Multidimensional coordinate signal input apparatus

• US 20020175893A1
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acrox Technologies Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Acrox Technologies Company Limited
• Inventors: Ore-Yang, Steve
• Application Number:
  US10/000,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20020175893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

There is disclosed a multidimensional coordinate signal input apparatus integrable into an input hardware interface for use in a data processing unit. The multidimensional signal input apparatus is operatively configured to provide multidimensional input signals to adjust a cursor address on a display screen of the data processing unit or control the scroll bar movement of an application program running on the data processing unit, and comprises a trackball module which is revolvable in response to an impetus caused by a user, at least two wheels, each of which has a side surface being in contact with the trackball module and revolves with the trackball module for detecting a movement of the trackball module along one axis of a multidimensional coordinate system and generating an input signal along the axis of the multidimensional coordinate system, and a microprocessor for receiving the input signals of the multidimensional coordinate system.

Claims

1. A multidimensional coordinate signal input apparatus integrable into an input hardware interface for use in a data processing unit, said multidimensional signal input apparatus is operatively configured to provide a multidimensional control signal to control a movement of a scroll bar of an application program running on said data processing unit, said multidimensional coordinate signal input apparatus comprising:

a trackball module which is revolvable in response to an impetus caused by a user; and

at least two wheels, each of which has a side surface being in contact with said trackball module and revolves with said trackball module for detecting a movement of said trackball module along one axis of a multidimensional coordinate system and generating said multidimensional control signal along said axis of said multidimensional coordinate system.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trackball module is formed from a marble.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trackball module is formed from a polished refined ball.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trackball module is formed by a resin injection molding process.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trackball module is a semi-optical mechanism.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trackball module is a pure optical mechanism.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said data processing unit is a personal computer.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said data processing unit is an image processing device.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor for receiving said multidimensional control signal of said multidimensional coordinate system.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said input hardware interface is one selected from a group of computer mouse device, a keyboard, a digital camera and a trackball input means.