Computer input device and method for 3-D direct manipulation of graphic objects
First Claim
1. A computer input device comprising:
- a) a hand holdable housing;
b) a 2-D position sensor on the housing for monitoring movements of the housing relative to a surface under the housing;
c) a rotatable ring mounted to the housing for rotation about an axis, the rotatable ring having an exposed surface-contacting portion on a lower side of the housing, the surface-contacting portion lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis, the rotatable ring located so as to be rotatable about the axis by frictional contact between the surface-contacting portion and a surface under the housing when the housing is moved against the surface;
d) an encoder in the housing for sensing rotary motion about the axis of the rotatable ring relative to the housing; and
,e) means for transferring 2-D position information from the 2-D position sensor and rotation information from the encoder to a host computer system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer input device has a housing and position sensors in the housing which combine a two dimensional translation sensor, such as a rollerball, with a rotatable circular member, such as a rotatable ring. An encoder measures rotation of the ring relative to the housing and provides a third dimensional input to a host computer. The third dimensional input may be used by a host computer together with a two-dimensional input from the two dimensional position sensor to allow the simultaneous three dimensional direct manipulation of graphical objects on a computer display. Preferably the two dimensional translation sensor is located in the center of the ring. Preferably the two dimensional translation sensor can be disabled by tilting the housing to lift the two dimensional translation sensor out of contact with a surface while maintaining the ring in contact with the surface to provide a 1-D control. This device permits smooth intuitive switching between 1-D, 2-D and 3-D control modes.
100 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer input device comprising:
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a) a hand holdable housing; b) a 2-D position sensor on the housing for monitoring movements of the housing relative to a surface under the housing; c) a rotatable ring mounted to the housing for rotation about an axis, the rotatable ring having an exposed surface-contacting portion on a lower side of the housing, the surface-contacting portion lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis, the rotatable ring located so as to be rotatable about the axis by frictional contact between the surface-contacting portion and a surface under the housing when the housing is moved against the surface; d) an encoder in the housing for sensing rotary motion about the axis of the rotatable ring relative to the housing; and
,e) means for transferring 2-D position information from the 2-D position sensor and rotation information from the encoder to a host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system comprising:
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a) a display displaying an image of a graphical object; b) an input device, the input device comprising i) a hand holdable housing; ii) a 2-D position sensor in the housing for monitoring movements of the housing relative to a surface beneath a lower surface of the housing; iii) a circular member rotatably mounted to the housing and projecting from the lower surface of the housing, the circular member rotatable about an axis, the circular member having a surface-contacting portion comprising a circular rim lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis, the circular member located so as to be rotatable about the axis by frictional contact between the surface-contacting portion and a surface under the housing when the housing is moved against the surface with the plane of the surface-contacting portion inclined with respect to the surface; and
,iv) an encoder in the housing for obtaining rotation information by measuring rotary motion of the rotatable circular member relative to the housing; c) means for transferring rotation information from the encoder to a host computer; and
,d) means for controlling the image in response to changes in the rotation information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer system comprising:
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a) a display displaying an image of graphical objects in a 3-dimensional virtual space and a cursor in the virtual space, the cursor having a cursor location in the virtual space, the cursor location defined by 3 cursor coordinates; b) an input device, the input device comprising i) a hand holdable housing; ii) a 2-D position sensor in the housing for generating 2-D position information by measuring movements of the housing relative to a surface under the housing; iii) a member rotatably mounted to the housing for rotation about an axis, the member having a surface-contacting portion comprising a circular rim lying on an underside of the housing in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis, the circular rim located so as to be rotatable about the axis by frictional contact between the circular rim and the surface under the housing when the housing is moved against the surface with the axis generally perpendicular to the surface; and
,iv) an encoder in the housing for obtaining rotation information by measuring rotary motion of the rotatable circular member relative to the housing; c) means for transferring the 2-D position information and the rotation information to a host computer; and
,d) means for moving the cursor location in the virtual space comprising means for changing values of first and second ones of the three cursor coordinates in response to changes in the 2-D position information and changing a value of a third one of the three cursor coordinates in response to changes in the rotation information.
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19. A method for the direct manipulation of graphical objects displayed in a computer display, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a computer input device, the input device comprising; i) a hand holdable housing; ii) a 2-D position sensor in the housing for generating 2-D position information by measuring movement of the housing relative to a surface under the housing; iii) a rotatable circular member on a lower surface of the housing, the circular member located so as to be rotatable by frictional contact with the surface about an axis which is not parallel with the surface when the housing is moved against the surface; and
,iv) an encoder in the housing for generating rotation information by measuring rotation of the rotatable circular member relative to the housing about the axis; b) moving the housing relative to the surface so as to turn the rotatable circular member relative to the housing about the axis to generate rotation information; c) transferring the rotation information to a host computer system; and
,d) moving a graphical object on a display connected to the host computer system in response to the rotation information.
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20. A computer input device comprising:
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a) a hand holdable housing having a lower surface, the housing configured to sit upright on a surface under the housing; b) a member rotatably mounted to the housing for rotation about an axis of rotation, the rotatable member having a surface-contacting portion exposed on the lower surface of the housing, the surface-contacting portion lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis, the surface contacting portion oriented in the housing such that, when the housing is sitting upright on a surface, the plane of the surface-contacting portion is parallel to the surface, the rotatable member located so as to be rotatable about the axis by frictional contact between the surface-contacting portion and a surface under the housing; c) an encoder in the housing for sensing rotary motion about the axis of the rotatable member relative to the housing; and
,d) means for transferring rotation information from the encoder to a host computer system. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification