Hand worn remote computer mouse

• US 5,489,922 A
• Filed: 10/13/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Zloof, Moshe M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US08/322,961
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/156, 345/158, 273/148 B, 200/5 A, 200/52 R, 74/491, 74/469, 74/523, 341/21
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A computer interface system that is worn on the middle fingers of both hands of the computer operator for controlling cursor movement is disclosed. The system includes a left and right hand fixed inner ring, the inner rings being of a dimension suitable to be worn on a portion of the middle fingers of the computer operator, and a left and a right rotatable outer ring. The system includes sensing elements disposed between each of the corresponding inner and outer rings for producing horizontal movement signals in response to the rotation of the left outer ring in relation to the left inner ring, and for producing vertical movement signals in response to the rotation of the right outer ring in relation to the right inner ring. The system also includes a pressure sensitive element disposed between corresponding inner and outer rings that produces an entry signal in response to the application of pressure on the outer ring toward the inner ring.

Claims

1. A hand worn computer interface device comprising:

a fixed inner ring being of a dimension suitable to be worn on a portion of one of the fingers of a computer operator;

a rotatable outer ring, said outer ring being concentric with said inner ring;

means for generating a plurality of cursor position control signals in response to movement of said outer ring in relation to said inner ring; and

means for transmitting said plurality of cursor position control signals to a computer processor.

2. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for transmitting an entry control signal to a computer processor in response to application of pressure on said outer ring toward said inner ring.

3. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner ring has a diameter suitable to fit over a portion of a computer operator'"'"'s middle finger.

4. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cursor position control signal generating means further comprises:

a plurality of sensing elements attached to the outer surface of said inner ring;

a pattern of conductive material disposed on the inner surface of said outer ring; and

means for generating cursor position control signals in response to the contact of said sensing elements with said pattern of conductive material.

5. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said entry control signal transmitting means comprises a pressure sensing element mounted on a selected one of said inner and outer rings, wherein the application of pressure to said sensing element causes the transmission of said entry control signal.

6. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ball bearings disposed between said inner and outer rings for allowing rotation of said outer ring in relation to said inner ring.

7. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cursor position control signal transmitting means comprises:

an infrared light wave transmitter coupled to said rings for transmitting said cursor position control signals in infrared light wave form; and

a receiver associated with the computer processor for receiving said infrared light waves.

8. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a small cylinder for containing said infrared light wave transmitter, wherein said small cylinder is mounted on a ring to be worn on a portion of the computer operator'"'"'s hand.

9. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 7 further comprising a small cylinder for containing said infrared light wave transmitter, wherein said small cylinder is mounted directly to said inner ring.

10. A computer interface device worn on a single finger of a computer operator, comprising:

a fixed inner cylindrical sleeve having a first depth, said fixed sleeve worn on a single finger of a computer operator;

a moveable outer sleeve having a second depth, said moveable sleeve being concentric with said fixed sleeve, the second depth being less than the first depth;

means for generating a plurality of cursor position control signals in response to sliding movement of said moveable sleeve along said fixed sleeve;

an infrared light wave transmitter for remotely transmitting said cursor position control signals in infrared light wave form to a computer processor; and

a receiver associated with the computer processor for receiving said infrared light waves.

11. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for generating an entry control signal to the computer processor in response to the application of pressure on one of said moveable and fixed sleeves toward the opposite sleeve.

12. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said cursor position control signal generating means comprises:

a plurality of sensing elements attached to a first surface on said fixed sleeve;

a pattern of conductive material disposed on a second surface on said moveable sleeve, wherein said first surface and said second surface are in a spaced-apart relationship; and

means for generating said cursor position control signals in response to the contact of said sensing elements with said pattern of conductive material.

13. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said entry control signal transmitting means comprises:

a pressure sensing element mounted on one of said sleeves in a location such that it is activated by pressure on said one of said sleeves.

14. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a plurality of ball bearings disposed between said fixed sleeve and said moveable sleeve for allowing movement of said moveable sleeve in relation to said fixed sleeve.

15. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the second depth is substantially smaller than the first depth.

16. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a small cylinder for containing said infrared light wave transmitter, wherein said small cylinder is mounted on a ring to be worn on a portion of the computer operator'"'"'s hand.

17. A computer interface device in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a small cylinder for containing said infrared light wave transmitter, wherein said small cylinder is mounted directly on said fixed sleeve.

18. A computer interface system that is worn on the hands of a computer operator comprising:

a first fixed inner ring, said first inner ring being of a dimension suitable to be worn on a portion of one of the computer operator'"'"'s fingers;

a first rotatable outer ring;

means for producing horizontal cursor movement signals in response to the rotation of said first outer ring in relation to said first inner ring;

a second fixed inner ring, said second inner ring being of a dimension suitable to be worn on a portion of one of the computer operator'"'"'s fingers;

a second rotatable outer ring;

means for producing vertical cursor movement signals in response to the rotation of said second outer ring in relation to said second inner ring; and

means for producing entry control signals in response to the application of pressure on one of said outer rings toward the corresponding said inner ring.

19. A hand worn computer interface device in accordance with claim 18 further comprising:

an infrared light wave transmitter coupled to said rings for transmitting said cursor position control signals and said entry control signals to the computer processor in infrared light wave form; and

a receiver associated with the computer processor for receiving said infrared light waves.