Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-16
2003-05-06
Saras, Steven (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S156000, C345S159000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06559832
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a mouse for use with a computer-based system.
A conventional mouse comprises a housing for a tracker ball, having buttons on the top surface of the housing and a number of projections on the bottom surface of the housing for providing a small contact area with a mouse mat or other surface on which the mouse is to be operated. The projections enable the mouse to move, as the friction between the projections and the mouse mat is low. The friction between the tracker ball and the mat is sufficient to make the tracker ball roll and thereby operate the computer-based system as the mouse is moved.
The buttons on the top surface may typically be operated in a number of ways to perform desired commands. Thus, single clicks and double clicks may be recognised, where a double click is identified as a two single clicks with a sufficiently rapid repetition rate and with no movement between those clicks. Movement of the mouse when a button is held down is typically identified as a drag command.
Some users, for example beginner users and the elderly, may have difficulty in making a clean single click or double-click when using a mouse. They may move the mouse slightly whilst attempting to double click and their action is then interpreted as a drag operation. Similarly, a single click operation with the button held down for a long time may also be interpreted as a drag operation if there is mouse movement.
According to the invention, there is provided a computer mouse comprising a housing containing a ball, first support projections from the bottom surface of housing which lie in a contact plane for contact with the surface on which the mouse is to be operated and at least one button on a top portion of the housing, the mouse further comprising at least one second projection which extends at least a portion of the bottom surface of the housing to a level close to be above the contact plane.
The positioning of the second projection is such that it comes into contact with the surface on which the mouse is to be operated on application of pressure by the user. This increases the friction to reduce unintentional movement during a double clicking operation. The exerted pressure is the automatic result of applying the downward force on the buttons on the top portion of the housing. Of course, the user may intentionally apply extra vertical pressure to prevent the mouse from moving during operation of the switch or switches.
The second projection may make contact with a mouse mat when vertical pressure is applied by the user, as a result of the compressibility of the mouse mat.
Preferably, there is greater sliding friction between the second projection or projections and the surface on which the mouse is to be operated than between the first projections and the surface on which the mouse is to be operated.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has at least two second projections, which together define a second contact plane. Alternatively, a second projection may be of a size to extend across substantially the whole of the bottom surface of the housing.
The mouse may comprise a further button or buttons, the operation of which is insensitive to mouse movement. In this way, any mouse movement during single or double click operations may be ignored so as to avoid inadvertent dragging actions. A mouse may be provided with as many further buttons as are required to distinguish separate operations in the system.
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“Computer Communication Method”, Patent Abstracts of Japan, Publication No. 08211996A, Dated Aug. 20, 1996.
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Alphonse Fritz
Koninklijke Philips Electronics , N.V.
Saras Steven
LandOfFree
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