Pen-type computer input device
First Claim
1. A pen-type computer input device comprising:
- a shank having a tip end;
a ball rotatably supported on said tip end, said ball having a plurality of identifiable regions on an outer peripheral surface thereof; and
means including a sensor unit for detecting said identifiable regions in response to rotation of said ball, and for detecting directions in which said ball rotates and distances by which said ball moves in two perpendicular directions in a plane, and producing an output signal representative of said directions and distances.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pen-type computer input device is used to move a cursor on the display of a computer system or enter data such as of figures, letters, numerals, or the like into a computer system. The pen-type computer input device includes a shank, a ball rotatably supported on the tip end of the shank, the ball having a plurality of identifiable regions on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a circuit including a sensor unit for detecting the identifiable regions in response to rotation of the ball, and for detecting the directions in which the ball rotates and the distances by which the ball moves two perpendicular directions in a plane, and producing an output signal representative of the directions and distances. Since the sensor unit can detect the distance by which the pen-type computer input device moves without any mechanical motion transmitting mechanism incorporated in the shank, the pen-type computer input device may be small in size and can be handled with ease.
79 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A pen-type computer input device comprising:
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a shank having a tip end; a ball rotatably supported on said tip end, said ball having a plurality of identifiable regions on an outer peripheral surface thereof; and means including a sensor unit for detecting said identifiable regions in response to rotation of said ball, and for detecting directions in which said ball rotates and distances by which said ball moves in two perpendicular directions in a plane, and producing an output signal representative of said directions and distances. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification