Mouse with Improved Input Mechanisms Using Touch Sensors

• US 20100201626A1
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christoph H. Krah, Jeffrey B. Doar, Sean Corbin, Shin Nishibori, Wing Kong Low
• Original Assignee: Christoph H. Krah, Jeffrey B. Doar, Sean Corbin, Shin Nishibori, Wing Kong Low
• Inventors: Corbin, Sean, Nishibori, Shin, Krah, Christoph H., Low, Wing Kong, Doar, Jeffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,279,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A mouse having improved input methods and mechanisms is disclosed. The mouse is configured with touch sensing areas capable of generating input signals. The touch sensing areas may for example be used to differentiate between left and right clicks in a single button mouse. The mouse may further be configured with force sensing areas capable of generating input signals. The force sensing areas may for example be positioned on the sides of the mouse so that squeezing the mouse generates input signals. The mouse may further be configured with a jog ball capable of generating input signals. The mouse may additionally be configured with a speaker for providing audio feedback when the various input devices are activated by a user.

Claims

1. A mouse, comprising:

a housing including a unibody top member covering substantially all of a top surface of the mouse and a bottom member, the unibody top member configured to move relative to the bottom member;

an internal switch configured to generate an activation signal when the unibody top member moves relative to the bottom member;

a first touch zone provided on a surface of the unibody top member and configured to generate a first touch signal if the top member is touched in the first touch zone;

a second touch zone provided on the surface of the unibody top member and configured to generate a second touch signal if the top member is touched in the second touch zone; and

a control circuit configured to report a first input event if the activation signal and the first touch signal are generated without the second touch signal, to report a second input event if the activation signal and the second touch signal are generated without the first touch signal, to ignore the first touch signal if the first touch signal is generated without the activation signal, and to ignore the second touch signal if the second touch signal is generated without the activation signal.

2. The mouse as recited in claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to ignore the first touch signal and the second touch signal if the first touch signal and the second touch signal are simultaneously generated without the activation signal.

3. The mouse as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an electronically controlled feedback system configured to provide feedback to a user of the mouse so that the user is able to positively confirm that an action has resulted in an actual activation of one or more input mechanisms of the mouse.

4. The mouse as recited in claim 3, wherein the feedback system includes at least one of:

an audio feedback generator;

a haptics mechanism configured to output a vibration when the user performs an action with at least one of the input mechanisms;

or

a visual feedback generator configured to output visual stimuli at the mouse when the user performs an action with at least one of the input mechanisms.

5. A method for providing a mouse with touch sensitive input mechanisms, comprising:

covering substantially all of a top surface of the mouse with a unibody top member configured for movement relative to a bottom member;

generating an activation signal when the unibody top member moves relative to the bottom member;

providing a first touch zone on a surface of the unibody top member, the first touch zone configured to generate a first touch signal if the top member is touched in the first touch zone;

providing a second touch zone on the surface of the unibody top member, the second touch zone configured to generate a second touch signal if the top member is touched in the second touch zone;

reporting a first input event if the activation signal and the first touch signal are generated without the second touch signal;

reporting a second input event if the activation signal and the second touch signal are generated without the first touch signal;

ignoring the first touch signal if the first touch signal is generated without the activation signal; and

ignoring the second touch signal if the second touch signal is generated without the activation signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

ignoring the first touch signal and the second touch signal if the first touch signal and the second touch signal are simultaneously generated without the activation signal.

7. A mouse, comprising:

a bottom member;

a unibody single moving member supported on the bottom member and covering substantially all of a top surface of the mouse, the single moving member for generating an activation signal when the single moving member is moved relative to the bottom member;

a first touch zone provided on the single moving member, the first touch zone configured to generate a first touch signal if the first touch zone is touched;

a second touch zone provided on the single moving member, the second touch zone configured to generate a second touch signal if the second touch zone is touched; and

a control circuit configured to report a first or second input event upon movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal combined with a touch on the first or second touch zone.

8. The mouse as recited in claim 7, wherein the control circuit is further configured to report a third input event upon movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal combined with simultaneous touches on both the first and second touch zones.

9. The mouse as recited in claim 7, wherein the control circuit is further configured to report a first or second light touch input event if a touch occurs on the first or second touch zone in an absence of movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal.

10. The mouse as recited in claim 9, wherein the control circuit is further configured to report a third light touch input event if touches occur simultaneously on both the first and second touch zones in the absence of movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal.

11. A method for providing a mouse with touch sensitive input mechanisms, comprising:

covering substantially all of a top surface of the mouse with a unibody single moving member configured for movement relative to a bottom member;

generating an activation signal when the single moving member moves relative to the bottom member;

providing a first touch zone on a surface of the single moving member, the first touch zone configured to generate a first touch signal if the single moving member is touched in the first touch zone;

providing a second touch zone on the surface of the single moving member, the second touch zone configured to generate a second touch signal if the single moving member is touched in the second touch zone;

reporting a first or second input event upon movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal combined with a touch on the first or second touch zone.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising reporting a third input event upon movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal combined with simultaneous touches on both the first and second touch zones.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising reporting a first or second light touch input event if a touch occurs on the first or second touch zone in an absence of movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising reporting a third light touch input event if touches occur simultaneously on both the first and second touch zones in the absence of movement of the single moving member relative to the bottom member resulting in the generation of the activation signal.