Mouse with slider control for computer scrolling

• US 6,496,180 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mei California, Inc. (Micron Technology, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Hedman, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/386,311
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/156, 345/166, 345/161, 345/157, 341/175, 356/373
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A mouse is provided with a slider which is used to control the scrolling of an image on a computer screen. The slider is preferably movable in two opposing directions from a rest position with the direction and amount of movement of the slider controlling the direction and rate of image scrolling.

Claims

1. A computer mouse comprising:

a body having a movement detector, said movement detector generating mouse movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis;

at least one selection switch mounted on said body, said selection switch providing a selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on said mouse body, said slider being moveable relative to said body and having an associated signal generator which generates signals representing the sliding movement of said slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member, the stationary member including one of a light source and a light detector; and

a moveable member coupled for movement with said slider, the moveable member including the other of said light source and said light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals which change in response to movement of said moveable member relative to said stationary member.

2. A mouse as in claim 1, wherein said slider is provided on an upper surface of said body.

3. A mouse as in claim 1, wherein said slider is provided on a side surface of said body.

4. A mouse as in claim 1, wherein said slider is provided on one side of said selection switch.

5. A mouse as in claim 4, wherein said mouse comprises two selection switches and said slider is provided between them.

6. A mouse as in claim 1, wherein said light detector comprises a plurality of light sensors and said light source comprises a device for emitting a light beam, said plurality of light sensors being arranged relative to said light source such that different ones of said light sensors receive said light beam depending upon the amount of movement of said slider.

7. A mouse as in claim 1, further comprising a biasing structure which biases said slider toward a rest position on said mouse body.

8. A mouse as in claim 7, wherein said biasing structure includes biasing springs which bias said slider toward said rest position.

9. A mouse as in claim 7, wherein said slider is moveable from said rest position along said body in two opposing directions.

10. A mouse as in claim 9, wherein said signal generator generates signals which represent the amount of movement of said slider from said rest position and the direction of movement of said slider.

11. A mouse as in claim 10, wherein said mouse comprises two selection switches and said slider is provided between them.

12. A mouse as in claim 1, wherein said signal generator produces an analog signal.

13. A mouse as in claim 1, wherein said signal generator produces a digital signal.

14. A mouse as in claim 1, further comprising a computer connector having electrical terminals, said connector providing said mouse movement signals, said selection signal, and said slider movement signals at said terminals.

15. A method of controlling scrolling of a display image on a computer screen comprising:

slidably moving a slider on a mouse body to generate signals representing said slider movement, said slider movement signals being generated by moving a moveable member relative to a stationary member, the moveable member including one of a light source and a light detector and the stationary member including the other of said light source and said light detector; and

scrolling a display image on a computer screen in response to said slider movement signals.

16. A method as in claim 15, including slidably moving said slider from a rest position relative to said mouse body in one of two different directions and scrolling said computer screen in one of two different directions in accordance with the direction of movement of said slider.

17. A computer system comprising:

a computer having a mouse input port, and a mouse connectable to said input port, said mouse comprising;

a body having a movement detector, said movement detector generating mouse movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis;

at least one selection switch mounted on said body, said selection switch providing a selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on said mouse body, said slider being moveable relative to said body and having an associated signal generator which generates signals representing the sliding movement of said slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member, the stationary member including one of a light source and a light detector; and

a moveable member coupled for movement with said slider, the moveable member including the other of said light source and said light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals which change in response to movement of said moveable member relative to said stationary member.

18. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein said slider is provided on an upper surface of said body.

19. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein said slider is provided on a side surface of said body.

20. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein said slider is provided on one side of said selection switch.

21. A computer system as in claim 20, wherein said mouse comprises two selection switches and said slider is provided between them.

22. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein said light detector comprises a plurality of light sensors and said light source comprises a device for emitting a light beam, said plurality of light sensors being arranged relative to said light source such that different ones of said light sensors received said light beam depending upon the amount of movement of said slider.

23. A computer system as in claim 17, further comprising a biasing structure which biases said slider toward a rest position on said mouse body.

24. A computer system of claim 23, wherein said biasing structure includes biasing springs which bias said slider toward said rest position.

25. A computer system as in claim 23, wherein said slider is moveable from said rest position along said body in two opposing directions.

26. A computer system as in claim 25, wherein said signal generator generates signals which represent the amount of movement of said slider from said rest position and the direction of movement of said slider.

27. A computer system as in claim 26, wherein said mouse comprises two selection switches and said slider is provided between them.

28. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein said signal generator produces an analog signal.

29. A computer system as in claim 17, wherein said signal generator produces a digital signal.

30. A computer system as in claim 17, further comprising a computer connector having electrical terminals, said connector providing said mouse movement signals, said selection signal, and said slider movement signals at said terminals.

31. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising:

a storage medium storing a program for operating the computer, said program comprising;

an input section for receiving input data representing the movement of the slider on the mouse; and

a section for translating said input data into control data for controlling the scrolling of a computer display image.

32. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a RAM.

33. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a ROM.

34. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a hard drive.

35. The storage medium of claim 31, wherein said storage medium is a floppy disk.

36. The storage medium as in claim 31, wherein said input section receives input data representing the direction of movement of said slider and said translation section provides corresponding control data which controls the scrolling of said computer display image in an associated direction.

37. The storage medium as in claim 36, wherein said input section receives input data representing the direction of movement of said slider and said translation section provides corresponding control data which controls the scrolling of said computer display image in an associated direction.

38. The storage medium as in claim 31, wherein said input section receives input data representing the amount of movement of said slider from a rest position and said translation section translates said input data into control signals for controlling the rate of scrolling of a computer display image, such that the rate of scrolling corresponds to the amount of movement of said slider from a rest position.

39. A computer mouse comprising:

a body having a movement detector, said movement detector generating mouse movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis;

at least one selection switch mounted on said body, said selection switch providing selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on said mouse body, said slider being moveable relative to said body and having an associated signal generator which generates signals representing the sliding movement of said slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member, the stationary member including one of a light source and light detector; and

a moveable member coupled for movement with said slider, the moveable member including the other of said light source and said light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals which change in response to movement of said moveable member relative to said stationary member, further wherein said output signals scroll a display image on a computer screen in response to said slider movement.

40. A computer system comprising:

a computer having a mouse input port; and

a mouse connectable to said input port, said mouse comprising;

a body having a movement detector, said movement detector generating mouse movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis;

at least one selection switch mounted on said body, said selection switch providing a selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on said mouse body, said slider being moveable relative to said body and having an associated signal generator which generates signals representing the sliding movement of said slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member, the stationary member including one of a light source and a light detector; and

a moveable member coupled for movement with said slider, the moveable member including the other of said light source and said light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals which change in response to movement of said moveable member relative to said stationary member, further wherein said output signals scroll a display image on a computer screen in response to said slider movement.

41. A method of controlling a computer, the method comprising:

slidably moving a slider on a mouse body to move one of a light source and a light detector relative to the other of the light source and the light detector;

in response to the movement of the one of the light source and the light detector relative to the other of the light source and the light detector, generating signals representing the slider movement;

transmitting the signals to the computer; and

controlling the computer in response to the transmitted signals.

42. A computer mouse usable on a surface, the computer mouse comprising:

a body slidable on the surface, the body having a movement detector that generates m use movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis in response to movement of the body on the surface;

at least one selection switch mounted on said body, the selection switch providing a selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on the mouse body, the slider being moveable relative to the body and having an associated signal generator that generates signals representing the sliding movement of the slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member within the body, the stationary member including on e of a light source and a light detector; and

a moveable member within the body, the moveable member coupled for movement with the slider and including the other of the light source and the light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals that change in response to movement of the moveable member relative to the stationary member.

43. A computer mouse useable on a surface, the computer mouse comprising:

a body slidable on the surface, the body having an undersurface;

a movement detector adjacent to the undersurface of the body, the movement detector including a roller ball that generates mouse movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis in response to movement of the body on the surface;

at least one selection switch mounted on the body, the selection switch providing a selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on the mouse body, the slider being moveable relative to the body and having an associated signal generator that generates signals representing the sliding movement of the slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member within the body, the stationary member including one of a light source and a light detector; and

a moveable member within the body, the moveable member coupled for movement with the slider and including the other of the light source and the light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals that change in response to movement f the moveable member relative to the stationary member.

44. A method for providing movement signals to a computer, the method comprising:

moving a mouse body on a surface to generate first movement signals representing the body movement relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis; and

slidably moving a slider on the mouse body to generate second movement signals representing the slider movement, the slider movement signals being generated by moving a moveable member within the body relative to a stationary member within the body, the moveable member including one of a light source and a light detector and the stationary member including the other of the light source and the light detector.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising scrolling a display image on a computer screen in response to the second movement signals.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein moving a mouse body across a surface includes moving a mouse body having a movement detector, the movement detector including a roller ball that generates the first movement signals in response to movement of the mouse body across the surface.

47. A computer system comprising:

a computer having a mouse input port; and

a mouse connectable to the input port, the mouse comprising;

a body slidable on a surface, the body including an undersurface;

a movement detector adjacent to the undersurface of the body, the movement detector including a roller ball that generates mouse movement signals relative to a first axis and a second axis normal to the first axis in response to movement of the body on the surface;

at least one selection switch mounted on the body, the selection switch providing a selection signal upon actuation; and

a slider provided on the mouse body, the slider being moveable relative to the body and having an associated signal generator that generates signals representing the sliding movement of the slider, the signal generator including;

a stationary member within the body, the stationary member including one of a light source and a light detector; and

a moveable member within the body, the moveable member coupled for movement with the slider and including the other of the light source and the light detector, wherein the signal generator produces output signals which change in response to movement of the moveable member relative to the stationary member.