INPUT DEVICE TO CONTROL ELEMENTS OF GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES

• US 20090273564A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Glaser-Seidnitzer, Karlheinz, Kling, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• 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
• 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

An input device to control elements of graphical user interfaces has at least one input element with multiple buttons (keys), and at least one rotatable input element that is actuated at least along one essentially horizontal axis, and at least one elevation (18) that extends essentially perpendicular to a primary extension plane of the input device. The elevation is provided with at least one additional input element and the additional input element is rotatable around an essentially vertical axis.

Claims

1. A control device to control elements of a graphical user interface, said input device comprising:

a manually manipulable base element carrying a plurality of actuatable buttons;

at least one rotatable input element carried by said base element, said rotatable input element being manually actuatable at least along a substantially horizontal axis;

said base element having an elevation that extends substantially perpendicular to a primary plane of said base element, said elevation carrying at least one additional input element; and

said additional element being rotatable around a substantially vertical axis.

2. An input device as claimed in claim 1 comprising a mount on which said base element is mounted so as to be tiltable relative to a reference plane, and said input device comprising a plurality of sensors that respectively emit sensor output signals that identify an inclination change of said base element relative to said reference plane.

3. An input device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sensors are pressure sensors.

4. An input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotatable input elements detect a movement selected from the group consisting of a rotary movement and a translational movement.

5. An input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said additional input element detects movement selected from the group consisting of rotary and translational movement.

6. An input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said multiple actuatable buttons are freely configured on said base element.

7. An input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of actuatable buttons form a numerical keypad.