Cursor control apparatus having foot operated pedal and method for same

• US 5,635,957 A
• Filed: 06/24/1996
• Issued: 06/03/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Blatt, Miriam, Feierbach, Gary F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALBERT, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US08/669,597
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-184
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a computer having a display. The computer is programmed to provide an indicia on the display. The apparatus includes a control device adapted to be electrically connected to the computer and having an indicia control element for moving the indicia across the display. At least one foot pedal and at least one electrical connector for electrically connecting the at least one foot pedal to the control device are provided. The at least one foot pedal can be used to click on the indicia on the display. A method for operating the computer with the apparatus is provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a display, a computer programmed to provide an indicia on the display and a mouse electrically connected to the computer for moving the indicia across the display and clicking on the indicia, comprising a switch having an output node adapted for electrically connecting the switch to the mouse, a power supply electrically coupled to the switch and a foot pedal which is closed when at rest electrically coupled to the switch, the switch and the power supply included within circuitry for clicking on the indicia by moving the foot pedal to an open position so that either the foot pedal which is closed when at rest or the mouse can be used to click on the indicia on the display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 together with an inductor coupled in parallel with a diode, the inductor and diode electrically coupled to the switch for modulating the switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mouse includes at least first and second buttons to click on the indicia on the display, an additional switch having an output node adapted for electrically connecting the additional switch to the mouse, the power supply being electrically coupled to the additional switch and an additional foot pedal electrically coupled to the additional switch, the additional foot pedal being closed when at rest.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch is a transistor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inductor and diode are electrically coupled between the foot pedal and the switch.

6. An apparatus for use with a display and a computer programmed to provide a cursor on the display, comprising a hand operable mouse adapted to be electrically connected to the computer, the mouse being provided with a cursor control element for moving the cursor across the display and at least one button to click on the cursor on the display, at least one foot pedal and circuitry for electrically connecting the foot pedal to the mouse so that either the mouse or the foot pedal can be used to provide a mouse output signal for clicking on the cursor on the display.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the circuitry includes a switch electrically coupled to the mouse and a power supply electrically coupled to the switch.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the foot pedal is closed when at rest.

9. A computer system comprising a monitor having a display, a computer programmed to provide an indicia on the display, a hand operable mouse electrically connected to the computer and having an indicia control element for moving the indicia across the display, a switch electrically coupled to the mouse, a power supply electrically coupled to the switch and at least one foot pedal which is closed when at rest electrically coupled to the switch so that either the mouse or the foot pedal can be used to provide a mouse output signal for clicking on the indicia on the display.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the switch is a transistor.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the mouse is electrically connected to the computer with first and second leads and the transistor has a collector and an emitter, the collector electrically connected to the first lead and the emitter electrically connected to the second lead.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the transistor has a base and the foot pedal is electrically connected to the base.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the indicia is a cursor.

14. A method for operating a system having a display, a computer programmed to provide an indicia on the display, a mouse electrically coupled to the computer and having a button, a switch electrically coupled to the mouse and at least one foot pedal and a power supply electrically coupled to the switch, comprising the steps of pushing on the foot pedal with a foot to provide a mouse output signal for clicking on the indicia on the display and pushing on the button of the mouse with a hand to provide a mouse output signal for clicking on the indicia on the display.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of manipulating a ball with a hand to move the indicia across the display.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of moving the indicia across the display with the mouse.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the foot pedal is closed when at rest.