Computer input device for use in conjunction with a mouse input device
First Claim
1. A computer input device for connection to an input port of a computer and for use in conjunction with a hand-controlled mouse input device, comprising:
- a multi-layer body having at least one layer comprising a resilient material,a planar upper surface layer of said body for receiving said mouse device,a plurality of capacitive touch sensors positioned in said body below said planar upper surface layer, wherein said mouse input device can operate above said capacitive touch sensors,an electronic circuit located in said body and connected to said capacitive touch sensors for detecting when a capacitive body comes into proximity to any one of said touch sensors to generate a touch signal corresponding to said one touch sensor upon said detecting, anda communication link from said electronic circuit to said input port of said computer for conveying said touch signals to said computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer input device is used in conjunction with a mouse input device. The computer input device of the invention comprises a body having a resilient layer covered by a surface layer textured throughout the entirety of the surface for operation of the mouse. A printed circuit card is incorporated in the body between the resilient layer and the upper surface layer and includes a plurality of capacitive touch sensor pads. The card further includes electronic circuitry for operating the touch sensor pads to detect when a capacitive object, such as a fingertip, is in the proximity of a sensor pad. A touch need not apply force to register. The printed circuit card includes a guard ring pad surrounding the touch pads which detects the presence of the mouse over the sensor pads and indicates that any detected outputs from the sensor pads are not valid, but instead are due to the presence of the mouse. The mouse can operate over the entirety of the surface of the device without interruption, including over the capacitive sensor pads. The input device can be connected to a personal computer through a mouse port, a keyboard port, a universal serial bus or any other available port of the computer. Other computer system components, such as a keyboard or mouse, can be connected directly or indirectly through this input device.
187 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer input device for connection to an input port of a computer and for use in conjunction with a hand-controlled mouse input device, comprising:
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a multi-layer body having at least one layer comprising a resilient material, a planar upper surface layer of said body for receiving said mouse device, a plurality of capacitive touch sensors positioned in said body below said planar upper surface layer, wherein said mouse input device can operate above said capacitive touch sensors, an electronic circuit located in said body and connected to said capacitive touch sensors for detecting when a capacitive body comes into proximity to any one of said touch sensors to generate a touch signal corresponding to said one touch sensor upon said detecting, and a communication link from said electronic circuit to said input port of said computer for conveying said touch signals to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer input device for connection to an input port of a computer and for use in conjunction with a hand-controlled mouse input device, comprising:
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a multi-layer body having at least one layer comprising a resilient material, a planar upper surface layer of said body for receiving said mouse device, a plurality of user input capacitive touch sensors positioned in said body below said planar upper surface layer, a guard ring touch sensor having at least a portion thereof adjacent each of said user input capacitive touch sensors, an electronic circuit positioned in said body and connected to said user input and guard ring capacitive touch sensors for detecting when a capacitive body comes into proximity to any one of said touch sensors to generate a touch signal corresponding to said one touch sensor upon said detecting, and a communication link from said electronic circuit to a port of said computer for conveying said touch signal to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification