Hand held computer input apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A system for generating command signals for a computer monitor or other equipment, comprising;
- a position transducer comprising at least one pressure responsive potentiometer comprising a fixed resistance and pressure responsive wiper means electrically contactable to said fixed resistance, and means operatively connected with said position transducer for generating a command signal reflecting at least one of the direction, intensity and duration of pressure applied to said position transducer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for generating command signals for a computer monitor or other equipment. The system includes at least one pressure responsive potentiometer and a device operatively connected with such potentiometer for generating a command signal indicating at least one of the direction, intensity and duration of pressure applied to such potentiometer. The method remotely controls a function of a computer monitor or other equipment in response to signals obtained from pressure sensitive potentiometers manipulated by a user. The method includes the steps of periodically iterating to detect signals present on such pressure sensitive potentiometers, comparing the signals detected on each iteration to determine at least one of the amount and direction of change, generating a control signal reflecting the information determined in the comparison step, then transmitting the control signal to the computer or other equipment in a form acceptable by such computer or other equipment to effect a change in the function being controlled. The control system includes a hand held device having a control disc readily manipulable by a digit of a hand holding the device. There is also disclosed a form of the hand held device in which position control signals as well as "clicking" and "dragging" operation signals can all be controlled with a single digit of the hand of a user.
296 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for generating command signals for a computer monitor or other equipment, comprising;
a position transducer comprising at least one pressure responsive potentiometer comprising a fixed resistance and pressure responsive wiper means electrically contactable to said fixed resistance, and means operatively connected with said position transducer for generating a command signal reflecting at least one of the direction, intensity and duration of pressure applied to said position transducer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- 6. In a system for generating command signals for a computer monitor or other equipment, a transmitter and a receiver, means for operatively communicating command signals from said receiver to said computer monitor or other equipment, means for operatively communicating command signals from said transmitter to said receiver and means in said transmitter, which means include a position transducer comprising at least one pressure responsive potentiometer comprising a fixed resistance and pressure responsive wiper means electrically contactable to said fixed resistance for generating a command signal reflecting at least one of the direction, intensity and duration of pressure applied to said position transducer.
- 11. A method for remotely controlling a function of a computer monitor or other equipment in response to signals obtained from a position transducer manipulated by a user, including the steps of (a) periodically iterating to detect the signals present on said position transducer (b) comparing the signals detected on each iteration with the corresponding signal detected on the last previous iteration to determine at least one of the amount and direction of change, (c) generating a control signal reflecting the information determined in step (b) and (d) transmitting said control signal to said computer or other equipment in a form acceptable by said computer or other equipment to effect a change in the function being controlled.
- 13. A method for remotely controlling the positioning of a cursor on a computer monitor or other equipment in response to signals obtained from a position transducer manipulated by a user, including the steps of (a) periodically iterating to detect the signals generated by said position transducers (b) comparing the signals detected on each iteration with the corresponding signal detected on the last previous iteration to determine at least one of the amount and direction of change, (c) generating a control signal reflecting the information determined in step (b) and (d) transmitting said control signal to said computer monitor or other equipment in a form acceptable by said computer monitor or other equipment to effect a change in position of the cursor.
Specification