Multiple signaling mouse with faceted surfaces

• US 6,369,797 B1
• Filed: 03/05/1998
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart Tyrus Jr. Maynard
• Original Assignee: Stuart Tyrus Jr. Maynard
• Inventors: Maynard, Stuart Tyrus Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/035,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/164, 345/167, 345/165, 345/166, 345/158, 345/159, 744/71.XY, 463/31, 463/32, 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/039 Accessories therefor, e.g. mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A conventional monoplane mouse is constructed to move on a flat surface upon a single plane within which a contained sphere may rotate tangential with the single plane contacting the flat surface. Signal for XY cursor movement are derived from two or more counting sensors positioned at an equator of the rotatable sphere parallel with the single plane. The mouse invention defines two or more facets in the underside housing. The facet mouse can be tilted to one of the exclusive facets and moved on a flat surface to generate XY signals. The facet plane selected by tilt is identified by triggered pressure sensitive switches at each facet plane. The switches also function as undercarriage feet to define the virtual plane of contact to the flat surface. The facet planes in two and four facet embodiments are oriented with the orthogonally placed sphere counting sensors so that the interest of any two opposing facets is parallel with the plane of rotation of one of the counting wheels. A single sphere and counter apparatus can serve all facets, being placed at the intersect of all facets. To aid the hand in applying continuous downward pressure to the mouse onto a preferred facet, a hinged and elevatable palm hood is attached to the top of the mouse. The mouse enables a new user interface beyond the tradition ones of: 1.clicking keys by a finger and 2.whole arm movement of a mouse on an XY surface. By a tilting wrist motion, the user may instantly and continuously toggle 2,4, or more selection assigned to the facets provided.

Claims

1. A coordinate input device or mouse containing a tracking sphere in its underside and contacting an operating surface and surrounded by two counting wheels enabled to tabulate rotation of said sphere in two axes for communication of coordinate information to a computer software program wherein

said underside is divided into four planes oriented outwardly

and said planes defined by four edges converging generally to an intersect area which points outwardly

said tracking sphere is located at said intersect area and enabled to contact said operating surface during complete tilting onto any of said planes

said input device enabled to communicate coordinate input information to said software while tilting is maintained on any of said planes.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said planes are designated as A,B,C,D for purposes of identifying planes in a contiguous counting of planes in either clockwise or counter-clockwise directions around said intersect area

each of said counting wheels is mounted with an axis of rotation defined as respectively a first axis and a second axis for said two counting wheels

wherein planes A and c are oriented parallel to said first axis and planes B D are oriented parallel to said second axis.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein

a signalling means is provided to indicate that any one of said planes is maintained as the operating plane of said input device which is in contact with said operating surface wherein

tilting onto any of said operating planes indicates a toggled condition signalled to said software and is assignable by said software to carry out any action of said software which is normally associated with a menu choice locus or key commands.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein

said signalling means is provided as pressure sensitive switches on the underside of said mouse body wherein four switches are provided corresponding respectively to four said planes provided in underside of said mouse body.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein

said four switches are situated in the four edges which define the intersecting four said planes wherein

the condition of two switches must be known and signalled to indicate that any given plane is maintained on said operating surface and

a single switch may signal only that its respective single edge is contacted or removed in respect to said operating surface.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

a signalling means is provided to indicate that any one of said planes is maintained as the operating plane of said device which is in contact with said operating surface

multiple onscreen cursors are provided by software each of said cursors is associated with one of said operating planes

a given one of said cursors is chosen for manipulation according to said coordinate input information by maintaining said tilting on one of said planes.

7. The device as claimed in 5 wherein

said software provides multiple onscreen cursors, each of said on screen cursors associated and assignable by said software to a set of conditions for said four switches, said tilting of said mouse providing signal for the selection of a given one of said cursors for manipulation according to said coordinate input information.

8. A coordinate input apparatus or mouse having a hand operated body to input coordinate information of a software defined work plane of a computer assisted drawing program enabled to define projections of a three dimensional object and each projection useable as said work plane, said body comprising:

a bottom portion having first, second, third, and fourth input planes which are not all located in the same plane where

each of said input planes corresponds to one of said work planes as defined in said program wherein each of said work planes is individually selectable by selecting its corresponding input plane, coordinate information of said work plane being received as input into the selected work plane by the action of tilting onto its corresponding input plane, and

detecting means provided at each of said input planes, for detecting movement of the body corresponding to coordinate information to be input and provided at the intersect of said input planes.

9. A coordinate input apparatus or mouse having a hand-operated body operated upon a ground plane to input coordinate information into computer software which is able to perform tasks represented on a display and a moveable cursor for activating a coordinate location and menu located choices at various coordinate locations, said body having:

a bottom portion having first, second, third, and fourth input planes which are not all located in the same plane, where

any of said input planes is assignable to correspond to a software task and said task is individually selectable by tilting said body to maintain said corresponding input plane in parallel with said ground plane,

a coordinate detection unit comprised of a rotatable sphere contacting said ground plane and contained within two orthogonally positioned counting wheels enabled to acquire an amplitude of motion from the rotating surface of said sphere along two vectors during movement on said ground plane, and

said detection unit positioned contiguous with all of said input planes, and

said detection unit providing coordinate information to said software while said tilting is maintained onto any of said input planes.