Bidimensional input control system
First Claim
1. A bidimensional input system for providing input signals for controlling a utilization device, said input system comprising:
- a support surface having a longitudinally extending axis around which said support surface is endlessly rotatable in a first direction;
movable means carried by said support surface and adapted for endless rotation with said support surface in said first direction and adapted for endless rotation relative to said support surface in a second direction, the rotation of said movable means in said first and second directions being independent of one another;
motion responsive means to detect the rotation of said movable means in said first and second directions; and
signal generating means interfaced with said motion responsive means to generate first and second input signals to the utilization device, said first and second input signals corresponding, respectively, to the rotation of said movable means in said first and second directions detected by said motion responsive means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A manually activated bidimensional, boundaryless input control system having particular application to a computer to enable the computer operator to selectively ana accurately control the positioning of a video image (e.g. a cursor) on a computer monitor. The input system comprises a contact bar which is located near the front of the computer keyboard so as to be readily accessible to the computer operator for rotation around a fixed axis. The contact bar carries a plurality of evenly spaced, longitudinally extending belts which may be rotated by the computer operator in a longitudinal direction around the bar. Movement sensing devices are interfaced with and responsive to both the rotation of the bar and at least one of the belts extending longitudinally therealong. The movement sensing devices are connected with electronic signal generators which are adapted to provide output signals to the computer for controlling the movement of the cursor up or down and left or right corresponding to the movements of the rotatable bar and the belts carried thereby.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A bidimensional input system for providing input signals for controlling a utilization device, said input system comprising:
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a support surface having a longitudinally extending axis around which said support surface is endlessly rotatable in a first direction; movable means carried by said support surface and adapted for endless rotation with said support surface in said first direction and adapted for endless rotation relative to said support surface in a second direction, the rotation of said movable means in said first and second directions being independent of one another; motion responsive means to detect the rotation of said movable means in said first and second directions; and signal generating means interfaced with said motion responsive means to generate first and second input signals to the utilization device, said first and second input signals corresponding, respectively, to the rotation of said movable means in said first and second directions detected by said motion responsive means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A bidirectional input system for providing at least first and second input signals to a computer for controlling the operation thereof, said input system comprising:
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support surface means having a longitudinally extending axis and being rotatable around said axis in a first direction; means carried by and movable longitudinally along said support surface means in a second direction, said movable means including a plurality of rotatable belts which are spaced from and slidable longitudinally thereover in said second direction, each of said belts extending completely around said support surface means and through the opposite ends thereof; motion responsive means being responsive to the rotation of said support surface means around its axis and the movement of said belts along said support surface means; and signal generating means interfaced with said motion responsive means to generate said first and second input signals to the computer, said first input signal being dependent upon the rotational distance traveled and the direction in which said support surface means is rotated around its axis, and said second input signal being dependent upon the distance traveled and the direction in which at least one of said plurality of belts slides along said support surface means. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A bidimensional input system for providing input signals to a microprocessor controlled device for controlling the operation thereof;
- said input system comprising;
a support surface having a longitudinally axis and being endlessly rotatable around said axis in a first direction; movable means carried by said support surface and adapted for endless longitudinal movement relative to said support surface means in a second direction, the rotation of said support surface means and the longitudinal movement of said movable means being independent of one another; motion responsive means being responsive to the rotation of said support surface means around its axis and the longitudinal movement of said movable means relative to said support surface means; and signal generating means interfaced with said motion responsive means to generate first and second input signals to the microprocessor controlled device, and first input signal being dependent upon the rotational distance traveled and the direction in which said support surface means is rotated around its axis, and said second input signal being dependent upon the distance traveled and the direction in which said movable means moves relative to said support surface means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
- said input system comprising;
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22. A bidirectional input system for controlling the position of a positionable utilization means, said input system comprising:
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first movable means having an axis around which to rotate in a first direction, said first movable means having opposite ends and a slot formed through each of said ends; second movable means extending through the slots formed in said first movable means so as to be rotatable around said first movable means in a second direction; motion responsive means to detect the rotation of said first and second movable means in said first and second directions; and signal generating means interfaced with said motion responsive means to generate input signals to control the position of the utilization means corresponding to the rotation detected by said motion responsive means of said first and second movable means in said first and second directions, the position of the utilization means being dependent upon the input signals generated by said signal generating means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A bidimensional system for providing input signals for controlling a utilization device, said input system comprising:
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a support surface having a longitudinally extending axis around which said support surface is endlessly rotatable; movable means carried by said support surface and adapted for endless rotation relative to said support surface through a continuous loop path which extends around said support surface in a direction parallel to the longitudinally extending axis thereof, such that the rotation of said movable means is independent of the rotation of said support surface; motion responsive means to detect the rotational movement of said support surface and said movable means; and signal generating means interfaced with said motion responsive means to generate first and second input signals to the utilization device, said first and second input signals corresponding, respectively, to the movement of said support surface and said movable means detected by said motion responsive means.
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Specification