Remote input device for computers

• US 20070268250A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nubron Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nubron Incorporated
• Inventors: Min, Byung
• Application Number:
  US11/711,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement

Abstract

A palm sized input device for computers comprises a first cursor position sensor which is mounted on the underside and may be operated by a finger, typically the index finger or the middle finger, from the underside of the device (hand held mode); a second cursor position sensor which may be operated by sliding said device along a flat surface with one hand like a conventional mouse (mouse mode); a mode switching means to change the mode between the hand held mode and the mouse mode; at least one means, usually the left click mouse button, to accept the current cursor position; and an alphanumeric keyboard mounted on the top surface. In the preferred embodiment, the top mounted alphanumeric keyboard fully integrates most key functions of a standard QWERTY keyboard by placing the alphanumeric and symbol keys in plurality of circular layers substantially following the geometry of the clock face, i.e., 30 degrees apart angularly.

Claims

1. A palm sized input device for computers, comprising:

A first cursor position sensor mounted on the underside and may be operated by a finger, typically the index finger or the middle finger, from the underside of the device (hand held mode),

A second cursor position sensor that may be operated by sliding said device along a flat surface with one hand like a conventional mouse (mouse mode),

at least one mode switching means, to change the mode from the hand held mode to the mouse mode or vice versa, such that in said hand held mode, the cursor moves in the direction of finger movement and in said mouse mode the cursor moves in the direction of hand movement,

at least one means, usually the left click mouse button, to accept the current cursor position,

a first electromagnetic signal generator to operate said first cursor position sensor in accordance with said operation of said first sensor;

a second electromagnetic signal generator to operate said second cursor position sensor in accordance with said operation of said second senor;

a third electromagnetic signal generator to operate said mode switching means in accordance with said operation of said switching means,

a fourth electromagnetic signal generator to operate said click button in accordance with said operation of said click button;

2. A palm sized remote input device for computers of claims 1, wherein

Said mode switching means further comprising:

a fifth signal generator to automatically detect and set the hand held mode when the device is used in the hand held mode and set the mouse mode when the device is used in the mouse mode,

3. A palm sized remote input device for computers of claim 1, wherein

Said first cursor position sensor is of a trackball type,

4. A palm sized remote input device for computers of claim 1, wherein

Said first cursor position sensor is of a touchpad type,

5. A palm sized remote input device for computers of claim 1, wherein

Said first cursor position sensor and said second cursor position sensor are the same, of the trackball type, but operated in dual modes:

(1) by a finger, typically the index finger or the middle finger, from the underside of the device (hand held mode) and (2) by one hand sliding said device along a flat surface like a conventional mouse (mouse mode),

6. A palm sized remote input device for computers of claim 1, further comprising an alphanumeric keyboard mounted on the top surface