Apparatus for convenient and comfortable cursor control device

• US 20030142077A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: David M. Lilenfeld
• Inventors: Lilenfeld, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,744,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a cursor control device to be used in conjunction with a computer, receiver or other processing unit that allows for convenient and comfortable use while being hand held or while resting on the desk top. The cursor control device being comprised of a body with a shape for fitting in a user hand so a user can operate the cursor control device in hand held and desk top uses. The body also being comprised of a cursor control, at least one button, and having a control circuit inside the body which is connected to at least one button and the cursor control. The device further having a communication link connectable between said control circuit and a processing unit.

Claims

1. A cursor control device comprising:

a body with a shape for fitting in a user hand so a user can operate said cursor control device in desk-top and off the desk-top manners;

a cursor control on said body;

at least one button on said body;

a control circuit inside said body connected to said at least one button and said cursor control; and

a communication link connectable between said control circuit and a processing unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said cursor control and said at least one button are positioned such that a first digit of the user rests on said cursor control and a second digit of the user rests on said at least one button when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said cursor control and said at least one button are positioned such that a finger of the user rests on said cursor control and a thumb of the user rests on said at least one button when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said cursor control and said at least one button are positioned such that a thumb of the user rests on said cursor control and a finger of the user rests on said at least one button when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said cursor control is positioned at about a front corner of said body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one button is comprised of a left button and a right button.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication link is an electric cable.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication link further comprises a transparent shade for transmitting radio frequency energy.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said communication link further comprises a transparent shade for transmitting infrared energy.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a scroll wheel disposed near said at least one button.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said cursor control is positioned at about a front corner of said body such that a thumb of the user rests on said cursor control and a finger of the user rests on said at least one button when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said cursor control is positioned at the forward center of said body such that when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners, a finger of the user rests on said cursor control and a thumb of the user rests on said at least one button.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a swell to fit a palm of a user when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one groove positioned on the side of said body such that the an ulnar finger of the user rest in said groove.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said the cursor control is at about a front corner of said body and the distance from said cursor control to the bottom edge of said body is about equal to the length of the thumb of the average user.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the width of said body is less than the width of the hand of the average user.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a self upon which the thumb of the user may rest.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said body is a malleable material.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

electronic circuitry for sending data to a laptop computer when said body is housed in said laptop computer.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one button occupies the frontal curvature of said body.