Multi-button mouse

• US 7,535,458 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Huppi, Brian, Farag, Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sheng; Tom V
• Application Number:
  US11/748,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20070211033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345163-166, D14402-410
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A mouse with multi button functionality is disclosed. The mouse includes a housing that surrounds the internal components of the mouse. The housing includes at least a first member and a second member, each of which forms a substantial portion of the housing. The first member moves relative to the second member so as to implement at least one of the multiple button functions of the mouse.

Claims

1. A method of sending signals corresponding to multiple button functionalities from a unibody mouse to an electronic system having a single movable housing component that cooperates with and is movably coupled with a base housing component that supports the unibody mouse on a surface, comprising:

associating the multiple button functionalities with specific portions of the single movable housing component;

activating each of the multiple button functionalities by moving the single movable housing component to different positions relative to the base housing component wherein the single movable housing component has at least two degrees of freedom relative to the base housing component;

generating a clicking action by moving the movable housing component relative to the base housing component along at least one of the at least two degrees of freedom; and

sending a signal to the electronic system based upon the clicking action.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the clicking action implements a function selected from a group comprising:

a single click function, a double click function, and/or a dragging and dropping function.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic system includes a display screen suitable for displaying images.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein each of the multiple button functionalities corresponds to an action on a display screen.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the single click function causes the electronic system to select a particular image on the display, and wherein the double click function causes the electronic system to open a document and/or launch a program, and wherein the dragging and dropping function generally causes the electronic system to move an item on the screen in accordance with movement of the unibody mouse in relation to the surface.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein more than two degrees of freedom are used to implement multiple clicking actions.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said clicking actions has a switch associated therewith that is capable of differentiating when each of said clicking actions is actuated.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said switches is enclosed by said housing.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said single movable housing component is coupled to the base housing component via a combination of joints selected from pivot joints, slider joints, ball and socket joints, or flexure joints, and wherein each pivot joint represents a different pivot axis.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said single movable housing component pivots relative to said base housing component about a first axis and about a second axis.

11. A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said first axis is orthogonal to said second axis.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic system is a computer.

13. A method of configuring a multi-function mouse having a single movable housing component being movably coupled to an associated base housing component that supports the multi-function mouse on a surface, the method comprising:

assigning a number of distinct button zones to the single movable housing component;

generating a signal from an assigned button zone by moving the single movable housing component relative to the base housing component along at least one of at least two degrees of freedom available to the single movable housing component relative to the base housing component, thereby actuating an associated movement indicator configured to sense a movement of the associated assigned button zones;

interpreting the signal received from the associated assigned button zone as a corresponding button function; and

performing the button function corresponding to the signal received from the mouse.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein when the multi-function mouse is user programmable, then the interpreting the signal received from each assigned button zone is updated to correspond to a user provided button function.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

connecting the multi-function mouse to a computer having a display screen arranged to display an image and a processor unit operatively coupled to the display screen, wherein the processor unit receives and interprets the signal received from the multi-function mouse.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein the button function is selected from a group comprising:

a single click function, a double click function, and/or a dragging and dropping function.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the single click function causes the processor to select a particular image on the display, and wherein the double click function causes the processor to open a document and/or launch a program, and wherein the dragging and dropping function generally causes the processor to move an item on the screen in accordance with movement of the multi-function mouse in relation to the surface.

18. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said single movable housing component is coupled to the base housing component via a combination of joints selected from pivot joints, slider joints, ball and socket joints, or flexure joints, and wherein each pivot joint represents a different pivot axis.

19. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said single movable housing component pivots relative to said base housing component about a first axis and about a second axis.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein said first axis is orthogonal to said second axis.

21. Computer program product executable by a processor for configuring a multi-function mouse having a single movable housing component being movably coupled to an associated base housing component that supports the multi-function mouse on a surface, comprising:

computer code for assigning a number of distinct button zones to the single movable housing component;

computer code for generating a signal from an assigned button zone by moving the single movable housing component relative to the base housing component along at least one of at least two degrees of freedom available to the single movable housing component relative to the base housing component, thereby actuating an associated movement indicator configured to sense a movement of the associated assigned button zones;

computer code for interpreting the signal received from the assigned button zone as a corresponding button function;

computer code for performing the button function corresponding to the signal received from the mouse; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

22. Computer program product as recited in claim 21, wherein when the multi-function mouse is user programmable, then the interpreting the signal received from each assigned button zone is updated to correspond to a user provided button function.

23. Computer program product as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

computer code for connecting the multi-function mouse to a computer having a display screen arranged to display an image and a processor unit operatively coupled to the display screen, wherein the processor unit receives and interprets the signal received from the multi-function mouse.

24. Computer program product as recited in claim 23, wherein the button function is selected from a group comprising:

a single click function, a double click function, and/or a dragging and dropping function.

25. Computer program product executable by a processor in an electronic system, comprising

computer code for assigning a number of distinct button zones to a single movable housing component of a user input device communicatively coupled with the electronic system, the single movable housing component being movably coupled to an associated base housing component that supports the user input device on a surface, the single movable housing component being capable of movement along at least two degrees of freedom relative to the base housing component;

computer code for associating a button function with each assigned button zone;

computer code for interpreting a signal received from the user input device, the signal being produced in the user input device and transmitted to the electronic system as a result of actuating a button zone, the button zone being actuated as a result of moving the single movable housing component relative to the base housing component to actuate an associated movement indicator configured to sense a movement of the associated button zone, wherein interpreting the signal involves at least determining which button zone was actuated;

computer code for implementing a specific button function corresponding to the associated actuated button zone, the button function corresponding to an action on a display; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

26. Computer program product as recited in claim 25, wherein the button function is one selected from a group comprising:

a single click function, a double click function, and/or a dragging and dropping function.

27. Computer program product as recited in claim 26, wherein the single click function causes the electronic system to select a particular image on the display, and wherein the double click function causes the electronic system to open a document and/or launch a program, and wherein the dragging and dropping function generally causes the electronic system to move an item on the screen in accordance with movement of the user input device in relation to the surface.

28. A system, comprising:

a unibody user input device having multiple assigned button zones in a single movable housing component of the user input device, wherein each button zone has an associated button functionality and all of said multiple button functionalities are incorporated into the single movable housing component, the single movable housing component being movably coupled to a base housing component that supports the mouse along a surface, wherein the movable housing component is capable of movement along at least two degrees of freedom relative to the base housing component, wherein actuation of a single button zone is achieved by moving the movable housing component relative to the base housing component to actuate an associated movement indicator configured to sense a movement of the associated button zone;

a display; and

a processor communicatively coupled with the mouse, the processor configured to interpret a signal received from the user input device, the signal being produced in the user input device as a result of the actuation of a button zone, wherein the interpretation of the signal involves at least the determination of which button zone was actuated, the processor being further configured to implement a specific button function corresponding to the associated actuated button zone, the button function corresponding to an action on the display.