DIGIT-OPERATED INPUT DEVICE

• US 20070201932A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael Rong
• Original Assignee: Michael Rong
• Inventors: Rong, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/457,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/489
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves

Abstract

A digit-operated input device used for entering data into an electronic device includes: a dragging line, a digit locator, a press sensor, and a control unit. One end of the dragging line is connected to a user'"'"'s digit while the other end is connected to the digit locator, which outputs a position signal when the position of the digit is detected through the dragging of the dragging line. The press sensor detects a pressing motion of the digit and then outputs a press signal. The control unit is connected to the digit locator and the press sensor to integrate the positional signal and the press signal and to output the same to the electronic device.

Claims

1. A digit-operated input device for entering data into an electronic device, comprising:

a dragging line physically connected to a digit of a user at one end;

a digit locator physically connected to the other end of the dragging line, for outputting a position signal after detecting the position of the digit through the dragging of the dragging line;

a press sensor for outputting a press signal after detecting a pressing motion of the digit; and

a control unit connected to the digit locator and the press sensor via signals, for integrating the position signal and the press signal and outputting an integrated signal to the electronic device.

2. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, wherein the press sensor is a pressure sensor and is provided at a pressing face of the digit to detect the pressing motion of the digit.

3. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 2, wherein the dragging line is a signal transmission line for the press signal.

4. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 2, further comprising:

a wireless radio communication module connected to the press sensor via signals, for wirelessly transmitting the press signal to the control unit.

5. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, wherein the press sensor is an acceleration sensor and is provided at one end of the dragging line to detect an acceleration change of the digit and to determine whether the user has executed the pressing motion.

6. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 5, wherein the acceleration sensor is provided at the end of the dragging line other than the end to which the digit locator is connected.

7. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, wherein the digit locator comprises:

a base with a coordinate generator provided therein; and

a driven component physically connected to the dragging line and capable of being freely assembled with and disassembled from the base, wherein the driven component moves along to a displacement of the digit and the coordinate generator generates the position signal by detecting the amount of movement made by the driven component.

8. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 7, wherein the digit locator further comprises a distance sensor for detecting the displacement of the digit, and the distance sensor in conjunction with the coordinate generator locates the position of the digit to generate the position signal.

9. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 7, wherein the base is provided in the electronic device.

10. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 7, further comprising:

a support, in which the base is provided, the support having a communication interface to connect to the electronic device via signals.

11. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a line winder connected to one end of the dragging line, for giving a tension to the dragging line to convey the movement of the digit to the digit locator.

12. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 11, further comprising:

a tension controller connected to the line winder, for controlling the line winder to keep the tension of the dragging line within a set-value range.

13. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 12, wherein the tension controller loosens the tension of the dragging line in idle state and tightens the tension of the dragging line to the set-value range in working state.

14. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a digit accessory connected to the end of the dragging line to which the digit is connected, wherein the digit is physically connected to the dragging line by wearing the digit accessory thereon.

15. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 14, wherein the digit accessory is electromagnetically connected to the dragging line;

when in idle state, the control unit cuts off electric power to remove the magnetic force to disconnect the digit accessory and the dragging line, and when in working state, the control unit turns on electric power to restore the magnetic force to reconnect the digit accessory and the dragging line.

16. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a computer, a personal digital assistant, a mobile telephone, or an electronic musical instrument.

17. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, which provides a virtual keyboard and the user can set the position, size, and spacing of keys on the keyboard.

18. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, which provides a virtual pointing device, wherein multiple digits of the user correspondingly represent multiple pointing devices to respectively control multiple objects in the electronic device.

19. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, which provides a virtual keyboard and a virtual pointing device, wherein by a predetermined action of the digit, the user can switch over from using the keyboard to the pointing device and vice versa.

20. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, wherein an included angle greater than 0°

is between the dragging line and its projection on a digit-pressed plane.

21. The digit-operated input device as described in claim 1, wherein the control unit is a programmable integrated circuit.