Pointing stick with function pad for two handed operation

• US 7,321,358 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Issued: 01/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael G. Faeth
• Original Assignee: Michael G. Faeth
• Inventors: Faeth, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, NITIN
• Application Number:
  US11/213,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345160-173, 463/38, 463/37
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer input device has two modules, each module located at the natural resting position of one of the computer user'"'"'s corresponding hands on a work surface. The first module has a pointing device, while the second module has a plurality of touch sensitive devices such as buttons or skin capacitance detectors. The second module is substantially flat and sends to the computer commands which translate to those of left and right clicks and/or scrolls. The first module has a pointing stick allowing easy hand access and further allowing the stick to be held in a pencil grip or with the thumb and opposing finger or fingers for pointing. The command translation and other variables may be programmed to suit the user'"'"'s accessibility needs.

Claims

1. A computer pointing device for use on a work surface by a human user located facing the work surface, the pointing device comprising:

a first module disposed at a first position corresponding to the natural rest position of such human user'"'"'s first hand on such work surface wherein the first module further comprises mouse pointing circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with the pointing of a joystick;

a substantially flat second module disposed at a second position corresponding to the natural rest position of such human user'"'"'s second hand on such work surface wherein the second module further comprises mouse click circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with all of the clicking of a standard mouse;

the first and second modules being operatively electrically connected to a first computer input port;

the first module having a pointing mechanism; and

the second module having a plurality of touch sensitive devices thereon;

wherein the second module further comprises mouse click circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with all of the clicking of a standard mouse wherein the operative connections further comprise one member selected from the group consisting of;

i) a first cable carrying the standard joystick pointing signals from the first module and a second cable carrying the standard mouse click signals from the second module, the first and second cables merging prior to the first computer input port, the combined length of the two cables greater than the length of a standard computer keyboard,

ii) a first cable carrying the standard joystick pointing signals and also standard left-click mouse click signals from the first module, a second cable carrying the clicking signals from the second module, the first and second cables merging prior to the first computer input port, the combined length of the two cables greater than the length of a standard computer keyboard.

2. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the first module comprises a base part and a manipulable part, and wherein pressure applied to the manipulable part generates standard signals associated with the pointing function of a standard mouse, and wherein the base part comprises a generally mouse-shaped housing.

3. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the first computer pointing device input port on such computer further comprises one member selected from the group consisting of:

USB port, RS-232, RS-232 variant, large PS/2 mouse port, small PS/2 mouse port, Firewire, IEEE-1394, any other standard computer port now known or later developed, and combinations thereof.

4. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the first module base part further comprises:

a first scroll wheel.

5. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the second module base part further comprises:

a first scroll wheel.

6. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the second module further comprises a wrist support.

7. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the second module is substantially flat.

8. The computer pointing device of claim 1, further comprising a third module having joystick pointing circuitry and mouse click circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with the pointing of a joystick and clicking of a mouse.

9. The computer pointing device of claim 1, further comprising joystick pointing circuitry and mouse click circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with the pointing of a joystick and clicking of a mouse, the joystick pointing circuitry and mouse click circuitry both located in one member selected from the group consisting of:

the first module, the second module.

10. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the pointing mechanism of the first module further comprises:

a base unit having an aperture in one surfaces the aperture having pointing sensing units disposed therein;

a stylus unit dimensioned and configured to partially enter the aperture, whereby when the stylus is inserted into the aperture and moved, the pointing sensing units sense the motion of the stylus, whereby the stylus, when inserted into the aperture of the base unit, comprises a joystick.

14. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the first module also has a touch sensitive device operatively connected to the circuitry of the second module to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with the “

left click”

of a standard mouse.

15. The computer pointing device of claim 1, wherein the first module also has a touch sensitive device operatively connected to left-click circuitry within the first module operatively connected to transmit signals associated with the “

left click”

of a mouse to such computer.

11. A computer pointing device for use on a work surface by a human user located facing the work surface, the pointing device comprising:

a first module disposed on such work surface wherein the first module further comprises mouse pointing circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with the pointing of a joystick;

a second module disposed on such work surface wherein the second module further comprises mouse click circuitry operative to transmit to the computer standard signals associated with all of the clicking of a standard mouse;

the first and second modules having an operative connection to each other;

one module having a computer pointing device thereon while the other module having a first touch sensitive device thereon;

the second module transmitting to the first module signals relating to click commands, the second module sending standard mouse click commands to the computer via a second operative connection wherein the operative connection further comprise one member selected from the group consisting of;

i) a first cable carrying the standard joystick pointing signals from the first module and a second cable carrying the standard mouse click signals from the second module, the first and second cables merging prior to the first computer input port, the combined length of the two cables greater than the length of a standard computer keyboard,

ii) a first cable carrying the standard joystick pointing signals and also standard left-click mouse click signals from the first module, a second cable carrying the clicking signals from the second module, the first and second cables merging prior to the first computer input port, the combined length of the two cables greater than the length of a standard computer keyboard.

12. The computer pointing device of claim 11, wherein the first module is disposed on such work surface at the natural rest position of a user'"'"'s hand upon such work surface.

13. The computer pointing device of claim 11, wherein the second module is disposed on such work surface at the natural rest position of a user'"'"'s hand upon such work surface.