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Single hand-controlled computer input device

  • US 5,661,505 A
  • Filed: 01/13/1995
  • Issued: 08/26/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A single-hand controller keyboard comprising a movable housing having remote and proximate portions relative to the position of the user of the input device, said proximate portion forming a hand supporting surface suitable for placement of the palm of a user and defining a longitudinal reference line generally parallel to the direction of the hand and fingers of the user when the hand is supported on said proximate portion during use of the input device;

  • moving means for moving said housing between three stable positions including two end positions and one intermediate position relative to said reference line and for normally maintaining said housing in said stable intermediate position substantially midway between said two end positions, said moving means comprising rocking means for rocking said housing about at least one pivot axis between two angular end positions relative to aid pivot axis and for normally maintaining said housing in a generally stable position substantially midway between said two angular end positions, said hand-actuated selector switch means selecting one of the functions and associated signals for each of said angular positions of said movable housing about said axis;

    at least one finger-actuated multi-function means on said remote portion capable of selectively generating one of a number of different signals to be inputted to a computer upon actuation by a finger of the user; and

    hand actuated selector switch means for selecting one of the functions and associated signals of a selected multi-function means for each of said stable positions of said housing, said at least one finger-actuated multi-function means including a cluster of actuatable character keys mounted on said remote portion and being actuatable by the tips of the fingers of the user, each of said character keys serving as a separate finger actuated multi-function means representing a plurality of alpha-numeric characters and/or symbols that can be inputted to a computer by initial pre-selective rocking movement of said housing by the movements of one hand to actuate said hand-actuated selector switch means and subsequent selective actuation of said character keys by movements of the fingers.

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