Multiple signalling mouse with faceted surfaces

• US 5,754,168 A
• Filed: 03/06/1995
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart Tyrus Jr. Maynard
• Original Assignee: Stuart Tyrus Jr. Maynard
• Inventors: Maynard, Stuart Tyrus Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/400,122
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/164, 345/167, 345/156, 345/157, 345/165, 345/166, 345/158, 345/159, 74/47
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A conventional monoplane mouse is constructed to move on a flat surface upon a single plane within which a contained sphere may rotate tangential with the single plane contacting the flat surface. Signals fo XY cursor movement are derived from two or more counting sensors positioned at an equator of the rotatable sphere parallel with the single plane. The mouse invention defines two or more facets in the underside housing. The facet mouse can be tilted to one of the exclusive facets and moved on a flat surface to generate XY signals. The facet plane selected by tilt is identified by triggered pressure sensitive switches at each facet plane. The switches also function as undercarriage feet to define the virtual plane of contact to the flat surface. The facet planes in two and four facet embodiments are oriented with the orthogonally placed sphere counting sensors so that the intersect of any two opposing facets is parallel with the plane of rotation of one of the counting wheels. A single sphere and counter apparatus can serve all facets, being placed at the intersect of all facets. To aid the hand in applying continuous downward pressure to the mouse onto a preferred facet, a hinged and elevatable palm hood is attached to the top of the mouse. The mouse enables a new user interface beyond the traditional ones of: 1. clicking keys by a finger and 2. whole arm movement of a mouse on an XY surface. By a tilting wrist motion, the user may instantly and continuously toggle 2,4, or more selections assigned to the facets provided.

Claims

1. A mouse signaling device having an underside consisting of two plane surfaces and carrying a tracking sphere which protrudes from said underside providing a contact to an operating surface and being enabled to generate variable data signals through two orthogonally positioned counter wheels according to rolling motion of said tracking sphere over an operating surface wherein:

each of said plane surfaces bears a pair of feet

each said pair of feet in combination with said contact define three points of a plane of operation which may be tilted to a position congruent with said operating surface,

each said plane of operation meets at an intersect and said contact of said tracking sphere is positioned at said intersect,

pressure sensitive contact switches are provided in said feet,

said contact switches enable the toggling of on/off electrical circuit condition according to the tilting of any said plane of operation onto said operating surface said counting wheels contact said tracking sphere at a circumference which defines an upper and lower pole joined by a polar axis through the center of said tracking sphere,

said mouse is borne upon said tracking sphere during rolling motions across said operating surface and said mouse contacts the upper hemisphere of said tracking sphere along a circular bearing surface which defines a bearing angle at the center of said sphere,

said bearing angle defined by the intersecting angle of the polar axis and a line from the said center to said circular bearing surface,

an angle of tilt being defined, for any said plane of operation, as the intersecting angle of said polar axis and a line from said center perpendicular to any said plane of operation,

said bearing angle is greater than any said angle of tilt.

2. An invention as claimed in claim 1 wherein four or more faceted plane surfaces are formed on said underside,

said pair of feet are provided for each said plane surface wherein each foot occupies an intersection between adjacent planes,

said tracking sphere provides said contact at a point intersect common to all plane surfaces,

said action of tilting any said plane of operation upon said operating surface is enabled to be sensed by an on/off circuit requiring the condition that both contact switches in the pair of feet common to a plane of operation are actuated.

3. A mouse signaling device carrying a tracking sphere protruding from the underside of the mouse and having a point of contact with an operating surface and said tracking sphere enabled to generate variable data signals by rotational contact with counting wheels,

said underside being divided into more than two adjacent intersecting planar surfaces,

said intersecting planar surfaces demarcated by an equal number of consecutive intersect edges which converge to a common intersect point,

said sphere being positioned such that said point of contact with said operating surface is congruent with said common intersect point said sphere being operational to generate said variable data signals during complete tilting of said mouse onto any of said intersecting planar surfaces switches placed on said underside of said mouse

said switches being provided in quantity equal to the number of said planar surfaces and each said switch being positioned in a separate one of said intersect edges the tilting of said mouse onto any said intersecting planar surface being indicated by the presense of a stimulated condition for each of two of said switches said two of said switches reside in said consecutive edges which demarcate each adjacent planar surface.

4. A mouse signaling device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said switches are incorporated into feet provided at each said intersecting plane and said tilting onto each of said intersecting planes consists of positioning a virtual plane defined by three points in alignment with said operating surface, said three points comprising two said feet and said point of contact.