Convertible computer input device

• US 6,580,420 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yanqing Wang
• Original Assignee: Yanqing Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Yanqing
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moyer, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US09/526,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,189 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/158, 345/161, 345/162, 345/163, 345/164, 345/167, 345/156
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement

Abstract

A computer input device has function buttons which can be moved relative to a position sensor. The device can be used as a mouse. In specific embodiments of the device the position sensor includes a rotatable ball and the device can be operated either as a mouse or as a trackball. Such embodiments have a ball-carrying member which is movably connected to a member which carries one or more function buttons. When configured for mouse operation the ball-carrying member underlies the member which carries the function buttons and a ball on the ball-carrying member frictionally engages a surface under the input device. When configured for operation as a trackball the ball is offset relative to the function buttons so that the ball can be comfortably operated by a user'"'"'s thumb. The device can be shaped to fit a user'"'"'s hand ergonomically in both mouse mode and trackball modes. A user can reduce the risk of injury caused by repetitive motions by periodically switching between mouse operation and trackball operation. Some embodiments have a storage configuration in which the position sensor is held in a protected location. Some embodiments are adjustable to accommodate different hand sizes. In some embodiments a member carrying the function button can be separated from a member carrying the position sensor to permit two-handed operation.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

a function button on the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member moveably coupled to the function-button-carrying member;

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member;

wherein when the position-sensor-carrying member is in a first configuration relative to the function-button-carrying member, the input device is operable as a mouse; and

wherein the-position-sensor-carrying member can be moved into a position relative to the function-button-carrying member wherein a user can operate the function button with one hand and can operate the position sensor with another hand, thereby using the computer input device for two handed input control.

2. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein, the position sensor comprises a rotatable ball and, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in a second configuration relative to the function-button-carrying member, a surface of the ball is exposed and the input device is usable as a trackball.

3. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in a storage position relative to the function-button-carrying member, the position sensor is enclosed and protected by the positon-sensor-carrying member and the function-button-carrying member.

4. A computer input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

a function button on the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member moveably coupled to the function-button-carrying member;

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member;

wherein when the position-sensor-carrying member is in a first configuration relative to the function-button-carrying member, the input device is operable as a mouse, and wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is detachably coupled to the function-button-carrying member, such that the position-sensor-carrying member can be moved into a position relative to the function-button-carrying member wherein a user can operate the function button with one hand and can operate the position sensor with another hand, thereby using the computer input device for two handed input control.

5. A computer input device selectively operable as a mouse or as a trackball, the input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the function-button-carrying member; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member, the position sensor comprising a ball supported for rotation on the position-sensor-carrying member and a sensor associated with the ball, the sensor adapted to generate a signal-describing rotation of the ball;

wherein the-position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member between a first position, wherein the ball is located beneath the face of the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to frictionally engage a surface under the input device and to detect relative motion between the input device and the surface under the input device so that the input device is usable as a mouse, and a second position, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is displaced relative to the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to detect relative motion between the ball and a user'"'"'s hand so that the ball can be manually rotated to permit the input device to be used as a trackball, and wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is pivotable relative to the function-button-carrying member on a pivot axis and the input device comprises a switch associated with the sensor, the switch switching from a first state to a second state when the position-sensor-carrying member is moved from its first position to its second position, the switch operating to reverse an indicated sense of rotation about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis when in its second state.

6. A computer input device selectively operable as a mouse or as a trackball, the input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the function-button-carrying member; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member, the position sensor comprising a ball supported for rotation on the position-sensor-carrying member and a sensor associated with the ball, the sensor adapted to generate a signal describing rotation of the ball;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member between a first position, wherein the ball is located beneath the face of the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to frictionally engage a surface under the input device and to detect relative motion between the input device and the surface under the input device so that the input device is usable as a mouse, and a second position, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is displaced relative to the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to detect relative motion between the ball and a user'"'"'s hand so that the ball can be manually rotated to permit the input device to be used as a trackball, and wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is movable pivotally relative to the function-button-carrying member about a generally vertical axis.

7. A computer input device selectively operable as a mouse or as a trackball, the input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the function-button-carrying member and pivotally moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member about a generally horizontal axis; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member, the position sensor comprising a ball supported for rotation on the position-sensor-carrying member and a sensor associated with the ball, the sensor adapted to generate a signal describing rotation of the ball;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member between a first position, wherein the ball is located beneath the face of the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to frictionally engage a surface under the input device and to detect relative motion between the input device and the surface under the input device so that the input device is usable as a mouse, and a second position, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is displaced relative to the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to detect relative motion between the ball and a user'"'"'s hand so that the ball can be manually rotated to permit the input device to be used as a trackball, and wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in its second position, the position-sensor-carrying member is horizontally slidable relative to the function-button-carrying member, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member can be displaced horizontally to a protected position wherein the ball is substantially enclosed between the function-button-carrying member and the position-sensor-carrying member.

8. A computer input device according to claim 7 wherein a dimension of a hand-grippable portion of the input device is adjustable by moving the position-sensor-carrying member relative to the function-button-carrying member, thereby adapting the computer input device for use by hands of different sizes.

9. A computer input device according to claim 7 wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in a second configuration relative to the function-button-carrying member, an upper surface of the ball is exposed and the input device is usable as a trackball and a distance between the function button and the ball can be varied by moving the position-sensor-carrying member relative to the function-button-carrying member to accommodate hands of different sizes.

10. The input device of claim 7 wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is connected to the function-button-carrying member by a pair of opposed pins which engage a pair of elongated grooves.

11. The input device of claim 10 wherein the pins are on the function-button-carrying member and the grooves are on the position-sensor-carrying member.

12. The input device of claim 10 wherein the pins are on the position-sensor-carrying member and the grooves are on the function-button-carrying member.

13. A computer input device according to claim 7, wherein the housing member comprises a curved upper surface upon which a user may rest their hand while operating the device.

14. A computer input device selectively operable as a mouse or as a trackball, the input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the function-button-carrying member, the position-sensor-carrying member comprising a first part pivotally connected to the function-button-carrying member for rotation about a generally vertical axis and a second part pivotally connected to the first part, the second part rotatable relative to the first part about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the generally vertical axis; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member, the position sensor comprising a ball supported for rotation on the position-sensor-carrying member and a sensor associated with the ball, the sensor adapted to generate a signal describing rotation of the ball;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member between a first position, wherein the ball is located beneath the face of the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to frictionally engage a surface under the input device and to detect relative motion between the input device and the surface under the input device so that the input device is usable as a mouse, and a second position, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is displaced relative to the function-button-carrying member and the ball is oriented to detect relative motion between the ball and a user'"'"'s hand so that the ball can be manually rotated to permit the input device to be used as a trackball.

15. A computer input device selectively operable as a mouse or as a trackball, the input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the function-button-carrying member and detachably receivable within the function-button-carrying member; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member between a first position, wherein the position sensor is located beneath the face of the function-button-carrying member and the position sensor is oriented to detect relative motion between the input device and the surface beneath the input device so that the input device is usable as a mouse, and a second position, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is displaced relative to the function-button-carrying member and the position sensor is oriented to detect relative motion between the position sensor and a user'"'"'s hand.

16. A computer input device selectively operable as a mouse or as a trackball, the input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the function-button-carrying member and; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the function-button-carrying member between a first position, wherein the position sensor is located beneath the face of the function-button-carrying member and the position sensor is oriented to detect relative motion between the input device and a surface beneath the input device so that the input device is usable as a mouse, and a second position, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is displaced relative to the function-button-carrying member and the position sensor is oriented to detect relative motion between the position sensor and a user'"'"'s hand and wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is detachable from the function-button-carrying member, the device comprising a path for transmitting signals from the function button to the host computer when the position-sensor-carrying member is detached from the function-button-carrying member.

17. A computer input device comprising:

a function-button-carrying member;

at least one function button on a face of the function-button-carrying member;

a position-sensor-carrying member detachably coupled to the function-button-carrying member; and

,

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member may be coupled to the function-button-carrying member in a first position in which the position sensor is positioned beneath the function-button-carrying member where it can detect motion of the input device relative to a surface beneath the input device to permit the input device to be used as a mouse, and when the position-sensor-carrying member is separated from the function-button-carrying member the position-sensor-carrying member can be separated from the function-button-carrying member to permit two-handed operation of the input device.

18. The computer input device of claim 17 wherein the position sensor comprises a rotatable ball and the ball is frictionally engageable with a surface beneath the input device when the position-sensor-carrying member is in its first position.

19. A computer input device comprising:

a housing member;

a position-sensor-carrying member;

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member; and

,

at least one function button on the input device;

the position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the housing member and movable relative to the housing member and the function button between;

a first position, wherein the housing member extends over the position sensor and the position sensor is disposed to detect relative motion between the input device and a surface beneath the input device so that the input device is operable as a mouse, and

a second position, wherein the position sensor is displaced transversely relative to the housing member;

wherein the position sensor comprises a ball supported for rotation on the position-sensor-carrying member and a sensor connected to generate a signal describing rotation of the ball;

wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the first position, the ball may frictionally engage and rotate against the surface beneath the input device, and when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the second position, the ball may be rotated by one or more digits of a user'"'"'s hand;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is pivotally coupled to the housing member, such that the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the housing member by rotation about a pivot axis; and

wherein the input device comprises a switch, the switch switching from a first state to a second state when the position-sensor-carrying member is moved from the first position to the second position.

20. The input device of claim 19, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is slidably coupled to the housing member.

21. The input device of claim 19, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is pivotally coupled to the housing member.

22. A computer input device comprising:

a housing member;

a position-sensor-carrying member;

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member; and

, at least one function button on the input device;

the position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the housing member and movable relative to the housing member and the function button between;

a first position, wherein the housing member extends over the position sensor and the position sensor is disposed to detect relative motion between the input device and a surface beneath the input device so that the input device is operable as a mouse, and

a second position, wherein the position sensor is displaced transversely relative to the housing member;

wherein the position sensor comprises a ball supported for rotation on the position-sensor-carrying member and a sensor connected to generate a signal describing rotation of the ball;

wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the first position, the ball may frictionally engage and rotate against the surface beneath the input device, and when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the second position, the ball may be rotated by one or more digits of a user'"'"'s hand;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is pivotally coupled to the housing member, such that the position-sensor-carrying member is moveable relative to the housing member by rotation about a pivot axis;

wherein the pivot axis is generally vertical.

23. The input device of claim 22, wherein a first portion of the position-sensor-carrying member is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis relative to a second portion of the position-sensor-carrying member.

24. The input device of claim 22, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is horizontally slidable relative to the housing member and the position-sensor-carrying member is movable to a storage position, wherein the ball is enclosed between the position-sensor-carrying member and the housing member.

25. The input device of claim 24, wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is connected to the housing member by a pair of opposed pins which engage a pair of elongated grooves.

26. A computer input device comprising:

a housing member;

a position-sensor-carrying member;

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member; and

, at least one function button on the input device;

the position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the housing member and movable relative to the housing member and the function button between;

a first position, wherein the housing member extends over the position sensor and the position sensor is disposed to detect relative motion between the input device and a surface beneath the input device so that the input device is operable as a mouse, and

a second position, wherein the position sensor is displaced transversely relative to the housing member;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is detachably receivable within the housing member.

27. A computer input device comprising:

a housing member;

a position-sensor-carrying member;

a position sensor on the position-sensor-carrying member; and

,

at least one function button on the input device;

the position-sensor-carrying member coupled to the housing member and movable relative to the housing member and the function button between;

a first position, wherein the housing member extends over the position sensor and the position sensor is disposed to detect relative motion between the input device and a surface beneath the input device so that the input device is operable as a mouse, and

a second position, wherein the position sensor is displaced transversely relative to the housing member;

wherein the position-sensor-carrying member is detachable from the housing member, the device comprising a path for transmitting signals from the position sensor to a host computer and a path for transmitting signals from the function button to the host computer when the position-sensor-carrying member is detached from the housing member.

28. A computer input device comprising:

a housing member;

at least one function button on a face of the housing member

a position-sensor-carrying member comprising a position sensor,

the position-sensor-carrying member detachably coupled to the housing member, such that the input device is operable both when the position-sensor-carrying member is coupled to the housing member in a first configuration and when the position-sensor-carrying member is separated from the housing member in a second configuration; and

wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the first configuration, the position sensor is covered by the housing member and is located to detect motion of the input device relative to a surface beneath the input device.

29. The input device of claim 28, wherein the position sensor comprises a rotatable ball and a sensor connected to generate a signal describing rotation of the ball and, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the first configuration, the ball is capable of frictionally engaging and rotating against the surface beneath the input device.

30. The input device of claim 29, wherein, when the position-sensor-carrying member is in the second configuration, the ball is exposed so that it may be manipulated by one or more digits of a user'"'"'s hand.