Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-25
2001-04-24
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C340S870030
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222524
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an electronic input device for operating an electronic system. In particular, it concerns an input device for operating a cursor in a computer system. More particularly, the invention is directed to a pointing device operated by the tongue of a user.
2. Description of Related Art
The success of the modern WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointers) interfaces have made pointing or input devices, such as the mouse, the trackball, and in keyboard isometric joysticks, e.g., the Trackpoint®, an essential part of computer systems. Patents that relate to the Trackpoint® pointing device are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,489,900; 5,579,033; and 5,521,596. The disclosure thereof are incorporated by reference herein.
The majority of the current input devices are designed for hand use. Due to various physical disabilities, however, there is an unfortunate population of users who are unable to use hand operated input devices and methods. The use of hand pointing input devices are also problematic for restrictive environments and tasks that need both hands to be completely dedicated to a specific operation other than using the pointing device. Such tasks might include driving, piloting, or underwater exploration. As a result, alternative input devices, such as the mouse, the trackball, head mounted pointers, chin mounted joysticks, eye tracking, and voice recognition have all been developed for interaction with WIMP interfaces. Although all of these alternative input devices are somewhat successful, they are also limited in many aspects.
There is accordingly a need to provide a pointing or input device for operating an electronic system such as a computer which is ergonomically and finctionally more satisfactory than known systems.
This invention is directed to providing a pointing or input device which minimizes the disadvantages of other known systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
By this invention there is provided a system which reduces the disadvantages of the known pointing and steering devices.
This invention is directed to using the mouth, and particularly, the tongue of a user to operate a device, such as a pointing device for a computer.
According to the invention, there is provided a pointing, input, and/or steering device for use with a computer, and other electronic devices. When used with a computer the pointing device is conventionally known as an input device.
In a preferred form of the invention, the input device for the computer is tongue operated. Thus, the invention includes means to affect positioning of a cursor on a computer screen and to affect clicking and dragging as is required in the common computer environments by use of mouth interaction, and particularly tongue interaction, with the device.
The isometric pointing device comprises a first control element to interact with a transducer responsive element to operate the electronic circuit and thereby move an element, such as a cursor, on a computer. The first control element includes a stick for tongue interaction to cause the control element to move and thereby operate the electronic circuit.
A dental appliance, namely a mouthpiece, is fitted at least partially in the mouth for mounting the first control element, which includes the stick, for projection into the mouth cavity, into the area or space above the normal position of repose of the tongue.
There are means whereby the electronic circuit provides an output signal in response to the condition of the transducer responsive element, and there are means for transmitting the output signal to the computer and thereby move an element, such as a cursor, on the computer.
The device may include an electronic circuit and one or more switches responsive to pressure thereby to selectively open and/or close the electronic circuit.
An article by S. Zhai, P. Milgram, and W. Buxton, “The Influence of Muscle Groups on Performance of Multiple Degree-of-Freedom Input,”
Proc. of CHI'
96
: Human Factors in Computing Systems
(1996), pp. 308-321, shows the somatosensory and motor cortex homunculi, and also shows that the tongue and the mouth occupy an amount of sensory and motor cortex that rivals that of the fingers and the hand. Furthermore, unlike the eyes, which have rich cortex representation but are not manipulation organs, the mouth and the tongue are evolved for manipulation. Although not naturally used for pointing, the tongue constantly performs sophisticated motor control for vocalization and mastication. This provides the significant potential of using the tongue and the mouth for computer input.
The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 4817950 (1989-04-01), Goo
patent: 5489900 (1996-02-01), Cali et al.
patent: 5521596 (1996-05-01), Selker et al.
patent: 5579003 (1996-11-01), Rutledge et al.
patent: 5694152 (1997-12-01), Loop
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patent: 2259970 (1993-03-01), None
Salem Christopher Jesse
Zhai Shumin
Altera Law Group LLC
Frenel Vanel
International Business Machines - Corporation
Merchant, Gould, Smith, Edell, Welter & Schmidt
Shalwala Bipin
LandOfFree
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