Three-dimensional mouse with tactile feedback
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A three-dimensional, user interactive mouse for interfacing with a central processing unit, the mouse comprising:
- a hand-held housing substantially contoured to the user'"'"'s hand when in a gripping position, the housing adapted to be used in free space and having a generally vertical orientation relative to a user;
means, mounted in the housing, for locating the mouse in free space, which locating means includes means for transmitting the location to the central processing unit; and
ambidextrous deformable means, movably disposed within the housing, for providing a variation of a physical property to be sensed, wherein the deformable means comprises a thumb push button, an index finger push button, and a grip push button, each of the thumb, index finger and grip push buttons positioned on the housing at a respective location adjacent the natural placement of the user'"'"'s thumb, index finger and grip when held in front of the user by either a right or a left hand.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional mouse is disclosed for interfacing with a central processing unit. The mouse comprises a hand-held housing adapted to be used in free space. The housing has a generally vertical orientation relative to the user. A mechanism, mounted in the housing, is provided for locating the mouse with respect to at least one of spatial dimension and orientational dimension, which locating mechanism includes a mechanism for transmitting the location to a central processing unit.
487 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional, user interactive mouse for interfacing with a central processing unit, the mouse comprising:
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a hand-held housing substantially contoured to the user'"'"'s hand when in a gripping position, the housing adapted to be used in free space and having a generally vertical orientation relative to a user; means, mounted in the housing, for locating the mouse in free space, which locating means includes means for transmitting the location to the central processing unit; and ambidextrous deformable means, movably disposed within the housing, for providing a variation of a physical property to be sensed, wherein the deformable means comprises a thumb push button, an index finger push button, and a grip push button, each of the thumb, index finger and grip push buttons positioned on the housing at a respective location adjacent the natural placement of the user'"'"'s thumb, index finger and grip when held in front of the user by either a right or a left hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A three-dimensional, user interactive mouse for interfacing with a central processing unit, the mouse comprising:
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a hand-held housing substantially contoured to the user'"'"'s hand when in a gripping position, the housing adapted to be used in free space and having a generally vertical orientation relative to a user; ambidextrous deformable means, movably disposed within the housing, for providing a variation of a physical property to be sensed, wherein the deformable means comprises a thumb push button, an index finger push button, and a grip push button, each of the thumb, index finger and grip push buttons positioned on the housing at a respective location adjacent the natural placement of the user'"'"'s thumb, index finger and grip when held in front of the user by either a right or a left hand; and at least one of an ultrasonic sensor and a magnetic sensor secured within the housing, for locating the mouse with respect to at least one of spatial dimension and orientational dimension, which locating means includes means for transmitting the location to the central processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification