Facile ergonomic computer pointing device

• US 6,795,057 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Gordon, Gary B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US10/085,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20030160765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0334 Ergonomic shaped mouse for vertical grip, whereby the hand controlling the mouse is resting or gripping it with an attitude almost vertical with respect of the working surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0335 Finger operated miniaturized mouse
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03546 using a rotatable ball at the tip as position detecting member

Abstract

An ergonomic mouse has an upright freestanding body that is designed to be gripped by a user'"'"'s fingers in a writing position and manipulated like a writing implement. The mouse has a body shaped like a pen. The pen is coupled to a weighted base so the mouse remains freestanding and does not need to be picked up before each use. The mouse has a primary switch that is activated by the weight of the user'"'"'s hand bearing down upon the pen. A secondary switch is located on the pen. Alternatively, the ergonomic mouse has a small body that can be gripped in the fingers much like a pen. The small-bodied mouse has switches on its base surface that are activated by the weight of the user'"'"'s hand bearing down upon the mouse body.

Claims

1. An ergonomic miniature mouse, the mouse in communication with a computer or instrument having a display screen, comprising:

an upright freestanding body, having a base surface for resting and sliding upon a work surface, the freestanding body adapted for gripping by a user'"'"'s fingers in a writing position while the user'"'"'s hand is in contact with the work surface;

a relative motion sensor at the base surface of the freestanding body, for translating movement of the mouse into corresponding movement of an object on the display screen; and

at least one primary switch connected to the freestanding body, adapted for activation by the weight of the user'"'"'s hand bearing down onto the freestanding body such that activation of the primary switch corresponds to a selection on the display screen.

2. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 1, wherein the freestanding body is less than 1 cube inch in volume.

3. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 2, wherein the freestanding body is less than four centimeters wide.

4. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 3, wherein the freestanding body is approximately 2.5 centimeters wide.

5. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 3, wherein the relative motion sensor is an optical sensor.

6. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 5, wherein the primary switch is in contact with the work surface.

7. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 6, wherein the ergonomic mouse communicates with the computer via a wireless link.

8. An ergonomic mouse, the mouse in communication with a computer or instrument having a display screen, comprising:

a weighted base, having a base surface for resting and sliding upon a work surface;

an optical sensor at the base surface of the weighted base;

a cylindrical rod flexibly coupled to the weighted base, such that the cylindrical rod is elevated at an angle to the work surface, the cylindrical rod having sufficient length to be held in a user'"'"'s fingers like a writing implement while the user'"'"'s hand is in contact with the work surface; and

at least one switch in the weighted base, actuated by the weight of the user'"'"'s hand bearing down onto the cylindrical rod.

9. An ergonomic mouse, the mouse in communication with a computer or instrument having a display screen, comprising:

a weighted base having a base surface for resting and sliding upon a work surface;

a cylindrical rod having sufficient length to be held in the user'"'"'s fingers like a writing implement while the user'"'"'s hand is in contact with the work surface, the cylindrical rod being coupled to the weighted base such that the cylindrical rod is elevated at an angle between 40° and

90°

to the work surface;

relative motion sensor at the base surface of the weighted base, far translating movement of the mouse into corresponding movement of an object on the display screen; and

at least one primary switch in the weighted base, adapted for activation by the weight of the user'"'"'s hand bearing down onto the cylindrical rod such that the activation of the primary switch corresponds to a selection on the display screen.

10. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 9, wherein the coupling between the cylindrical rod and the weighted base is flexible.

wherein the freestanding body further comprises:

a weighted base; and

a cylindrical rod having sufficient length to be held in the user'"'"'s fingers like a writing implement, the cylindrical rod being coupled to the weighted base such that the cylindrical rod is elevated at an angle between 40° and

90°

to the work surface.

11. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 10, wherein the relative motion sensor is an optical sensor.

12. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 11, wherein the weighted base is no wider than four centimeters.

13. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 12, wherein the cylindrical rod has facets to facilitate placement of the user'"'"'s fingers and orientation of the mouse.

14. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 13, further comprising a secondary switch in the cylindrical rod.

15. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 14, wherein the secondary switch is also a scrolling wheel.

16. An ergonomic mouse as in claim 15, wherein the ergonomic mouse communicates with the computer via a wireless link.