Abstract: A computer input apparatus, comprising: a base provided with a socket; a ball segment located in the socket and rotatable in the socket, the ball segment being shaped to support a wrist of a user; a handle attached to and extending away from the ball segment and configured such that when the user's wrist is supported by the ball segment, the handle is adjacent to the user's hand and maybe held by the user.

Abstract: A mouse is provided with function buttons being aligned back and forth on its surface. Thus, the width is narrower than in a general mouse to make the mouse slim. Furthermore, the back-and-forth function buttons can be pressed by a finger tip put on the upper surface of the mouse to operate the mouse.

Abstract: A system associated with a text entry application, such as email or instant messaging, comprises an optional onscreen representation of a circular keyboard, a list of potential linguistic object matches, and a message area where the selected words are entered. The circular keyboard is manipulated via a hardware joystick or game-pad with analog joystick or omni-directional rocker switch built therein. The user points the joystick in the general direction of the desired letter, and then continues pointing roughly to each letter in the desired word. Once all letters have been roughly selected, buttons are used to select a specific word from the list of potential matches and send the selected word to the message area.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an optical displacement sensor for sensing movement of a data input device across a surface by determining displacement of optical features in a succession of frames. The sensor includes at least an illuminator, telecentric imaging optics on the object (scattering surface) side, and an array of photosensitive elements. The illuminator is configured to illuminate a portion of the surface. The telecentric imaging optics is configured to image the optical features emanating from the illuminated portion of the surface, and the array of photosensitive elements is configured to detect intensity data relating to the optical features imaged by the telecentric imaging optics. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for simultaneous view and point navigation. In a first embodiment of the invention, a single virtual environment interaction method can include maintaining first and second independent views corresponding to respectively different geometric planes in a single virtual environment, such as a flight simulator, first-person or third-person shooter game or avatar-driven adventure game. The method also can include independently changing the first view responsive to a first input directive from a first input device while concurrently changing the second view responsive to a second input directive from a second input device. Thereafter, the method further can include modifying a point of interest in one of the views responsive to a third input directive from one of the first and second input devices. Optionally, the devices can include an under-mouse sensor and trackpoint included as part of a dual-pointer mouse.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor and optical pointing system using the same. The image sensor has a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a photocell for receiving light and generating an analog signal having a voltage corresponding to a quantity of the received light, a comparator for, in response to a shutter control signal, comparing the analog signal of the photocell with an analog signal of an adjacent pixel to generate a digital signal for movement calculation, or comparing the analog signal of the photocell with a reference voltage to generate a digital signal for shutter control, and a switch for transferring the digital signal for movement calculation and the digital signal for shutter control in response to a pixel selection signal.

Abstract: A mouse is disclosed to include a mouse body, which has a coupling structure on the top and two accommodation open chambers respectively at two sides of the coupling structure for storing different items, and a movable cover module, which has a top cover and a coupling structure fastened to the top cover and coupled to the coupling structure of the guide structure for allowing movement of the top cover relative to the mouse body selectively to a first open position to close the first accommodation open chamber and to open the second accommodation open chamber, a second open position to close the second accommodation open chamber and to open the first accommodation open chamber, or a closed position to close the first and second accommodation open chambers and to keep storage items in the accommodation open chambers from sight.

Abstract: A wheel mouse includes a mouse case, a base, a circuit board, an encoder, a fixing element, a wheel, a switch element and a spring. The circuit board is disposed on the base. The fixing element includes a ring-shaped part and a hollow post. The encoder is accommodated within the ring-shaped part. The wheel includes a rotating shaft and a receptacle. The ring-shaped part of the fixing element is accommodated in the receptacle. A first end of the rotating shaft is inserted into the encoder perforation. The switch element is mounted on the circuit board and under a second end of the rotating shaft. The spring is inserted into the hollow post for offering an elastic force on the fixing element. Since the encoder is accommodated within the wheel, the overall volume of the wheel mouse is reduced and the loading on the wheel is reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of pointing devices with securing mechanism and related methods are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A low-cost haptic feedback trackball device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a graphical environment provided by a computer. The trackball device includes a sensor device that detects the movement of a sphere in two rotary degrees of freedom. An actuator applies a force preferably along a z-axis perpendicular to the plane of the surface supporting the device, where the force is transmitted through the housing to the user. The output force is correlated with interaction of a controlled graphical object, such as a cursor, with other graphical objects in the displayed graphical environment. Preferably, at least one compliant element is provided between a portion of the housing contacted by the user and the support surface, where the compliant element amplifies the force output from the actuator by allowing the contacted portion of the housing to move with respect to the support surface.

Abstract: A pointing device for a computer system includes a displacement transducer of the pointing device, provided with: an inertial sensor, supplying acceleration signals indicative of an acceleration according to two axes of detection; and a processing unit, which, on the basis of the acceleration signals, generates velocity signals regarding the pointing device. The processing unit further includes: a state-recognition stage, for selectively recognizing a condition rest and a motion condition of the pointing device on the basis of the velocity signals; and an estimating module, controlled by the state-recognition stage for determining an estimate of stationary disturbance contained in the acceleration signals when the pointing device is in the rest condition.

Abstract: A mouse having a changeable pad is comprised of a case, at least one replacement board and a plurality of pads. The replacement board is installed in the bottom of the case. The pads are installed on both faces of the replacement board. When the pad on the first face of the replacement board becomes worn out, the replacement board can be turned over and the pad on the second face of the replacement board can be installed in the bottom of the case for increasing the pad's user life.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and a roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis to provide input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct a greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and to other aspects of the device.

Abstract: A control device includes a processor and a control button. The control button includes a key and an analog sensor coupled to the processor. The key is configured to be moved in a first direction and a second direction, which is substantially opposite from the first direction. The analog sensor is configured to detect an amount of movement of the key in the first direction and the second direction and send a control signal to the processor to indicate the amount of movement. Based on the control signal, the processor is configured to control zoom of a graphical object displayed on a computer monitor at a rate that is based on the amount of movement.

Abstract: A pointing device that can be operated to move an operational object on a display screen in any direction comprises a control unit for changing an operation mode of the pointing device according to contents displayed on the display screen and, further, a mobile telephone comprises such a pointing device.

Abstract: A multi-angle, multi-dexterity mouse apparatus comprising: a base, configured to be placed on a working surface and having: a bottom surface configured to be placed on a working surface; a first inner surface; a second inner surface, the second inner surface being the mirror image of and opposed to the first inner surface, wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface are in adjustable communication to receive a portion of the mouse users hand; a first housing in rotatable adjustable communication with the base, wherein the first housing has an inner surface with an actuation means and an outer surface.

Abstract: A computer mouse includes a handheld casing and a motion detector coupled to the casing to detect movement of the casing. The computer mouse also includes a processor housed in the casing, the processor being in data communication with the motion detector to receive output of the motion detector. The processor includes programming to generate binary output signals from the output of the motion detector while not directly incorporating at least some respective motion detector output corresponding to inadvertent movements of the casing. The amount of movement considered inadvertent is adjustable by a user.

Abstract: A mouse structure for generating encoding signals includes a main body, a turntable unit and a signal encoder. The main body has a PCB disposed therein. The turntable unit has a turntable and a movable body connected to the turntable, the turntable unit is rotatably disposed on the main body, and the movable body is projected into the main body. The signal encoder is disposed in the main body and corresponds to the turntable. The signal encoder is electrically connected with the PCB, and the movable body passes through the signal encoder. Therefore, the signal encoder would generate encoding signal to control scrolling of screen on monitor of computer by rotating the turntable.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of a rotatable member or wheel that can be mounted in a mouse or other input device that allows both rotation and response to lateral pressure for horizontal or other scrolling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resizable wireless pointing device with a storable receiver. The body housing comprises at least one inner compartment which is located next to the back of a wheel and used for storage of the wireless receiver. A sliding cover, located on the top of the body housing, which slides back and forth along the longitude axis of the housing and subsequently alters the size of the wireless pointing device. A shutter, which rolls up following the sliding of the cover, closes seamlessly the gap area between the body housing and the cover, and integrates into the surface of the wireless pointing device.

Abstract: In a multifunction operating device, e.g., for a vehicle, for selecting function groups and functions in a menu structure that may be represented on a display device, the operating device includes at least one two-directional rotating element. The two-directional rotating element may be arranged so that it may select function groups and/or functions in a menu plane. A second operating element may be provided for selecting the menu planes.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to input characters using a directional pad of a computing device. The directional pad is configured to generate directional inputs. The invention creates mappings for the directional inputs where each of the mappings associates at least one of the directional inputs with at least one of the characters. The user may activate one of the mappings by selecting one of the directional inputs. While the mapping is activated, the user may input a character by selecting a directional input associated with that character.

Abstract: A ball mouse includes a ball, two metallic encoder disks each defining a plurality of through holes, two drive rollers engaged with the ball and transferring motion of the ball to respective encoder disks, two electromagnetic signal generators for generating two electromagnetic signals, and two induced signal generators for generating two induced signals according to respective electromagnetic signals. One of the two electromagnetic signals is transmitted to one of the induced signal generators through the plurality of through holes of one of the encoder disks. The other of the two electromagnetic signals is transmitted to the other of the induced signal generators through the plurality of through holes of the other of the encoder disks.

Abstract: A method for increasing a report rate of a wireless mouse for decreasing delay time of the wireless mouse includes selecting a packet mode, inputting data corresponding to the selected packet mode according to control signals inputted into the wireless mouse, performing a first error check operation according to a first data, performing a second error check operation according to the first error check operation and the inputted data, forming an error check block according to the second error check operation, forming a packet according to the error check block and the inputted data, and outputting the packet through a radio-frequency channel.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system that includes a tracking device to generate movement information for use in moving a user interface object on a graphical user interface. The tracking device is configured to receive at least a portion of a user's finger. The system also includes a base device configured to receive the tracking device. The base device is configured to translate movement of the base device relative to an adjacent surface for use in moving the user interface object.

Abstract: In a display system to display a visualization of three-dimensional data sets on a monitor, by means of values input with the aid of an input system, a three-dimensional representation is manipulated, whereby the manipulation is limited to a portion of the visualization.

Abstract: A first wireless input device includes a body, a case, a structure and a button. The button, connected to the body, activates the structure to make the case detach from the body when being depressed so that an electronic device stored in the first wireless input device is capable of being removed. A second wireless input device includes a body, a first structure and a button. The button, connected to the body, activates the first structure to separate the body and an electronic device stored in the second wireless input device when being depressed so that the electronic device is capable of being removed. A third wireless input device includes a body and a case. When the case and the body are connected together, a receiver stored in the third wireless input device is capable of being removed through an opening and a gap. When the case detaches from the body, a battery is capable of being replaced.

Abstract: The notion of a conventional mouse is extended to provide an extended number of simultaneously adjustable user interface parameters. In one family of realizations, one or more trackballs, touchpads, or other types of user interface sensors may be added to a traditional mouse to provide additional user interface parameters. These additional user interface sensors may be simultaneously adjusted along with any movement of the mouse. The overall physical configuration may provide mixed physical modalities for adjusting a common pair of user interface parameters to prevent or ease hand fatigue, or to provide alternate parameter adjustment offsets, warpings, or resolutions. The additional user interface sensors, particularly trackballs and touchpads, may also be specially configured to provide up to six or more simultaneously adjustable and widely-variable user interface parameters.

Abstract: There is described an apparatus which monitors the orientation of or the rotational movement of a substantially spherical body. The apparatus comprises a substantially spherical body with at least one resonant circuit fixed thereto. A transmit aerial generates an alternating magnetic field in the region of space including the spherical body which induces an electric signal in the or each resonant circuit, and a receive aerial receives an induced sense signal generated in response to said induced electric signal in the or each resonant circuit. The electromagnetic coupling between the transmit aerial and the receive aerial via the or each resonant circuit varies in accordance with the orientation of the spherical body so that the induced sense signal in the receive aerial varies in accordance with the orientation of the spherical body.

Abstract: A mouse and a method for controlling such a mouse are disclosed. The mouse comprises a plurality of balls which are classified into at least two groups, each of which has a function; a plurality of sensors connected to the plurality of balls for sensing and measuring the plurality of balls, and obtaining the scrolling value of each of the plurality of balls; a processing unit connected to the plurality of sensors for processing the corresponding scrolling values of the balls in each group respectively and generating at least two sorts of operating information, each of which corresponds to a function. In addition, it is possible to define several functional combinations so as to achieve functions such as scrolling up and down, scrolling left and right, go forward and backward, and even time editing or revising.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and a roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis to provide input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct a greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and to other aspects of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting multi-stage displacement resolution of a mouse is disclosed, which has a X-Y axis plane displacement detector, a switching circuit and a mouse micro controller. The X-Y axis plane displacement detector senses a distance and a moving direction generated by the mouse. The switching circuit has at least one switch. The mouse micro controller is coupled to the X-Y axis plane displacement detector and the switching circuit. The mouse micro controller sets the mouse resolution based on each switch, and responds to the distance and moving direction sensed by the X-Y axis plane displacement detector to provide a control signal to a computer connected to the mouse, thereby moving the mouse cursor on the screen of the computer, wherein the mouse cursor is moved based on the mouse resolution.

Abstract: An RFID wireless computer mouse system, comprising: a mouse having a single passive RFID circuit in signal communication with a computer having an RFID reader. The single passive RFID circuit operates the mouse such that the mouse provides signals indicative of X-Y coordinates to move a cursor on a display screen of the computer without the use of an internal or an external power source.

Abstract: An input method and apparatus is provided for use in various computer and mobile devices. The input device utilizes a rotating dial in which four arrows printed on the dial are rotated to select characters that are fixed along the circumference of a circle. The characters are divided into various zones. The zones are utilized to encode various letters and numbers. Additionally the zones may be utilized for editing and control functions. The dial may be freely rotated. Pressing any arrow inputs the character that the arrow points to on the dial. The input device and method may encode Asian language characters according to a set of encoding rules.

Abstract: The application discloses a pointing to interface with a graphical display. In illustrated embodiments disclosed, the pointing device includes a plurality of vertically aligned side buttons. The vertically aligned side buttons are aligned relative to a user's thumb and are selectively actuated through a pivoting motion of the user's thumb. In another embodiment, one or more side buttons are adjustably coupled to the body of the pointing device to adjust a position of the one or more side buttons along a length of the device to provide enhanced dynamic control based upon the size and length of the user's thumb.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display memory for storing an image of a first area forming a portion of an entire image; a display section including a display screen having a display area usable for displaying at least a partial image of the first area; a case for exposing the display screen; a scroll unit operable to move a display screen area appearing on the display screen over the image in accordance with a movement of the case; and a controller operable to provide a virtual memory area for storing an image of a second area having a size greater than the size of the first area in the image when the scroll unit moves the display screen area beyond the first area.

Abstract: An RFID wireless computer mouse system, comprising: a mouse having a single passive RFID circuit in signal communication with a computer having an RFID reader. The single passive RFID circuit operates the mouse such that the mouse provides signals indicative of X-Y coordinates to move a cursor on a display screen of the computer without the use of an internal or an external power source.

Abstract: A cursor control device for an image display includes a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit and a switching device. The first sensing unit is for detecting a first displacement of the cursor control device with respect to a surface and calculating a first coordinate variation of a cursor on the image display according to the first displacement. The second sensing unit is for sensing an object, detecting a second displacement of the cursor control device with respect to the object and calculating a second coordinate variation of the cursor on the image display according to the second displacement. The switching device switches output between the first coordinate variation and the second coordinate variation. The present invention further provides an image system and a cursor control method for an image display.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computer input device comprising means for registering a displacement of said device relative to a substrate for selection of an item on a display panel. The computer input device comprises a device bottom, intended to face said substrate in use of said computer input device. The selection device comprises one or more protruding legs extending from said device bottom. At least one of said protruding legs is shaped to press, during use of said computer input device, a substantially streamlined hole in said substrate.

Abstract: An oscillation and rotation metric controller comprised of a scrolling wheel mechanism to oscillate for driving magnetic poles of a permanent magnet to displace thus to generate signals of changed magnetic field, signals being retrieved to achieve lateral oscillation metric control; and a knob switch encoder being fixed to the scrolling wheel mechanism to execute metric control by rotation displacement.

Abstract: A magnetic oscillation metric controller with return design comprised of a scrolling wheel mechanism, a dancer, a permanent magnet, a Hall sensor and a return structure to drive the permanent magnet by oscillation of the scrolling wheel mechanism to generate signals of changed magnetic fields resulted from displacement for achieving metric control purpose; and the return structure including an elastic stick to facilitate return after lateral or longitudinal displacement.

Abstract: Low-cost haptic interface device implementations for interfacing a user with a host computer. A haptic feedback device, such as a mouse or other device, includes a housing physically contacted by a user, and an actuator for providing motion that causes haptic sensations on the device housing and/or on a movable portion of the housing. The device may include a sensor for detecting x-y planar motion of the housing. Embodiments include actuators with eccentric rotating masses, buttons having motion influenced by various actuator forces, and housing portions moved by actuators to generate haptic sensations to a user contacting the driven surfaces.

Abstract: A system and method for enabling a user to input characters using a directional pad of a computing device. The directional pad is configured to generate directional inputs. The invention creates mappings for the directional inputs where each of the mappings associates at least one of the directional inputs with at least one of the characters. The user may activate one of the mappings by selecting one of the directional inputs. While the mapping is activated, the user may input a character by selecting a directional input associated with that character.

Abstract: A mechanical wheel instruction apparatus to replace the conventional wheel structure that uses a grating switch to output signal. The invention has a mechanical conductive terminal set to output instruction signals when become conductive. The apparatus of the invention has a wheel which has a rotation side with convex sections located on the perimeter in an equally spaced manner. Every two neighboring convex sections are interposed by a concave section. A base board is provided to electrically connect to a contact leg assembly which has a forward contact leg and a reverse contact leg located on the convex sections and a common contact leg located on the concave section. When the wheel is subject to a force and rotates, the convex section pushes the forward contact leg and the reverse contact leg to contact the common contact leg to output a forward rotation instruction and a reverse rotation instruction. The invention may be fabricated at a lower cost than the grating switch and save installation space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using a general purpose input-output (GPIO) interface to test a user input device such as a wireless keyboard or mouse. Operation of key-scan logic can be tested by the GPIO interface by temporarily disconnecting the outputs of the various rows and columns and substituting signals generated by a test algorithm into the input terminals of the key-scan logic. The test signal is processed by the key scan circuitry and a key-scan output signal is generated. This key-scan output signal is then compared to a known reference output signal to determine if the key-scan logic and associated circuitry is operating properly. Other embodiments of the GPIO testing system can be used to test other user devices such as a computer mouse/scrolling device.

Abstract: An apparatus for a mouse device includes a body including a generally cylindrical shape and configured to fit in a palm of a user's hand. A track ball is positioned at an end of the body. A scroll knob is positioned circumferentially of the track ball. Click buttons are positioned on a surface of the body. A battery pack is attached to the body for powering internal functions of the apparatus. A glove is attached to the body where when the user's hand is placed in the glove the track ball and scroll knob are easily accessible by the thumb, the click buttons are easily accessibly by the fingers and the apparatus is retained on the user's hand when the user's hand is used for key entry on the keyboard.

Abstract: An ergonomic computer mouse has an arcuate top surface, a front end, a rear end, and left and right sidewalls. The top surface has a circular side view profile that extends from the front end to the rear end and is contiguous with finger buttons on the mouse. The surface of the left or thumb sidewall is uniquely contoured for the left side of the user's hand and thumb. A large thumb ball support protrudes from the rear half of the left sidewall at an incline. The thumb ball support and rear end have a circular shape when viewed from above. The left sidewall also has a concave thumb channel for the thumb of the user. An elongated thumb button is located above the thumb channel in order to avoid accidental thumb button actuations. The mouse also has a pair of finger buttons and a scroll tab at the front of its top surface. Each of these features on the mouse are ergonomically designed to conform to the natural shapes and positions of the user's hand during use.

Abstract: An optical handwriting input device includes: a casing, a refill, a PCB, an image data communication module, and a motion detection module. The refill received in the casing has a pen nib, and the pen nib is selectably exposed from a bottom side of the casing or hidden inside the casing. The PCB is received in the casing and disposed beside one side of the pen refill. The image data communication module is received in the casing and electrically connected to the PCB. The motion detection module is received in the casing and electrically connected to the PCB. Hence, the present invention can detect the movement track of the optical handwriting input device by receiving a light-reflecting signal from a detection surface, and the movement track is identified and inputted to a digital electronic device to become handwriting displayed on a monitor of the digital electronic device.

Abstract: A laser locus ball apparatus for a wireless keyboard includes a base, a laser source generator, a locus ball, a light sensing element and a key cover. The base provides a lateral plate with a locating hole to locate the laser source generator and has another two opposite lateral plates with an engaging wedge at the bottom edge thereof to engage with the key cover. The top plate of the base has a supporting bore to receive the locus ball. A containing space is formed in the base to accommodate the optical sensing element. The laser source generator emits laser to the lower surface of the locus ball. The locus ball is movably received in and supported with the supporting bore such that the lower surface thereof extending downward from the supporting bore to reflect interference stripe figure during the lower surface of the locus ball receiving the laser. The light sensing element senses the laser interference stripe figure within every preset unit time.

Abstract: An input pointer includes two top-surface switches and a rotary switch on the top surface of the main body, a protrusion on an imaginary center line on the bottom surface of the main body, and two bottom-surface switches at the sides of the protrusion. The two top-surface switches and the rotary switch are turned ON when pressed by a user's finger, whereas the bottom-surface switches are turned ON when the main body is tilted about the protrusion.