Three degree of freedom graphic object controller
First Claim
1. A device for providing signals indicative of an object'"'"'s location on a display, comprising:
- a housing operative to be manipulated by a user;
a first translation position indicating means affixed to said housing for producing a first signal indicative of a first position of said object on said display with respect to a first translational axis;
a second translation position indicating means affixed to said housing for producing a second signal indicative of a second position of said object on said display with respect to a second translational axis; and
a third translation position indicating means affixed to said housing, including a bidirectional controller operated by one or more fingers fingers of said user, for producing a third signal indicative of a third position of said object on said display with respect to a third translational axis, said bidirectional controller including a belt operative to be bidirectionally moved by said fingers and having means or detecting bidirectional movement of said belt and converting the detected movement of said belt to said third signal, said belt being affixed to said housing in such a manner that said user can operate said belt equally as well when said device is stationary as when said device is being moved across a surface by said user;
whereby a movement of said device over a surface results in said first and second positions of said object being defined on said display, and whereby a movement of said bidirectional controller results in said third position of said object being defined on said display.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three degrees of freedom interactive display controller device is disclosed, comprising a hand manipulable housing unit having an opening for the passage of a mouse ball, two motion detectors for detecting the movement of the mouse ball and converting that motion to output signals controlling the translational movement of an object on the display of a computer and a finger operated conveyor belt or roller for controlling the translational motion of the object with respect to a third translational axis. All translation controls are operable to be physically moved in a direction which corresponds to the desired simulated direction of movement of the object on the display. The physical motion of each control is unbounded and the actual physical position of the housing unit is independent of the simulated position of the object on the display.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A device for providing signals indicative of an object'"'"'s location on a display, comprising:
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a housing operative to be manipulated by a user; a first translation position indicating means affixed to said housing for producing a first signal indicative of a first position of said object on said display with respect to a first translational axis; a second translation position indicating means affixed to said housing for producing a second signal indicative of a second position of said object on said display with respect to a second translational axis; and a third translation position indicating means affixed to said housing, including a bidirectional controller operated by one or more fingers fingers of said user, for producing a third signal indicative of a third position of said object on said display with respect to a third translational axis, said bidirectional controller including a belt operative to be bidirectionally moved by said fingers and having means or detecting bidirectional movement of said belt and converting the detected movement of said belt to said third signal, said belt being affixed to said housing in such a manner that said user can operate said belt equally as well when said device is stationary as when said device is being moved across a surface by said user; whereby a movement of said device over a surface results in said first and second positions of said object being defined on said display, and whereby a movement of said bidirectional controller results in said third position of said object being defined on said display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for generating signals indicative of the three-dimensional position of an object, comprising:
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an external housing; a first translation position indicating means mounted to said housing for producing a first signal indicative of a first position of said object with respect to a first axis; a second translation position indicating means mounted to said housing for producing a second signal indicative of a second position of said object with respect to a second axis; and a third translation position indicating means mounted to said housing, including a bidirectional controller, for producing a third signal indicative of a third position of said object with respect to a third axis, said bidirectional controller including a roller operative to be bidirectionally moved by said fingers and having means for detecting bidirectional movement of said roller and converting the detected movement of said roller to said third signal, said roller being affixed to said housing in such a manner that said user can operate said roller equally as well when said device is stationary as when said device is being moved across a surface by said user; whereby movement of said apparatus over a surface results in said first and second positions of said object being defined, and whereby movement of said bidirectional controller results in said third position of said object being defined. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification