Finger-operated isometric mouse

• US 20030214482A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Changcheng Chen
• Original Assignee: Michael Changcheng Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Michael Changcheng
• Granted Patent: US 7,081,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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

Abstract

A high-performance, compact, finger-operated pointing device comprises a body (34), a base (32), and return members (48). The body has integrated input elements (52). Finger-engaging elements (26) allow operating fingers to move the body and manipulate the integrated input elements simultaneously. Sensors (38) translate the body'"'"'s movement to positional control signals to control positions of a computer controlled target. As an isometric device, the magnitude of the positional control signals is mapped to the moving speed of the target.

Claims

1. An apparatus operated by finger for inputting control commands to a computer system, comprising

a base;

a movable body having a top surface, said top surface being substantially large enough to accommodate said finger;

at least one input element integrated in said body;

a finger-engaging means able to be engaged by said finger so that said finger can apply a force onto said body and to move said body to a first position on a predetermined plane relative to said base, and to operate on said input element integrated in said body, simultaneously;

a returning means for returning said body to a second position relative to said base in the said predetermined plane when said force applied on said body is released; and

a sensing means senses a difference between said first position and said second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said top surface is planar.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said body is a disc.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said finger-engaging means has a dimple structure.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said finger-engaging means has a non-slippery surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said non-slippery surface is a layer of elastic rubber.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a plurality of pressure-sensitive sensors.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sensing means further comprises a rotation-sensitive sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises at least one tablet and at least one stylus-like element which interact with each other when the body is moved between said first position and said second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said returning means is an elastic linkage connecting said body and said base.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said difference between said first position and said second position are separated by a translational component in said predetermined plane.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said difference between said first position and said second position are separated by a rotational component at an axis orthogonal to said predetermined plane.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input element is a button.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said input element is selected from the group consisting of a button, a tablet, a wheel, a pressure-sensing resistor, a pressure-sensing capacitor, a track ball, and a pointing stick.

15. A method for interfacing to a computer system to produce control signals to control a target, comprising:

providing a base and a movable body with at least one input element integrated in said body, where said body is at a first position relative to said base;

providing a finger-engaging means which can be engaged by an operating finger, so said finger can move said body from said first position to a second position and trigger said input element to emit a signal, simultaneously;

utilizing said signal emitted from said input element as a non-positional control signal;

providing a sensing means for sensing a difference from said first position to said second position of said body to produce a positional control signal;

mapping the magnitude of said positional control signal to the speed of a movement of said target;

and

providing a returning means to return said body to said first position.

16. The method of 15 wherein said sensing means is a tablet.

17. The method of 15 wherein said finger-engaging means is a structure with a dimple.

18. The method of 15 wherein said finger-engaging means is a structure with a non-slippery surface.

19. The method of 15 wherein said difference has a translational component in a plane.

20. The method of 19 wherein said difference further has a rotational component at an axis orthogonal to said plane.

21. A method for controlling movements of a computer-controlled target for at least one translational degree of freedom and at least one rotational degree of freedom in an output space, using a first finger and a second finger, comprising:

providing a base;

providing a first element having at least one translational degree of freedom relative to said base;

causing a first movement of said first element over said one translational degree of freedom relative to said base, using said first finger;

sensing said first movement of said first element over said one translational degree of freedom to produce a first channel of signals;

controlling the speed of said movements of said computer-controlled target over said one translational degree of freedom in said output space, using said first channel of signals;

providing a second element integrated in said first element, and having at least one rotational degree of freedom relative to said first element;

causing a second movement of said second element over said one rotational degree of freedom relative to said first element, using said second finger;

sensing said second movement of said second element over said one rotational degree of freedom to produce a second channel of signals; and

controlling said movements of said computer-controlled target over said one rotational degree of freedom in said output space, using said second channel of signals.

22. The method of 21 wherein said output space is a display screen.

23. The method of 21 wherein said first element is a disc.

24. The method of 21 wherein said second element is a ball.

25. The method of 21, further comprising:

integrating a button into said first element; and

providing finger-engaging means for said finger can cause movement of said first element and click said button simultaneously.

26. The method of 25 wherein said finger-engaging means is a button cap.