Fingertip mouse and base

• US 9,092,075 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2015
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FTM Computer Products
• Original Assignee: FTM Computer Products
• Inventors: Bailen, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, TONY O
• Application Number:
  US14/592,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345/163, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0335 Finger operated miniaturized mouse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a tracking device to generate movement information for use in moving a user interface object on a graphical user interface. The tracking device is configured to receive at least a portion of a user'"'"'s finger. The system also includes a base device configured to receive the tracking device. The base device is configured to translate movement of the base device relative to an adjacent surface for use in moving the user interface object.

Claims

1. A wireless finger-worn motion tracking device comprising:

a housing configured to be worn on a finger of a user, the housing having a passage therethrough,

the passage defining a passage axis generally coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the user'"'"'s finger when the user'"'"'s finger is extending through the passage of the housing in a finger-worn position,

the housing including an internal finger contact surface that is facing generally radially inward toward the passage axis, the internal finger contact surface making contact with the user'"'"'s finger when in the finger-worn position,

the housing passage and internal finger contact surface configured such that an end portion of the user'"'"'s finger can be extended through the passage entirely to the finger-worn position such that the end portion of the user'"'"'s finger is out of contact with the internal finger contact surface in the finger-worn position,

the housing further including an external outside surface that is facing generally radially outward from the passage axis, the external outside surface being not in contact with the user'"'"'s finger when in the finger-worn position,

the housing further including an inner space between the internal finger contact surface and the external outside surface,

wherein the inner space is configured to contain all electronics for operating the wireless finger-worn motion tracking device;

wireless communication components disposed within the inner space, the wireless communication components configured and operable to wirelessly communicate with a separate computing system;

a motion tracking mechanism disposed within the inner space and configured and operable to generate, in response to movements of the housing, tracked movement information for use in controlling the separate computing system, the motion tracking mechanism comprising an accelerometer;

a selection mechanism coupled to the housing and configured and operable to generate, in response to an activation of the selection mechanism, selection information for use in controlling the separate computing system; and

a display device located on the housing, wherein the display device is configured and operable to output information.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the separate computing system is configured and operable to control a display device, and wherein the tracked movement information is used by the separate computing system to generate data for controlling the display device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the selection mechanism is accessible on the external outside surface of the housing and is configured and operable to be activated by a second finger of the user when the user'"'"'s finger is wearing the housing.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is a first accelerometer, wherein the selection mechanism comprises a second accelerometer, and wherein the selection mechanism is configured and operable to generate the selection information in response to movement sensed by the second accelerometer.

5. The device of claim 1, in further combination with a base with which the motion tracking device can electrically couple to receive electrical power for charging the motion tracking device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing of the motion tracking device encloses the user'"'"'s finger when in the finger-worn position.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more display components coupled to the housing, wherein the one or more display components are configured and operable to output information that is viewable by the user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the information represents a status of the motion tracking device or the separate computing system.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion tracking device is configured and operable to receive communication from the separate computing system.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the motion tracking device is configured and operable to perform, in response to an input applied to the motion tracking device, a scrolling function.