USER INTERFACE DEVICE, SUCH AS A MOUSE, WITH A PLURALITY OF SCROLL WHEELS

• US 20110134039A1
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bioram Tech LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bioram Tech LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: LUDWIG, Lester F.
• Application Number:
  US13/024,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20110134039A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/266 Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computer mouse having a housing is provided with at least two independent scroll wheels and a user interface sensor arrangement that provides signals responsive to movement of the housing relative to two orthogonal axes. The independent scroll wheels produce signals responsive to their respective operation. Signals from the scroll wheels and signals from the user interface sensor arrangement can be multiplexed before transmission to an external device such as a computer. The two independent scroll wheels can be physically oriented orthogonally to each other. Signals from the two independent scroll wheels can be used to control the horizontal and vertical position of a visual object displayed in a computer window, adjust vertical and horizontal scroll bars, and for other purposes. Implementations can also include a visual display and an auditory output.

Claims

1. A user interface device for controlling an external device, comprising:

a housing;

a first scroll wheel disposed on the housing, wherein the first scroll wheel is configured to generate a first signal relative to user manipulation;

a second scroll wheel disposed on the housing at a different location than the first scroll wheel, wherein the second scroll wheel is configured to generate a second signal relative to user manipulation;

a user interface sensor configured with the housing, wherein the user interface sensor is configured to generate a plurality of third signals responsive to movement of the housing relative to two orthogonal axes,

wherein the first scroll wheel rotates about an axis of rotation that is orthogonally orientated to an axis of rotation of the second scroll wheel,

wherein the first and the second signals control a first function of the external device, and

wherein the plurality of third signals control a second function of the external device.

2. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the first function is used to adjust the horizontal and vertical position of a visual object displayed on a display screen associated with the external device.

3. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the first function is used to adjust a position of horizontal and vertical scroll bars displayed in a window displayed on a display screen associated with the external device.

4. The user interface of device claim 1, wherein the second function positions a cursor on a display screen associated with the external device.

5. The user interface device of claim 1 further comprises a multiplexer configured to multiplex the first signal, second signal, and the plurality of third signals into a single multiplexed output signal.

6. The user interface device of claim 5 wherein the multiplexed output signal is made available to the external device.

7. The user interface device of claim 5 wherein the multiplexed output signal is transmitted electrically to the external device.

8. The user interface device of claim 5 wherein the multiplexed output signal is transmitted optically to the external device.

9. The user interface device of claim 5 wherein the multiplexed output signal is transmitted by a wireless link to the external device.

10. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the first signal is used to adjust the position of a vertical scroll bar associated with a window displayed on a display screen of the external device.

11. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the second signal is used to position a horizontal scroll bar associated with a window displayed on a display screen of the external device.

12. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the first signal is used to position a horizontal scroll bar associated with a window displayed on a display screen of the external device.

13. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the second signal is used to position a vertical scroll bar associated with a window displayed on a display screen of the external device.

14. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of third signals is used to position a cursor on a display screen of the external device.

15. The user interface device of claim 1, the user interface device further comprising a visual display attached to the housing.

16. The user interface device of claim 1, the user interface device further provides auditory output.

17. The user interface device of claim 1, the user interface device further comprising a preprocessor.

18. The user interface device of claim 1, wherein the first and second scroll wheels are oriented orthogonally to each other.

19. The user interface device of claim 1, the user interface device further comprising at least a third scroll wheel.