Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Patent
1997-02-25
1998-10-06
Swarthout, Brent A.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
248918, 345164, 36470901, G09G 508
Patent
active
058184279
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL AREA
Control device comprising a rotatable and translatable bar, for control of a pointing device such as a mouse or mouse-pen, associated with the control device. A key for click function is present. Adjustment possibility for different types of pointing devices may be provided for. Means for reducing bearing friction are shown.
PRIOR ART
The mouse herein sometimes referred to broadly as a "Pointing and clicking device" is the most common pointing device for computers and is very well known. Movement of the mouse on the desk brings often about a corresponding movement of a so-called cursor on the computer's screen, referred to as a pointing function. When a clicking function key on the mouse is depressed another function is obtained, referred to as a click function; both functions triggering some computer activity. The kind of activity being triggered depends mostly on where on the screen the cursor is placed.
The mouse has first and foremost the disadvantage that the user is forced to move a hand away from the keyboard when using the mouse, which is time-consuming. The frequent movement of the arm between the keyboard and mouse can give rise to so-called carpal tunnel syndrome, an over-strain.
Furthermore, the mouse requires considerable space on the desk.
Another solution is the mouse-pen, which resembles a pencil. The mouse-pen has in principle the same disadvantages as the mouse for point and click-work at the screen.
A known solution eliminating the disadvantages mentioned above, is provision of a bar which is translatable along and rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and often placed in parallel with and below the spacebar. Rotation of the bar moves the cursor in the vertical direction, and translational sideways movement of the bar moves the cursor sideways on the screen. Such a solution allows, first and foremost, the cursor to move fast and react immediately, thanks to the fact that the thumbs can cooperate easily when manipulating the bar, and that no hand need be moved away from the keyboard. For certain computer programs, where shift between the keyboard and the pointing device seldom occurs, the mouse or mouse-pen may be preferred.
Heretofore known solutions comprising a translatable and rotatable bar, do not permit the user to easily change between the bar and mouse according to one's own choice. U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,101 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,093 are representative to such solutions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,231 shows a sphere, such as the ball in the mouse, rolling on a rotatable and sideways slideable bar. However, the construction features and advantages associated with the present invention are not shown.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A device according to the present invention, herein referred to as barcontroldevice, is based on the translatable and rotatable bar concept, but brings about new advantages, as an accessory to pointing devices such as mouse or mouse-pen. Users that already have a mouse or mouse-pen, can at any time get a barcontroldevice, place the mouse or mouse-pen on the barcontroldevice and exploit the advantages described above. The mouse or mouse-pen can thereafter be lifted away easily and used in the conventional manner, for example for drawing work, for which the mouse or mouse-pen may be considered to have advantages, and thereafter be placed on the barcontroldevice again. Hence, both the particular advantages of the barcontroldevice and the mouse can be exploited with a device according to the present invention. The barcontroldevice is furthermore due to its concept as an accessory to pointing devices, totally mechanical and lacks therefore electronics, giving advantages in terms of low manufacturing costs. In one embodiment the bar is slideable, preferably in combination with friction reduction by magnetic means. In a preferred embodiment, balls are utilized for low friction support.
The barcontroldevice can be utilized in connection with a mouse, mouse-pen or the like, even if the term "mouse" generally is used in the description below for the sake o
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