Thumb actuated X-Y input device
First Claim
1. An input device adapted for receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device;
- the input device comprising;
a) a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand;
b) the housing comprising a main body section with a long axis substantially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
c) the housing further comprising a platform for containment of an x-y input device, the platform placed to be protruding outward from and substantially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
d) the housing having a channel for placement of the user'"'"'s index finger;
e) the housing having a channel for placement of the user'"'"'s middle finger;
f) the channels positioned to place the user'"'"'s index and middle fingers below and substantially orthogonal to the orientation of the user'"'"'s thumb while the user is grasping the device;
g) an input actuator being integrally formed into a recessed portion of at least one of the channels; and
h) an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb primarily comprised of circumduction of the thumb'"'"'s basal joint.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various x-y input devices are disclosed that are adapted to allow a user to hold and operate the input device with a stress-reducing, open grip posture with the thumb pointing forward and on top of the device. One preferred embodiment discloses an input device for a computer comprising an x-y input sensor (such as a touchpad) positioned perpendicular to the thumb such that the user provides input with the thumb tip by using pivotal movement of the thumb. Various stress-reducing zero force touch switches are disclosed including zero force touch switches that can be adjusted to accommodate variations in user finger length. The mode of x-y cursor control can be altered through the use of x-y input sensor perimeter inputs. One preferred embodiment discloses a thumb actuated scroll select touch switch that alters the response to actuation of the finger actuated zero force touch switches from mouse button input to scroll wheel input. A unique fin-shaped feature of one preferred embodiment stabilizes the device within the relaxed hand and adapts the device to fit a range of user hand sizes.
-
Citations
54 Claims
-
1. An input device adapted for receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device;
- the input device comprising;
a) a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand;
b) the housing comprising a main body section with a long axis substantially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
c) the housing further comprising a platform for containment of an x-y input device, the platform placed to be protruding outward from and substantially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
d) the housing having a channel for placement of the user'"'"'s index finger;
e) the housing having a channel for placement of the user'"'"'s middle finger;
f) the channels positioned to place the user'"'"'s index and middle fingers below and substantially orthogonal to the orientation of the user'"'"'s thumb while the user is grasping the device;
g) an input actuator being integrally formed into a recessed portion of at least one of the channels; and
h) an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb primarily comprised of circumduction of the thumb'"'"'s basal joint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- the input device comprising;
-
15. An input device adapted for receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device;
- the input device comprising;
a) a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand;
b) the housing comprising a main body section with a long axis substantially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
c) the housing further comprising a platform for containment of an x-y input device, the platform placed to be protruding outward from and substantially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
d) the housing having a first input actuator for engagement with the user'"'"'s index finger;
e) the housing having a second input actuator for engagement with the user'"'"'s middle finger;
f) the first and second input actuators positioned on a housing face in positions adapted to place the user'"'"'s index and middle fingers substantially orthogonal to the orientation of the user'"'"'s thumb while the user is gasping grasping the device with both the index and middle fingers positioned to allow input from the fingers to the first and second input actuators, and placing the tips of the user'"'"'s index and middle fingers on the other side of the device from the user'"'"'s thumb; and
g) an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
- the input device comprising;
-
20. An input device for receiving an x-y input from a user'"'"'s thumb, comprising:
-
a housing having an upper surface shaped for supporting a user'"'"'s thumb thereon in a position substantially coextensive with a user'"'"'s forearm corresponding to the user'"'"'s thumb;
a fin extending upward from said housing along a direction substantially parallel to the forearm of a user holding the input device in a manner for being used, said fin located for supporting a user'"'"'s thumb at the region at which it connects to the hand;
at least one input actuator for receiving x-y input, the input actuator extending substantially perpendicularly upward from said housing at a location allowing a user'"'"'s thumb to contact and to move in contact along the input actuator'"'"'s surface without undesirable flexural motion of the thumb at the thumb'"'"'s interphalangeal joint; and
said housing having at least one other surface located substantially opposite to said upper surface for allowing at least a portion of at least one user'"'"'s finger from the same hand as the thumb to be in contact therewith for allowing a user to operatively hold and support the device.
-
-
21. An input device for receiving input from at least one input actuator on the input device;
- the input device comprising;
a) a housing having a channel adapted to receive placement of a user'"'"'s finger;
b) an input actuator being integrally formed into a recessed portion of the channel, wherein the input actuator detects the interruption of a beam of light between an emitter and a detector; and
c) an adjustment means for adjusting the placement of the emitter and detector pair along a path substantially perpendicular with the finger channel to allow adjustment of the activation position of the input actuator to accommodate variations in finger length. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
- the input device comprising;
-
24. An input device for receiving an x-y input from a user'"'"'s thumb, comprising:
-
a housing having an upper surface shaped for supporting a user'"'"'s thumb thereon in a position substantially coextensive with a user'"'"'s forearm corresponding to the user'"'"'s thumb;
at least one input actuator for receiving x-y input, the input actuator extending substantially perpendicularly upward from said housing at a location allowing a user'"'"'s thumb to contact and to move in contact along the input actuator'"'"'s surface without undesirable flexural motion of the thumb at the thumb'"'"'s interphalangeal joint; and
said housing having at least one other surface located substantially opposite to said upper surface for allowing at least a portion of at least one user'"'"'s finger from the same hand as the thumb to be in contact therewith for allowing a user to operatively hold and support the device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An input device capable of receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device, the input device comprising:
-
a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand;
the housing comprising a main body section with a long axis substantially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
the housing further comprising a platform for containment of an x-y input device, the platform placed to be protruding outward from and substantially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
an input actuator being integrally formed into a recessed portion of at least one channel disposed on said housing capable of receiving placement of a finger; and
an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb primarily comprised of circumduction of the thumb'"'"'s basal joint. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. An input device capable of receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device;
- the input device comprising;
a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand;
the housing comprising a main body section with a long axis at least partially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
the housing further comprising a platform for containment of an x-y input device, the platform placed to be protruding outward from and at least partially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
the housing having an input actuator for engagement with the user'"'"'s finger;
the input actuator being positioned on a housing face in a position capable of allowing a user to place the user'"'"'s finger substantially orthogonal to the orientation of the user'"'"'s thumb while the user is grasping the device with the finger positioned to allow input from the finger to the input actuators, and placing the tip of the user'"'"'s finger on the other side of the device from the user'"'"'s thumb; and
an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
- the input device comprising;
-
47. An input device capable of receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device, the input device comprising:
-
means for housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand comprising a main body section with a long axis substantially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
said means for housing further comprising means for containing an x-y input device, wherein said means for containing is placed to be protruding outward from and substantially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
means for actuating an input wherein said means for actuating is integrally formed into a recessed portion of at least one channel disposed on said housing capable of receiving placement of a finger; and
means for sensing an x-y input wherein said means for sensing is placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, such that the x-y input is provided to the means for sensing by movements of the thumb primarily comprised of circumduction of the thumb'"'"'s basal joint.
-
-
48. An input device capable of receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on the input device;
- the input device comprising;
means for housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand, said means for housing comprising a main body section with a long axis at least partially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb;
said means for housing further comprising;
means for containing an x-y input device, wherein said means for containing is placed to be protruding outward from and at least partially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section;
means for actuating an input for engagement with the user'"'"'s finger;
wherein said means for actuating an input is positioned on said means for housing in a position capable of allowing a user to place the user'"'"'s finger substantially orthogonal to the orientation of the user'"'"'s thumb while the user is gasping the device with the finger positioned to allow input from the finger to the means for actuating an input, and placing the tip of the user'"'"'s finger on the other side of the device from the user'"'"'s thumb; and
means for sensing an x-y input placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist such that the x-y input is provided to the means for sensing x-y input by movements of the thumb. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50)
- the input device comprising;
-
51. A method for receiving an x-y input on an input device having a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond a user'"'"'s hand comprising a main body section with a long axis that is substantially parallel to a line in the body of the user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb, a platform for containment of an x-y input device wherein the platform is placed to be protruding outward from and substantially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section, an input actuator being integrally formed into a recessed portion of at least one channel disposed on said housing, and an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, the method comprising:
-
actuating said input actuator by receiving placement of a finger of the user thereon; and
sensing an x-y input with said x-y input sensor, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb primarily comprised of circumduction of the thumb'"'"'s basal joint.
-
-
52. A method for receiving an x-y input and input from at least one input actuator on an input device comprising a housing adapted for use independent of any solid surface beyond the user'"'"'s hand comprising a main body section with a long axis at least partially parallel to a line in the body of a user grasping the pointing device running through the forearm of the user to the tip of the user'"'"'s extended thumb and a platform for containment of an x-y input device, wherein said platform is placed to be protruding outward from and at least partially perpendicular to and slightly skewed to one side of the long axis of the main body section, an input actuator for engagement with the user'"'"'s finger that is placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist and positioned on said housing in a position capable of allowing a user to place the user'"'"'s finger substantially orthogonal to the orientation of the user'"'"'s thumb while the user is gasping the device with the finger positioned to allow input from the finger to the input actuator, and placing the tip of the user'"'"'s finger on the other side of the device from the user'"'"'s thumb, and an x-y input sensor placed at the end of the input device, distal to the user'"'"'s wrist, the method comprising:
-
actuating said input actuator by receiving placement of a finger of the user thereon; and
sensing an x-y input with the x-y input sensor, such that the x-y input is provided to the x-y input sensor by movements of the thumb. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
-
Specification