Apparatus for generating exact vertical or horizontal motion-with a dual-axis input device

• US 20060181507A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kulczar, David, Saenz, Leonel III, Tran, Thanh K.
• Application Number:
  US11/060,604
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A user of a two-axis input device has the capability to automatically construct a vertical or horizontal line. The input device has a mechanical means that the user can implement to inhibit inputs submitted from either the X-axis or the Y-axis to the computer. As a result, the computer only receives inputs from the axis in the direction for which the user desires to draw the straight line.

Claims

1. A dual-axis input device connected to a computing source for generating exact vertical or horizontal motion as desired by a user comprising:

a component that generates X-axis information in the input device in response to movement of the input device by the user;

a component that generates Y-axis information in the input device in response to movement of the input device by the user;

a transmitting mechanism that transmits X-axis and Y-axis information to the computing source; and

an axis inhibitor capable of selectively inhibiting information from one of the X or Y axis and thereby transmitting information from only one of the X or Y axis.

2. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said axis inhibitor is a multiple position switch.

3. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said axis inhibitor has the capability to inhibit power form a power source to a selected axis information-generating component.

4. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said X-axis information generating component, said Y-axis generating component, said transmitting mechanism and said axis information inhibitor are incorporated into a computer mouse input device.

5. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said X-axis information generating component, said Y-axis generating component, said transmitting mechanism and said axis information inhibitor are incorporated into a joystick input device.

6. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said X-axis information generating component, said Y-axis generating component, said transmitting mechanism and said axis information inhibitor are incorporated into a track ball input device.

7. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said X-axis information generating component, said Y-axis generating component, said transmitting mechanism and said axis information inhibitor are incorporated wobble plate input device.

8. The device as described in claim 4 wherein the computer mouse input device is an optical mouse input device.

9. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said inhibitor has the capability to shield light transmitting axis information emitted from a selected axis such that the light carrying information does not reach the computing source.

10. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said axis inhibitor further comprises a button on the device for selecting the X-axis or Y-axis information.

11. The device as described in claim 1 wherein said axis inhibitor further comprises a plurality of buttons on the input device for selecting the X-axis or Y-axis to inhibit.