Apparatus for entering data into a computer

• US 6,480,184 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Price, Travis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US08/993,371
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/163, 345/157
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention, in one embodiment, is a computer pointing device that includes: (1) a housing; (2) a first depressible button supported by the housing which, when pressed, causes a first signal to be generated; (3) a second depressible button supported by the housing which, when pressed, causes a second signal to be generated; (4) a cable coupled to transmit the first signal and the second signal; and (5) a lever pivotably coupled to the housing at one end.

Claims

1. A computer pointing device, comprising;

housing;

a mouse component enclosed within the housing, the mouse component adapted to generate a signal representing movement of the pointing device in a plane; and

a lever pivotably coupled to the housing at one end, the lever adapted to generate the signal when the lever is disturbed from a neutral position.

2. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the lever is adapted to be disturbed from the neutral position by a finger or thumb of a user.

3. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a joystick.

4. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the lever is disposed generally upward from the housing.

5. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the lever is disposed generally to the side of the housing.

6. The computer pointing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an underside of the housing, said underside exposing a ball, the ball being one element of the mouse component, the ball adapted to roll in response to movement of the pointing device in the plane; and

feet extendible and retractable from the underside of the housing.

7. The computer pointing device of claim 6, wherein the housing is raised from a surface when said feet are extended.

8. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the pointing device is contoured to fit a palm of a hand of a user.

9. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the lever is adapted to be pivotable 360 degrees from the neutral position.

10. The computer pointing device of claim 1, further comprising a first depressible button supported by the housing, the first depressible button adapted to generate a first button signal when the first button is depressed.

11. The computer pointing device of claim 1, further comprising a second depressible button supported by the housing, the second depressible button adapted to generate a second button signal when the second button is depressed.

12. The computer pointing device of claim 11, further comprising a means for operatively coupling each of the signal, the first button signal and the second button signal to a computer system.

13. The computer pointing device of claim 12, the means for operatively coupling is selected from the group consisting of a cable, an infrared interface and a radio frequency interface.

14. The computer pointing device of claim 11, further comprising a third depressible button supported by the housing which, when depressed, causes the first button signal to be generated.

15. The computer pointing device of claim 14, wherein the pointing device further comprises a cable for operatively coupling each of the signal, the first button signal and the second button signal to a computer system.

16. The computer pointing device of claim 1, further comprising a means for operatively coupling the signal to a computer system.

17. The computer pointing device of claim 16, wherein the means for operatively coupling is selected from the group consisting of a cable, an infrared interface and a radio frequency interface.

18. A computer pointing device comprising:

a mouse adapted to generate a motion signal representing movement of the pointing device in a plane, the mouse including;

a first depressible button which, when depressed, cause a first button signal to be generated,

a second depressible button which, when depressed, cause a second button signal to be generated;

a joystick operably mounted to the mouse which, when activated causes the motion signal to be generated; and

a cable adapted to operatively couple the motion signal, the first signal, and the second signal to another device.

19. The computer pointing device of claim 18, further comprising a third depressible button supported by the mouse which, when depressed, causes the first button signal to be generated.

20. The computer pointing device of claim 18, wherein the joystick is disposed generally upward from the mouse.

21. The computer pointing device of claim 18, wherein the joystick 2 is disposed generally to the side of the mouse.

22. The computer pointing device of claim 18, wherein the mouse further includes a plurality of feet extendible and retractable from an underside thereof.

23. The computer pointing device of claim 22, wherein the feet are adapted to raise the device from a surface when extended.

24. The computer pointing device claim 18, wherein the device is contoured to fit a palm of a hand of a user.