INPUT DEVICE FOR CONTROL OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST PERSONS OF REDUCED VISUAL ACUITY

• US 20080012823A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ryan Patrick Radecki
• Original Assignee: Ryan Patrick Radecki
• Inventors: Radecki, Ryan Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,350 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/008 using visual presentation of the information for the partially sighted

Abstract

An input device designed to allow persons of reduced visual acuity to manipulate computer software providing magnification is disclosed. The device attaches to a personal computer via standard peripheral attachment, e.g., Universal Serial Bus. A single, large, lighted button on the superior surface of the device allows the activation and deactivation of computer software providing magnification. A bezel beneath the button may be rotated to control the level of magnification applied by the computer software providing magnification.

Claims

1. An input device attached to a personal computer via standard peripheral attachment, e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), for the control of software on the personal computer that magnifies the content displayed on a monitor connected to the personal computer, the input device essentially comprising:

a weighted base, made of heavy plastic or rubberized metal, that rests securely on a surface nearby the personal computer;

a circular bezel of approximately one-and-a-half centimeters in height, made of solid plastic, resting in the center of the weighted base, corrugated for increased ability to grasp and turn with fingers, which has the ability to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, in which rotation in the clockwise direction signals the software on the personal computer to increase the magnification of on-screen content, and rotation in the counter-clockwise direction signals the software on the personal computer to reduce the magnification of on-screen content, and wherein the rotation of the bezel provides tactile and audible feedback at discrete intervals of rotation;

a dome-shaped circular button, made of translucent plastic, centered over the circular bezel, sized to fit comfortably in the human palm, which, upon depression, sends a signal to the software on the personal computer to activate or deactivate the magnification ability, as appropriate;

a spring assembly, which provides recoil to the dome-shaped circular button;

a light-emitting diode (LED), inside the dome-shaped circular button, that is illuminated when the device is connected to a personal computer, and is illuminated at 25% maximum brightness when the magnification software on the personal computer is inactive, and is illuminated to 100% maximum brightness when the magnification software on the personal computer is active.