Numeric mouse one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device

Filing Information

• Patent Number: US5063376
• Application Number: US7348062
• Filing date: 05/05/1989
• Issue date: 11/05/1991
• Predicted expiration date: 05/05/2009

• U.S. Classifications: 340/706  · 340/707  ·
• International Classifications: G09G 500 ·
• International Classifications: 340710;706;707;709;711;712 ·
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Patent Family

Abstract

A hand controlled peripheral pointing device having an optional analog switch to permit the user to dynamically and continuously change the value of an attribute, for example, the width of a line or color saturation value, when the device is moved. Activation of the analog button or key permits the user to change an attribute value of graphical data input as desired depending on the depth of depression of the key. In the preferred embodiment, the device is a mouse having a numeric keypad placed thereon. This numeric key pad allows the user to directly enter data without moving the hand back and forth between the mouse and a computer key board. The numeric mouse is able to operate in two modes, including a conventional point and click mode and an analog mode. An alternate embodiment comprises a light pen having a finger actuated analog button disposed adjacent the writing tip of the pen. One manner of switching between modes (analog to click and vice versa) is program driven, i.e. depending on what item the mouse or light pen is pointing to, the activation of the key varies an attribute value or functions in the conventional "click" or keystroke manner.

Independent Claims | See all claims (27)

1. 1. A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device for selecting and controlling a portion of a computer screen display and for input to a mouse-based computer program comprising in operative combination:(a) a housing, said housing being:(i) sized to enclose means for on-screen pointing functioning of said pointing device; and(ii) adapted to be held by one hand;(b) said housing having at least one first surface;(c) at least one finger-actuable button disposed on said first surface, each of said finger-actuable button being positioned on said pointing device for convenient and efficient actuation by one or more fingers of one of a user's hands while said pointing device is being controlled by said hand; and(d) an analog switch, disposed in association with at least a first one of said finger-actuable buttons, said analog switch and associated finger-actuable button having dual function mode capability including:(i) a first function mode for use as a selection mechanism; and(ii) a second function mode for inputting to a computer a signal corresponding to the depth that said button is directly actuated by fingers of said user's one hand to dynamically control the value of an attribute of input data represented on a computer screen display.
2. 17. Method of dynamically controlling an attribute of data input to a mouse-based computer program by actuation of a finger-actuable key on a peripheral pointing device, comprising the steps of:(a) providing an analog switch in association with said key;(b) providing variable depth of actuation of said key by finger motion; and(c) varying the output of said key in relation to the depth of finger actuation to control or select the attribute of data input in a computer;(d) providing said key with dual function mode operational capability including a first, analog data attribute mode and a second digital click selection mode; and(e) providing means for distinguishing between said modes of said peripheral pointing device key in accordance with software written in said mouse-based program.
3. 20. A one hand controllable mouse-type computer peripheral pointing device for selecting and controlling a portion of a computer screen display and for input to mouse-based computer applications programs comprising in operative combination:(a) a mouse having a housing sized and configured to be held and manipulated by one hand of a user;(b) said mouse housing having a first upper surface, which surface has a first finger end and a second heel end;(c) said mouse housing enclosing means for relative positioning on-screen pointing functions of said device;(d) twelve dedicated keys disposed projecting from said mouse first upper surface;(e) said twelve dedicated keys including ten numeric keys 0 through 9;(i) keys 1 through 9 of said ten numeric keys are disposed in the following array:______________________________________7 8 94 5 61 2 3 ;______________________________________(ii) said 7, 8, 9 key row being disposed adjacent said finger end of said first surface;(iii) said 4, 5, 6 key row being disposed medial of said finger and said heel ends of said first surface;(iv) said 1, 2, 3 key row being disposed medial of said 4, 5, 6 key row and said heel end of said first surface;(v) said zero key is disposed medial of said 1, 2, 3 key row and said heel end of said first surface;(f) an enter key disposed substantially adjacent one of said key rows;(g) a decimal point key disposed adjacent one of said key rows;(h) means for identifying said enter key and said decimal point keys with their respective function, and for identifying each of said ten numeric keys with a particular character of a ten character numeric character set, each character associated with its unique dedicated numeric function, said identifying means permitting single keystroke input of numeric data for numerical data input programs and single keystroke selection of alphanumeric data for data presented in a tabulated format on said computer screen display.