Trigger operated electronic device
DCFirst Claim
1. A portable, trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, the pointing device comprising:
- a housing for location at least partly between a first finger and a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, the housing having a generally straight, elongated profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, a top face, and a bottom face, the bottom face including a contoured step positioned medially of the forward and rear ends and transversely of the opposed sides, the contoured step having a first face for generally providing a rest location for the first finger of the user'"'"'s hand;
an electronic circuit mounted on a board contained within the housing, the board having first and second opposed sides, the electronic circuit including a first switch on the first side of the board, the first switch being responsive to pressure selectively to open and close the electronic circuit such that the electronic circuit generates a first output signal upon operation of the first switch, the electronic circuit further including a second switch on the second side of the board, the second switch being responsive to pressure selectively to open and close the electronic circuit upon operation of the second switch;
a first control element mounted with the housing at the first face of the contoured step and operatively connected to the first switch to be responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the first control element to operate the first switch;
a second control element mounted with the housing at the top face and operatively connected to the second switch to be responsive to thumb pressure such that pressure applied to the second control element causes the second control element to operate the second switch; and
an output signal emitter responsive to an output signal from the electronic circuit to wirelessly emit the output signal for reception by the electronically responsive system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device particularly for use with a computer comprises a housing for location at least partly between two fingers of a user'"'"'s hand and an electronic circuit mounted on a board within the housing. The circuit includes a switch responsive to pressure selectively to open and close an electronic circuit, and conductive elements arranged on the board mounting the electronic circuit. A first control element is mounted with the housing and responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the element to operate the switch. The first control element is movable with respect to a hinge such that finger action acts to cause the control element to swivel as a trigger about the hinge and thereby interact with the switch. The second control element includes a flexible material mounted such that pressure applied to the flexible material in different directions and positions acts to change the electrical relationship between the conductive elements on the board and thereby vary an output signal from the electronic circuit. The rear portion of the housing includes a receptacle for receiving removable battery means for powering the electronic circuit. There is an infra-red output signal transmitted to a receiver for operating the computer. The first control element is located substantially below the second control element, and the first control element being in a bottom face of the housing.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A portable, trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, the pointing device comprising:
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a housing for location at least partly between a first finger and a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, the housing having a generally straight, elongated profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, a top face, and a bottom face, the bottom face including a contoured step positioned medially of the forward and rear ends and transversely of the opposed sides, the contoured step having a first face for generally providing a rest location for the first finger of the user'"'"'s hand;
an electronic circuit mounted on a board contained within the housing, the board having first and second opposed sides, the electronic circuit including a first switch on the first side of the board, the first switch being responsive to pressure selectively to open and close the electronic circuit such that the electronic circuit generates a first output signal upon operation of the first switch, the electronic circuit further including a second switch on the second side of the board, the second switch being responsive to pressure selectively to open and close the electronic circuit upon operation of the second switch;
a first control element mounted with the housing at the first face of the contoured step and operatively connected to the first switch to be responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the first control element to operate the first switch;
a second control element mounted with the housing at the top face and operatively connected to the second switch to be responsive to thumb pressure such that pressure applied to the second control element causes the second control element to operate the second switch; and
an output signal emitter responsive to an output signal from the electronic circuit to wirelessly emit the output signal for reception by the electronically responsive system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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2. A portable, trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, the pointing device comprising:
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a housing for location at least partly between an index finger and a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, the housing having a generally, straight elongated profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, a top face, and a bottom face, the bottom face including a contoured step positioned medially of the forward and rear ends and transversely of the opposed sides, the contoured step having a first face for generally providing a rest location for the index finger of the user'"'"'s hand;
an electronic circuit mounted on a board affixable to the housing within the housing, the board having first and second opposed sides, the electronic circuit including a first switch on the first side of the board, the first switch being responsive to movement of the user'"'"'s index finger selectively to open and close the electronic circuit such that the electronic circuit generates a first output signal upon operation of the first switch, and a second switch responsive to movement of the user'"'"'s thumb selectively to open and close the electronic circuit such that the electronic circuit generates a second output signal upon operation of the second switch, the electronic circuit further including a second switch on the second side of the board, the second switch being responsive to pressure selectively to open and close the electronic circuit upon operation of the second switch;
a first control element affixable to the housing at the first face of the contoured step and provided in communication with the first switch, the first control element operative to respond to pressure applied by the user'"'"'s index finger to operate the first switch;
a second control element affixable to the housing at the top face and provided in communication with the second switch, the second control element operative to respond to pressure applied by the user'"'"'s thumb to operate the second switch; and
an output signal emitter affixable to the housing and responsive to output signals provided by the electronic circuit to wirelessly emit the output signals for reception by the electronically responsive system. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A portable, trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, the pointing device comprising:
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a housing for location at least partly between a finger and a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, the housing having a generally straight, elongated profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, a top face, and a bottom face, the bottom face including a contoured step positioned medially of the forward and rear ends and transversely of the opposed sides, the contoured step having a first face for generally providing a rest location for the finger of the user'"'"'s hand;
an electronic circuit mounted on a board affixable to the housing, the board having first and second opposed sides, the electronic circuit including a first switch on the first side of the board and a second switch on the second side of the board;
a first control element affixable to the housing at the first face of the contoured step and provided in communication with the first switch, the first control element operative to respond to movement of the user'"'"'s finger to operate the first switch and thereby cause the electronic circuit to provide a corresponding first output signal;
a second control element affixable to the housing at the top face and provided in communication with the second switch, the second control element operative to respond to movement of the user'"'"'s thumb to operate the second switch and thereby cause the electronic circuit to provide a corresponding second output signal; and
an output signal emitter affixable to the housing and responsive to output signals provided by the electronic circuit to wirelessly emit the output signals for reception by the electronically responsive system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 16)
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10. A trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, the pointing device comprising:
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a housing for location at least partly between an index finger and a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, the housing having a generally straight, elongated profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, a top face, and a bottom face, the bottom face including a contoured step positioned medially of the forward and rear ends and transversely of the opposed sides, the contoured step having a first face for generally providing a rest location for the index finger of the user'"'"'s hand;
at least one electronic circuit mounted on a board affixable to the housing, the board having first and second opposed sides, the at least one electronic circuit including a first switch mounted on the first side of the board, the first switch being responsive to movement of the user'"'"'s finger selectively to open and close the at least one electronic circuit and thereby generate a first output signal, and the at least one electronic circuit further including a second switch mounted on the second side of the board, the second switch being responsive to movement of the user'"'"'s thumb selectively to open and close the at least one electronic circuit and thereby generate a second output signal;
a first control element affixable to the housing at the first face of the contoured step and provided in communication with the first switch, the first control element operative to respond to movement of the user'"'"'s finger to operate the first switch;
a second control element affixable to the housing at the top face and provided in communication with the second switch, the second control element operative to respond to movement of the user'"'"'s thumb to operate the second switch; and
an output signal emitter affixable to the housing and responsive to output signals provided by the at least one electronic circuit, wherein the output signal emitter is positioned to wirelessly transmit from the forward end a transmitted output signal in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis for receipt by the electronically responsive system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 17, 18)
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Specification