Multi-axis trackball
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multi-axis electromechanical indicator apparatus comprising:
- a rotatably mounted ball;
a first motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the ball relative to a first axis;
a second motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the ball relative to a second axis;
a first peripheral member mounted adjacent a periphery of the ball for movement therearound;
a third motion sensing means for sensing rotation of the first peripheral member relative to the ball;
a second peripheral member mounted for movement around the periphery of the ball; and
a fourth motion sensing means for sensing rotation of the second peripheral member relative to the ball.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first electromechanical transducer (40) generates a first electrical signal indicative of rotation of a ball (A) relative to a first axis. A second electromechanical transducer (50) generates a second electrical signal indicative of rotation of the ball relative to a second axis. A third electromechanical transducer (60) generates a third electrical signal indicative of rotation of an annular ring (12) around the periphery of the ball, i.e. a third axis. A resolver circuit (D) converts the first, second, and third electrical signals into an indication of movement or position along the first, second, and third axes.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A multi-axis electromechanical indicator apparatus comprising:
-
a rotatably mounted ball; a first motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the ball relative to a first axis; a second motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the ball relative to a second axis; a first peripheral member mounted adjacent a periphery of the ball for movement therearound; a third motion sensing means for sensing rotation of the first peripheral member relative to the ball; a second peripheral member mounted for movement around the periphery of the ball; and a fourth motion sensing means for sensing rotation of the second peripheral member relative to the ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of encoding information, the method comprising:
-
rotating a ball; sensing rotation of the ball relative to a first axis; sensing rotation of the ball relative to a second axis; rotating a first member around a periphery of the ball; sensing rotation of the first member about the periphery of the ball; rotating a second member around the periphery of the ball; and
sensing the rotation of the second member about the ball. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A multi-axis indicator for indicating movement relative to three mutually perpendicular axes, the indicator comprising:
-
a rotatably mounted ball; a peripheral member mounted adjacent a periphery of the ball for rotational movement around the ball; a first motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the ball relative to a first axis; a first electromechanical transducer for converting the sensed rotation of the ball relative to the first axis into a first electrical signal; a second motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the ball relative to a second axis; a second electromechanical transducer for converting the sensed rotation of the ball relative to the second axis into a second electrical signal; a third motion sensor means for sensing rotation of the peripheral member around the periphery of the ball; a third electromechanical transducer for converting the sensed rotation of the peripheral member relative to the periphery of the ball into a third electrical signal; a resolver for converting the first signal into an indication of distance along the first axis, for converting the second electrical signal into an indication of distance along the second axis, and for converting the third electrical signal into an indication of angular rotation around the third axis proportional to the rotation of the peripheral member around the ball.
-
-
12. A method for encoding displacement and rotation relative to three axes, the method comprising:
-
sensing rotation of a ball relative to first and second axes; converting the sensed rotation into an indication of displacement of an image along the first axis and an indication of displacement of an image along the second axis; sensing movement of a member around a periphery of the ball; converting the sensed movement into an indication of rotation around a third axis.
-
Specification