Computer input device with digit support and natural position actuators

• US 20050206619A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ledbetter, Carl J., McLoone, Hugh E., Fisher, Steven W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A mouse has sufficient width to support the distal phalanges of a user'"'"'s ring finger and little finger while the user'"'"'s middle finger is positioned over a secondary button of the mouse. The mouse also provides at least one side button positioned so that it is not contacted by the user'"'"'s thumb during “pinching” of the mouse but is easily accessible by the user'"'"'s thumb. In addition, the mouse provides a wheel with a large number of ribs that increase friction between the user'"'"'s finger and the wheel.

Claims

1. A mouse input device for a computer system, the mouse capable of being moved across a working surface to move a displayed object on a computer display, the mouse comprising:

an upper casing;

a bottom surface designed to face the working surface;

a thumb pinching area located on a side of the mouse proximate the bottom surface;

a primary button;

a secondary button; and

at least two side buttons located above the thumb pinching area in a direction away from the bottom surface.

2. The mouse of claim 1 wherein the at least two side buttons are shaped to substantially conform to a space between a user'"'"'s thumb and a user'"'"'s index finger when the user'"'"'s thumb is positioned on the thumb pinching area and the user'"'"'s palm is in contact with the contact point.

3. The mouse of claim 1 wherein a user'"'"'s thumb avoids contacting the at least two side buttons when the user'"'"'s thumb rests in the thumb pinching area.

4. The mouse of claim 1 wherein the at least two side buttons comprise two outer surfaces and the upper casing comprises an outer surface, the outer surfaces of the at least two side buttons being substantially level with the outer surface of the upper casing at all points along a boundary between the at least two side buttons and the casing.

5. A mouse for a computer system, the mouse comprising:

a thumb gripping position located on a side of the mouse;

a primary button positioned so as to be capable of being actuated by a user'"'"'s index finger when the user'"'"'s thumb is located on the thumb gripping position; and

at least two side buttons positioned so that a gap between the user'"'"'s thumb and the user'"'"'s index finger is reduced when the user'"'"'s thumb is moved from the gripping position to actuate a side button while the user'"'"'s index finger remains fixed on the primary button, wherein the thumb gripping position comprises a surface that is substantially level with a surface of the at least two side buttons along a boundary between the gripping position and the at least two side buttons.

6. The mouse of claim 5 wherein the two side buttons together form a shaped button assembly that substantially conforms to the shape of a gap between the user'"'"'s thumb and index finger when the user'"'"'s thumb is located on the thumb gripping position and the user'"'"'s index finger is positioned on the primary button.

7. The mouse of claim 5 wherein the user'"'"'s thumb registers with a working surface over which the mouse moves when the user'"'"'s thumb is located at the thumb gripping position.

8. The mouse of claim 7 wherein a space exists between the user'"'"'s thumb and the at least two side buttons when the user'"'"'s thumb is located at the thumb gripping position.

9. The mouse of claim 5 wherein the two side buttons comprise a forward button and a rear button, a majority of the forward button being closer to the front of the mouse than a majority of the rear button.

10. A mouse for a computer system, the mouse capable of conveying signals to the computer indicative of movement of the mouse across a working surface, the mouse comprising:

a metacarpophalangeal ridge support;

a secondary button; and

a ring finger and little finger convex support slope that is separate from the secondary button, each surface point of the support slope having a normal that at least partially points away from the working surface.

11. The mouse of claim 10 wherein a space exists between the user'"'"'s ring finger and the secondary button when the user'"'"'s ring finger is positioned on the support slope such that the secondary button freely moves when actuated by the user'"'"'s middle finger.

12. The mouse of claim 10 wherein a portion of the user'"'"'s little finger contacts both the support slope and the working surface.

13. A mouse for a computer system comprising:

a bottom surface designed to face a working surface over which the mouse is moved;

an upper housing; and

a wheel, located in the upper housing and comprising at least fifty ribs along its outer surface.

14. The mouse of claim 13 wherein the wheel comprises one hundred twenty ribs.

15. The mouse of claim 14 wherein the ribs are evenly spaced across the wheel surface.

16. The mouse of claim 13 wherein each rib is 0.02 inches high.

17. The mouse of claim 13 wherein each rib has a cross-sectional shape that is the combination of a first quarter-circle contiguous with a half-circle contiguous with a second quarter-circle.

18. The mouse of claim 17 wherein the first quarter-circle is based on a circle having a center above a point half-way between two ribs at a distance of 0.16 inch.

19. The mouse of claim 18 wherein the half-circle is based on a circle having a center below a peak of a rib at a distance of 0.16 inch.