Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-11
2001-06-26
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
C345S157000, C345S160000, C345S163000, C345S168000, C345S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06252582
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to pointing devices and, more particularly to an improved pointing device which is ergonomically designed to combine the desirable features of a conventional joystick and a conventional control pad.
Pointing devices including joysticks and control pads are known in the art. Traditional joysticks have been used primarily as a gaming controller, although they have also been employed as general mouse replacement devices. In a typical application, the joystick pointing device is connected via cables to a microcontroller of a computer with a display and a keyboard. The joystick has the advantages of reliability and performance. The joystick also has the advantage of better ergonomic design than the control pad because it allows the digit of the human hand to move laterally without stress to the associated joints of the hand, which means that it is more comfortable to use and less likely to cause any joint damage (e.g., repetitive stress disorder). On the other hand, it has the disadvantage of taking substantial vertical space, which makes it potentially more difficult to physically fit the stick inside a device such as a remote control. Further, the height of the stick makes it more difficult to protect the stick from accidental deflection.
The control pad eliminates the size issues and the associated problems because it takes up no more height than a standard button on a remote control. Unfortunately, they lack the ergonomic advantages of the joystick. More specifically, a conventional disc-type control pad creates significant risk for repetitive stress disorder because, for instance, the pad controller causes the joint of the digit to attempt a rotational movement in the east/west axis (laterally), which causes considerable stress to the joints. Alternately, the user may lift the digit and press the side of the button, but it would result in discontinuous control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a pointing device that avoids the problems and disadvantages of the prior art. This goal is accomplished by providing an ergonomic pointing device that functions in an ergonomic manner similar to a joystick but has a significantly reduced height dimension similar to that of a control pad.
In a specific embodiment, a pointing device includes an orb controller which has a much lower physical profile (height) than the joystick. The orb controller has a curved control surface that allows the digits of the hand to move laterally (east/west axis) without causing significant stress on the joints. At rest, the control surface protrudes through an opening in an upper chassis which defines the location for the digit to contact and operate the orb controller. A lower curved contact surface coupled to the orb controller is spaced from a substrate and resiliently supported thereon. When the digit exerts a force on the control surface, the contact surface makes contact with and rolls on the substrate. In another embodiment, the lower contact surface is coupled to the substrate and pivots on the substrate near a center area. Yet another embodiment employs a spring pivoting mechanism coupling the substrate with the orb controller in a manner similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,309, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The curved control surface allows the digit to move laterally in the east/west direction (as well as north/south, etc.) with ease as the lower contact surface rolls on the substrate. The rotation of the control surface eliminates the need to rotate the joint of the digit, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of repetitive stress disorders and pain.
One aspect of the present invention is a pointing device which comprises a return member being resiliently supported on a substrate surface having an electrically conductive material. The return member has an electrically conductive surface which is substantially convex and spaced from the substrate surface in a first position. A controller is coupled to the return member for moving the return member between the first position and a second position where the electrically conductive surface makes contact with the substrate surface at a contact location. The controller has a disk-like shape with a convex control surface facing away from the substrate surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pointing device comprises an electrically conductive surface which is substantially convex. The pointing device further comprises means for supporting the electrically conductive surface relative to a substrate having a substrate surface with an electrically conductive material to move between a neutral position in which the electrically conductive surface is spaced from the substrate surface and a contact position in which the electrically conductive surface makes rolling contact with the substrate surface. A dome-like controller is coupled to the electrically conductive surface and has a convex control surface.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, a pointing device comprises a control member including an electrically conductive surface facing and spaced in a neutral position from a substrate surface having an electrically conductive material. The control member includes a control surface facing away from the substrate surface. The control member is resiliently supported on the substrate surface to move toward and contact the substrate surface with the electrically conductive surface and to move away therefrom. The electrically conductive surface and the control surface are substantially convex.
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Rogers Michael D.
Schrum Allan E.
Hjerpe Richard
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
Tran Henry N.
Varatouch Technology Incorporated
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