Method and apparatus for a hybrid pointing device used with a data processing system

• US 20040041787A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: T-Rac International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: T-Rac International Incorporated
• Inventors: Graves, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US10/230,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs 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 system and method for combining the benefits of various isometric and/or anisometric mechanisms into a single pointing device are disclosed. The present invention relates to a hybrid pointing device, having a primary pointing device mechanism, such as a trackball, touch pad, or joystick, positioned conveniently on the housing of a base anisometric or isometric pointing device, such as a mouse, trackball, touch pad, or joystick, which function as a secondary pointing device mechanism. The hybrid pointing device performs different or identical functions within the context of, for example, gaming software, thus, in one embodiment combining the accuracy of the mouse with the functionality of joysticks.

Claims

1. An anisometric pointing device for manipulating a visual interface of a data processing system comprising:

a housing including a plurality of surfaces defined on the housing including at least one surface selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface;

a plurality of control mechanisms including a first anisometric mechanism for generating a first control signal; and

at least a second anisometric mechanism for generating at least a second control signal; and

a communication means for transmitting at least one of the first and the at least a second control signals to the data processing system.

2. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism are different mechanisms.

3. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism manipulate different perspectives within the visual interface of the data processing system.

4. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism manipulate perspectives for different elements within the visual interface of the data processing system.

5. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is a mouse;

and wherein the plurality of control mechanisms further includes at least a second anisometric mechanism selected from the group consisting of an analog joystick, a digital joystick, and a touch pad.

6. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is a trackball-roller.

7. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

8. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is at least one of an analog joystick and a digital joystick;

and wherein the plurality of surfaces further includes;

a topmost surface and at least one upper side surface.

9. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is a mouse.

10. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is a trackball-roller.

11. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

12. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is at least one of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

13. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism may be manipulated by a single hand of a user.

14. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the communication means is a cable.

15. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the communication means is a wireless interface.

16. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first control signal and the at least a second control signal are in a USB format.

17. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is connected to the at least one side surface of the housing.

18. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is connected to the top surface of the housing.

19. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism may be moved to actuate a switch.

20. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate full range of motion for the at least a second anisometric mechanism.

21. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate use of the plurality of control mechanisms.

22. The anisometric pointing device of claim 1 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal are combined into an integrated control signal.

23. The anisometric pointing device of claim 22 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal lose their individuality.

24. A method for manipulating a visual interface of a data processing system with an anisometric pointing device comprising the steps of:

using a first anisometric mechanism to generate a first control signal;

using at least a second anisometric mechanism to generate at least a second control signal; and

using a communication means to transmit at least one of the first and the at least a second control signals to the data processing system.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism are different mechanisms.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism manipulate different perspectives within the visual interface of the data processing system.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism and the at least a second anisometric mechanism are used to manipulate perspectives of different elements within the visual interface of the data processing system.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is a mouse;

and wherein the anisometric pointing device further includes at least a second anisometric mechanism selected from the group consisting of an analog joystick, a digital joystick, and a touch pad.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is a trackball-roller.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the first anisometric mechanism is at least one of an analog joystick and a digital joystick;

and wherein the anisometric pointing device further includes a housing having plurality of surfaces with the surfaces selected from the group consisting of a topmost surface and at least one upper side surface.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is a mouse.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is a trackballroller.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

35. The method of claim 24 wherein the anisometric pointing device further includes at least a second anisometric mechanism selected from the group consisting of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the using an anisometric mechanism and the using at least a second anisometric mechanism steps are executed with a single hand of a user.

37. The method of claim 24 wherein the communication means is a cable.

38. The method of claim 24 wherein the communication means is a wireless interface.

39. The method of claim 24 wherein at least one of the first control signal and the at least a second control signal is in a USB format.

40. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is connected to at least one side surface of the housing.

41. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least a second anisometric mechanism is connected to a top surface of the housing.

42. The method of claim 24 further including the step of moving the at least a second anisometric mechanism to actuate a switch.

43. The method of claim 24 further including the step of combining the first control signal and the at least a second control signal into an integrated control signal.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal lose their individuality.

45. An anisometric pointing device for manipulating a visual interface of a data processing system comprising:

a housing including a plurality of surfaces defined as the housing including at least one surface selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface;

a plurality of control mechanisms including;

an anisometric mechanism for generating a first control signal, wherein the anisometric mechanism is not a mouse; and

at least one isometric mechanism for generating at least a second control signal; and

a communication means for transmitting at least one of the first and the at least a second control signals to the data processing system.

46. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the anisometric mechanism and the at least one isometric mechanism manipulate different perspectives within the visual interface of the data processing system.

47. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the anisometric mechanism and the at least one isometric mechanism manipulate perspectives of different elements within the visual interface of the data processing system.

48. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the anisometric mechanism is a trackball-roller.

49. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

50. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the plurality of control mechanisms further includes anisometric mechanism selected from the group consisting of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

51. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the at least one isometric mechanism is at least one of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

52. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the anisometric mechanism and the at least one isometric mechanism may be manipulated with a single hand of a user.

53. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the communication means is a cable.

54. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the communication means is a wireless interface.

55. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein at least one of the first control signal and the at least a second control signal are in a USB format.

56. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the at least one isometric mechanism is connected to one of the plurality of surfaces of the housing.

57. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the at least one isometric mechanism may be moved to actuate a switch.

58. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate a full range of motion for the at least one isometric mechanism.

59. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate use of the plurality of control mechanisms.

60. The anisometric pointing device of claim 45 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal are combined into an integrated control signal.

61. The anisometric pointing device of claim 60 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal lose their individuality.

62. A method for manipulating a visual interface of a data processing system with an anisometric pointing device comprising the steps of:

using an anisometric mechanism to generate a first control signal, wherein the anisometric mechanism is not a mouse;

using at least one isometric mechanism to generate at least a second control signal; and

using a communication means to transmit at least one of the first and the at least a second control signals to the data processing system.

63. The method of claim 62 wherein the anisometric mechanism and the at least one isometric mechanism manipulate different perspectives within the visual interface of the data processing system.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein the anisometric mechanism and the at least one isometric mechanism manipulate perspectives of different elements within the visual interface of the data processing system.

65. The method of claim 62 wherein the anisometric mechanism is a trackball-roller.

66. The method of claim 62 wherein the anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

67. The method of claim 62 wherein the anisometric mechanism is at least one of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

68. The method of claim 62 wherein the anisometric pointing device further includes at least one isometric mechanism selected from the group consisting of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

69. The method of claim 62 wherein the using an anisometric mechanism and the using at least one isometric mechanism steps are executed with a single hand of a user.

70. The method of claim 62 wherein the communication means is a cable.

71. The method of claim 62 wherein the communication means is a wireless interface.

72. The method of claim 62 wherein at least one of the first control signal and the at least a second control signal is in a USB format.

73. The method of claim 62 wherein the at least one isometric mechanism is connected to one of the plurality of surfaces of the housing.

74. The method of claim 62 further including the step of moving at least one isometric mechanism to actuate a switch.

75. The method of claim 62 further including the step of combining the first control signal and the at least a second control signal into an integrated control signal.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal lose their individuality.

77. An isometric pointing device for manipulating a visual interface of a data processing system comprising:

a housing including a plurality of surfaces defined on the housing further including at least two surfaces selected from the group consisting of a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface;

a plurality of control mechanisms including an isometric mechanism for generating a first control signal,

wherein the isometric mechanism has a topmost surface and at least one upper side surface; and

at least one anisometric mechanism for generating at least a second control signal;

wherein the isometric mechanism and the at least one anisometric mechanism may be manipulated with a single hand of a user; and

a communication means for simultaneously transmitting the first and second control signals to the data processing system.

78. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the isometric mechanism and the at least one anisometric mechanism manipulate different perspectives within the visual interface of the data processing system.

79. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the isometric mechanism and the at least one anisometric mechanism manipulate perspectives of different elements within the visual interface of the data processing system.

80. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the isometric mechanism is an analog joystick.

81. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the isometric mechanism is a digital joystick.

82. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is a mouse.

83. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is a trackball-roller.

84. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

85. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is at least one of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

86. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the isometric mechanism and the at least one anisometric mechanism may be manipulated with a single hand of a user.

87. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the communication means is a cable.

88. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the communication means is a wireless interface.

89. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein at least one of the first control signal and the at least a second control signal is in a USB format.

90. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is connected to at least one of the topmost surface and the at least one upper side surface of the isometric mechanism.

91. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism may be moved to actuate a switch.

92. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate full range of motion for the at least a second anisometric mechanism.

93. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the housing is configured to facilitate use of the plurality of control mechanisms.

94. The isometric pointing device of claim 77 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal are combined into an integrated control signal.

95. The isometric pointing device of claim 94 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal lose their individuality.

96. A method for manipulating a visual interface of a data processing system with an isometric pointing device comprising the steps of:

using an isometric mechanism to generate a first control signal;

using at least one anisometric mechanism to generate at least a second control signal; and

using a communication means to transmit the first and the at least a second control signals to the data processing system.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the isometric mechanism and the at least one anisometric mechanism manipulate different perspectives within the visual interface of the data processing system.

98. The method of claim 96 wherein the isometric mechanism and the at least one anisometric mechanism manipulate perspectives of different elements within the visual interface of the data processing system.

99. The method of claim 96 wherein the isometric mechanism is an analog joystick.

100. The method of claim 96 wherein the isometric mechanism is a digital joystick.

101. The method of claim 96 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is a mouse.

102. The method of claim 96 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is a trackballroller.

103. The method of claim 96 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is a touch pad.

104. The method of claim 96 wherein the isometric pointing device further includes at least one anisometric mechanism selected from the group consisting of an analog joystick and a digital joystick.

105. The method of claim 96 wherein the using an anisometric mechanism and the using at least one isometric mechanism steps are executed with a single hand of a user.

106. The method of claim 96 wherein the communication means is a cable.

107. The method of claim 96 wherein the communication means is a wireless interface.

108. The method of claim 96 wherein at least one of the first control signal and the at least a second control signal is in a USB format.

109. The method of claim 96 wherein the at least one anisometric mechanism is connected to at least one of a topmost surface and at least one upper side surface of the isometric mechanism.

110. The method of claim 96 further including the step of moving at least one anisometric mechanism to actuate a switch.

111. The method of claim 96 further including the step of combining the first control signal and the at least a second control signal into an integrated control signal.

112. The method of claim 111 wherein the first control signal and the at least a second control signal lose their individuality.