Multifunction floating button
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
a physical button of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different functions;
a coupling which links the button to the housing while permitting the button and any component fixed thereto, to translate on a surface relative to the housing; and
a sensor to provide a proportional indication of the amount of translation of the physical button relative to a defined origin.
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Abstract
A floating button that may be used to replace a plurality of distinct buttons and/or a graphical pointing device. The floating button translates in a region defined by a housing. A sensor detects the location of the button in the region. The locations within the region may be mapped to a plurality of virtual buttons. This permits a button of a size appropriate for comfortable operation by a finger, while allowing the selection of a large number of functions in a space that is only somewhat larger than a single button. The location of the button within its translation region also provides an immediate tactile and visual reference as to the function to be selected.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
a physical button of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different functions;
a coupling which links the button to the housing while permitting the button and any component fixed thereto, to translate on a surface relative to the housing; and
a sensor to provide a proportional indication of the amount of translation of the physical button relative to a defined origin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
a physical button of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different functions;
a coupling which links the button to the housing while permitting the button and any components fixed thereto, to translate on a surface relative to the housing; and
an array of switches to provide an indication of a location of the physical button to a granularity of at least ten positions.
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
a physical button of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger, the physical button to permit the actuation of a plurality of different functions;
a coupling which links the button to the housing while permitting the button to translate on a substantially planar surface relative to the housing;
a sensor to provide a proportional indication of the amount of translation of the physical button relative to a defined origin.
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing;
an array of physical buttons of a size and shape to facilitate manipulation by a finger of a hand of an operator;
a coupling which links each button to the housing while permitting the button, and any components fixed thereto, to translate on a surface relative to the housing; and
a sensor to determine the location of the button wherein the locations of the buttons are mapped to a function of a typewriter keyboard associated a respective finger position.
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Specification