Finger actuated electronic control apparatus
First Claim
1. A finger-operable electronic control apparatus comprising:
- a base;
a finger pad;
first and second mounting means for connecting said finger pad to the base;
the first mounting means being pivotally carried by the second mounting means for pivotal movement of the first mounting means in a first direction, the first mounting means comprising means for supporting the finger pad such that the finger pad moves in the first direction with the pivoting of the first mounting means in the first direction;
said second mounting means being pivotally connected to said base for movement in a second direction such that as the second mounting means is moved in the second direction, the first mounting means and supported finger pad move in the second direction with the movement of the second mounting means, whereby said finger pad is movable in said first and second directions between a plurality of operating positions;
sensing means for sensing the operating position of said finger pad.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A finger operable electronic control apparatus includes a finger pad actuator mounted to a base so as to be movable in several directions. The position of the finger pad is sensed and utilized in the generation of electrical control signals. These control signals are used to control movement of a cursor or other image on an electronic display screen, as well as for other purposes. In one specific form, the base is generally horizontal and the finger pad is mounted by trapezoidal mounts for movement in first and second mutually perpendicular directions. In addition, the base is mounted to a supporting structure for movement in a direction which results in corresponding movement of the supported finger pad in the third direction. Movement of the finger pad in the first, second and third directions, as well as the rate of movement, may be sensed and utilized to generate electrical control signals. Also, the finger pad may be movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the base, to provide an additional control signal. The finger pad tilts as it is moved in the first and second directions to facilitate its engagement by a user'"'"'s finger.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A finger-operable electronic control apparatus comprising:
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a base; a finger pad; first and second mounting means for connecting said finger pad to the base;
the first mounting means being pivotally carried by the second mounting means for pivotal movement of the first mounting means in a first direction, the first mounting means comprising means for supporting the finger pad such that the finger pad moves in the first direction with the pivoting of the first mounting means in the first direction;said second mounting means being pivotally connected to said base for movement in a second direction such that as the second mounting means is moved in the second direction, the first mounting means and supported finger pad move in the second direction with the movement of the second mounting means, whereby said finger pad is movable in said first and second directions between a plurality of operating positions; sensing means for sensing the operating position of said finger pad. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A finger-operable electronic control apparatus comprising:
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a finger pad; mounting means for supporting the finger pad for movement in first and second directions between a plurality of operating positions, said mounting means comprising means for supporting said finger pad such that the finger pad tilts with the portion of the finger pad which is leading in the direction of motion raising and the portion of the finger pad which is trailing in the direction of motion lowering as the finger pad is moved in the first and second directions; and electrical sensing means for sensing the operating position of said finger pad.
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13. Finger actuated controller apparatus, comprising:
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a generally horizontal base; a second set of upright sides having a lower end portion movably attached to said base by a second pair of parallel spaced apart pivots; a central member movably attached to an upper end portion of said second set of sides and extending downwardly toward said base; a first set of upright sides movably attached at their lower ends to said central member by a first pair of parallel spaced apart pivots; a platform movably attached to the upper ends of said first set of sides; a finger actuator attached to said platform for movement in several different directions so as to cause said first sides to pivot about said first pivots and said second sides to pivot about said second pivot; and electrical means for sensing the position of said actuator and for generating electrical signals corresponding to such positions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of generating electrical control signals comprising:
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moving a finger actuator relative to a finger actuator supporting base in first and second mutually perpendicular directions; electrically determining the positions of the finger actuator in the first and second directions relative to the base; moving the base in a third direction relative to a base support body, whereby the movement of the base results in a movement of the supported finger actuator in the third direction; electrically determining the positions of the base in the third direction; and generating electrical control signals in direct response to the sensed position of the finger actuator in the first and second directions and in direct response to the sensed position of the base, and thus of the finger actuator, in the third direction; the first and second directions being generally in a common plane and the third direction being generally normal to the common plane; and in which the common plane is generally horizontal, the method also including the step of mounting the finger actuator for upward and downward movement relative to the base, electrically determining the upward and downward movement of the finger actuator, the step of generating electrical control signals also comprising the step of generating electrical control signals in direct response to the upward and downward position of the finger actuator relative to the base.
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Specification