Ambidextrous computer mouse

• US 6,567,073 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Levin, Burton L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US09/591,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163-169, 345/156-159, 345/123
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

In some applications, particularly home and public uses, computers are used concurrently by right and left-handed persons. An ambidextrous computer mouse includes a selector permitting the user to conveniently switch the computer functions activated by the respective mouse buttons for right or left-handed use.

Claims

1. A computer mouse operable by persons of either handedness comprising:

(a) a mouse body arranged for engagement by a hand of a user;

(b) a first mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a first finger of a first hand and a second finger of a second hand, actuation of said first mouse switch selecting a first computer function;

(c) a second mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a second finger of said first hand and a first finger of said second hand, actuation of said second mouse switch selecting a second computer function; and

(d) a function selector arranged in said mouse body and operable by a hand engaging said mouse body, operation of said function selector causing actuation of said first mouse switch to select said second function and actuation of said second mouse switch to select said first function.

2. The mouse of claim 1 further comprising a logic device arranged in said mouse body to output a first switch state signal to select said first computer function in response to input of a first mouse switch actuation signal and a second switch state signal to select said second computer function in response to input of a second mouse switch actuation signal, said first mouse switch actuation signal being a function of an actuation state of said first mouse switch and an actuation state of said function selector and said second mouse switch actuation signal being a function of an actuation state of said second mouse switch and said actuation state said function selector.

4. The mouse of claim 2 wherein said function selector comprises:

(a) a switch for selectively altering a value of a selector signal to said logic device; and

(b) a logic device software instruction to cause said logic device to selectively output one of said first switch state signal and said second switch state signal in response to said value of said selector signal and a state of at least one of said first and said second mouse switches.

3. A computer mouse operable by persons of either handedness comprising:

(a) a mouse body arranged for engagement by a hand of a user;

(b) a first mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a first finger of a first hand and a second finger of a second hand;

(c) a second mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a second finger of said first hand and a first finger of said second hand;

(d) a logic device arranged in said mouse body to output a first switch state signal to select a first computer function in response to input of a first mouse switch actuation signal and a second switch state signal to select a second computer function in response to input of a second mouse switch actuation signal; and

(e) a function selector switch to selectively connect an output terminal of said first mouse switch to a first mouse switch actuation signal terminal of said logic device, actuation of said first mouse switch inputting said first mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device, and an output terminal of said second mouse switch to a second mouse switch actuation signal terminal of said logic device, actuation of said second mouse switch inputting said second mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device; and

to, alternatively, selectively connect said output terminal of said second mouse switch to said first mouse switch actuation signal terminal, actuation of said second mouse switch inputting said first mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device, and said output terminal of said first mouse switch to said second mouse switch actuation signal terminal, actuation of said first mouse switch inputting said second mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device.

5. A computer mouse comprising:

(a) a logic device outputting a first switch state signal in response to a first mouse switch signal input and a second switch state signal in response to a second mouse switch signal input;

(b) a first mouse switch to selectively alter a first mouse switch actuation signal in response to a first user input;

(c) a second mouse switch to selectively alter a second mouse switch actuation signal in response to a second user input; and

(d) a switch to selectively input said first mouse switch actuation signal to a first mouse switch signal terminal of said logic device and input said second mouse switch actuation signal to a second mouse switch signal terminal of said logic device and to alternatively input said second mouse switch actuation signal to said first mouse switch signal terminal and input said first mouse switch actuation signal to said second mouse switch signal terminal.

6. A computer mouse comprising:

(a) a microprocessor outputting one of a first and a second switch state signal in response to a user input;

(b) a first mouse switch to selectively alter a first mouse switch actuation signal in response to a user input actuating said first mouse switch;

(c) a second mouse switch to selectively alter a second mouse switch actuation signal in response to a user input actuating said second mouse switch;

(d) a switch to selectively alter a value of a selector signal to said microprocessor in response to a user input; and

(e) microprocessor software to cause said microprocessor to selectively output

(i) said first switch state signal in response to alteration of said first mouse switch actuation signal;

(ii) said second switch state signal in response to alteration of said first mouse switch actuation signal and alteration of said selector signal;

(iii) said second switch state signal in response to alteration of said second mouse switch actuation signal; and

(iv) said first switch state signal in response to alteration of said second mouse switch actuation signal and alteration of said selector signal.

7. A mouse for a computer having an operating system, said operating system responsive to a switch state signal to select a computer function, said mouse comprising:

(a) a mouse body arranged for engagement by a hand of a user;

(b) a first mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a first finger of a first hand and a second finger of a second hand, actuation of said first mouse switch causing transmission of a first switch state signal to said operating system;

(c) a second mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a second finger of said first hand and a first finger of said second hand, actuation of said second mouse switch causing transmission of a second switch state signal to said operating system; and

(d) a function selector arranged in said mouse body and operable by a hand engaging said mouse body, actuation of said function selector causing actuation of said first mouse switch to cause transmission of said second switch state signal to said operating system and actuation of said second mouse switch to cause transmission of said first switch state signal to said operating system.

8. The mouse of claim 7 further comprising a logic device to output a first switch state signal in response to a first mouse switch actuation signal and a second switch state signal in response to a second mouse switch actuation signal, said first mouse switch actuation signal being a function of an actuation state of said first mouse switch and an actuation state of said function selector and said second mouse switch actuation signal being a function of an actuation state of said second mouse switch and said actuation state said function selector.

10. The mouse of claim 8 wherein said function selector comprises:

(a) a switch selectively altering a value of a selector signal to said logic device in response to a user input; and

(b) a logic device software instruction to cause said logic device to selectively output one of said first switch state signal and said second switch state signal in response to said value of said selector signal and an actuation state of at least one of said first and said second mouse switches.

9. A mouse for a computer having an operating system, said operating system responsive to a switch state signal to select a computer function, said mouse comprising:

(a) a mouse body arranged for engagement by a hand of a user;

(b) a first mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a first finger of a first hand and a second finger of a second hand;

(c) a second mouse switch arranged in said mouse body for actuation by one of a second finger of said first hand and a first finger of said second hand;

(d) a logic device to output a first switch state signal to said operating system in response to a first mouse switch actuation signal and a second switch state signal in response to a second mouse switch actuation signal; and

(e) a function selector switch to selectively connect a terminal of said first mouse switch to a first mouse switch actuation signal terminal of said logic device, actuation of said first mouse switch inputting said first mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device, and a terminal of said second mouse switch to a second mouse switch actuation signal terminal of said logic device, actuation of said second mouse switch inputting said second mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device; and

to, alternatively, selectively connect said terminal of said second mouse switch to said first mouse switch actuation signal terminal, actuation of said second mouse switch inputting said first mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device, and said terminal of said first mouse switch to said second mouse switch actuation signal terminal, actuation of said first mouse switch inputting said second mouse switch actuation signal to said logic device.