Ergonomic pointing device
First Claim
1. A data input device comprising:
- a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer, and a communication link, said housing comprising;
a. an upper surface adapted to support a user'"'"'s palm; and
b. a lower surface, said lower surface comprising two planar regions that intersect at an angle of between about 120° and
175°
.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An input device for a computer is described that positions the user'"'"'s hand in a more ergonomically desirable position, i.e., at an angle of about 45° to the work surface. In preferred embodiments, the input device accommodates either a user'"'"'s left or right hand, and in either case, positions the hand in an ergonomically desirable position. In another embodiment, the length of the input device of the present invention is adjusted for the size of the user'"'"'s hand. In further embodiments, the input device of the present invention provides a palm rest. Other desirable features included in preferred embodiments include lateral buttons that are positioned one above the other.
75 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A data input device comprising:
a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer, and a communication link, said housing comprising;
a. an upper surface adapted to support a user'"'"'s palm; and
b. a lower surface, said lower surface comprising two planar regions that intersect at an angle of between about 120° and
175°
.- 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. A data input device comprising:
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a. a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer and a communication link, said housing comprising a chamber at one end; and
b. a movable body having a projection adapted to slide within said chamber in said housing while frictionally engaging an inner surface in said chamber, said projection being between about zero and four inches in length. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A data input device comprising:
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a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer, and a communication link, said housing comprising;
a. a first end having two switch operating buttons; and
b. a side having two switch operating buttons positioned one above the other. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A data input device housing comprising:
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a. an upper part having a mound region, a button region, and a shelf region, said shelf region being distal to said button region; and
b. a lower part having two planar regions that intersect at an angle of between about 120° and
175°
. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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35. An X-Y input device, which is moved on a surface to an intended position to sense relative X and Y coordinates of the position and output corresponding signals to a central processor, having a body casing including a bottom member, said bottom member comprising at least two planes and a nadir region, wherein the planes form an angle of between about 60°
- and 170°
.
- and 170°
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36. A data input device comprising:
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a. a main body having a head section and a tail section, said head section and tail section being articulatably interconnected;
b. control elements including cursor control means and one or more switches, said cursor control means and one or more switches being mounted in association with the main body;
c. electronic circuitry electrically connected to said control elements, said electronic circuitry including means for generating input signals corresponding to manipulations of the control elements;
d. signal transmission means, for transmitting the input signals to a computer; and
e. an electrical power source.
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37. A data input device comprising:
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a. a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer, and a communication link, said housing comprising i. an upper surface adapted to support a user'"'"'s palm;
ii. a lower surface, said lower surface comprising two planar regions that intersect at an angle of between about 120° and
175°
;
iii. a first end having two switch operating buttons;
iv. a side having two switch operating buttons positioned one above the other;
v. a scroll device; and
vi. a chamber at one end of said housing; and
b. a movable body having a projection adapted to slide within said chamber in said housing while frictionally engaging an inner surface in said chamber, said projection being up to about four inches in length. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A data input device comprising:
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a housing enclosing, in operative connection, a motion detector, a motion detector transducer, and a communication link, said housing comprising;
a. an upper surface adapted to support a user'"'"'s palm;
b. a lower surface; and
c. a tilt wall attached perpendicularly to said lower surface extending lengthwise along at least a portion of said lower surface. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification