Ambidextrous Mouse

• US 20080297476A1
• Filed: 08/08/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Huppi, Steve Hotelling
• Original Assignee: Brian Huppi, Steve Hotelling
• Inventors: HOTELLING, Steve, Huppi, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03544 having dual sensing arrangement, e.g. two balls or two coils used to track rotation of the pointing device

Abstract

An ambidextrous mouse is disclosed. The ambidextrous mouse is configured for both left and right handed use. The mouse may include right handed buttons on the front side of the mouse and left handed buttons on the back side of the mouse. The user may change the handedness of the mouse by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse such that the left hand can use the left hand buttons and the right hand can use the right hand buttons. The mouse may include a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for right handed or left handed use even though the mouse has the capability for both right and left hands.

Claims

1. An ambidextrous mouse configured for left and right handed use, the handedness of the mouse being changed by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse by 180 degrees.

2. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 1 including a front and back portion, the front portion being aimed in a forward direction for right handed use and the back portion being aimed in the forward direction for left handed use.

3. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 2 wherein both the front and back portions of the ambidextrous mouse include one or more buttons, the buttons located on the front portion being dedicated to right hand use, the buttons located on the back portion being dedicated to left hand use.

4. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 3 wherein the buttons are implemented via a button cap.

5. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 3 wherein the buttons are implemented via a unified button housing.

6. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 3 wherein the buttons are implemented via a touch sensitive button housing.

7. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 2 further including a side portion for receiving the thumb of both the left and right hands, the side portion including one or more buttons.

8. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 7 wherein the button is a wheel.

9. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 1 further including a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for left and right hand use.

10. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 9 wherein the handedness selection system allows a user to select which hand is desired.

11. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 9 wherein the handedness selection system automatically configures the mouse for the left or right hand use based on how the user grabs the mouse.

12. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 9 wherein the mouse includes a sensor arrangement capable of generating signals when the mouse is touched by a user, the signals indicating whether the hand is left or right handed.

13. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 1 further including a mouse housing, the mouse housing having an asymmetric cross section in the lateral direction and a symmetric cross section in the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction being orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

14. The ambidextrous mouse as recited in claim 13 wherein the mouse housing includes a base and a movable button body that moves relative to the base, the base defining the lower portion of the mouse and providing a structure for supporting the components of the mouse, the movable body defining the upper portion of the mouse and providing a structure for implementing the button functions of the mouse.