Universal input device and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer system comprising:
- at least one input device comprising;
a housing having an upper surface;
a plurality of finger input mechanisms disposed on the upper surface of the housing in substantially the same plane to receive input from a plurality of fingers of a user, wherein each of the plurality of finger input mechanisms has a respective plurality of possible input values;
a thumb input mechanism disposed on the housing to receive input from a thumb of the user, wherein the thumb input mechanism permits the user to select among the plurality of possible input values for assignment to at least one of the plurality of finger input mechanisms;
a signal generating mechanism which generates a first signal in response to actuation of the thumb input mechanism by the user and generates a second signal in response to actuation of one of the plurality of finger input mechanisms, the combination of the first signal and second signal indicating a user data input request of the input value assigned to the actuated finger input mechanism; and
a communication mechanism which provides information associated with the user data input request; and
an object device which receives and processes the information, the object device comprising a display mechanism and one or more processors that;
present on the display mechanism a character presentation graphic comprising a plurality of character selection icons,receive the information associated with the user data input request and select one of the character selection icons corresponding to the input value assigned to the actuated finger input mechanism, andperform a function corresponding to the selected character selection icon.
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Abstract
An input device for generating signals indicating input requests by a user which has a base portion, a control portion, a plurality of input means, a universal connection means, and a signal generating means. The universal connection means may connect the control portion to the base portion. The control portion may be moved universally with respect to the base portion. The plurality of input means may comprise keys to be depressed by the user. Signals are generated indicating a position of the control portion or user data input requests. A processor receives and process the signals indicating a position of the control portion or user data input requests.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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at least one input device comprising; a housing having an upper surface; a plurality of finger input mechanisms disposed on the upper surface of the housing in substantially the same plane to receive input from a plurality of fingers of a user, wherein each of the plurality of finger input mechanisms has a respective plurality of possible input values; a thumb input mechanism disposed on the housing to receive input from a thumb of the user, wherein the thumb input mechanism permits the user to select among the plurality of possible input values for assignment to at least one of the plurality of finger input mechanisms; a signal generating mechanism which generates a first signal in response to actuation of the thumb input mechanism by the user and generates a second signal in response to actuation of one of the plurality of finger input mechanisms, the combination of the first signal and second signal indicating a user data input request of the input value assigned to the actuated finger input mechanism; and a communication mechanism which provides information associated with the user data input request; and an object device which receives and processes the information, the object device comprising a display mechanism and one or more processors that; present on the display mechanism a character presentation graphic comprising a plurality of character selection icons, receive the information associated with the user data input request and select one of the character selection icons corresponding to the input value assigned to the actuated finger input mechanism, and perform a function corresponding to the selected character selection icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An input device comprising:
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a housing having an upper surface; a plurality of finger input mechanisms disposed on the upper surface of the housing in substantially the same plane to receive input from a plurality of fingers of a user, wherein each of the plurality of finger input mechanisms has a respective plurality of possible input values; a thumb input mechanism disposed on the housing to receive input from a thumb of the user, wherein the thumb input mechanism permits the user to select among the plurality of possible input values for assignment to at least one of the plurality of finger input mechanisms; a signal generating mechanism which generates a first signal in response to actuation of the thumb input mechanism by the user and generates a second signal in response to actuation of one of the plurality of finger input mechanisms, the combination of the first signal and second signal indicating a user data input request of the input value assigned to the actuated finger input mechanism; and a communication mechanism which provides information associated with the user data input request to an object device, the object device comprising a display mechanism and one or more processors that; present on the display mechanism a character presentation graphic comprising a plurality of character selection icons, receive the information associated with the user data input request and select one of the character selection icons corresponding to the input value assigned to the actuated finger input mechanism, and perform a function corresponding to the selected character selection icon. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An input device for generating signals indicating input requests by a user, the device comprising:
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a base portion; a control portion; a plurality of input means disposed on said control portion for permitting a user to input a request; a universal connection means for connecting said control portion to said base portion and for permitting a user to move said control portion universally with respect to the base portion; a signal generating means, operatively connected to the plurality of input means and the universal connection means, for generating a first plurality of signals indicating a position of the control portion and for generating a second plurality of signals indicating user data input requests; and a rotational mechanism which permits a user to rotate the control portion with respect to the base portion, wherein the signal generating means is operatively connected to the rotational mechanism and generates a signal indicating rotational position of the control portion with respect to the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer system comprising:
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at least one input device comprising; a base portion; at least one control portion; a plurality of input means disposed on said control portion for permitting a user to request a data input to the processor means; at least one universal connection means for connecting each control portion to said base portion and for permitting a user to move each control portion universally with respect to the base portion; and a signal generating means, operatively connected to the plurality of input means and the universal connection means, for generating a first plurality of signals indicating a position of the control portion and for generating a second plurality of signals indicating user data input requests; and a processor means operatively connected to said signal generating means for receiving and processing the first and second plurality of signals; and a display means operatively connected to the processor means for displaying an image generated by the processor means, wherein the processor means comprises; a character presentation means for presenting on the display means a character presentation graphic comprising a plurality of character selection icons, and a character selection means for receiving the data input requests and positional signals and selecting one of the character selection icons, and wherein the processor means performs a function corresponding to the selected character selection icon. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification