Device equipped with a sensor

• US 7,024,784 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Clauss, Stefan, Hoffmann, Erhard, Leutz, Steffen
• Primary Examiner(s): BENNETT, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US10/332,414
• Publication Number:
  US 20040021634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 335/010.8, 335/12, 335/16, 335/33, 336/13, 336/45, 341/22, 341/27, 341 31- 33, 341/20, 345/156, 345/158, 340/573.1, 340/5.81, 340/5.82
• US Class Current: 33/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks

Abstract

The invention is based on a device (10) with a sensor, which is guided with one hand (20, 22) over a surface (14) and in which the data detected are displayed by a display unit (38). The invention proposes that grasping surfaces (40, 42) for the hand (20, 22) be positioned on two approximately diametrically opposed sides of a grip (12), at least one of which sides has a sensor (26, 28, 30, 32) that detects the number of fingers (20, 22) resting against this grasping surface (40, 42).

Claims

1. A device (10) with a sensor for detecting data, wherein the device is guided with one hand (20, 22) over a surface (14) by a thumb and at least one other finger of an operator and in which the data detected are displayed by a display unit (38), characterized in that grasping surfaces (40, 42) for be hand (20, 22) are positioned on two approximately diametrically opposed sides of a grip (12), at least one of which sides has a sensor (26, 28, 30, 32) that detects the number of fingers (20, 22) resting against this grasping surface (40, 42), wherein at least one of the grasping surfaces has a further sensor, wherein the further sensor is activatable by the thumb of the operator, wherein the device switches between left-handed and right-handed manipulation, wherein the device (10) switches the content of the display device (28) between a left-handed and right-handed representation depending on the number of the fingers (20, 22) identified.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein two neighboring contact strips (26, 28 or 30, 32) are provided as sensors (26, 28, 30, 32) and the resistance of a measuring circuit (34, 36) that is closed by the fingers (20, 22) evaluated by means of an evaluation unit (24).

3. The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the sensors (26, 28, 30, 32) function according to a capacitive or inductive measuring method.

4. The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the sensors (26, 28, 30, 32) are photoelectric sensors.

5. The device (10) according to claim 2, wherein sensors (26, 28;

30, 32) are provided on opposite grasping surfaces (40, 42), wherein the signals of the sensors (26, 28;

30, 32) of one grasping surface (40, 42) are compared to signals of the sensors (26, 28;

30, 32) of the other grasping surface (40, 42).