ERGONOMIC SLIDER-BASED SELECTOR

• US 20090259790A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd. (Razer Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd. (Razer Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ng, Chern Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/316
• 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 device connectable to a computer is disclosed. The device comprises a selector defining a pathway and a plurality of positions along the pathway, the selector having a terminal displaceable along the pathway and positionable at one of the plurality of positions, the pathway being substantially straight, each of the plurality of positions having a process associated therewith. The device further comprises a sensor being operable for generating instruction signals. More specifically, the instruction signals are communicable to the computing device for executing thereon the process associated with one of the plurality of positions along the pathway whereat the terminal is positioned.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a transducer for generating displacement signals from displacement detected thereby and for communicating the displacement signals to a computing device for manipulating an object generated by the computing device;

a selector defining a pathway and a plurality of positions along the pathway, the selector having a terminal displaceable along the pathway and positionable at one of the plurality of positions, the pathway being substantially straight, each of the plurality of positions having a process associated therewith; and

a sensor being operable for generating instruction signals,

wherein the instruction signals are communicable to the computing device for executing thereon the process associated with one of the plurality of positions along the pathway whereat the terminal is positioned.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a controller, the controller being coupled to the transducer for communicating the displacement signals to the computing device.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a body having a plurality of sides.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on a same side of the body.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on different sides of the body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of positions comprises a rest position, the terminal being biased towards the rest position.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer senses displacement through the use of at least one of optical, photoelectric and electromechanical means.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the transducer senses displacement of a sphere thereacross.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the selector is functionally operable using at least one of a potentiometer, capacitor, resistor, linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) and switch.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a touch sensor and a switch.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is formed integral with the terminal.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is a computer pointing device.

13. A device comprising:

a selector defining a pathway and a plurality of positions along the pathway, the selector having a terminal displaceable along the pathway and positionable at one of the plurality of positions, the pathway being substantially straight, each of the plurality of positions having a process associated therewith; and

a sensor being operable for generating instruction signals, the sensor being integral with the selector,

wherein the instruction signals are communicable to the computing device for executing thereon the process associated with one of the plurality of positions along the pathway whereat the terminal is positioned.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a transducer for generating displacement signals from displacement detected thereby and for communicating the displacement signals to a computing device for manipulating an object generated by the computing device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the transducer senses displacement through the use of at least one of optical, photoelectric and electromechanical means.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the transducer senses displacement of a sphere thereacross.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising a controller, the controller being coupled to the transducer for communicating the displacement signals to the computing device.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising a body having a plurality of sides.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on a same side of the body.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on different sides of the body.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of positions comprises a rest position, the terminal being biased towards the rest position.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein the selector is functionally operable using at least one of a potentiometer, capacitor, resistor, linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) and switch.

23. The device of claim 13, wherein the sensor is one of a touch sensor and a switch.

24. The device of claim 13, wherein the sensor is formed integral with the terminal.

25. The device of claim 13, wherein the device is a computer pointing device.

26. A method for selecting processes executable on a computing device, the method comprising:

generating displacement signals from displacement detected by a transducer;

communicating the displacement signals to the computing device for manipulating an object generated by the computing device;

defining a pathway and a plurality of positions along the pathway, the pathway being defined by a selector having a terminal displaceable along the pathway and positionable at one of the plurality of positions, the pathway being substantially straight, each of the plurality of positions having a process associated therewith; and

generating instruction signals by a sensor,

wherein the instruction signals are communicable to the computing device for executing thereon the process associated with one of the plurality of positions along the pathway whereat the terminal is positioned.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising a controller, the controller being coupled to the transducer for communicating the displacement signals to the computing device.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising a body having a plurality of sides.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on a same side of the body.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on different sides of the body.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of positions comprises a rest position, the terminal being biased towards the rest position.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the transducer senses displacement through the use of at least one of optical, photoelectric and electromechanical means.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the transducer senses displacement of a sphere thereacross.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the selector is functionally operable using at least one of a potentiometer, capacitor, resistor, linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) and switch.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the sensor is one of a touch sensor and a switch.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the sensor is formed integral with the terminal.

37. A system comprising:

a transducer for generating displacement signals from displacement detected thereby and for communicating the displacement signals to a computing device for manipulating an object generated by the computing device;

a selector defining a pathway and a plurality of positions along the pathway, the selector having a terminal displaceable along the pathway and positionable at one of the plurality of positions, the pathway being substantially straight, each of the plurality of positions having a process associated therewith; and

a sensor being operable for generating instruction signals,

wherein the instruction signals are communicable to the computing device for executing thereon the process associated with one of the plurality of positions along the pathway whereat the terminal is positioned.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a controller, the controller being coupled to the transducer for communicating the displacement signals to the computing device.

39. The system of claim 37, further comprising a body having a plurality of sides.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on a same side of the body.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the selector and the sensor are formed on different sides of the body.

42. The system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of positions comprises a rest position, the terminal being biased towards the rest position.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein the transducer senses displacement through the use of at least one of optical, photoelectric and electromechanical means.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein the transducer senses displacement of a sphere thereacross.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the selector is functionally operable using at least one of a potentiometer, capacitor, resistor, linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) and switch.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein the sensor is one of a touch sensor and a switch.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein the sensor is formed integral with the terminal.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein the device is a computer pointing device.

49. The system of claim 37, wherein the selector is formed on a first peripheral device.

50. The system of claim 37, wherein the sensor is formed on a second peripheral device.