Computer input device having multiple multi-dimensional detection devices

• US 6,184,869 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matter And Motion, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Matter And Motion, Inc.
• Inventors: Hayhurst, William F., Harding, Muir Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESPERANCE, JEAN E
• Application Number:
  US09/164,401
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/167, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 345/168
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer input device having multiple multi-directional detection devices that can be simultaneously operated by a user to provide multi-dimensional input to a computer is disclosed. The multi-directional detection devices are arranged on an input device housing to facilitate simultaneous operation by one hand of an operator. One multi-directional detection device may include a spherical ball located within the housing and protruding from a bottom surface of the housing so that when the housing is located on a horizontal surface and moved about, that ball rotates within the housing. Encoders detect the rotation of the ball and provide an indicative signal to circuitry located within the housing. Another multi-directional detection device may include a spherical ball located within the housing and protruding from a top surface of the housing. Encoders detect rotation of this ball and provide indicative signals to the circuitry. A user may directly manipulate the ball protruding from the upper surface while moving the housing, thus rotating the ball protruding from the bottom surface. The respective encoders from each detection device provide signals to the circuitry which in turn provides a multi-dimensional signal to a computer. A third multi-directional detection device may be provided that can be simultaneously operated with the first and second multi-directional detection devices. A third multi-directional detection device may be provided that can be simultaneously operated with the first or second multi-directional detection devices.

Claims

1. A computer input device, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a first multi-directional detection device coupled to the housing for detection of a first user input along a first and second axis of direction simultaneously, wherein the first multi-directional detection device provides a first multi-dimensional signal indicative of the first user input;

(c) a second multi-directional detection device coupled to the housing for detection of a second user input along a third and fourth axis of direction simultaneously, wherein the second multi-directional detection device provides a second multi-dimensional signal indicative of the second user input;

(d) wherein the first multi-directional detection device and the second multi-directional detection device are arranged on the housing to permit the first user input and the second user input to occur simultaneously; and

(e) a third multi-directional detection device coupled to the housing for detection of a third user input along two axes of direction simultaneously, wherein the third multi-directional detection device provides a third multi-dimensional signal indicative of the third user input, and wherein the second detection device is located on a first lower surface of the housing and the third detection device is located on a second lower surface of the housing such that when the housing is oriented in a first orientation the second user input includes moving the housing on a supporting surface to provide the second multi-dimensional signal, and when the housing is oriented in a second orientation the third user input includes moving the housing to provide the third multi-dimensional signal and the first detection device is arranged on the housing to permit the first user input and the second user input simultaneously, and the first user input and the third user input simultaneously, respectively.

2. The input device of claim 1 further comprising a circuit coupled to the housing for receiving the first and second multi-dimensional signals and the circuit provides a third multi-dimensional signal indicative of the simultaneous generation of the first and second user input.

3. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first detection device provides the first multi-dimensional signal in accordance with movement of the housing and the second detection device provides the second multi-dimensional signal in accordance with direct manipulation of the second detection device by a user.

4. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first detection device is located on a top surface of the housing and the second detection device is located on a bottom surface of the housing.

5. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first detection device comprises a first ball in communication with a first encoder and rotation of the first ball operates the first encoder and the first encoder provides the first multi-dimensional signal and the second detection device comprises a second ball in communication with a second encoder and rotation of the second ball operates the second encoder to produce the multi-dimensional second signal.

6. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first detection device comprises a touch pad located on an upper surface of the housing and user contact with the touch pad provides the first multi-dimensional signal, and the second detection device comprises a sphere in communication with encoders and rotation of the sphere operates the encoders to produce the second multi-dimensional signal.

7. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first detection device comprises a joystick located on an upper surface of the housing and operation of the joystick provides the first multi-dimensional signal, and the second detection device comprises a sphere in communication with encoders and rotation of the sphere operates the encoders to provide the second multi-dimensional signal.

8. A computer input device for providing signals to a computer indicative of a user'"'"'s operation of the input device, comprising:

(a) a housing having a first portion and a second portion and wherein the housing includes a first orientation relative to a supporting surface and a second orientation relative to the supporting surface;

(b) a first multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the first detection device provides a first multi-dimensional signal indicative of the user operation and wherein the first detection device is located on the first portion of the housing;

(c) a second multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the second detection device provides a second multi-dimensional signal indication of the user operation and wherein the second detection device is located on the second portion of the housing;

(d) whereby the first detection device can be operated by moving the housing when the housing is in the first orientation and the second detection device can be operated by moving the housing when the housing is in the second orientation; and

a third multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the third detection device provides a third multi-dimensional signal indication of the user operation and wherein the housing includes an upper surface, a first lower surface on the first portion and a second lower surface on the second portion, and wherein the first detection device is located proximate the first lower surface and the second detection device is located proximate the second lower surface and the third detection device is located on the upper surface whereby the third detection device can be operated simultaneously with the first detection device when the housing is oriented in the first orientation and the third detection device can be operated simultaneously with the second detection device when the housing is oriented in the second orientation.

9. A computer input device for providing signals to a computer indicative of a user'"'"'s operation of the input device, comprising

(a) a housing having a first portion and a second portion and wherein the housing includes a first orientation relative to a supporting surface and a second orientation relative to the supporting surface;

(b) a first multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the first detection device provides a first multi-dimensional signal indicative of the user operation and wherein the first detection device is located on the first portion of the housing; and

(c) a second multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the second detection device provides a second multi-dimensional signal indication of the user operation and wherein the second detection device is located on the second portion of the housing;

(d) whereby the first detection device can be operated by moving the housing when the housing is in the first orientation and the second detection device can be operated by moving the housing when the housing is in the second orientation;

and wherein the housing includes an upper surface, a first lower surface, and a second lower surface, and a ridge separates the first lower surface from the second lower surface and in the first orientation the first lower surface is proximate the supporting surface to permit operation of the first detection device, and in the second orientation the second lower surface is proximate the supporting surface to permit operation of the second detection device.

10. The input device of claim 9 wherein the housing is elongate and the ridge is substantially linear and arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

11. The input device of claim 9 wherein the housing is elongate and the ridge is substantially linear and arranged substantially parallel to a lateral axis of the housing.

12. A computer input device for providing signals to a computer indicative of a user'"'"'s operation of the input device, comprising:

(a) a housing having a first portion and a second portion and wherein the housing includes a first orientation relative to a supporting surface and a second orientation relative to the supporting surface;

(b) a first multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the first detection device provides a first multi-dimensional signal indicative of the user operation and wherein the first detection device is located on the first portion of the housing; and

(c) a second multi-directional detection device that can be operated by a user along two axes simultaneously and the second detection device provides a second multi-dimensional signal indication of the user operation and wherein the second detection device is located on the second portion of the housing;

(d) whereby the first detection device can be operated by moving the housing when the housing is in the first orientation and the second detection device can be operated by moving the housing when the housing is in the second orientation;

and wherein the first detection device is a first sphere and a first encoder to detection motion of the first sphere and the second detection device is a second sphere and a second encoder to detect motion of the second sphere, wherein in the first orientation the first sphere contacts the supporting surface and movement of the housing rotates the first sphere within the housing and the first encoder provides a first multi-dimensional signal indicative of the user'"'"'s operation of the input device, and in the second orientation the second sphere contacts the supporting surface and movement of the housing rotates the second sphere within the housing and the second encoder provides a second multi-dimensional signal indicative of the user'"'"'s operation of the input device.