Computer mouse
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system controller, comprising:
- a disc-shaped actuator having a circumferential edge, a center and a switch actuating member extending downward from the center, wherein the switch actuating member forms a fulcrum point about which the disc-shaped actuator rocks;
first switch means actuated in response to a depression of the disc-shaped actuator around its circumferential edge for generating cursor movement data wherein the disc-shaped actuator rocks about the fulcrum point to actuate the first switch means;
a second switch for generating cursor click data, the second switch positioned beneath the center of the disc-shaped actuator on which the fulcrum point of the switch actuating member of the disc-shaped actuator rests, the second switch being actuated by the downward movement of the switch actuating member forming the fulcrum point in response to a depression of the disc-shaped actuator at its center; and
wherein the fulcrum point formed by the actuating member is supported by the second switch as the disc-shaped actuator is depressed about its circumferential edge, causing the disc-shaped actuator to rock the fulcrum point to actuate the first switch means.
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Abstract
The present invention includes a remote mouse controller having a disc controller actuable by a user for the infrared remote signalling of all common mouse functional operations. Depression along the edge of the disc controller signals cursor movement and direction operations. Depression in the center of the disc controller signals selection of certain operational features such as the mouse "click", "double click" and "click-and-drag" operations. A plurality of user actuable fixed function and programmable function keys are also provided to facilitate user selection and input of keyboard type data.
65 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system controller, comprising:
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a disc-shaped actuator having a circumferential edge, a center and a switch actuating member extending downward from the center, wherein the switch actuating member forms a fulcrum point about which the disc-shaped actuator rocks; first switch means actuated in response to a depression of the disc-shaped actuator around its circumferential edge for generating cursor movement data wherein the disc-shaped actuator rocks about the fulcrum point to actuate the first switch means; a second switch for generating cursor click data, the second switch positioned beneath the center of the disc-shaped actuator on which the fulcrum point of the switch actuating member of the disc-shaped actuator rests, the second switch being actuated by the downward movement of the switch actuating member forming the fulcrum point in response to a depression of the disc-shaped actuator at its center; and wherein the fulcrum point formed by the actuating member is supported by the second switch as the disc-shaped actuator is depressed about its circumferential edge, causing the disc-shaped actuator to rock the fulcrum point to actuate the first switch means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system, comprising:
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computer means responsive to a control signal for moving a displayed cursor and selecting a computer operational feature; a computer controller including a disc-shaped controller having a circumferential edge, a center with an actuating member extending therefrom wherein the actuating member forms a fulcrum point about which the disc-shaped controller rocks, first switch means positioned about and actuated by a depression of the edge of the disc-shaped controller wherein the disc-shaped controller rocks about the fulcrum point to actuate the first switch means, a second switch positioned beneath the center of the disc-shaped controller on which the fulcrum point formed by the actuating member of the disc-shaped controller rests, the second switch being actuated by the downward movement of the actuating member forming the fulcrum in response to a depression of the disc-shaped controller at its center, wherein the fulcrum point formed by the actuating member is supported by the second switch as the disc-shaped controller is depressed about its edge, causing the disc-shaped controller to rock about the fulcrum point to actuate the first switch means without substantial horizontal movement of the fulcrum point across the second switch; and
processor means responsive to the actuation of the first switch means for formatting a control signal for moving the cursor, and responsive to the actuation of the second switch for formatting a control signal for selecting a computer operational feature; andcommunications means for transmitting the control signal from the computer controller to the computer means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system controller, comprising:
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a disc-shaped actuator having a circumferential edge and a center; a plurality of first switches actuated in response to a depression of the disc-shaped actuator around its circumferential edge wherein the disc-shaped actuator rocks about a fulcrum point without substantial horizontal movement to actuate the first switches, the fulcrum point formed by a switch actuating member extending downward from the center of the disc-shaped actuator; and processor means for sequentially scanning the plurality of first switches for actuation and for formatting in response to each scan of the plurality of first switches a data pair signal for output comprising a data code for each of up to two first scanned actuated switches. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A remote control mouse for a computer comprising:
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a housing including transmitter in the housing for sending encoded, wireless signals from the housing to a receiver associated with a computer; a first switch disposed within the housing for actuation in response to applied pressure; a plurality of second switches disposed within the housing and arrayed around the first switch in a substantially circular pattern with the first switch in a center of the array, each of the plurality of second switches being respectively actuatable in response to pressure applied to the respective switch; a cursor controller having a circumferential edge, a center and a fulcrum extending therefrom, the fulcrum being supported in the housing for manual actuation on the first switch for rocking the actuator about the fulcrum to actuate any one or more of the plurality second switches in response to a force applied to a point on the circumference of the actuator, and for actuating the first switch in response to pressure applied to the center of the actuator; and a processor in communication with the first switch, the plurality of second switches and the wireless transmitter, the processor including means for encoding the signal sent by the transmitter with a first data code in response to actuation of the first switch and a second data code in response to actuation of one the plurality of second switches. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification