Hand Activated Input Device with Horizontal Control Surface
First Claim
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1. A hand responsive device for controlling a cursor on a computer screen comprising:
- a contacting surface to be activated by multiple fingers of an open hand;
a shaft supporting the contacting surface;
a biaxial device supporting the shaft permitting angular movement of the shaft in the contacting surface so that the contacting surface angularly tips in any direction in response to pressure from the multiple fingers of the open hand;
sensors responsive to the movement of the shaft for converting the angular movement into electrical signals; and
logic circuit for translating the X and Y components into digital signals to move the cursor on the computer screen.
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Abstract
A cursor control device horizontally positioned operating surface is mounted on a vertical shaft connected to a biaxial joint which is enclosed in the base of the device. The hand of the operator rests on the operating surface and tips it in any direction so the shaft follows the movement of his/her hand. The motion is interpreted as X and Y coordinates on a computer display screen. The coordinate information is digitized and sent to the main computer to display a cursor on the display screen.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hand responsive device for controlling a cursor on a computer screen comprising:
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a contacting surface to be activated by multiple fingers of an open hand; a shaft supporting the contacting surface; a biaxial device supporting the shaft permitting angular movement of the shaft in the contacting surface so that the contacting surface angularly tips in any direction in response to pressure from the multiple fingers of the open hand; sensors responsive to the movement of the shaft for converting the angular movement into electrical signals; and logic circuit for translating the X and Y components into digital signals to move the cursor on the computer screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for movement of a cursor across the surface of a computer screen comprising the steps of:
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having a tipable plate for contact by multiple fingers of an open hand resting face down on a substantially flat surface for movement of the plate in angular motion around a tipping point for the plate; providing for sensing of the angular motion of the plate around its tipping point and converting the angular motion to orthogonal data components; and converting the orthogonal data to digital data for interpretation of the cursor movement on the computer screen.
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16. A user operated cursor control device comprising:
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a) a base; b) a horizontal control surface upon which the user may rest his hand palm down while operating the device; c) a vertical control shaft upon which the horizontal control surface is mounted; d) a biaxial joint on which the shaft and the control surface can be angularly displaced; and e) sensors capable of measuring the angular displacement of the shaft and converting it to signals indicating orthogonal coordinates on a computer screen. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification