WO2001069361A3 - Convertible computer input device - Google Patents

Convertible computer input device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2001069361A3
WO2001069361A3 PCT/CA2001/000305 CA0100305W WO0169361A3 WO 2001069361 A3 WO2001069361 A3 WO 2001069361A3 CA 0100305 W CA0100305 W CA 0100305W WO 0169361 A3 WO0169361 A3 WO 0169361A3
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ball
mouse
trackball
position sensor
carrying
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CA2001/000305
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2001069361A2 (en
Inventor
Yanqing Wang
Original Assignee
Yanqing Wang
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yanqing Wang filed Critical Yanqing Wang
Priority to AU2001239070A priority Critical patent/AU2001239070A1/en
Publication of WO2001069361A2 publication Critical patent/WO2001069361A2/en
Publication of WO2001069361A3 publication Critical patent/WO2001069361A3/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor 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
    • G06F3/03541—Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Abstract

A computer input device (100) has function buttons (108) which can be moved relative to a position sensor. The device can be used as a mouse. In specific embodiments of the device the position sensor includes a rotatable ball and the device can be operated either as a mouse or as a trackball. Such embodiments have a ball-carrying member (120) which is movably connected to a member (102) which carries one or more function buttons. When configured for mouse operation the ball-carrying member (120) underlies the member which carries the function buttons and a ball (124) on the ball-carrying member frictionally engages a surface under the input device. When configured for operation as a trackball the ball (124) is offset relative to the function buttons (108) so that the ball can be comfortably operated by a user's thumb. The device can be shaped to fit a user's hand ergonomically in both mouse mode and trackball modes. A user can reduce the risk of injury caused by repetitive motions by periodically switching between mouse operation and trackball operation. Some embodiments have a storage configuration in which the position sensor is held in a protected location. Some embodiments are adjustable to accommodate different hand sizes. In some embodiments a member carrying the function button can be separated from a member carrying the position sensor to permit two-handed operation.
PCT/CA2001/000305 2000-03-15 2001-03-12 Convertible computer input device WO2001069361A2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2001239070A AU2001239070A1 (en) 2000-03-15 2001-03-12 Convertible computer input device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/526,428 2000-03-15
US09/526,428 US6580420B1 (en) 2000-03-15 2000-03-15 Convertible computer input device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001069361A2 WO2001069361A2 (en) 2001-09-20
WO2001069361A3 true WO2001069361A3 (en) 2002-10-03

Family

ID=24097297

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CA2001/000305 WO2001069361A2 (en) 2000-03-15 2001-03-12 Convertible computer input device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6580420B1 (en)
AU (1) AU2001239070A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2001069361A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (32)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6970156B1 (en) * 2000-06-20 2005-11-29 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Collapsible computer mouse
US7079110B2 (en) * 2001-04-30 2006-07-18 Microsoft Corporation Input device including a wheel assembly for scrolling an image in multiple directions
US6690359B1 (en) * 2001-06-15 2004-02-10 Gail J. Felton Computer mouse device
US20030122775A1 (en) * 2001-12-27 2003-07-03 Ti Raymond A.K.A. Hwei-Ming Apparatus for controlling and selecting display content of a wireless device
US7006074B2 (en) 2002-09-05 2006-02-28 Thomas Peter Chesters Multimodal pointer method
CN1206585C (en) * 2003-01-06 2005-06-15 致伸科技股份有限公司 Dual-Purpose input device
US7075516B2 (en) 2003-03-07 2006-07-11 Microsoft Corporation Scroll wheel assembly for scrolling an image in multiple directions
TW200419433A (en) * 2003-03-25 2004-10-01 Via Tech Inc The mouse with the multi-axis inputting device
US7620915B2 (en) * 2004-02-13 2009-11-17 Ludwig Lester F Electronic document editing employing multiple cursors
JP4588496B2 (en) * 2004-03-25 2010-12-01 パイオニア株式会社 Information input device and information input method
JP2005292883A (en) * 2004-03-31 2005-10-20 Pioneer Electronic Corp Information input device
JP4366246B2 (en) * 2004-05-26 2009-11-18 パイオニア株式会社 Information input device
US7443382B2 (en) * 2004-08-27 2008-10-28 Microsoft Corporation Scroll wheel carriage
US8648805B2 (en) 2004-11-05 2014-02-11 Ftm Computer Products Fingertip mouse and base
US8199107B2 (en) * 2004-12-22 2012-06-12 University Of Waterloo Input interface device with transformable form factor
US20070125913A1 (en) * 2005-12-05 2007-06-07 Microsoft Corporation Removable mouse palm rest
US20070279382A1 (en) * 2006-04-23 2007-12-06 Large William T Combination travel and work mouse
US8547334B2 (en) * 2006-11-29 2013-10-01 Tan Min-Liang Customizable computer input device
US20100207885A1 (en) * 2009-02-17 2010-08-19 Pixart Imaging Inc. Optical input device and operating method thereof, and image system
US20110095983A1 (en) * 2009-10-23 2011-04-28 Pixart Imaging Inc. Optical input device and image system
US20110227947A1 (en) * 2010-03-16 2011-09-22 Microsoft Corporation Multi-Touch User Interface Interaction
CN102562978A (en) * 2010-12-17 2012-07-11 天津市海日电子有限公司 Precise transmission device of control ball
CN102778962A (en) * 2011-05-13 2012-11-14 鸿富锦精密工业（深圳）有限公司 Mouse
JP5428083B2 (en) * 2011-10-13 2014-02-26 カシオ計算機株式会社 Switch device
KR20160029525A (en) * 2014-09-05 2016-03-15 삼성전자주식회사 Method of controlling user interface and electronic device supporting the same
TWI499945B (en) * 2014-10-15 2015-09-11 Dexin Corp Mouse adjusting device
JP6083884B2 (en) 2015-06-12 2017-02-22 任天堂株式会社 Support device, charging device, and operation system
US9724601B2 (en) 2015-06-12 2017-08-08 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Game controller
JP6153238B1 (en) 2016-10-06 2017-06-28 任天堂株式会社 Attachment and operation system
EP3482805B1 (en) 2016-10-06 2020-01-29 Nintendo Co., Ltd. Attachment
US10258873B2 (en) * 2017-02-14 2019-04-16 Dexin Electronic Ltd. Computer mouse with swingable palm rest cover
US11537219B2 (en) 2018-08-07 2022-12-27 The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York Feedback input apparatus and method for use thereof

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08123617A (en) * 1994-10-21 1996-05-17 Fuji Facom Corp Mouse and track ball switching type coordinate input device

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02210522A (en) * 1989-02-10 1990-08-21 Toshiba Corp Personal computer
US5063289A (en) * 1990-10-09 1991-11-05 Lexmark International, Inc. Combined mouse and trackball
US5726684A (en) * 1996-07-26 1998-03-10 Ncr Corporation Detachable convertible mouse-trackball pointing device for use with a computer
US5949401A (en) * 1996-11-21 1999-09-07 Kazarian; Randal N. Two-handed input apparatus and method

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08123617A (en) * 1994-10-21 1996-05-17 Fuji Facom Corp Mouse and track ball switching type coordinate input device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1996, no. 09 30 September 1996 (1996-09-30) *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001239070A1 (en) 2001-09-24
US6580420B1 (en) 2003-06-17
WO2001069361A2 (en) 2001-09-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO2001069361A3 (en) Convertible computer input device
US20020171625A1 (en) Pistol-grip trackball mouse
US5982356A (en) Ergonomic computer cursor control apparatus and mount
WO2004112749A3 (en) Ergonomic pointing device
TW200709831A (en) Game operating device
TW200714331A (en) Game operating device
WO2001065957A3 (en) Grip-enhancing glove
AU2003249062A8 (en) Hand-held computer interactive device
EP1063608A3 (en) Ergonomic computer mouse
WO2005027356A3 (en) Hand manipulated data apparatus for computers and video games
CA2357745A1 (en) Ergonomic tig torch
US6431504B1 (en) Attachable contoured computer mouse rest
EP0969404A3 (en) Stylus pointer for use in digitizer systems
JP3078268U (en) Handy type pointing device
EP1063609A3 (en) Ergonomic computer mouse
US4707571A (en) Ergonomic digitizer stylus
US20030234765A1 (en) Vertical handheld computer mouse
US7016185B2 (en) Decorative/ergonomic cover or sheath for computer peripherals and other electronic devices
TW200503879A (en) Protective sleeve for use with depressing button type extension bar
KR100331974B1 (en) A finger insertion ring mause
WO2002052494A3 (en) Manually-operable input device
WO2004102321A3 (en) An ergonomic hand-held computer input and control device
WO2002099616A2 (en) Pointing device for use with a computer
KR200258280Y1 (en) Handle Type Mouse for Computer
GB2464925A (en) Computer mouse that converts a motion signal for left and right hand orientation

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK DM DZ EE EE ES FI FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY BZ CA CH CN CR CU CZ CZ DE DE DK DK DM DZ EE EE ES FI FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SK SL TJ TM TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VN YU ZA ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GW ML MR NE SN TD TG

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: JP