System and method for automatically establishing handedness settings of mouse-like input device

• US 20060038780A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mese, John Carl, Weksler, Arnold S., Waltermann, Rod David
• Application Number:
  US10/922,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0336 Mouse integrated fingerprint sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

Handedness settings for a mouse-like point and click input device are automatically established based on signals that are generated when a user rests his hand on the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at least one signal from at least one mouse-like input device of a computer, the signal being generated when a user makes resting tactile contact with the input device; and

based at least in part on the signal, automatically establishing at least one handedness setting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mouse-like input device includes at least two buttons, and the handedness settings are established for the buttons based on a signal that is generated when a user makes resting tactile contact with the mouse-like input device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mouse-like input device is selected from the group consisting of mice, trackballs, and joysticks.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the mouse-like input device includes an input device housing and plural pressure sensors supported in the housing, the sensors generating signals when a user rests a hand on the housing, the signals being used by a processor to establish handedness settings.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the processor is in the housing, and the processor defines button identities to a computer based on the signals from the pressure sensors.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the processor is in a computer communicating with the mouse-like input device, and the processor assigns at least one function to each button based on the signals from the pressure sensors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mouse-like input device includes at least one fingerprint reader for use in correlating a fingerprint image from the reader to a left finger or right finger to establish the handedness setting.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the mouse-like input device includes an input device housing and a cursor positioning wheel on the housing, at least some signals from the cursor-positioning wheel being used to establish the handedness setting.

9. A computer input system for inputting signals to a computer housing holding at least one processor, comprising:

a mouse-like housing;

a mouse-like pointing device on the mouse-like housing;

at least two click elements on the mouse-like housing; and

plural pressure sensors on the mouse-like housing for generating signals when a user rests a hand on the housing, the signals being useful for automatically establishing respective functions for the click element.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the mouse-like pointing device is selected from the group consisting of mice, trackballs, and joysticks.

11. The system of claim 9, comprising a processor in the mouse-like housing, the processor defining button identities to a computer based on the signals from the pressure sensors.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein a processor is in a computer communicating with the mouse-like device, and the processor assigns at least one function to each button based on the signals from the pressure sensors.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the mouse-like housing supports at least one fingerprint reader for use in correlating a fingerprint image from the reader to a left finger or right finger to establish the handedness setting.

14. A mouse-like input device including at least one fingerprint reader useful for correlating a fingerprint image from the reader to a left finger or right finger to establish at least one handedness setting for the input device.

15. A service, comprising:

receiving a fingerprint signal generated from at least one mouse-like input device; and

returning to a user computer associated with the mouse-like input device a signal representing “

left”

or “

right”

to facilitate establishing handedness settings for click elements associated with the mouse-like input device.

16. A computer program device executable by a processor, the program device embodying means for automatically establishing at least one handedness setting for a mouse-like input device based at least in part on at least one signal that is generated when a user makes tactile contact with the mouse-like input device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the mouse-like input device has plural pressure sensors generating signals at least when a user rests a hand on the device, the signals being used by the means for automatically establishing.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the mouse-like input device includes a fingerprint reader outputting signals useful to the means for automatically establishing.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the mouse-like input device includes a cursor positioning wheel outputting signals useful to the means for automatically establishing.

20. A computer wrist rest comprising a wrist rest body and plural pressure sensors disposed in the body and outputting signals representative of a user resting a portion of the user'"'"'s body on the wrist rest, the signals being useful in determining handedness.

21. The wrist rest of claim 20, further comprising a processor receiving the signals and establishing functions of at least two click elements in response thereto.

22. The wrist rest of claim 21, wherein the click elements are on a mouse-like input device.

23. A computer input system for inputting signals to a computer housing holding at least one processor, comprising:

a mouse-like housing;

at least two click elements on the mouse-like housing; and

a cursor positioning element on the mouse-like housing and generating signals useful by a processor for automatically establishing respective functions for the click element.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is in the housing.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is in the computer.