UNIVERSAL INPUT DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20080143670A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Vayda
• Original Assignee: Mark Vayda
• Inventors: VAYDA, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,279,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0234 using switches operable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

The present invention relates to input devices and particularly to input devices for use with computer and telecommunications systems and/or other object systems and/or devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal input device for inputting data.

Claims

1. A computer-accessible medium encoded with computer program code effective to perform the following:

display on a computer device a selection graphic comprising a plurality of input choices, wherein the computer device also displays an image associated with an open application and the selection graphic does not conceal an interactive portion of the image;

receive from a user input device a first signal associated with a selected location within the selection graphic;

provide an indication of the selected location on the selection graphic;

receive from the user input device a second signal indicating a selected input choice within the selected location;

process the first and second signals; and

provide a third signal indicating the selected input choice for performing a function associated with the selected input choice.

2. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input choices are displayed within rows and columns in the selection graphic.

3. The computer-accessible medium of claim 2, wherein the rows and columns of input choices comprise a three dimensional matrix of rows and columns of input choices.

4. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, further effective to:

receive a fourth signal indicating that the function associated with the selected input choice was performed; and

display the selection graphic in a different location in relation to the image, wherein the selection graphic in the different location does not conceal an interactive portion of the image.

5. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the input choices comprise characters and performing the function associated with the selected input choice comprises displaying the selected character.

6. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the input choices comprise applications and performing the function associated with the selected input choice comprises executing the selected application.

7. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the input choices are displayed as icons.

8. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the selection graphic is displayed as translucent over the image.

9. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the selection graphic may be moved or removed in response to a user input.

10. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the input choices are customizable in response to a user input.

11. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, further effective to:

display a teaching graphic comprising a hand image and at least one input choice.

12. The computer-accessible medium of claim 11, wherein the teaching graphic is removed after receiving a predetermined number of signals from the user input device.

13. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, further effective to:

display on the computer device a grid selection graphic comprising a plurality of selection graphic choices, wherein the grid selection graphic does not conceal an interactive portion of the image;

receive from the user input device a fourth signal associated with a selected graphic choice within the grid selection graphic;

process the fourth signal; and

replace the selection graphic with a selection graphic associated with the selected grid selection choice.

14. The computer-accessible medium of claim 1, wherein the image appears on a first display and the selection graphic is displayed on a second display.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying on a computer device a selection graphic comprising a plurality of input choices, wherein the computer device also displays an image associated with an open application and the selection graphic does not conceal an interactive portion of the image;

receiving from a user input device a first signal associated with a selected location within the selection graphic;

providing an indication of the selected location on the selection graphic;

receiving from the user input device a second signal indicating a selected input choice within the selected location;

processing the first and second signals; and

providing a third signal indicating the selected input choice for performing a function associated with the selected input choice.

16. An input device for generating signals indicating input requests by a user, the device comprising:

a base portion;

a control portion;

a plurality of input means disposed on the control portion for permitting a user to input a request;

a universal connection means for connecting the control portion to the base portion and for permitting a user to move the control portion universally with respect to the base portion;

a signal generating means, operatively connected to the plurality of input means and the universal connection means, for generating a first plurality of signals indicating a position of the control portion and for generating a second plurality of signals indicating user data input requests; and

an output means for providing output signals each associated with the first plurality of signals, second plurality of signals, and relative position of the input device.

17. The input device of claim 16, further comprising mode selection means for operating the input device in a character selection mode or a cursor movement mode.

18. The input device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of input means comprises a plurality of keys disposed on the control portion such that each finger of a user'"'"'s hand rests on a key.

19. The input device of claim 16, further comprising an input display means disposed on the surface of the input device for displaying a selected value associated with a position of the control portion and a user input data request.

20. The input device of claim 19, wherein the input display means further comprises means for displaying multiple blocks of selectable values each associated with a position of the control portion and a user input data request.

21. The input device of claim 16, further comprising a support means for supporting the user arm during operation of the input device.

22. The input device of claim 16, further comprising a securing means for securing the user hand in relation to the control portion and plurality of input means during operation of the input device.

23. The input device of claim 16, wherein the control portion comprises a sensor to detect movement of the control portion with respect to the base portion and the signal generating means is operably connected to the sensor.

24. The input device of claim 23, wherein the control portion is positioned on the base portion to permit the heel of the user input hand to be positioned over the control portion.

25. An input device for generating signals indicating input requests by a user, the device comprising:

a base portion having a top surface;

a plurality of input means disposed on the top surface for permitting a user to input a request;

a motion sensing means for detecting three dimensional movement of the input device and generating an electrical signal associated with the three dimensional movement;

a signal generating means, operatively connected to the plurality of input means and the motion sensing means, for generating a first plurality of signals indicating a three dimensional position of the input device and for generating a second plurality of signals indicating user data input requests; and

output means for providing an output signal associated with the first plurality of signals and the second plurality of signals.