Keyboard-mounted cursor position controller
First Claim
1. A hand-operable input device for controlling the movement of a marker on a display screen, the device comprising:
- a tray having right and left ends, elongated along a first axis and mounted for translational movement along said first axis;
a hand-operable roller, rotatably mounted on said tray and movable therewith;
rotary encoder means mounted on and movable with said tray and in engagement with said roller, for providing signals indicative of rotary motion of said roller; and
translational encoder means movable with said tray, for providing signals indicative of translational movement of said tray.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard mounted, hand-operable input device for controlling the movement of a marker on a computer display is described and includes a tray which is elongated along a first axis, has right and left closed ends and is mounted for translational movement along its first axis. A hand-operable roller is rotatably mounted in the tray and is movable therewith. A rotary encoder is mounted on and movable with the tray and is maintained in engagement with the roller so that it provides signals indicative of the roller'"'"'s rotary motion. A translational encoder is movable with the tray and provides signals indicative of translational movements of the tray. By directly coupling the roller to the rotary encoder and having both move with the tray, accurate rotary motion indications are thereby derived.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A hand-operable input device for controlling the movement of a marker on a display screen, the device comprising:
-
a tray having right and left ends, elongated along a first axis and mounted for translational movement along said first axis; a hand-operable roller, rotatably mounted on said tray and movable therewith; rotary encoder means mounted on and movable with said tray and in engagement with said roller, for providing signals indicative of rotary motion of said roller; and translational encoder means movable with said tray, for providing signals indicative of translational movement of said tray. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
6. The input device as recited in claim further comprising:
key means having a recess for slidably receiving said tray, said key means mounted intermediate said right and left ends. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
Specification