Force sensing mouse

• US 9,304,587 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, James E., Hendren, Keith J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Quiles, Ivelisse
• Application Number:
  US13/766,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A force sensing input device (such as a force sensing mouse) includes at least one force sensor and at least one top portion movably connected to at least one bottom portion. When a force is applied to the top portion, the top portion exerts pressure on the force sensor. The force sensor obtains force data based upon the pressure. The amount of force applied to the top portion, within a range of force amounts, is determined from at least the force data. In this way, a broader range of inputs may be receivable from the force sensing input device as compared to input devices that merely detect whether or not a button or similar element has been pushed.

Claims

1. A force sensing mouse, comprising:

at least one top portion;

at least one bottom portion movably connected to the at least one top portion by a multi-directional ball joint;

cantilever beams each including a strain gauge, a fixed end coupled to the ball joint, and a free end opposite the fixed end wherein each of the cantilever beams are oriented in different directions; and

pressure elements that each project from the top portion toward one of the cantilever beams;

wherein;

a force applied to the at least one top portion causes at least one of the pressure elements to transfer the force from the at least one top portion to at least one of the cantilever beams;

at least one of the cantilever beams and the respective strain gauge obtains force data from the transferred force; and

an amount of the force applied to the at least one top portion within a range of force amounts and a direction that the force is applied are determinable from the force data.

2. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the at least one top portion comprises a touch sensitive surface that detects a location where the force is applied.

3. The force sensing mouse of claim 2, wherein the touch sensitive surface further comprises a capacitive touch sensitive surface.

4. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the force data comprises strain data.

5. The force sensing mouse of claim 4, wherein the cantilever beams are positioned radially about the ball joint.

6. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the amount of the force applied to the at least one top portion is determined based at least on force data from each of the cantilever beams and strain gauges.

7. The force sensing mouse of claim 6, wherein a location of the force applied to the at least one top portion is determined at least by comparing the force data from each of the cantilever beams and strain gauges.

8. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the at least one top portion is rotatable with respect to the at least one bottom portion about the ball joint in multiple different directions.

9. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, further comprising at least one feedback device.

10. The force sensing mouse of claim 9, wherein the feedback device comprises an audio feedback device.

11. The force sensing mouse of claim 9, wherein the feedback device comprises a haptic feedback device.

12. The force sensing mouse of claim 11, wherein the haptic feedback device performs at least one of vibrating the at least one top portion, vibrating the at least one bottom portion, causing an object to strike the at least one top portion, or causing the object to strike the at least one bottom portion.

13. The force sensing mouse of claim 11, wherein the haptic feedback device provides feedback of varying intensity.

14. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein a location of the force applied to the at least one top portion is determined at least based on the force data.

15. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein each of the cantilever beams is positioned perpendicular to two other of the cantilever beams.

16. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the force sensing mouse transmits the force data to at least one electronic device which determines the amount of the force applied to the at least one top portion from the transmitted force data.

17. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the cantilever beams are configured in a cross arrangement.

18. The force sensing mouse of claim 1, wherein the force data is scaled based upon a detected location of where the force is applied.

19. A method for operating a force sensing mouse, the method comprising:

providing a force sensing mouse, comprising;

at least one bottom portion movably connected to at least one top portion by a multi-directional ball joint;

cantilever beams each including a strain gauge, a fixed end coupled to the ball joint, and a free end opposite the fixed end wherein each of the cantilever beams are oriented in different directions; and

projections projecting from the at least one top portion toward one of the cantilever beams;

obtaining force data utilizing at least one of the cantilever beams and the respective strain gauge wherein a force applied to the at least one top portion causes at least one of the projections to transfer the force to at least one of the cantilever beams and the at least one of the cantilever beams and the respective strain gauge obtains force data from the transferred force; and

determining an amount of the force applied to the at least one top portion within a range of force amounts and a direction that the force is applied from the force data.

20. A system for interacting with a force sensing mouse, comprising:

a computing device; and

at least one force sensing mouse, communicably connected to the computing device, comprising;

at least one top portion;

at least one bottom portion movably connected to the at least one top portion by a multi-directional ball joint;

cantilever beams each including a strain gauge, a fixed end coupled to the ball joint, and a free end opposite the fixed end; and

elements projecting from the at least one top portion toward one of the cantilever beams;

wherein;

a force applied to the at least one top portion causes at least one of the elements to transfer the force to one of the cantilever beams;

at least one of the cantilever means and the respective strain gauge obtains force data from the transferred force; and

an amount of the force applied to the at least one top portion within a range of force amounts and a direction that the force is applied are determinable from the force data.