Computer mouse input device with multi-axis palm control

• US 20030058219A1
• Filed: 09/14/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen W. Shaw
• Original Assignee: Stephen W. Shaw
• Inventors: Shaw, Stephen W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,727,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A computer mouse-type transducer has a conventional mouse sensor and mouse functionality. In addition, a joystick is mounted on the mouse and activated by a palm controlled treadle conjoined to the mouse via a ball and socket joint. The treadle may be pitched, rolled and, optionally, rotated, with each movement being transduced into a separately interpretable electrical signal. The mouse may include a suspension spring urging the treadle to an unloaded height. Depression of the treadle may be transduced by a switch to change modes of functionality. The mouse may have conventional mouse buttons or may be provided with rocker type buttons that can assume three states.

Claims

1. A transducer apparatus operable on a supporting surface for converting the motion of appendages of an operator into electrical signals interpretable by an electronic signal processing device, comprising:

a base member;

a mouse sensor mounted on said base member, said mouse sensor transducing motion of said base member substantially parallel to and relative to a supporting surface into a first electrical signal; and

a joystick coupled to said base member and displaceable to a predetermined extent from a rest position, said joystick generating a second electrical signal in response to its displacement from said rest position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a treadle for receiving a hand of a user thereon and moveably coupled to said base member, said treadle being moveable in a plurality of directions, said joystick being coupled to said treadle and being displaced in direction and extent proportionally to the movement of said treadle relative to said base member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the movement of said treadle relative to said base member is at least partially guided by a ball and socket joint interposed between said treadle and said base member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said ball and socket joint enables said treadle to move relative to said base member by pitching forward and back and rolling right and left.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a resilient member urging said treadle to a rest position corresponding to said rest position of said joystick.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said treadle is rotatable about an axis of said joystick and further including a transducer for converting the rotation of said treadle into a third electrical signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said ball and socket joint includes a first ball member attached to said base member, a first socket member attached to said treadle and an intermediate member disposed between said first ball member and said first socket member and having a socket surface approximating the curvature of said first ball member and a ball surface approximating the curvature of said first socket member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said ball and socket joint has guide members for limiting the range of motion of said treadle relative to said base member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first ball member includes a spheric section having a terminal edge, said base member having a generally annular surface for supporting said terminal edge and allowing said spheric section to be rotated relative to said base member.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said guide members include at least one projection from a surface of said first ball member, at least one mating slot in said intermediate member for receiving said at least one projection of said first ball member, at least one projection from a surface of said intermediate member, and at least one mating slot on a surface of said socket for receiving said at least one projection of said intermediate member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said at least one projection of said intermediate member and said at least one slot in said intermediate member are disposed at approximately 90 degrees relative to each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said intermediate member mechanically conjoins said treadle and said first ball member to transmit rotation of said treadle about the axis of said joystick to said first ball member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further including at least one mode switch for controlling the output of at least one of said first, second and third electrical signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said treadle, in a rest position, has a resiliently maintained clearance relative to said intermediate member, said clearance permitting said treadle to be pressed downward toward said intermediate member to activate said at least one mode switch.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said treadle has a bushing extending therefrom towards said joystick, said bushing receiving an input shaft of said joystick rotatably therein.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said resilient member is generally cylindrical in shape, said ball and socket joint being disposed approximately centrally within said resilient member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said resilient member is a coil spring.

18. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said resilient member includes a plurality of counteracting resilient members.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said plurality of resilient members extend between and attach at the ends thereof to said treadle and said base member.

20. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said treadle has at least one button thereon for producing a corresponding electrical signal.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said at least one button is a rocker button having at least three distinct positions.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said at least one button includes a plurality of rocker buttons, each of which has at least three positions.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said rocker button has tactile indicia on a surface thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rest position of said joystick is substantially central to the range of motion of said joystick, said joystick being displaceable from said rest position in four directions approximately 90°

apart from each other.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said joystick is displaceable at all intermediate headings between the four directions.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic signal processing device is a computer.

27. A computer input device for generating a computer interpretable electromagnetic signal in response to operator induced movements of the input device, comprising:

a base member;

mouse means for converting motion of the input device in X and Y directions over a reference surface into a first portion of said computer interpretable electromagnetic signal, said mouse means attached to said base member;

joystick means attached to said base member and resiliently displaceable from a rest position to a plurality of displacement positions, said joystick means converting displacement of said joystick means into a second portion of said computer interpretable electromagnetic signal; and

treadle means for supporting an appendage of an operator and moveable in response to appendage movements, said treadle means being coupled to said joystick means such that movements of said treadle means displaces said joystick means.

28. The computer input device of claim 27, further including button means operable by an appendage of a user, said button means selectively depressable to generate a third portion of said computer interpretable electromagnetic signal.

29. A computer mouse, comprising:

a base member;

a mouse sensor coupled to said base member for sensing displacements of the mouse over a support surface;

a joystick sensor coupled to said base member and having an input shaft, said input shaft pivotable about a point such that an end thereof distal to said point traverses a portion of a sphere; and

a treadle for receiving contact of an appendage of a user and coupled to said base member by a ball and socket joint, said treadle displaceable by a user from a rest position resiliently established by at least one resilient member, said treadle having a range of motion approximating a spheric portion similar to that traversed by a distal end of said input shaft.

30. The computer mouse of claim 29, further including a plurality of rocker switches coupled to said treadle and having three distinguishable positions.

31. The computer mouse of claim 29, wherein movement of said treadle controls scrolling on a computer screen.