Two-handed input control apparatus and method

• US 6,486,868 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randal N. Kazarian
• Original Assignee: Randal N. Kazarian
• Inventors: Kazarian, Randal N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osorio, Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US09/349,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/161, 345/167, 345/168, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for inputting data including controls to a computer, or other equipment, such as for CAD, three-dimensional (3D) modeling and animation systems and for motion control. Included are a two-handed, hand-held apparatus and a method for inputting data, including alpha-numeric information and control signals, while using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of input and/or control devices, each having input elements for inputting data to a computer or other equipment by the transmission of signals to such computer or equipment, and a pair of holders that mount the input devices and have holding portions and hand resting portions. The holders are releasably joined in back-to-back relation by a connector mechanism that allows the holders to be individually held in free space by and between the two hands of a user. The apparatus can be used in any position but the preferred method of use involves turning or rotating the hands so that a selected input device is positioned on top in a convenient position for manipulation by the uppermost hand while it rests on the uppermost holder and while the entire apparatus is being supported by the lowermost hand. More specifically, the connector mechanism pivotally interconnects the holders for movement about a fixed axis and has features which enable the holders and their input devices to be separated from the apparatus so that they can be interchanged with other holders mounting different input devices. In addition, the holders are mounted for pivoting movement about a second axis in angular relation to the first axis.

Claims

1. A hand-held input control apparatus, comprising:

a pair of holders each having a hand-grasping portion and a device-mounting portion and being pivotally interconnected by a connector so that the holders are pivotally moveable relative to each other around a pivot axis;

a signal generating device supported by each holder and operable to transmit signals,

the connector joining the holders with the hand-grasping portions and the device mounting portions disposed outwardly of the holders and so that the holders can be moved relative to each other when the hand-grasping portions are both grasped individually in the left and right hands of the user and the user moves his or her hands relative to each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the holders are pivoted about a single axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the holders are pivoted about multiple axes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the holders are interconnected by first and second pivots whose axes are disposed transversely of each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein said axes are perpendicular to each other.

2. A hand-held input control apparatus, comprising:

a pair of holders;

a connector pivotally joining the holders in X-shaped relation so that the holders are pivotally moveable relative to each other around a pivot axis into and out of overlying and X-shaped positions when the user grasps the holders and moves his or her hands relative to each other; and

an input control element supported by each holder and engageable by a finger of a user'"'"'s hand holding the holder.

3. A hand-held input control apparatus, comprising:

a pair of hand-held holders positioned in opposed relation to each other,

a connector pivotally interconnecting the holders for movement in separate planes relative to each other about a pivot axis that is disposed transversely of the planes;

a signal generating device supported by each holder and operable to transmit signals; and

an input control element supported by each holder, engageable by a finger of a user'"'"'s hand holding the holder, and capable of actuating the signal generating device.

8. A hand-held input control apparatus, comprising:

a pair of holders interconnected so that they are pivotally moveable relative to each other when the user grasps the holders and moves his or her hands relative to each other around a pivot axis; and

a signal generating device supported by each holder and operable to transmit signals,

wherein the holders are interconnected by a first pivot having a first axis disposed transversely of the holders, and

wherein the holders are interconnected by second pivots each having a second axis disposed transversely of the first axis, said second axes being parallel to each other.

9. A hand-held input control apparatus, comprising:

a pair of pivotally interconnected handles pivotally moveable relative to each other when the user grasps the handles and moves his or her hands relative to each other;

an electronic device supported by each handle and operable to transmit signals during pivotal movement of the handles;

an input control element supported by each handle, engageable by a finger of a user'"'"'s hand holding the handle, and capable of actuating the electronic device,

the handles being interconnected by a first pivot having a first axis disposed transversely of the handles, and

the handles being interconnected by second pivots each having a second axis disposed transversely of the first axis, said second axes being parallel to each other.

10. A hand-held input control apparatus, comprising:

first and second handles each including a hand-grasping portion and a device-mounting portion;

an input control device mounted on the device mounting portion of each handle, and

a connector joining the handles with the hand-grasping portions and the input control devices disposed outwardly of the handles and so that the handles can be moved relative to each other when the hand-grasping portions are individually grasped in the left and right hands of the user and the user moves his or her hands relative to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the connector includes a pivot having an axis about which said relative movement of the handles occurs.

12. The apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the connector includes multiple pivots each having an axis about which said relative movement of the handles occurs.

13. The apparatus of claim 12,

wherein one of said multiple pivots has a first axis that is disposed transversely of the handles;

and

wherein another of said multiple pivots has a second axis that is disposed transversely of the first axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the connector includes a connecting mechanism that provides first and second coupling units respectively connected to the first and second handles and being pivotally interconnected for relative pivotal movement about said first axis;

wherein the connecting mechanism includes first and second adapters respectively attached to the first and second coupling units; and

wherein the first and second handles are respectively pivotally connected to the first and second adapters for pivotal movement of each handle relative to its adapter about its respective second axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 14,

wherein the second axes are perpendicular to the first axis.

16. A hand-held input control apparatus comprising,

a pair of holders;

a connector having multiple pivots including a first pivot interconnecting the holders so that they are pivotally interconnected in X-shaped relation and so that the holders are moveable relative to each other when the user grasps a holder in each hand and rotates his or her arms about their longitudinal axes;

the connector including a second pivot for each holder, each second pivot having a second axis about which its respective holder pivots when the user grasps a holder in each hand and tilts his or her hands toward or away from each other; and

an electronic device supported by each holder and operable to transmit signals.

17. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein the second axes are perpendicular to the first axis.

18. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein the holders are first and second holders,

wherein the connector includes a connecting mechanism that provides first and second coupling units respectively connected to the first and second holders and being pivotally interconnected for relative pivotal movement about said first axis;

wherein the connecting mechanism includes first and second adapters respectively attached to the first and second coupling units,

wherein the first and second holders are respectively pivotally connected to the first and second adapters for pivotal movement of each holder relative to its adapter about its respective second axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein the holders are pivoted about the first axis in an X-shaped relation.

20. The apparatus to claim 16,

wherein the holders are pivoted about their respective second axes in a teeter-totter relation.

21. The apparatus of claim 16,

wherein the holders are pivoted about the first axis in an X-shaped relation,

wherein the holders are pivoted about their respective second axes in a teeter-totter relation.

22. A hand-held inputting apparatus, comprising:

first and second holders each including a hand-grasping portion having a hand resting surface and a device-mounting portion having a mounting surface;

an input device mounted on the mounting surface of the device mounting portion of each holder and having finger-engaging elements engagable by the fingers of a hand grasping the band-grasping portion; and

a connector pivotally joining the holders with the hand-grasping portions and the input control devices disposed outwardly of the holders and so that the holders can be moved relative to each other when the hand-grasping portions are individually grasped in the left and right hands of the user and the user moves his or her hands relative to each other.

23. The apparatus of claims 22,

wherein the holders are movable in respective first planes that are perpendicular to said pivot axis.

24. The apparatus of claim 23,

wherein each hand resting surface is tangent to a second plane;

and

wherein the first and second planes are angularly related to each other.

25. The apparatus of claim 23,

wherein each hand resting surface is tangent to a second plane;

and

wherein the first and second planes are parallel to each other.

26. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein each hand-resting surface is flat.

27. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein each hand-resting surface is rounded.

28. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein the hand-grasping portions and the hand-resting surfaces are generally semi-cylindrical.

29. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein the finger-engaging elements are on the fronts of the holders.

30. The apparatus of claim 23,

when there is a finger-engaging elements are on the side of each holder.

31. The apparatus of claim 23,

wherein the holders have outwardly facing fronts and sides;

and

where the finger-engaging elements are on the fronts and sides of the holders.

32. A hand-held input control apparatus adapted to be operated using both hands of a user, comprising:

a pair of holders each having a front portion and a back portion and a longitudinal axis and hand-holding portions capable of being held individually in the two hands of a user so that the longitudinal axis of each holder is generally in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the arm of the hand that holds the holder;

a connector interconnecting the holders in back-to-back relation so that the front portions are disposed outwardly and so that the longitudinal axes can be moved into and out of X-shaped relation; and

a signal generator mounted on each holder adapted to generate signals during movement of the holders,

said connector enabling the holders to be moved through separate arcuate paths between a first position with one of the input devices facing upwardly under the right hand of the user and a second position with the other input device facing upwardly under the left hand of the user while the holders are held in the two hands of the user with said axes remaining in general alignment with the longitudinal axes of the user'"'"'s respective arms holding the holders.

33. The apparatus of claim 32,

wherein the connector interconnects the holders so that the longitudinal axes can be moved into and out of parallel relation with each other.

34. A two-handed input control apparatus comprising:

first and second housings;

a hand-operated input device mounted on each housing,

each of the housings having a hand-holding portion enabling it to be held in the hand of a user in such a way that the hand can reach and manipulate the input device mounted thereon;

a first pivot interconnecting the housings for pivotal movement relative to each other when one housing is held in one hand of a user and the other housing is held in the other hand of the user and the housings are pivoted back and forth relative to each other between a first position wherein the first housing and its input device on top of the second housing and a second position wherein the second housing and its input device are on the top of the first housing, whereby the input device selected for the top position is in a convenient position for manipulation;

second pivots interconnecting the housings for pivotal movement relative to each other when one housing is held in one hand of a user and the other housing is held in the other hand of the user and the housings are pivoted back and forth toward and away from each other; and

an electronic signal transmitting device in each housing responsive to manipulation of the input devices.

35. A method of controlling equipment with a two-handed, hand-held apparatus which mounts a plurality of control devices for pivotal movement relative to each other, comprising the steps of:

holding the control devices in and between both hands with the fingers of each hand disposed over a control device in a position to manipulate the device;

rotating the hands about the longitudinal axes of their respective arms in the same clockwise or counterclockwise direction and without appreciable bending of the wrists to rotate the devices and place them in various selected positions including positions wherein one device is above the other and side-by-side positions thereby to place one or both devices in the most convenient position for manipulation by the user, and

manipulating the devices alternately or simultaneously in said selected positions.

36. The method of claim 35, including the further steps of:

pivoting the hands toward and away from each other about axes perpendicular to said longitudinal axes to move the devices into various other selected positions.

37. A method of inputting data into a computer or other electronic or electro-optical equipment with a two-handed, hand-held apparatus providing a plurality of input devices interconnected for movement relative to each other and one or more sensors responsive to movement of the devices, comprising the steps of:

holding the input devices in and between both hands with fingers of each hand disposed over an input device in a position to manipulate the device;

rotating the hands in the same clockwise or counterclockwise direction without appreciably bending the wrists and while holding the devices to place one device in an uppermost position relative to the other device thereby to actuate said one or more sensors;

and bending the wrists back and forth while holding the devices to move the devices in unison toward and away from each other thereby to actuate said one or more sensors.

38. The method of claim 37,

wherein the rotating step is carried out without appreciable bending the wrists.

39. The method of claim 37,

wherein the bending step is carried out without rotating the hands.

40. The method of claim 37,

wherein the rotating and bending steps are carried out simultaneously.

41. A method of inputting data into a computer or other electronic or electro-optical equipment with a two-handed, hand-held apparatus providing a plurality of input devices interconnected for pivotal movement relative to each other about a first axis wherein the devices move in X-shaped relation to each other and about second axes wherein the devices move in a teeter-totter relation to each other and also providing first and second sensors respectively responsive to movement about the first and second axes. comprising the steps of:

holding the input devices in and between both hands with fingers of each hand disposed over an input device in a position to manipulate the device;

pivoting the devices in the same clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the first axis to actuate a first sensor;

and pivoting the devices toward and away from each other about the second axes to actuate a second sensor or sensors.

42. The method of claim 41,

wherein the devices are pivoted about the first axis without pivoting the devices about the second axes.

43. The method of claim 41,

wherein the devices are pivoted about the second axes without pivoting the devices about the first axes.

44. The method of claim 41,

wherein the devices are pivoted about the first and second axes simultaneously.