Point and select device
First Claim
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1. A point and select device which can function in either a mouse or a trackball mode comprising:
- a housing having an aperture in one major surface thereof;
a spherical member located within said aperture;
encoder means in contact with said spherical member for converting the rotation of said spherical member into a first electrical signal;
orientation means for sensing the orientation of said housing and producing a second electrical signal indicative thereof; and
interface means for combining said first and second electrical signals into an output signal indicative of the motion of said sphere and indicative of the proper sense of rotation, whether said device is oriented as a trackball or as a mouse, thereby enabling said device to function as either a trackball or a mouse.
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Abstract
A point and select device is disclosed in which a sphere protruding from one major surface of a housing can serve as either a trackball or the moving element in a mouse. Actuators on either side of the device are selected according to the use of the device. The sense of motion for up/down is reversed between the two modes of operation.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A point and select device which can function in either a mouse or a trackball mode comprising:
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a housing having an aperture in one major surface thereof; a spherical member located within said aperture; encoder means in contact with said spherical member for converting the rotation of said spherical member into a first electrical signal; orientation means for sensing the orientation of said housing and producing a second electrical signal indicative thereof; and interface means for combining said first and second electrical signals into an output signal indicative of the motion of said sphere and indicative of the proper sense of rotation, whether said device is oriented as a trackball or as a mouse, thereby enabling said device to function as either a trackball or a mouse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification