An operational input apparatus having an internal input apparatus and an external additional input apparatus wherein the internal data obtained by the operation of the internal input apparatus and the external data obtained by the operation of the external additional input apparatus are selectively transferred to an equipment main body and including: a changeover circuit for changing over the connection to the equipment main body; a data detector for detecting the change in the internal data and the external data separately; an internal data counter and an external data counter which start counting at the detection of the respective changes in the internal and the external data and clear the count values after a predetermined period of time; and a changeover controller which controls a switch to change over periodically and alternately when the count values of the internal data counter and the external data counter are both zero, and when a count value is obtained, controls the switch to change over to the side wherein the count value is obtained.
An ultrasound imaging system having an integrated touch-pad pointing device is provided. The touch-pad pointing device can be used to perform the functions currently performed by a trackball while overcoming the disadvantages commonly associated with trackballs. In addition to being integrated with the ultrasound imaging system, the touch-pad pointing device can also externally interface with the ultrasound imaging system, allowing the touch-pad pointing device to be easily added to existing ultrasound imaging systems that are not integrated with a touch-pad pointing device. Further, the touch-pad pointing device can be located on a remote user-interface device coupled with the ultrasound system to provide the further advantage of physically positioning the touch-pad pointing device closer to the user and away from the ultrasound machine.
