Computer input devices and associated computing devices, software, and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mouse, comprising:
- a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion;
a spring positioned inside the housing and connected at opposite ends thereof to the first portion and the second portion and configured to bias the first portion away the second portion;
a detector adapted to detect relative movement of the first portion in x- and y-dimensions relative to a base point in a base plane, and further adapted to detect relative movement of the second portion in a z-dimension relative to the base point;
a controller in communication with the detector and adapted to send signals to an associated computing device based at least in part on the relative movement of the first portion and the second portion;
a structure extending downward and coupled to an inside bottom portion of the second portion of the housing, anda plurality of detents formed in the structure and positioned along the z-dimension of the structure,wherein the relative movement of the second portion in the z-dimension is independent of the movement in the x- and y-dimensions;
wherein the first portion of the housing includes a base portion,wherein the second portion of the housing includes an activation portion,wherein the activation portion is configured to move the second portion, via application of an external force to the activation portion, in two directions in the z-dimension relative to the base portion,wherein the detector is further adapted to detect relative movement of the second portion within a set of discrete strata of space defined by the structure, wherein each stratum of the discrete strata of space is defined by one of the plurality of detents and spaced apart from the base plane in the z-dimension,wherein the z-dimension is manipulated by application of a downward force to the activation portion of the mouse to a user selected position corresponding to one of the plurality of detents,wherein the second portion remains in the selected position when the downward force is no longer applied to the activation portion.
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Abstract
Computer input devices include a detector adapted to detect relative movement of an input member in x-, y-, and z-dimensions relative to a base point in a base plane, and a controller adapted to send a signal to an associated computing device based at least in part on the relative movement of the input member. Associated computing devices, software, and methods are also disclosed.
25 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A mouse, comprising:
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a housing comprising a first portion and a second portion; a spring positioned inside the housing and connected at opposite ends thereof to the first portion and the second portion and configured to bias the first portion away the second portion; a detector adapted to detect relative movement of the first portion in x- and y-dimensions relative to a base point in a base plane, and further adapted to detect relative movement of the second portion in a z-dimension relative to the base point; a controller in communication with the detector and adapted to send signals to an associated computing device based at least in part on the relative movement of the first portion and the second portion; a structure extending downward and coupled to an inside bottom portion of the second portion of the housing, and a plurality of detents formed in the structure and positioned along the z-dimension of the structure, wherein the relative movement of the second portion in the z-dimension is independent of the movement in the x- and y-dimensions; wherein the first portion of the housing includes a base portion, wherein the second portion of the housing includes an activation portion, wherein the activation portion is configured to move the second portion, via application of an external force to the activation portion, in two directions in the z-dimension relative to the base portion, wherein the detector is further adapted to detect relative movement of the second portion within a set of discrete strata of space defined by the structure, wherein each stratum of the discrete strata of space is defined by one of the plurality of detents and spaced apart from the base plane in the z-dimension, wherein the z-dimension is manipulated by application of a downward force to the activation portion of the mouse to a user selected position corresponding to one of the plurality of detents, wherein the second portion remains in the selected position when the downward force is no longer applied to the activation portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer readable storage media including computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct an associated computing device to:
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receive, from a controller in a mouse, signals that indicate relative movement of a first portion of a housing of the mouse in x- and y-dimensions relative to a base point in a base plane, signals that indicate relative movement of a second portion of the mouse in a z-dimension relative to the base point, wherein the relative movement of the second portion in the z-dimension is independent of the movement in the x- and y-dimensions, wherein the relative movement of the first portion and the relative movement of the second portion are detected by a detector in the mouse, and wherein the first portion is connected to the second portion via a biasing device and as the first portion is moved, the second portion is correspondingly moved, signals that indicate relative movement of the second portion within a set of discrete strata of space, wherein each stratum of the discrete strata is spaced away from the base plane in the z-dimension, signals that indicate a user'"'"'s selection of one of the discrete strata in the z-dimension of the set of discrete strata; and display, on a display device, manipulation of indicia based at least in part on the received signals, wherein the second portion is configured to remain in a position selected by said user, in the z-dimension, when a force is no longer applied to the second portion, and wherein the biasing device is configured to bias the first portion away the second portion when a force is not applied to the second portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification