Mouse pointing device having integrated touchpad
First Claim
1. A mouse pointing device comprising:
- a mouse body moveable over a substantially planar surface;
a mouse movement tracking mechanism, coupled to said mouse body, for producing movement data regarding movement of said mouse body relative to said substantially planar surface; and
a user position tracking mechanism, having a pressure-sensitive touchpad occupying a portion of a surface of said mouse body, for producing contact data regarding contact between said touchpad and a user, said contact data including location data regarding a location of a contact point, between said touchpad and said user, said touchpad including demarcations defining virtual buttons on said touchpad for use in a graphical user interface mode, said mouse movement tracking mechanism and said user position tracking mechanism configured such that a user need not take action to disable one of said tracking mechanisms in order to for said user to use the other one of said tracking mechanisms.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mouse pointing device and a method of providing movement data and position data with a mouse pointing device. The device comprises: (1) a mouse body adapted to traverse a substantially planar surface, (2) a mouse movement tracking mechanism, coupled to the mouse body, for producing movement data regarding movement of the mouse body relative to the substantially planar surface and (3) a user position tracking mechanism, having a substantially planar mechanism surface occupying a portion of a surface of the mouse body, for producing contact data regarding contact between the mechanism surface and a user, the contact data including location data regarding a location of a contact point, on a plane of the mechanism surface, between the mechanism surface and the user.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A mouse pointing device comprising:
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a mouse body moveable over a substantially planar surface; a mouse movement tracking mechanism, coupled to said mouse body, for producing movement data regarding movement of said mouse body relative to said substantially planar surface; and a user position tracking mechanism, having a pressure-sensitive touchpad occupying a portion of a surface of said mouse body, for producing contact data regarding contact between said touchpad and a user, said contact data including location data regarding a location of a contact point, between said touchpad and said user, said touchpad including demarcations defining virtual buttons on said touchpad for use in a graphical user interface mode, said mouse movement tracking mechanism and said user position tracking mechanism configured such that a user need not take action to disable one of said tracking mechanisms in order to for said user to use the other one of said tracking mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of providing movement data and position data with a mouse pointing device, comprising the steps of:
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traversing a substantially planar surface with a mouse body of said mouse pointing device; producing movement data with a mouse movement tracking mechanism coupled to said mouse body, said movement data regarding movement of said mouse body relative to said substantially planar surface; and producing contact data with a user position tracking mechanism having a substantially planar pressure-sensitive touchpad occupying a portion of a surface of said mouse body, said contact data regarding contact between said touchpad and a user, said contact data including location data regarding a location of a contact point, between said touchpad and said user, said touchpad including demarcations defining virtual buttons on said touchpad for use in a graphical user interface mode, said mouse movement tracking mechanism and said user position tracking mechanism configured such that a user need not take action to disable one of said tracking mechanisms in order to for said user to use the other one of said tracking mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A mouse pointing device comprising:
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a mouse body moveable over a substantially planar surface; a mouse movement tracking mechanism, coupled to said mouse body, for producing movement data regarding movement of said mouse body relative to said substantially planar surface; and a user position tracking mechanism, including a pressure-sensitive touchpad occupying a portion of a surface of said mouse body, for producing contact data regarding contact between said mechanism surface and a user, said contact data including location data regarding a location of a contact point, between said touchpad and said user, said touchpad including demarcations defining virtual buttons on said touchpad for use in a graphical user interface mode; communication and control circuitry, contained within said mouse body, for transmitting said movement data and said contact data to an associated computer system; and a driver, executable in general purpose data processing and storage circuitry in said associated computer system, for receiving said movement and position data from said communication and control circuitry, said driver making said movement and position data available to an application program executable on said general purpose data processing and storage circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of providing movement data and position data with a mouse pointing device, comprising the steps of:
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traversing a substantially planar surface with a mouse body of said mouse pointing device; producing movement data with a mouse movement tracking mechanism coupled to said mouse body, said movement data regarding movement of said mouse body relative to said substantially planar surface; and producing contact data with a user position tracking mechanism including a pressure-sensitive touchpad occupying a portion of a surface of said mouse body, said contact data regarding contact between said mechanism surface and a user, said contact data including location data regarding a location of a contact point, between said touchpad and said user, said touchpad including demarcations defining virtual buttons on said touchpad for use in a graphical user interface mode; transmitting said movement data and said contact data to an associated computer system with communication and control circuitry contained within said mouse body; and receiving said movement and position data from said communication and control circuitry into a driver, executable on said general purpose data processing and storage circuitry in said associated computer system, said driver making said movement and position data available to an application program executable on said general purpose data processing and storage circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification