Computer mouse

• US 5,157,381 A
• Filed: 04/20/1990
• Issued: 10/20/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: San-Yih Cheng
• Original Assignee: San-Yih Cheng
• Inventors: Cheng, San-Yih
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US07/512,205
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 340/710, 340/709, 340/706, D14/114, D14/115, D14/116, 273/148 B, 400/492, 400/494, 400/489, 341/22, 382/59, 74/471 XY, 200/6 A
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A computer mouse has a unique push-button configuration which enhances button assignment flexibility while remaining user friendly. Three buttons are provided with a middle button having a smaller but raised surface area when compared to the other two buttons.

Claims

1. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first selectable switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second selectable switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first selectable switch; and

a third selectable switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second selectable switch;

wherein said first, second and third selectable switches are disposed in said first region and are electronically unique and independent;

wherein said first and said third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second selectable switch acts as a separate between said first and third selectable switches;

wherein said first and third selectable switches have a parallel length, extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device, longer than a parallel length of said second selectable switch whereby in a second region, adjacent said first region and disposed between said first region and said second end of said device, said first and third selectable switches are adjacent one another and partially surround said second selectable switch.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1 wherein said second shape is substantially triangular.

3. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first push-button switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second push-button switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first push-button switch;

a third push-button switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second push-button switch;

wherein said first, second and third push-button switches are disposed in said first region and are electronically unique and independent;

wherein said first and third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and said third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second push-button switch is a separator between said first and third push-button switches and a user can comfortably operate said first, second and third push-button switches with only two fingers;

wherein said first and third push-button switches have a parallel length, extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device, longer than a parallel length of said second push-button switch whereby in a second region, adjacent said first region and disposed between said first region and said second end of said device, said first and third push-button switches are adjacent one another and partially surround said second push-button switch.

4. The peripheral device of claim 3 wherein said second shape is substantially triangular.

5. A computer mouse a computer mouse having a housing and an operation region on the housing, comprising:

a first selectable switch disposed in said operation region and having a first surface area;

a second selectable switch disposed in said operation region and having a second surface area that is smaller than said first surface area;

a third selectable switch, disposed in said operation region and having a third surface area, that is larger than said second surface area;

said second selectable switch being disposed between said first and said third selectable switches and separating said first and third selectable switches in a frontal region of said operation region and having a surface level projected above a surface level of said first selectable switch and a surface level of said third selectable switch, wherein said first, second and third selectable switches are electronically unique and independent;

wherein said first and said third selectable switches have a first maximum length extending the length of said operation region and said second selectable switch has a second maximum length, extending from said frontal region, less than said first maximum length, whereby the first and third selectable switches are directly adjacent one another in a back region of said operation region.

6. The computer mouse of claim 5 wherein said first, second and third selectable switches comprise push-button switches.

7. The computer mouse of claim 5 wherein said second push-button switch has a triangular shape.

8. The computer mouse of claim 7 wherein said first and third push-button switches are mirror images of one another.

9. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first selectable switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second selectable switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first selectable switch; and

a third selectable switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second selectable switch;

wherein said first, second and third selectable switches are disposed in said first region and are electronically unique and independent;

wherein said first and said third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second selectable switch acts as a separate between said first and third selectable switches;

wherein said first, second and third selectable switches have a substantially equal parallel length extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device and said first and said third selectable switches have a first width substantially larger than a second width of said second selectable switch.

10. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first push-button switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second push-button switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first push-button switch;

a third push-button switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second push-button switch;

wherein said first, second and third push-button switches are disposed in said first region and are electronically unique and independent;

wherein said first and third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and said third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second push-button switch is a separator between said first and third push-button switches and a user can comfortably operate said first, second and third push-button switches with only two fingers;

wherein said first, second and third push-button switches have a substantially equal parallel length, extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device, and said first and said third push-button switches have a first width substantially larger than a second width of said second push-button switch.

11. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first selectable switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second selectable switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first selectable switch; and

a third selectable switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second selectable switch;

wherein said first, second and third selectable switches are disposed in said first region;

wherein said first and said third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second selectable switch acts as a separate between said first and third selectable switches; and

wherein said first and third selectable switches have a parallel length, extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device, longer than a parallel length of said second selectable switch whereby in a second region, adjacent said first region and disposed between said first region and said second end of said device, said first and third selectable switches are adjacent one another and partially surround said second selectable switch.

12. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first selectable switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second selectable switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first selectable switch; and

a third selectable switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second selectable switch;

wherein said first, second and third selectable switches are disposed in said first region;

wherein said first and said third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second selectable switch acts as a separate between said first and third selectable switches; and

wherein said first, second and third selectable switches have a substantially equal parallel length extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device and said first and said third selectable switches have a first width substantially larger than a second width of said second selectable switch.

13. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first push-button switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second push-button switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first push-button switch;

a third push-button switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second push-button switch;

wherein said first, second and third push-button switches are disposed in said first region;

wherein said first and third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and said third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second push-button switch is a separator between said first and third push-button switches and a user can comfortably operate said first, second and third push-button switches with only two fingers; and

wherein said first and third push-button switches have a parallel length, extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device, said first and third push-button switches are adjacent one another and partially surround said second push-button switch.

14. A peripheral device for use with a computer to enable a user to interact with information displayed on a display device associated with the computer, comprising:

a first region;

a first push-button switch having a first shape defining a first surface area;

a second push-button switch having a second shape defining a second surface area and being disposed adjacent to said first push-button switch;

a third push-button switch having a third shape defining a third surface area and being disposed adjacent to said second push-button switch;

wherein said first, second and third push-button switches are disposed in said first region;

wherein said first and third surface areas are substantially equal and have a first surface level and said second surface area is substantially less than said first and said third surface areas and has a second surface level projected above said first surface level, whereby said second push-button switch is a separator between said first and third push-button switches and a user can comfortably operate said first, second and third push-button switches with only two fingers;

wherein said first, second and third push-button switches have a substantially equal parallel length, extending from a first end of said device toward a second end of said device, and said first and said third push-button switches have a first width substantially larger than a second width of said second push-button switch.

15. A computer mouse having a housing and an operation region on the housing, comprising:

a first selectable switch disposed in said operation region and having a first surface area;

a second selectable switch disposed in said operation region and having a second surface area that is smaller than said first surface area;

a third selectable switch, disposed in said operation region and having a third surface area, that is larger than said second surface area;

said second selectable switch being disposed between said first and said third selectable switches and separating said first and third selectable switches in a frontal region of said operation region and having a surface level projected above a surface level of said first selectable switch and a surface level of said third selectable switch;

wherein said first and said third selectable switches have a first maximum length extending the length said operation region and said second selectable switch has a second maximum length, extending from said frontal region, less than said first maximum length, whereby the first and third selectable switches are directly adjacent one another in a back region of said operation region.