Apparatus for convenient and comfortable cursor control device

• US 6,744,421 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: David M. Lilenfeld
• Inventors: Lilenfeld, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US10/367,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/160, 345/161, 345/162, 345/163, 345/167, 345/168, 345/173, 744/71.XY, 744/71.R
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is a cursor control device to be used in conjunction with a computer, receiver or other processing unit that allows for convenient and comfortable use while being hand held or while resting on the desk top. The cursor control device being comprised of a body with a shape for fitting in a user hand so a user can operate the cursor control device in hand held and desk top uses. The body also being comprised of a cursor control, at least one button, and having a control circuit inside the body which is connected to at least one button and the cursor control. The device further having a communication link connectable between said control circuit and a processing unit.

Claims

1. A cursor control device comprising:

a body with a shape for fitting in a user hand so a user can operate said cursor control device in desk-top and off the desk-top manners;

a palm surface;

a cursor control on said body;

at least one button on the top front curvature of said body positioned such that a first digit of the user rests on said cursor control and a second digit of the user rests on said at least one button when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners;

a control circuit inside said body connected to said at least one button and said cursor control; and

a communication link connectable between said control circuit and a processing unit.

2. A cursor control device comprising:

a body with a shape for fitting in a user hand so a user can operate said cursor control device in desk-top and off the desk-top manners;

a palm surface;

a cursor control on said body;

at least one button positioned such that a finger of the user rests on said cursor control and a thumb of the user rests on said at least one button when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk-top manners;

a control circuit inside said body connected to said at least one button and said cursor control; and

a communication link connectable between said control circuit and a processing unit.

3. A cursor control device comprising:

a body with a shape for fitting in a user hand so a user can operate said cursor control device in desk-top and off the desk-top manners;

a palm surface;

at least one button;

a cursor control on said body positioned at the forward center of said body such that when the device is used in desk-top and off the desk top manners, a finger of the user rests on said cursor control and a thumb of the user rests on said at least one button;

a control circuit inside said body connected to said at least one button and said cursor control; and

a communication link connectable between said control circuit and a processing unit.