Input device for a computer

• US 20040211601A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Input Device Development ApS
• Original Assignee: Input Device Development ApS
• Inventors: Allan, Kaczmarek
• Application Number:
  US10/479,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211601A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

By computer work the operator has to move the hand many times a day for placing the cursor correctly on the computer display by means of a pointer tool with consequent possible tensions in wrist, shoulder, neck etc, which can result in the commonly denoted “mouse injuries”. For counteracting said “mouse injuries”, a pointer tool for a computer appears in pad-shape and as a flattish body. A touch-sensitive plate is placed close to the front end of the flattish body for manipulating a cursor on a computer screen. A scroll function and at least two ergonomically suitably shaped pushbuttons are disposed in an ergonomically suitable way on the flattish body around the touch- sensitive plate. Simultaneous manual operation of all functions are enabled with minimal movements of the user'"'"'s fingers. The pointer tool includes an ergonomic wrist support at the rear edge of the flattish body.

Claims

1. A pointer tool for use together with a computer and a screen connected thereto, and where the pointer tool is disposed externally in relation to this on a surface, e.g. a work table, and comprising a first kind of manually operational means which, together with resident software in a computer to which the pointer is connected via an interface, changes the position of a cursor displayed on the screen, and a number of a second kind of manually operational means for executing different operations with computer resident software, and that the pointer tool is in the shape of a pad and appears as a flattish body with relatively great length/width dimensions relative to the thickness of the body, and where the flattish body has a front end and a rear end, and where the first kind of manually operational means is constituted by a touch-sensitive plate are situated close to the front end of the flattish body wherein at least two of the second kind of manually operational means are situated beside and close to the first kind of manually operational means on the flattish body for enabling simultaneous manual operation of the first kind of the manually operational means and the second kind of manually operational means, respectively.

2. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein beside the first kind of operational means and close to this there is a scroll function.

3. A pointer tool according to claim 2, wherein for visualizing a screen display in horizontal as well as vertical direction on a screen connected to the computer, the scroll function is constituted by a four point switch.

4. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein the second kind of manually operational means are constituted by pushbuttons with at least one switch function, or groups of same with an ergonomically suitable shape.

5. A pointer tool according to claim 4, wherein the pushbuttons or the groups of same are constituted by four point switches, typically with a switch function at each end.

6. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein the second kind of manually operational means are detachably attached and embedded displacing in the flattish body.

7. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein it further includes an ergonomically shaped wrist support for placing at the rear end of the flattish body.

8. A pointer tool according to claim 7, wherein the wrist support is attached detachably and can be displaced in parallel with the rear end of the flattish body.

9. A pointer tool according to claim 7, wherein the wrist support includes a top side which is made up of soft rubber or of an individually workable mass.

10. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein the interface used for connecting the pointer tool according to the invention to the computer may be constituted by a traditional cable connection.

11. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein the interface used for connecting the pointer tool according to the invention to the computer is constituted by a wireless connection, e.g. an IR-connection.

12. A pointer tool according to claim 1, wherein a first kind of manually operational means and the second kind of manually operational means and the four point switch of the scroll function may be configured to execute different operations with computer resident software.