Multifunction tactile manipulatable control
First Claim
1. A tactile manipulatable control having a controlled device, said control having a support structure, means juxtaposed to said support structure for detecting a first motion, and means juxtaposed to said support structure for detecting a second motion;
- said control providing a first linear motion and a second rotary motion and comprising;
a support track in said support structure, said track having an elongated recess;
an elongated movable bar positioned in and longitudinally movable in said track recess;
a linearly and rotatively movable elongated cylindrical element journalled in said bar, portions of said bar and said cylindrical element being spacedly juxtaposed and exposed for isolated or combined digit-operable tactile movement;
means operable by linear movement of said bar or said cylindrical element for producing a motion signal for accessing a first motion detector; and
means operable by rotative movement of said cylindrical element independent of said bar for producing a motion signal for accessing a second motion detector.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multifunction human digit control includes a rotating cylinder journalled in a movable bar slidable in a groove in a deflectable support track. Rotation of the cylinder by a thumb or finger generates a first motion signal and movement of either or both of the bar and the cylinder by tactile movement, generates a second motion signal, representing, for example, X-axis and Y-axis positions, respectively, of a cursor on a computer screen. Various types of motion detectors or encoders are disclosed to detect the various movements of the bar and cylinder. The mechanism also permits actuation of a switch or other motion detector in a Z-axis by deflection of any one of the bar, the cylinder or portions of the support track with respect to a support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the overall control has its digit-operated tactile surfaces exposed in an aperture contained in a device casing, such as an opening in a computer keyboard or in an instrument housing or control panel.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tactile manipulatable control having a controlled device, said control having a support structure, means juxtaposed to said support structure for detecting a first motion, and means juxtaposed to said support structure for detecting a second motion;
- said control providing a first linear motion and a second rotary motion and comprising;
a support track in said support structure, said track having an elongated recess; an elongated movable bar positioned in and longitudinally movable in said track recess; a linearly and rotatively movable elongated cylindrical element journalled in said bar, portions of said bar and said cylindrical element being spacedly juxtaposed and exposed for isolated or combined digit-operable tactile movement; means operable by linear movement of said bar or said cylindrical element for producing a motion signal for accessing a first motion detector; and means operable by rotative movement of said cylindrical element independent of said bar for producing a motion signal for accessing a second motion detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- said control providing a first linear motion and a second rotary motion and comprising;
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15. In a computer control having a support structure;
- means mounted in said support structure for detecting an x-axis motion;
means mounted in said support structure for detecting a y-axis motion and a switch mounted in said support structure operable to generate a control signal, the improvement comprising a digit-manipulative control apparatus providing x-axis motion, y-axis motion and switch operation, in which said support structure comprises an elongated hollow housing having;a generally planar base, a switch and switch operator juxtaposed to said base, said switch operator extending from said switch, an x-axis motion detector and a y-axis motion detector mounted on a surface of said housing; a curvilinear top surface having a centrally located operations aperture; a flexible support track in said hollow housing extending along said housing planar base and positioned over said switch to actuate said switch operator, said track having an elongated recess; an elongated slide bar slidingly positioned in said track recess for lateral movement therein, said slide bar having an elongated groove extending from end-to-end of said bar; a linearly and rotatively movable elongated cylinder journalled in said slide bar groove, portions of said slide bar and said cylinder being exposed for tactile movement in said housing operations aperture; means operable by sliding movement of said slide bar or said cylinder to produce a motion signal to said x-axis detector; means operable by rotative movement of said cylinder to produce a motion signal to said y-axis detector; and wherein downward flexing movement of said track operates said switch operator.
- means mounted in said support structure for detecting an x-axis motion;
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16. A digit-manipulable control for the adjustment of two or more values, comprising:
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an elongated support structure containing a linear guide running end to end; an elongated bar of lesser length than said support structure, carried in the guide and movable longitudinally therein; a rotatable cylinder journalled in and parallel to said bar, portions of said bar and said cylinder being exposed to digit contact and manipulation through an aperture in said support structure; said exposed portions being positioned adjacent to and parallel to each other to permit simultaneous contact and manipulation by a single digit; sensing means by which rotation of said cylinder adjusts a first value; and sensing means by which longitudinal movement of either or both of said cylinder and said bar adjust a second value. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification