Computer mouse on a glove

• US 7,737,942 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deanmark Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Deanmark Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Bajramovic, Mark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Henry N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiby; Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US11/251,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20060033710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0335 Finger operated miniaturized mouse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A computer input device on a glove includes fittings for a user'"'"'s fingers and adjustable straps for fastening to a user'"'"'s wrist. A tracking device for controlling cursor movement on a video display is affixed to the glove for positioning next to the end of one of the user'"'"'s fingers. Pressure plates for controlling the various right and left mouse “clicking” functions are affixed to the glove for positioning next to the ends of the other of the user'"'"'s fingers. Scrolling/paging buttons are located on the side of the fitting fitted to the index finger for pressing by the thumb. A transmitter is affixed to the glove for receiving signals from the tracking device, the pressure plates and the scrolling/paging buttons, and transmitting those signals to a computer for controlling cursor movement in the x-y plane on a video display and for controlling the various mouse “clicking” controls, which implement the “select” function, the “drag” function, the “scroll” function, the “page” function, and so forth.

Claims

1. A computer input device, comprising:

a glove-like apparel to be worn on a user'"'"'s hand, said glove-like apparel having a fitting for at least one digit, said glove-like apparel comprising a stretchable material positioned to overlap extensor tendons running along a dorsal side of the user'"'"'s hand and a dorsal side of the at least one digit of the user'"'"'s hand, wherein said at least one digit fitting is designed to be anchored around a terminal area of the at least one digit and said glove-like apparel is designed to be anchored around the user'"'"'s wrist area, whereby the stretchable material assists the user'"'"'s hand and said at least one digit in maintaining a flat, unarched neutral hand posture during use;

a tracking device attached to said glove-like apparel to generate movement signals in accordance with movement of said tracking device across a surface;

a pressure plate attached to said glove-like apparel, said pressure plate designed to generate switching signals; and

a transmitter attached to said glove-like apparel for transmitting said movement signals and said switching signals,

wherein said movement signals are for controlling movement of a cursor in a video display of a computer and said switching signals are for controlling mouse clicking functions, and

wherein said tracking device and said pressure plate are positioned sufficiently back from the tips of the digits of the user'"'"'s hand to expose the tips of the digits so as to provide the user with added control and sensitivity when performing delicate tasks and so as to permit a user to type on a standard computer keyboard with all digits when said glove-like apparel is worn on the user'"'"'s hand and said tracking device and said pressure plate are in an operable position.

2. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein said glove-like apparel includes a strap or brace around the user'"'"'s wrist area to assist in maintaining the wrist in a neutral wrist posture.

3. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein said tracking device is attached to one of said at least one digit fitting in a downward facing position so as to require orientation of the user'"'"'s hand into said neutral hand posture during use.

4. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein said pressure plate is attached to one of said at least one digit fitting in a downward facing position so as to require orientation of the user'"'"'s hand into said neutral hand posture during use, and wherein said pressure plate is designed to generate said switching signals when pressed against said surface.

5. The computer input device of claim 4, wherein said surface is substantially parallel to the palm of the user'"'"'s hand during use.

6. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein said glove-like apparel includes fittings for at least two digits and said pressure plate is attached to one of said at least two digit fittings in a downward facing position and said tracking device is attached to another one of said at least two digit fittings in a downward facing position so as to require orientation of the user'"'"'s hand into said neutral hand posture during use.

7. The computer input device of claim 1, including an on/off switch for automatically disengaging said tracking device and said pressure plate whenever said tracking device is not in contact with said surface and for automatically engaging said tracking device and said pressure plate whenever said tracking device is in contact with said surface.

8. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein said glove-like apparel further comprises a palm area, said palm area having padding located generally over the thenar eminence and/or the hypothenar eminence of the user'"'"'s hand, whereby the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand is elevated above said surface during use and pressure on the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand is minimized.

9. The computer input device of claim 8, wherein said palm area of said glove-like apparel also includes padding located generally over the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand, whereby pressure on the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand is further minimized.

10. A computer input device, comprising:

a glove-like apparel to be worn on a user'"'"'s hand, said glove-like apparel having a fitting for at least one digit;

a tracking device attached to said glove-like apparel to generate movement signals in accordance with movement of said tracking device across a surface,

a pressure plate attached to said glove-like apparel, said pressure plate designed to generate switching signals; and

a transmitter attached to said glove-like apparel for transmitting said movement signals and said switching signals,

wherein said tracking device and said pressure plate are positioned in a downward facing position so as to require orientation of the user'"'"'s hand and digits into a flat, unarched neutral hand posture during use,

wherein said movement signals are for controlling movement of a cursor in a video display of a computer and said switching signals are for controlling mouse clicking functions, and

wherein said tracking device and said pressure plate are positioned sufficiently back from the tips of the digits of the user'"'"'s hand to expose the tips of the digits so as to provide the user with added control and sensitivity when performing delicate tasks and so as to permit the user to type on a standard computer keyboard with all digits when said glove-like apparel is worn on the user'"'"'s hand and said tracking device and said pressure plate are in an operable position.

11. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein said glove-like apparel comprises a stretchable material positioned to overlap extensor tendons running along a dorsal side of the user'"'"'s hand and a dorsal side of at least one digit of the user'"'"'s hand, and wherein said at least one digit fitting is designed to be anchored around a terminal area of the at least one digit, and said glove-like apparel is designed to be anchored around the user'"'"'s wrist area, whereby the stretchable material assists the user'"'"'s hand and said at least one digit in maintaining said neutral hand posture during use.

12. The computer input device of claim 11, wherein said glove-like apparel includes a strap or brace around the user'"'"'s wrist area to assist in maintaining the wrist in a neutral wrist posture.

13. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein said pressure plate is designed to generate said switching signals when pressed against said surface.

14. The computer input device of claim 13, wherein said surface is substantially parallel to the palm of the user'"'"'s hand during use.

15. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein said glove-like apparel includes fittings for at least two digits, and said pressure plate is attached to one of said at least two digit fittings in a downward facing position, and said tracking device is attached to another one of said at least two digit fittings in a downward facing position.

16. The computer input device of claim 10, including an on/off switch for automatically disengaging said tracking device and said pressure plate whenever said tracking device is not in contact with said surface and for automatically engaging said tracking device and said pressure plate whenever said tracking device is in contact with said surface.

17. The computer input device of claim 10, wherein said glove-like apparel further comprises a palm area, said palm area having padding located generally over the thenar eminence and/or the hypothenar eminence of the user'"'"'s hand, whereby the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand is elevated above said surface during use and pressure on the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand is minimized.

18. The computer input device of claim 17, wherein said palm area of said glove-like apparel also includes padding located generally over the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand, whereby pressure on the carpal tunnel area of the user'"'"'s hand is further minimized.