Combination thumb keyboard and mouse
First Claim
1. A user interface device for use in controlling at least one external device, the user interface device having at least (i) a positional change operation mode, and (ii) a keyboard operation mode, the user interface device comprising:
- (a) a main body portion including;
(i) a top surface including at least one button that is active only in the positional change operation mode, the at least one button triggering an action in the at least one external device when pressed, and(ii) a bottom surface including;
(A) a displacement sensor that detects positional change of the user interface device only during the positional change operation mode, the positional change being used for navigation on a display screen of the at least one external device, and(B) a thumb keyboard having a plurality of keys that generate keyboard signals for sending to the at least one external device only when the user interface device is in the keyboard operation mode, the plurality of keys allowing for entry of at least alphabetic characters, wherein in the keyboard operation mode, the alphabetic characters of the keys when viewed upright are perpendicular to the orientation of the device when used in the positional change operation mode, so that when changing between the positional change operation mode and the keyboard operation mode, the user interface device must be turned over and rotated 90 degrees;
(b) an orientation sensor that detects the orientation state of the user interface device;
(c) a surface sensor that detects whether the bottom surface of the user interface device is touching an external surface;
(d) a processor including processor logic that receives input signals from at least the orientation sensor and the surface sensor, and uses the input signals to determine whether to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode; and
(e) a switch configured to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface device for use in controlling one or more external devices has at least a positional change operation mode and a keyboard operation mode. The user interface device has a main body portion, an orientation sensor, a surface sensor, a processor and a switch. The main body portion includes a top surface having at least one button that is active only in the positional change operation mode. The at least one button triggers an action in the one or more external devices when pressed. The bottom surface has a displacement sensor and a thumb keyboard. The displacement sensor detects positional change of the user interface device only during the positional change operation mode. The positional change is used for navigation on a display screen of the one or more external devices. The thumb keyboard has a plurality of keys that generate keyboard signals for sending to the one or more external devices only when the user interface device is in the keyboard operation mode. The plurality of keys allow for entry of at least alphabetic characters. The orientation sensor detects the orientation state of the user interface device. The surface sensor detects whether the bottom surface of the user interface device is touching an external surface. The processor includes processor logic that receives input signals from at least the orientation sensor and the surface sensor, and uses the input signals to determine whether to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode. The switch is configured to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A user interface device for use in controlling at least one external device, the user interface device having at least (i) a positional change operation mode, and (ii) a keyboard operation mode, the user interface device comprising:
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(a) a main body portion including; (i) a top surface including at least one button that is active only in the positional change operation mode, the at least one button triggering an action in the at least one external device when pressed, and (ii) a bottom surface including; (A) a displacement sensor that detects positional change of the user interface device only during the positional change operation mode, the positional change being used for navigation on a display screen of the at least one external device, and (B) a thumb keyboard having a plurality of keys that generate keyboard signals for sending to the at least one external device only when the user interface device is in the keyboard operation mode, the plurality of keys allowing for entry of at least alphabetic characters, wherein in the keyboard operation mode, the alphabetic characters of the keys when viewed upright are perpendicular to the orientation of the device when used in the positional change operation mode, so that when changing between the positional change operation mode and the keyboard operation mode, the user interface device must be turned over and rotated 90 degrees; (b) an orientation sensor that detects the orientation state of the user interface device; (c) a surface sensor that detects whether the bottom surface of the user interface device is touching an external surface; (d) a processor including processor logic that receives input signals from at least the orientation sensor and the surface sensor, and uses the input signals to determine whether to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode; and (e) a switch configured to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A user interface device for use in controlling at least one external device, the user interface device having at least (i) a positional change operation mode, and (ii) a keyboard operation mode, the user interface device comprising:
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(a) a main body portion including; (i) a top surface including at least one button that is active only in the positional change operation mode, the at least one button triggering an action in the at least one external device when pressed, and (ii) a bottom surface including a thumb keyboard having a plurality of keys that generate keyboard signals for sending to the at least one external device only when the user interface device is in the keyboard operation mode, the plurality of keys allowing for entry of at least alphabetic characters, wherein in the keyboard operation mode, the alphabetic characters of the keys when viewed upright are perpendicular to the orientation of the device when used in the positional change operation mode, so that when changing between the positional change operation mode and the keyboard operation mode, the user interface device must be turned over and rotated 90 degrees; (b) an orientation sensor that detects the orientation state of the user interface device; (c) gyroscopic or inertial sensors that detect positional change of the user interface device, the positional change being used for navigation on a display screen of the at least one external device when the user interface device is in the positional change operation mode; (d) a processor including processor logic that receives input signals from at least the orientation sensor, and uses the input signals to determine whether to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode; and (e) a switch configured to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A user interface device for use in controlling at least one external device, the user interface device having at least (i) a positional change operation mode, and (ii) a keyboard operation mode, the user interface device comprising:
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(a) a main body portion including; (i) a top surface including at least one button that is active only in the positional change operation mode, the at least one button triggering an action in the at least one external device when pressed, and (ii) a bottom surface including; (A) a displacement sensor that detects positional change of the user interface device only during the positional change operation mode, the positional change being used for navigation on a display screen of the at least one external device, and (B) a thumb keyboard having a plurality of keys that generate keyboard signals for sending to the at least one external device only when the user interface device is in the keyboard operation mode, the plurality of keys allowing for entry of at least alphabetic characters, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be used in a landscape configuration during the keyboard operation mode with the alphabetic characters of the keys viewed upright; (b) an orientation sensor that detects the orientation state of the user interface device; (c) a surface sensor that detects whether the bottom surface of the user interface device is touching an external surface; (d) a processor including processor logic that receives input signals from at least the orientation sensor and the surface sensor, and uses the input signals to determine whether to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode; and (e) a switch configured to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode.
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29. A user interface device for use in controlling at least one external device, the user interface device having at least (i) a positional change operation mode, and (ii) a keyboard operation mode, the user interface device comprising:
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(a) a main body portion including; (i) a top surface including at least one button that is active only in the positional change operation mode, the at least one button triggering an action in the at least one external device when pressed, and (ii) a bottom surface including a thumb keyboard having a plurality of keys that generate keyboard signals for sending to the at least one external device only when the user interface device is in the keyboard operation mode, the plurality of keys allowing for entry of at least alphabetic characters, wherein the bottom surface is configured to be used in a landscape configuration during the keyboard operation mode with the alphabetic characters of the keys viewed upright; (b) an orientation sensor that detects the orientation state of the user interface device; (c) gyroscopic or inertial sensors that detect positional change of the user interface device, the positional change being used for navigation on a display screen of the at least one external device when the user interface device is in the positional change operation mode; (d) a processor including processor logic that receives input signals from at least the orientation sensor, and uses the input signals to determine whether to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode; and (e) a switch configured to place the user interface device in either the positional change operation mode or the keyboard operation mode.
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Specification