressing the operation unit in a state where the camera mode is set on the personal computer side. In a mouse with a camera, the lock release button presses the elastic lock piece and elastically displaces it, so that the engagement convex portion that is relatively engaged with the engagement concave portion on the housing side is released from the engagement state. It is taken out from the camera mounting part.

  The mouse with a camera is provided with an elastic means for imparting protrusion behavior from the opening by applying an elastic force to the housing of the CCD camera inside the housing. In a mouse with a camera, the CCD camera is pushed out of the opening by the elastic force of the elastic means when the lock release button of the lock release mechanism is operated to release the engagement state between the engagement protrusion and the engagement recess. Thus, it can be easily removed from the camera mounting portion.

  A mouse with a camera is provided with a posture holding portion that holds the CCD camera case in a predetermined posture in a state of being removed from the housing of the mouse body. In a mouse with a camera, it is held stably in an appropriate place via a posture holding unit, and it is possible to stably shoot a subject to obtain a high-quality image. For example, a continuously changing subject It is possible to take fixed-point images.

  A mouse with a camera is provided with a light emitting element for illuminating a subject located on the main imaging surface of the CCD camera facing the imaging section of the CCD camera. In a mouse with a camera, for example, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image by illuminating the subject with sufficient illuminance even when the subject is photographed in close proximity.

  According to the mouse with a camera according to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to easily remove the CCD camera that is detachably combined with the camera mounting portion provided in the housing of the mouse body as needed. In addition to greatly improving usability, it is possible to shoot a subject with an optimal angle and high image quality. According to the camera-equipped mouse, for example, an input operation of information or the like and an image information capturing operation by a CCD camera can be performed simultaneously, and the efficiency of the input operation can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. A mouse with camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a mouse) 1 shown as an embodiment has the same basic configuration and operation as a conventional mouse, and uses a personal computer 2 and, for example, infrared rays as shown in FIG. The wireless data communication system (IrDA: Infrared Data Association) is used for wireless connection to exchange signals. The mouse 1 performs an information input operation by moving a cursor or a mouse pointer to an appropriate position on the monitor screen 3 of the personal computer 2 or specifying a range. The personal computer 2 is provided with an infrared signal transmission / reception unit 4 at an appropriate position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mouse 1 is configured with a housing 5 having a substantially semi-oval shape as a whole by combining a lower half 6 and an upper half 7 made of synthetic resin, and the details are omitted in the housing 5. An optical position detection unit 8 using infrared rays, an infrared transmission / reception unit, a battery for power supply, a power supply circuit (not shown), and the like are incorporated. The mouse 1 has an infrared light incident / exit section located at the substantially central portion of the lower half 6, and the position detection unit 8 reflects the infrared signal emitted from the infrared light incident / exit section and the desk top surface etc. A position detection signal is generated by detecting the phase difference of the infrared signal incident from the incident / exit section, and is transmitted to the personal computer 2.

  The mouse 1 is provided with a left click button 9 and a right click button 10 on the upper half 7 and a scroll dial button 11. The mouse 1 moves the cursor on the monitor screen 3 based on the position detection signal generated by the position detection unit 8 by moving the mouse 1 in four directions on the mouse pad, for example, and at the predetermined position, the left click button 9 (or right) By operating the click button 10 or the scroll dial button 11), various information can be input to the personal computer 2 in correspondence with the screen.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mouse 1 has an infrared signal transmission / reception unit 12 on the first side surface 5A side on the top side of the housing 5 facing the infrared signal transmission / reception unit 4 on the personal computer 2 side in use. Is provided. The mouse 1 transmits and receives position detection signals and control signals between the infrared signal transmission / reception unit 4 and the infrared signal transmission / reception unit 12 by an infrared connection method.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the mouse 1 is formed with a camera mounting portion 13 that opens to the second side surface 5B facing the first side surface 5A of the housing 5. In the mouse 1, a camera holder member 14 made of synthetic resin is assembled in the housing 5 in the camera mounting portion 13, and a CCD camera 30 (described later) is detachably combined with the camera holder member 14. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the camera holder member 14 is formed in a bottomed rectangular tube shape, and is assembled to the housing 5 with the opening portion facing outward via the camera mounting portion 13. Yes.

  The camera holder member 14 accommodates the CCD camera 30 in the internal space 14A so as to be slidable in the axial direction as will be described later. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera holder member 14 is integrally formed with a first slide guide convex portion 15A and a second slide guide convex portion 15B over the entire inner wall facing each other in the internal space 14A. A third slide guide convex portion 15C is also integrally formed on the wall.

  The camera holder member 14 guides the CCD camera 30 to slide in the inner space 14A in a stable state by the first slide guide convex portion 15A to the third slide guide convex portion 15C. The camera holder member 14 is formed with a first engagement recess 16A and a second engagement recess 16B, respectively, located on the inner side of the first slide guide protrusion 15A and the second slide guide protrusion 15B. Yes. The first engagement recess 16A and the second engagement recess 16B constitute a lock mechanism 17 that holds the CCD camera 30 in the camera holder member 14 as will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the camera holder member 14 houses a coil spring 18 in the internal space 14A. The coil spring 18 accumulates an elastic force in a state where the CCD camera 30 is mounted in the holder member 14 and biases the CCD camera 30 in a direction to push the CCD camera 30 outward from the camera mounting portion 13. The camera holder member 14 may be provided with an appropriate elastic member such as a leaf spring instead of the coil spring 18 as a member for pushing the CCD camera 30 outward from the camera mounting portion 13. The camera holder member 14 may be provided with a camera push-out mechanism constituted by a pressing plate and elastic means, instead of the structure in which the coil spring 18 directly presses the CCD camera 30.

  In addition, although the mouse 1 was assembled | attached to the housing 5 with the camera holder member 14 formed with another member, it is not limited to this structure. For example, the mouse 1 includes a camera mounting portion 13 that integrally forms a half-tubular portion on the lower half 6 and the upper half 7 and combines them together to form a rectangular tube shape equivalent to the camera holder member 14. You may make it comprise.

  The mouse 1 is provided with a lock release mechanism 19 that enables the CCD camera 30 to be taken out of the housing 5 by releasing the lock mechanism 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the unlocking mechanism 19 includes a first guide hole 20A and a second guide hole 20B that are opened on both sides of the outer periphery of the housing 5, and the first guide hole 20A and the second guide hole 20B, respectively. The third guide hole 21A and the fourth guide hole 21B formed in the camera holder member 14 through the inner space 14A with the axes aligned, and the first guide hole 20A, the second guide hole 20B, and the third guide hole The first lock release button 22A and the second lock release button 22B are slidably combined with each other in the 21A and the fourth guide hole 21B.

  The lock release mechanism 19 is configured such that the first lock release button 22 </ b> A has one end facing outward from the opening of the first guide hole 20 </ b> A to constitute the operation unit 22 </ b> A <b> 1, and the other end is the camera holder member 14. Facing the internal space 14 </ b> A, it is abutted against the case 31 of the CCD camera 30 to constitute the operating portion 22 </ b> A <b> 2. Similarly, the lock release mechanism 19 is configured such that the second lock release button 22B has one end faced outward from the opening of the second guide hole 20B to constitute the operation portion 22B1, and the other end portion is a camera holder member. 14 faces the internal space 14 </ b> A and is abutted against the case 31 of the CCD camera 30 to constitute the operating portion 22 </ b> B <b> 2.

  The lock release mechanism 19 is a coil spring in which an elastic force in a direction protruding from the first guide hole 20A or the second guide hole 20B is applied to the first lock release button 22A and the second lock release button 22B, for example, although not shown. Are provided on the outer peripheral portion and provided with a stopper convex portion that abuts against the inner surface of the housing 5. With this configuration, the lock release mechanism 19 is configured so that the first lock release button 22A and the second lock release button 22B configure the operation portions 22A1 and 22B1 substantially in the same plane as the housing 5 as shown in FIG. It is configured to be positioned and prevent erroneous operation.

  The first unlocking button 22A and the second unlocking button 22B are configured so that the respective operation portions 22A1 and 22B1 are substantially flush with the housing 5 in order to prevent erroneous operation. It is not limited. Since the first unlocking button 22A and the second unlocking button 22B are pressed simultaneously to release the lock mechanism 17, the respective operation portions 22A1 and 22B1 may slightly protrude from the surface of the housing 5. .

  In the mouse 1, a CCD camera 30 is detachably combined with the camera mounting portion 13 described above. The CCD camera 30 is configured by housing a CCD element 32, an optical component 33, a substrate 34 on which an electronic signal conversion circuit IC, etc., which are not described in detail, are housed in a resin case 31. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the CCD camera 30 has a case 31 formed in a substantially rectangular box shape that is substantially the same shape as the internal space 14 </ b> A of the camera holder member 14.

  In the case 31, a lens barrel portion 31B is formed on the front surface 31A so that the imaging lens of the optical component 33 faces outward. The case 31 includes a first slide guide concave portion 35A and a second slide guide concave portion 35A, which are respectively engaged with the first slide guide convex portion 15A and the second slide guide convex portion 15B formed on the inner wall of the camera holder member 14 on both side surfaces. A slide guide recess 35B is formed. The case 31 has a third slide guide concave portion 35 </ b> C that is relatively engaged with a third slide guide convex portion 15 </ b> C formed on the bottom surface of the camera holder member 14 on the bottom surface.

  The mouse 1 is formed with slide guide convex portions 15A to 15C on the camera holder member 14 side and slide guide concave portions 35A to 35C on the case 31 side of the CCD camera 30 so that the CCD camera 30 slides in a stable state. Although configured to operate, it is not limited to such a structure. The mouse 1 may form a slide guide concave portion on the camera holder member 14 side and a slide guide convex portion on the CCD camera 30 side.

  In the case 31, a first elastic lock piece 36A is formed in the first slide guide recess 35A, and a second elastic lock piece 36B is formed in the second slide guide recess 35B. The first elastic lock piece 36A and the second elastic lock piece 36B are arranged together with the first engagement recess 16A and the second engagement recess 16B on the camera holder member 14 side to place the CCD camera 30 in the camera mounting portion 13. The lock mechanism 17 is held. Since the first elastic lock piece 36A and the second elastic lock piece 36B have symmetrical shapes, a description will be given below with reference to the configuration of the second elastic lock piece 36B shown in FIG.

  The elastic lock piece 36 forms a notch groove 37 having a substantially reverse U shape from the front side to the rear side in the slide guide recess 35, and the front side left uncut by the notch groove 37 is fixed. It is comprised by the cantilevered rectangular piece of the front-back direction used as an edge. The elastic lock piece 36 is elastically displaceable in the thickness direction on the free end side, and an engagement convex portion 38 that is engaged with the engagement concave portion 16 formed on the outer side of the camera holder member 14 is integrally projected. Has been. Note that the first engagement protrusion 38A and the second engagement protrusion 38B described above are integrally protruded from the first elastic lock piece 36A and the second elastic lock piece 36B, respectively.

  The CCD camera 30 is held by the lock mechanism 17 in the camera mounting portion 13 by including the case 31 configured as described above. The CCD camera 30 is mounted in the internal space 14A of the camera holder member 14, and the first engagement protrusion 38A and the first engagement protrusion 38B of the first elastic lock piece 36A and the second elastic lock piece 36B. Are engaged with the first engaging recess 16A and the second engaging recess 16B. In this state, the CCD camera 30 is given a protrusion behavior from the camera mounting portion 13 by the case 31 compressing the coil spring 18. As shown in FIG. 5, the CCD camera 30 is held by the camera holder member 14 with the lens barrel portion 31 </ b> B slightly protruding from the surface of the housing 5.

  The CCD camera 30 is removed from the housing 5 by being unlocked by the lock mechanism 17 described above by the lock release mechanism 18. The unlock mechanism 18 includes a first elastic lock piece 36A and a first elastic lock piece 36A in which the first lock release button 22A and the second lock release button 22B are opposed to the respective operating portions 22A2 and 22B2, as shown in FIGS. 2 While being abutted against the side surface of the elastic lock piece 36 </ b> B, the operation portions 22 </ b> A <b> 1 and 22 </ b> B <b> 1 constitute substantially the same surface as the surface of the housing 5.

  When the first unlocking button 22A and the second unlocking button 22B are operated to press the respective operation units 22A1 and 22B1 by an appropriate jig, the unlocking mechanism 18 is actuated as shown in FIG. The first elastic lock piece 36A and the second elastic lock piece 36B are pressed by 22A2 and 22B2 and bent inward as indicated by a chain line in the figure to release the locked state of the CCD camera 30.

  In the CCD camera 30, the first engagement projection 38A and the first engagement projection 38B of the first elastic lock piece 36A and the second elastic lock piece 36B are opposed to each other by the unlocking operation by the lock release mechanism 18 described above. The engagement state between the first engagement recess 16 </ b> A and the second engagement recess 16 </ b> B is released, and the first engagement recess 16 </ b> B is protruded from the camera mounting portion 13 by the elastic force of the coil spring 18. The CCD camera 30 holds the case 31 and removes it from the housing 5 so that the subject is imaged from an appropriate angle.

  In the CCD camera 30, by forming the third slide guide recess 35C on the bottom surface of the case 31, a pair of protrusions 39A and 39B are formed on both sides of the third slide guide recess 35C. The CCD camera 30 can identify the vertical direction in a state of being removed from the housing 5 by the convex portions 39A and 39B, and can be held in a stable posture while being placed on a desk or the like. Acts as The CCD camera 30 can obtain a highly accurate image without camera shake by being held in a fixed posture, and can, for example, shoot a continuously changing subject at a fixed point. The CCD camera 30 may be provided with a clip mechanism or the like, for example, in order to hold it in a stable state after being removed from the housing 5.

  The CCD camera 30 is provided with a light emitting element 40 on the front surface 31A of the case 31 on which the lens barrel portion 31B is formed. The CCD camera 30 illuminates the subject with the light emitting element 40, thereby enabling photographing with sufficient illuminance even when the subject is removed from the housing 5 and photographed at a short distance. The CCD camera 30 may be provided with a plurality of light emitting elements 40 on the front surface 31 </ b> A of the case 31.

  As described above, the mouse 1 exchanges various control signals and information between the personal computer 2 and the infrared signal transmission / reception units 4 and 12 provided mutually by the wireless data communication method (IrDA) using infrared rays. Is called. The mouse 1 can also shoot a subject by removing the CCD camera 30 from the housing 5 as described above. For this reason, in the mouse 1, as shown in FIG. 7, image information taken by the CCD camera 30 and control signals are also exchanged wirelessly with the CCD camera 30 by a wireless data communication method using infrared rays. Like that.

  The mouse 1 is provided with an infrared signal transmission / reception unit 23 on the side surface of the housing 5 where the camera mounting unit 13 is provided. The CCD camera 30 is provided with an infrared signal transmission / reception unit (not shown) on the back side. In this case, the CCD camera 30 includes an infrared signal transmitting / receiving unit compliant with the IrDA standard, a rechargeable secondary battery, a power supply circuit, and the like in the case 30. Further, the CCD camera 30 is provided with a connector on the back surface, for example, and connected to the connector provided on the camera holder member 14 side in the state of being housed in the housing 5 so that the subject can be photographed even with the mouse 1. To be

  As shown in FIG. 8, the mouse 1 is connected to the personal computer 2 by a USB cable 24, and various control signals and information are exchanged or power is supplied. The mouse 1 may be configured such that a CCD camera 30 is connected by a cord 25 so that image information taken and control signals are exchanged. Since the mouse 1 is detachable from the CCD camera 30, the mouse 1 is provided with a cord winding mechanism 26 that draws the cord 25 to a predetermined length and draws it into the housing 5 after use.

  The cord winding mechanism 26 is not described in detail because it is widely used, for example, as a mechanism for taking in and out an earphone cord of a portable audio device. For example, the cord winding mechanism 26 is rotatably supported by the housing 5 and winds the cord 25 around the outer periphery. A drum to be taken, elastic means for giving the drum 25 rotation behavior in the winding direction of the cord 25, and a stopper mechanism or stopper mechanism for stopping the drum at a predetermined position to release the drum by the elastic force of the elastic means. It is comprised by the stopper release mechanism etc. which are returned to.

  In the mouse 1, when the lock state is released by the lock release mechanism 19 and the CCD camera 30 is pulled out from the housing 5, the cord 25 is pulled out from the cord winding mechanism 26. The cord 25 is drawn into the CCD camera 30 from the back side of the case 31 and connected to the substrate 34. In the mouse 1, the stopper release mechanism of the cord winding mechanism 26 is operated when the CCD camera 30 is remounted on the housing 5 due to the end of photographing or the like. In the mouse 1, the cord 25 is wound up by the cord winding mechanism 26 until the CCD camera 30 hits the opening of the camera mounting portion 13.

  In the mouse 1, the CCD camera 30 removed from the housing 5 is engaged with the slide guide convex portions 15A, 15B, and 15C that are opposed to the slide guide concave portions 35A, 35B, and 35C from the rear side, thereby mounting the camera mounting portion. 13 is pushed into the internal space 14 </ b> A of the camera holder member 14. In the mouse 1, the CCD camera 30 slides in the camera holder member 14 in a stable state, and the inner surfaces of the slide guide convex portions 15A and 15B are slid in a state where the elastic lock pieces 36A and 36B are slightly elastically displaced. Rub. In the mouse 1, the engagement convex portions 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B are engaged with the engagement concave portions 16 </ b> A and 16 </ b> B, respectively, so that the CCD camera 30 is held in a locked state. In the mouse 1, the cord 25 is wound by the cord winding mechanism 26 as the CCD camera 30 slides.

  The mouse 1 is provided with a release button (not shown) for performing a photographing operation of the CCD camera 30 on the housing 5, for example. As for the release button, for example, normal information input may be canceled while the camera mode is set, and the left click button 9 and the right click button 10 may also be used. Of course, the release button may also be provided on the CCD camera 30 side.

  In addition, the mouse 1 may be provided with a light emitting element in the housing 5 to optically display the state set to the camera mode. The mouse 1 may include a position detection mechanism having a mouse ball and an encoder instead of the optical position detection unit 8.

It is a perspective view which shows the mouse | mouth with a camera and personal computer shown as embodiment. It is a partially cutaway side view of a mouse with a camera. It is a partially cutaway front view of a mouse with a camera. It is a principal part front view which shows the state which mounted | wore the holder member with the CCD camera. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which mounted | wore the holder member with the CCD camera. It is explanatory drawing of the lock release operation | movement of a CCD camera. It is a side view of the mouse | mouth with a camera which connects a personal computer and a CCD camera with a code | cord | chord. It is a side view of the mouse | mouth with a camera which connects a personal computer and a CCD camera by radio | wireless.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mouse 2 Personal computer 5 Housing 8 Position detection unit 9 Left click button 10 Right click button 13 Camera mounting part 14 Camera holder member 15 Slide guide convex part 16 Engaging concave part 17 Lock mechanism 18 Coil spring 19 Unlock mechanism 22 Unlock button 25 Code 26 Code winding mechanism 30 CCD camera 31 Case 32 CCD element 33 Optical component 34 Substrate 35 Slide guide recess 36 Elastic lock piece 37 Notch groove 38 Engaging projection 39 Posture holding projection 40 Light emitting element

Claims (7)

An information input operation is performed by moving a cursor to an appropriate position on a monitor screen, and a CCD camera is provided with a CCD camera, and has a function of capturing an image of a subject and taking it as image information. And a resin case containing the optical parts are combined with the camera mounting part formed in the housing of the mouse body through a locking mechanism so as to be detachable.
A mouse with a camera, wherein the mouse is detached from the housing of the mouse body by releasing the lock mechanism. An elastic lock piece having a substantially U-shaped groove formed in a side surface of the case of the CCD camera and formed by a rectangular piece of an uncut portion and having an engagement protrusion formed on the tip side, and the housing of the mouse body The lock mechanism formed by an engagement recess formed on the side and the engagement projection of the elastic lock piece is relatively engaged;
A guide hole formed of a through hole formed in the housing so as to face the elastic lock piece, and a lock release button that is slidably assembled in the guide hole and provided with an operation portion on the outer surface of the housing. An unlocking mechanism,
The CCD camera is taken out from the camera mounting portion by pressing the elastic lock piece with the lock release button to release the engagement state between the engagement convex portion and the engagement concave portion. Item 2. A mouse with a camera according to Item 1. Inside the housing, there is provided elastic means for imparting protrusion behavior from the camera mounting portion by applying an elastic force to the casing of the CCD camera,
When the unlocking button of the unlocking mechanism is operated to release the engagement state between the engaging convex portion and the engaging concave portion, the CCD camera mounting portion is moved by the elastic force of the elastic means. The mouse with a camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mouse is pushed out of the camera.   4. The posture holding portion that holds the CCD camera in a predetermined posture in a state of being removed from the housing of the mouse body is provided. 5. Mouse with camera.   The light emitting element which illuminates a to-be-photographed object is provided in the case of the said CCD camera in the imaging main surface which faced the imaging part of the said CCD camera, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. A mouse with a camera according to Item.   6. The mouse with a camera according to claim 1, wherein the CCD camera is connected to the mouse body via a cord winding mechanism provided in the housing. . 6. The mouse with a camera according to claim 1, wherein the CCD camera is wirelessly connected to the mouse body through an infrared wireless communication system.

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