Fingertip mouse and base

• US 9,261,983 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• 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:
  US14/174,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20140292656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/163, 345/166
• 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. An apparatus comprising:

a housing that configures the apparatus to be worn in a finger-worn position on a portion of a finger of a user such that a tip end portion of the user'"'"'s finger extends beyond the housing,

the housing including an internal finger contact surface that faces the user'"'"'s finger when in the finger-worn position, and an external outside surface that faces away from the user'"'"'s finger when in the finger-worn position,

the housing defining an inner space between the internal finger contact surface and the external outside surface, wherein the inner space contains all electronics for operating the apparatus as a 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 display device located on the housing, wherein the display device is configured and operable to output information; and

a motion tracking mechanism disposed within the inner space and configured to generate movement information based on movement of the housing, wherein the movement information is for use in controlling the separate computing system, the motion tracking mechanism comprising an accelerometer.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a selection mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the selection mechanism is accessible on the external outside surface of the housing, and the selection mechanism configured and operable to be activated by a second finger of the user when in the finger-worn position.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the selection mechanism comprises the accelerometer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in further combination with a charging system with which the apparatus can electrically couple to receive electrical power for charging the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing of the apparatus encloses the user'"'"'s finger when in the finger-worn position.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate wirelessly using Bluetooth.

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

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises an LED or an LCD screen.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the accelerometer configures the motion tracking mechanism to generate movement information without movement of the housing across a surface.