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Single touch dual axis input device

  • US 6,731,267 B1
  • Filed: 03/15/2000
  • Issued: 05/04/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A finger actuated display interface input device comprising:

  • (a) a housing;

    (b) a first elongated axis roller mounted on the surface of the housing, parallel to the housing, with substantially its entire manipulable length being small enough to fit under a thumb of a human for inputting positional information for a first axis;

    (c) a first transducer coupled to said first axis roller for producing a first signal indicative of the rotation of said first axis roller;

    (d) a second, elongated axis roller mounted on the surface of the housing, parallel to the housing, with substantially its entire manipulable length being small enough to fit under a thumb of a human for inputting positional information for a second axis;

    (e) a second transducer coupled to said second axis roller producing a second signal indicative of the rotation of said second axis roller;

    (f) at least one switch adapted to produce at least one switch signal upon actuation of said switch by pressure from a user'"'"'s finger;

    (g) said first axis roller and said second axis roller being selectively rotatable for selectively inputting positional information for the first axis or for the second axis respectively; and

    (h) said first axis roller and said second axis roller being located so close to each other that both axis rollers can be rotated simultaneously by a touch of a finger pad of a distal phalanx of one finger to simultaneously change positional information in said first and second axes;

    (i) said first axis roller and second axis roller being operable whether or not the housing is placed on a planar working surface.

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