Multi-mode input control device
First Claim
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1. A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface, comprising:
- a trackball for performing a rotating motion in response to a first external force;
a trackball sensor for generating a first cursor movement control signal according to said rotating motion;
a first signal connector electrically connected to said trackball sensor for transmitting said first cursor movement control signal;
a base housing accommodated therein said trackball sensor and mounted thereon said trackball and said first signal connector; and
a mouse device connected to said computer via a signal channel, performing a shift motion in response to a second external force, and including;
a mouse sensor for generating said second cursor movement control signal according to said shift motion;
a switching device electrically connected to said mouse sensor and said second signal connector for allowing either of said first and second cursor movement control signals to pass through said signal channel;
a key switch for entering a command to said computer by exerting thereon a third external force so as to generate an input signal;
a control unit electrically connected to said switching device and said key switch for processing said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal;
an interface circuit electrically connected to said control unit and said signal channel for transforming said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal into a designated format suitable for transmission to said computer;
a mouse housing accommodated therein said mouse sensor, said switching device, said control unit and said interface circuit, and mounted thereon said second signal connector and said key switch; and
a second signal connector to be coupled to said first signal connector;
wherein in a first mode that input control is performed by said mouse device, said first and second signal connectors are disconnected, and said second cursor movement control device is transmitted to said computer via said signal channel, and in a second mode that input control is performed by said trackball, said first and second signal connectors are connected, and said first cursor movement control signal is transmitted to said computer via said signal channel.
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Abstract
A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface (GUI) is disclosed. The input control device may optionally perform functions of a mouse device and a trackball device. The mouse and trackball devices share the same key switch, control unit, interface circuit, and signal channel to the computer, which are included in the mouse device. In the mouse mode, the mouse device is individually moved to perform the input control operation in a conventional manner. For the trackball mode, a first signal connector of the trackball device and a second signal connector of the mouse device are connected to each other so that the trackball device can perform the input control operation via the mouse device.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface, comprising:
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a trackball for performing a rotating motion in response to a first external force;
a trackball sensor for generating a first cursor movement control signal according to said rotating motion;
a first signal connector electrically connected to said trackball sensor for transmitting said first cursor movement control signal;
a base housing accommodated therein said trackball sensor and mounted thereon said trackball and said first signal connector; and
a mouse device connected to said computer via a signal channel, performing a shift motion in response to a second external force, and including;
a mouse sensor for generating said second cursor movement control signal according to said shift motion;
a switching device electrically connected to said mouse sensor and said second signal connector for allowing either of said first and second cursor movement control signals to pass through said signal channel;
a key switch for entering a command to said computer by exerting thereon a third external force so as to generate an input signal;
a control unit electrically connected to said switching device and said key switch for processing said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal;
an interface circuit electrically connected to said control unit and said signal channel for transforming said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal into a designated format suitable for transmission to said computer;
a mouse housing accommodated therein said mouse sensor, said switching device, said control unit and said interface circuit, and mounted thereon said second signal connector and said key switch; and
a second signal connector to be coupled to said first signal connector;
wherein in a first mode that input control is performed by said mouse device, said first and second signal connectors are disconnected, and said second cursor movement control device is transmitted to said computer via said signal channel, and in a second mode that input control is performed by said trackball, said first and second signal connectors are connected, and said first cursor movement control signal is transmitted to said computer via said signal channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface, comprising:
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a touch pad for generating a first cursor movement control signal according to a user'"'"'s touch motion thereon;
a first signal connector electrically connected to said touch pad for transmitting said first cursor movement control signal;
a base housing mounted thereon said touch pad and said first signal connector; and
a mouse device connected to said computer via a signal channel, performing a shift motion in response to a second external force, and including;
a mouse sensor for generating said second cursor movement control signal according to said shift motion;
a switching device electrically connected to said mouse sensor and said second signal connector for allowing either of said first and second cursor movement control signals to pass through said signal channel;
a key switch for entering a command to said computer by exerting thereon a third external force so as to generate an input signal;
a control unit electrically connected to said switching device and said key switch for processing said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal;
an interface circuit electrically connected to said control unit and said signal channel for transforming said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal into a designated format suitable for transmission to said computer;
a mouse housing accommodated therein said mouse sensor, said switching device, said control unit and said interface circuit, and mounted thereon said second signal connector and said key switch; and
a second signal connector to be coupled to said first signal connector;
wherein in a first mode that input control is performed by said mouse device, said first and second signal connectors are disconnected, and said second cursor movement control device is transmitted to said computer via said signal channel, and in a second mode that input control is performed by said touch pad, said first and second signal connectors are connected, and said first cursor movement control signal is transmitted to said computer via said signal channel. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface by performing an input control operation, comprising:
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a first housing having a recess on a surface thereof, and keeping unmoved during said input control operation;
a first input device accommodated in said first housing for generating a first cursor movement control signal in response to a first external force;
a first signal connector mounted on said first housing in said recess and electrically connected to said first input device for transmitting said first cursor movement control signal to said computer;
a second housing optionally received in said recess, and moved during said input control operation;
a second input device accommodated in said second housing for generating a second cursor movement control signal in response to a second external force;
a signal channel electrically connected to said second input device for communicating with said computer;
a second signal connector mounted on said second housing at a specific position corresponding to a position of said first signal connector when said second housing is received into said recess of said first housing, and electrically connected to said second input device for transmitting said second cursor movement control signal to said computer in a first mode that said input control operation is performed by said second input device, and transmitting said first cursor movement control signal to said computer in a second mode that said input control operation is performed by said first input device; and
a switching device electrically connected to said first and second input devices for determining either of said first and second modes is performed;
wherein said second input device includes;
a sensor for generating said second cursor movement control signal according to the movement of said second housing;
a key switch for entering a command to said computer by exerting thereon a third external force so as to generate an input signal;
a control unit electrically connected to said switching device and said key switch for processing said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal; and
an interface circuit electrically connected to said control unit and said signal channel for transforming said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal into a designated format suitable for transmission to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A multi-mode input control device for use with a computer via a graphic user interface by performing an input control operation, comprising:
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a first housing keeping unmoved during an input control operation;
a first input device accommodated in said first housing for generating a first cursor movement control signal in response to a first external force;
a first signal connector mounted on said first housing and electrically connected to said first input device for transmitting said first cursor movement control signal to said computer;
a second housing optionally attached to said first housing, and moved during said input control operation;
a second input device accommodated in said second housing for generating a second cursor movement control signal in response to a second external force;
a signal channel electrically connected to said second input device for communicating with said computer; and
a second signal connector mounted on said second housing at a specific position corresponding to a position of said first signal connector when said second housing is attached to said first housing, and electrically connected to said second input device for transmitting said second cursor movement control signal to said computer via said signal channel in a first mode that said input control operation is performed by said second input device, and transmitting said first cursor movement control signal to said computer via said signal channel in a second mode that said input control operation is performed by said first input device;
wherein said second input device includes;
a sensor for generating said second cursor movement control signal according to the movement of said second housing;
a switching device is electrically connected to said sensor and said second signal connector for allowing either of said first and second cursor movement control signals to pass through said signal channel;
a key switch for entering a command to said computer by exerting thereon a third external force so as to generate an input signal;
a control unit electrically connected to said switching device and said key switch for processing said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal; and
an interface circuit electrically connected to said control unit and said signal channel for transforming said first and second cursor movement control signals and said input signal into a designated format suitable for transmission to said computer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeIntellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
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Original AssigneePrimax Electronics Limited
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InventorsCheng, Yu-Chih, Shih, Tzu-Chiang
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Primary Examiner(s)Saras, Steven
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Assistant Examiner(s)Alphonse, Fritz
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Application NumberUS09/843,468Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,020 DaysField of Search345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 345/167, 345/173US Class Current345/156CPC Class CodesG06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 t...G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which finger...G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 take...G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. ...
