Anti-rotation mechanism for direct manipulation position input controller for computer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for controlling the positioning of a pointer on a computer screen comprising:
- a housing,a finger-gripable element mounted in the housing for moving generally in two directions within the housing,said housing comprising an area edge means for limiting movement of the finger gripable element, means for detecting movement of said finger gripable element and translating said movement into a signal interpretable by a computer for making a similar movement of a pointer on a computer screen,means for connecting said finger gripable element to said means for detecting movement, said connecting means comprising a pantagraph means having a first connecting means and a second connecting means, said pantagraph means connected by said first connecting means to said finger gripable element and connected by said second connecting means to said housing,whereby movement of said finger gripable element causes similar movement of said computer screen pointer without permitting any rotation of the finger gripable element relative to the computer screen pointer.
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Abstract
An apparatus for inputting and controlling the position of a pointer on a computer screen without permitting any rotation of the apparatus relative to the marker is described. The apparatus comprises a pantagraph device, namely a plate, connect by two arms to a gripable element, and by a separate two arms to a housing, the apparatus being coupled to a position sensing system such as a mouse ball or optical sensing system. This apparatus can be used for easily and accurately controlling a pointer for painting programs and the like.
140 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling the positioning of a pointer on a computer screen comprising:
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a housing, a finger-gripable element mounted in the housing for moving generally in two directions within the housing, said housing comprising an area edge means for limiting movement of the finger gripable element, means for detecting movement of said finger gripable element and translating said movement into a signal interpretable by a computer for making a similar movement of a pointer on a computer screen, means for connecting said finger gripable element to said means for detecting movement, said connecting means comprising a pantagraph means having a first connecting means and a second connecting means, said pantagraph means connected by said first connecting means to said finger gripable element and connected by said second connecting means to said housing, whereby movement of said finger gripable element causes similar movement of said computer screen pointer without permitting any rotation of the finger gripable element relative to the computer screen pointer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer point system comprising:
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computer means including a monitor having a two-dimensional display on which a marker can be generated and moved within a display area of movement; a housing, a gripable element mounted in the housing for being gripped by a user and moved generally in two directions within said housing, said housing comprising an area edge means for limiting movement of the gripable element, means responsive to the movement of said gripable means for generating signals related to the movement of the gripable means for detecting movement of said finger gripable element and translating said movement into a signal interpretable by a computer for making a similar movement of a pointer on a computer screen, means for connecting said gripable element to said means for detecting movement, said connecting means comprising a pantagraph means having a first connecting means and a second connecting means, said pantagraph means connected by said first connecting means to said gripable element and connected by said second connecting means to said housing, whereby movement of said gripable element causes similar movement of said maker without permitting any rotation of the finger gripable element relative to the computer screen pointer.
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10. An apparatus for controlling the positioning of a pointer on a computer screen comprising:
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a housing, a gripable element mounted in said housing wherein said gripable element moves generally in two directions within said housing, said housing having a border to limit movement of said gripable element, a position sensing device that detects movement of said gripable element and translates said movement into a signal interpretable by said computer for making a similar movement of said pointer on said computer screen, a connecting device attaching said gripable element to said position sensing device such that movement of said gripable element causes similar movement of said pointer on said computer screen without permitting any rotation of said gripable element relative to said pointer on said computer screen, said connecting device comprising a pantagraph device having a first connecting element and a second connecting element wherein said pantagraph device is connected by said first connecting element to said gripable element and connected by said second connecting element to said housing. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer system comprising:
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a display device having a two-dimensional display on which a marker can be displayed and moved, a housing, a gripable element mounted in said housing such that said gripable element can be gripped by a user and moved generally in two directions within said housing, said housing having a boundary for limiting movement of said gripable element, a position sensing device that generates signals related to the movement of said gripable element, said position sensing device detects movement of said gripable element and translates said movement into a signal interpretable by a computer for making a similar movement of said marker on said display device, a connecting device attaching said gripable element to said position sensing device such that movement of said gripable element causes similar movement of said marker on said display device wherein any rotation of said gripable element relative to said marker on said display device does not cause a rotation of said marker, said connecting device comprising a pantagraph device having a first connecting element and a second connecting element wherein said pantagraph device is connected by said first connecting element to said gripable element and connected by said second connecting element to said housing.
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Specification