Hand-controllable signal-generating devices and systems

• US 9,715,286 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solid Art Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Solid Art Labs, Inc.
• Inventors: Wheeler, William, Charlton, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Ilana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rayan, Mihir K
• Application Number:
  US14/166,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20150212599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0332 Ergonomic shaped mouse adjustable to suit one of both hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus including: hand-controllable signal-generating device that includes body having top side, and bottom side spaced apart from and facing away from top side, bottom side being configured for facilitating displacements of body over working surface in two-dimensional directions, body having biaxial-displacement detector configured for generating biaxial displacement signals representative of displacements of body in two-dimensional directions; and signal transmitter configured for communicating biaxial displacement signals to external electronic processor. Body has palm rest on top side; palm rest includes palm contact surface having contour for receiving portion of palm of person'"'"'s hand into contact at position on palm contact surface. Contour of palm contact surface is configured for facilitating control by portion of palm of person'"'"'s hand, being in contact at position on palm contact surface, of displacements of body in two-dimensional directions over working surface. System including digit-controllable signal generating device and hand-controllable signal generating device. Related processes.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a hand-controllable signal-generating device, including;

a body having a top side, and having a bottom side spaced apart by a distance from and facing away from the top side, the bottom side being configured for facilitating displacements of the body over a working surface in two-dimensional directions with the bottom side facing the working surface, the body having a biaxial-displacement detector that is configured for generating biaxial displacement signals that are representative of detected displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface; and

a signal transmitter configured for communicating the biaxial displacement signals to an external electronic processor; and

a joystick on the top side of the body, the joystick including an angular-displacement detector;

wherein the body has a palm rest being pivotally mounted on the joystick over the top side of the body, the palm rest including a palm contact surface, the palm contact surface having a contour for receiving a portion of a palm of a person'"'"'s hand into contact at a position on the palm contact surface, the hand having one digit or a plurality of digits;

wherein the angular-displacement detector is configured for generating angular-displacement signals that are representative of detected angular displacements of the palm rest over the top side of the body, and the signal transmitter is configured for communicating the angular-displacement signals to the external electronic processor;

and wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for facilitating control by the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand, being in contact at the position on the palm contact surface, of the displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface without the one digit or any of the plurality of the digits being in contact with the hand-controllable signal-generating device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for guiding the one digit or the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand away from the palm contact surface simultaneously while receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for positioning the one digit or the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand as being substantially unencumbered by the palm contact surface when the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand is in contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at a substantially-fixed position on the palm contact surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the palm contact surface of the palm rest includes a mound having a peak and downwardly-sloping sides; and

wherein the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes a first part of the palm that is nearest to a wrist of the person; and

wherein the first part of the palm is received into contact on a first portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound when the portion of the palm is at the position on the palm contact surface; and

wherein the first portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound has an attached upwardly-sloping lip.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the one digit or the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand includes a thumb digit, and includes one non-thumb digit or a plurality of non-thumb digits; and

wherein the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes a second part of the palm that is farthest from the person'"'"'s thumb digit; and

wherein the second part of the palm is received into contact on a second portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound when the portion of the palm is at the position on the palm contact surface; and

wherein the second portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound has another attached upwardly-sloping lip.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes another portion being nearest to the person'"'"'s thumb digit, and wherein the palm contact surface is shaped for guiding the another portion of the palm away from the palm contact surface simultaneously while receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes an additional portion being nearest to the one non-thumb digit or to the plurality of the non-thumb digits of the person'"'"'s hand, and wherein the palm contact surface is shaped for guiding the additional portion of the palm away from the palm contact surface simultaneously while receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the joystick includes a compressive force detector being configured for generating compressive force signals that are representative of detected compressive forces applied by the palm of the person'"'"'s hand to the palm rest towards the top side of the body;

and wherein the signal transmitter is configured for communicating the compressive force signals to the external electronic processor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a rotational-displacement detector being configured for generating rotational displacement signals that are representative of detected rotational displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface, wherein the signal transmitter is configured for communicating the rotational displacement signals to the external electronic processor.

11. A system, comprising:

a digit-controllable signal-generating device for generating digit signals; and

a hand-controllable signal-generating device, including a body having a top side, and having a bottom side spaced apart by a distance from and facing away from the top side, the bottom side being configured for facilitating displacements of the body over a working surface in two-dimensional directions with the bottom side facing the working surface, the body having a biaxial-displacement detector that is configured for generating biaxial displacement signals that are representative of detected displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface; and

a signal transmitter configured for communicating the biaxial displacement signals and the digit signals to an external electronic processor; and

a joystick on the top side of the body, the joystick including an angular-displacement detector;

wherein the body has a palm rest being pivotally mounted on the joystick over the top side of the body, the palm rest including a palm contact surface, the palm contact surface having a contour for receiving a portion of a palm of a person'"'"'s hand into contact at a position on the palm contact surface, the hand having one digit or a plurality of digits;

wherein the angular-displacement detector is configured for generating angular-displacement signals that are representative of detected angular displacements of the palm rest over the top side of the body, and the signal transmitter is configured for communicating the angular-displacement signals to the external electronic processor; and

wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for facilitating control of the digit-controllable signal-generating device for generating digit signals by the person'"'"'s hand simultaneously with facilitating control by the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand, being in contact at the position on the palm contact surface, of the displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface without the one digit or any of the plurality of the digits being in contact with the hand-controllable signal-generating device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the digit-controllable signal-generating device includes a keyboard having a plurality of digit-controllable keys.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of the digit-controllable keys are arranged in a plurality of rows;

and wherein the plurality of the rows of the digit-controllable keys are arranged in a concave arc configured for placing each one of the plurality of the digit-controllable keys in a position suitable for being controlled by the one digit or by a one of the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand simultaneously with the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand being in contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

14. The system of claim 11, further including another joystick, wherein the digit-controllable signal-generating device includes the another joystick, being a thumb-controllable joystick.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for guiding the one digit or the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand away from the palm contact surface simultaneously while receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for positioning the one digit or the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand as being substantially unencumbered by the palm contact surface when the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand is in contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the contour of the palm contact surface of the palm rest is configured for receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at a substantially-fixed position on the palm contact surface.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the palm contact surface of the palm rest includes a mound having a peak and downwardly-sloping sides; and

the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes a first part of the palm that is nearest to a wrist of the person; and

the first part of the palm is received into contact on a first portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound when the portion of the palm is at the position on the palm contact surface; and

the first portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound has an attached upwardly-sloping lip.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the one digit or the plurality of the digits of the person'"'"'s hand includes a thumb digit, and includes one non-thumb digit or a plurality of non-thumb digits; and

wherein the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes a second part of the palm that is farthest from the person'"'"'s thumb digit; and

wherein the second part of the palm is received into contact on a second portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound when the portion of the palm is at the position on the palm contact surface; and

wherein the second portion of the downwardly-sloping sides of the mound has another attached upwardly-sloping lip.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes another portion being nearest to the person'"'"'s thumb digit, and wherein the palm contact surface is shaped for guiding the another portion of the palm away from the palm contact surface simultaneously while receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the palm of the person'"'"'s hand includes an additional portion being nearest to the one non-thumb digit or to the plurality of the non-thumb digits of the person'"'"'s hand, and wherein the palm contact surface is shaped for guiding the additional portion of the palm away from the palm contact surface simultaneously while receiving the portion of the palm of the person'"'"'s hand into contact at the position on the palm contact surface.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the joystick includes a compressive force detector being configured for generating compressive force signals that are representative of detected compressive forces applied by the palm of the person'"'"'s hand to the palm rest towards the top side of the body;

and wherein the signal transmitter is configured for communicating the compressive force signals to the external electronic processor.

23. The system of claim 11, further including a rotational-displacement detector being configured for generating rotational displacement signals that are representative of detected rotational displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface, wherein the signal transmitter is configured for communicating the rotational displacement signals to the external electronic processor.

24. A process, comprising:

providing a hand-controllable signal-generating device including a body having a top side, a joystick being on the top side of the body, a palm rest being pivotally mounted on the joystick over the top side, the palm rest including a palm contact surface, the palm contact surface having a contour for receiving a portion of a palm of a person'"'"'s hand into contact at a position on the palm contact surface, the hand having one digit or a plurality of digits, the body having a bottom side spaced apart by a distance from and facing away from the top side, the bottom side being configured for facilitating displacements of the body over a working surface in two-dimensional directions with the bottom side facing the working surface, the body having a biaxial-displacement detector that is configured for generating biaxial displacement signals that are representative of detected displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface, the joystick having an angular-displacement detector that is configured for generating angular-displacement signals being representative of detected angular displacements of the palm rest over the top side of the body; and

providing a signal transmitter configured for communicating the biaxial displacement signals and the angular-displacement signals to an external electronic processor; and

facilitating the generation, by a portion of a palm of a person'"'"'s hand being in contact at the position on the palm contact surface, of biaxial displacement signals and angular-displacement signals for communication to the external electronic processor, by facilitating control by the portion of the palm of the displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface without the one digit or any of the plurality of the digits being in contact with the hand-controllable signal-generating device.

25. A process, comprising

providing a digit-controllable signal-generating device for generating digit signals;

and

providing a hand-controllable signal-generating device including a body having a top side, a joystick being on the top side of the body, a palm rest being pivotally mounted on the joystick over the top side, the palm rest including a palm contact surface, the palm contact surface having a contour for receiving a portion of a palm of a person'"'"'s hand into contact at a position on the palm contact surface, the hand having one digit or a plurality of digits, the body having a bottom side spaced apart by a distance from and facing away from the top side, the bottom side being configured for facilitating displacements of the body over a working surface in two-dimensional directions with the bottom side facing the working surface, the body having a biaxial-displacement detector that is configured for generating biaxial displacement signals that are representative of detected displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface, the joystick having an angular-displacement detector that is configured for generating angular-displacement signals being representative of detected angular displacements of the palm rest over the top side of the body; and

providing a signal transmitter configured for communicating the biaxial displacement signals and the digit signals and the angular-displacement signals to an external electronic processor; and

facilitating the generation, by a portion of a palm of a person'"'"'s hand being in contact at the position on the palm contact surface, of biaxial displacement signals and angular-displacement signals for communication to the external electronic processor, by facilitating control by the portion of the palm of the displacements of the body in the two-dimensional directions over the working surface without the one digit or any of the plurality of the digits being in contact with the hand-controllable signal-generating device; and

facilitating the generation of digit signals by control of the digit-controllable signal-generating device by the person'"'"'s hand.