Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2004-01-13
Shankar, Vijay (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C178S018010, C178S018030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06677930
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mouse serving as a pointing device for personal computers (PCs), and particularly, to a mouse having improved functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
To improve the operability of PCs, GUIs (graphical user interfaces) have been adopted. Mice are widely used as pointing devices to point to icons in GUIs.
Most mice are designed to inform PCs of the X- and Y-movements of the mice and the operations of two click switches of the mice.
FIG. 1
shows the principle of a conventional mouse. A ball
10
turns in response to user's manipulation. The ball
10
is in contact with an X-axis roller
11
and a Y-axis roller
12
that are orthogonal to each other.
The rollers
11
and
12
have disks
13
and
14
, respectively. The disks
13
and
14
have slits formed at regular intervals and turn in respond to the rotation of the ball
10
.
A presser roller
15
is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the rollers
11
and
12
to keep the ball
10
and rollers
11
and
12
touching each other.
An X-axis light emitter
16
and an X-axis photodetector
17
are arranged on the opposite sides of the disk
13
, and a Y-axis light emitter
18
and a Y-axis photodetector
19
are arranged on the opposite sides of the disk
14
.
FIG. 2
shows four sides of the mouse. A lower case
21
and an upper case
22
are fitted together, and a key top
23
is attached to the upper case
22
.
FIG. 3
shows the structure of the mouse. The photodetectors
17
and
19
are connected to a controller
31
contained in the mouse. A right click switch
231
and a left click switch
232
, which are arranged in the key top
23
, are also connected to the controller
31
. The controller
31
consists of a microprocessor to count pulses from the photodetectors
17
and
19
, monitor operations on the click switches
231
and
232
, format the pulse counts and click-switch operations, and transfer the formatted data to a PC.
The mouse detects its own movements along the X- and Y-axes, to accordingly move a mouse cursor on a display. If the click switches
231
and
232
are operated with the mouse cursor on an icon on the display, an operation corresponding to the icon is carried out.
To vertically or horizontally scroll an image on the display, the mouse cursor must be moved to a scroll bar on the display and the click switches
231
and
232
must be manipulated. Alternatively, the mouse must be repeatedly moved vertically or horizontally. These operations are laborious.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a mouse having a small touch panel between or instead of click switches to improve and simplify the operation of the mouse.
In order to accomplish the object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a mouse for a computer, having a movement detector for detecting a movement of the mouse, an operation detector for detecting an operation on click switches of the mouse, a touch detector with a control surface such as a touch panel, for detecting a touched state of the control surface, and a transmitter for transmitting a set of commands prepared from the detected movement, operation, and touched state to the computer.
The mouse of the first aspect sends commands to the computer according to not only the movement and click operation of the mouse but also the movement of a finger on the control surface.
A second aspect of the present invention provides the touch detector with a timer for measuring a finger touching period on the control surface and a command generator for generating one of at least two different commands for the computer depending on the measured finger touching period.
The second aspect enables the mouse to send different commands to the computer depending on the length of time a finger touches the control surface.
A third aspect of the present invention makes the command generator recognize a tapping operation if the measured finger touching period is shorter than a threshold.
The third aspect makes the command generator issue a command corresponding to a tapping operation if the finger touching period is shorter than the threshold.
A fourth aspect of the present invention makes the command generator generate one of at least two different commands for the computer depending on the detected touched state if the measured finger touching period is longer than a threshold.
The fourth aspect makes the command generator issue one of at least two commands to the computer depending on the movement of a finger if the finger touching period is longer than the threshold.
A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a mouse for a computer, having a movement detector for detecting a movement of the mouse, a touch detector with a control surface such as a touch panel, for detecting a touched state of the control surface, and a transmitter for transmitting a set of commands prepared from the detected movement and touched state to the computer.
The fifth aspect makes the mouse issue commands to the computer in response to not only the movements of the mouse but also the movements of a finger on the control surface.
A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a mouse for a computer, having a movement detector for detecting a movement of the mouse, a touch detector with a control surface such as a touch panel, for detecting a touched state of each of sections defined on the control surface, and a transmitter for transmitting a set of commands prepared from the detected movement and touched states to the computer.
The sixth aspect makes the mouse issue commands to the computer in response to not only the movement of the mouse but also the movement of a finger in the sections defined on the control surface.
A seventh aspect of the present invention provides the mouse with a divider for dividing the control surface into sections and a memory for storing data about the sections.
The seventh aspect properly divides the control surface into sections so that different commands may be issued from the sections.
An eighth aspect of the present invention makes the memory store data for each of the sections, to indicate whether the section functions as a switch or a movement detector.
The eight aspect uses the sections defined on the control surface as switches and movement detectors.
A ninth aspect of the present invention installs the touch detector on a support that is integral with an upper case that covers an upper rear part of the mouse and fixes the periphery of the touch detector to the mouse with a window frame of a key top that covers an upper front part of the mouse.
The ninth aspect fixes the touch detector with the support that is integral with the upper case of the mouse and with the window frame of the key top of the mouse.
A tenth aspect of the present invention provides the upper case and key top with projections and recesses that engage with each other to fix the touch detector to the support.
The tenth aspect configures the mouse so that the touch detector is fixed to the support when the key top and upper case are assembled together.
An eleventh aspect of the present invention installs the touch detector on a backing plate and fixes the periphery of the touch detector to the mouse with a window frame that is formed at a front end of a plate spring that is inserted into the upper case of the mouse.
The eleventh aspect forms the touch detector as a discrete part.
A twelfth aspect of the present invention forms projections and recesses at the front ends of the backing plate and window frame. When the mouse is assembled, the projections and recesses engage with each other to fix the touch detector to the backing plate.
The twelfth aspect configures the mouse so that the touch detector is fixed to the backing plate when the backing plate and window frame are assembled together.
A thirteenth aspect of the present invention forms grooves at regular intervals on the support or backing plate.
The thirteenth aspect forms the grooves to prevent a depositio
Hayama Masanobu
Koike Tamotsu
Nakamura Shuji
Fujitsu Takamisawa Component LTD
Shankar Vijay
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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