Patent ID: 6222526
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A hand held ergonomic computer controller comprising, in combination:a housing including a lower extent with a generally constant elliptical horizontal cross-section along a height thereof, an intermediate extent integrally coupled to the lower extent with a generally elliptical horizontal cross-section along a height thereof wherein a top portion and a bottom portion of the intermediate extent each has a common horizontal cross-sectional area which is less than that of the lower extent and a middle portion having a horizontal cross-sectional area which is more than that of the lower extent, the housing further having an upper extent integrally coupled to the intermediate extent and including a neck tapering upwardly and outwardly with respect to the intermediate extent and a generally planar circular top face which resides in a plane that forms about a 80 degree angle with an axis about which the lower extent and the intermediate extent resides, wherein a square port is formed in a central extent of the top face, said square port receiving either one of a trackball adapter and a joystick adapter;a horizontally oriented trigger button positioned on a front of the top portion of the intermediate extent of the housing with ends essentially flanking foci defined by the elliptical horizontal cross-section thereof;a pair of arcuate buttons mounted on the top face of the upper extent of the housing and flanking a pair of corners of the square port of the housing, wherein the corners essentially bisect the arcuate buttons;said trackball adapter including a box with a top face having a spherical bore formed therein and a ball positioned within the box and protruding from the bore for manipulation by a user, the box further including a connector mounted on a bottom face thereof for releasably connecting with a connector within the port of the housing when the trackball adapter is inserted therein;said joystick adapter including a box with a top face having a rod pivotally coupled thereon with a cylindrical inboard portion and an enlarged disk-shaped outboard portion for manipulation by a user, the box of the joystick adapter further including a connector mounted on a bottom face thereof for releasably connecting with a connector within the port of the housing when the joystick adapter is inserted therein;a radio transmitter mounted within the housing and connected to the connector of the port and the buttons for indicating to a computer the manipulation of one of the adapters and the buttons via free space in a first mode of operation;a socket mounted on the bottom face of the lower extent of the housing and removably connected to a line coupled to the computer for indicating to the computer the manipulation of one of the adapters and the buttons via the line in a second mode of operation;a toggle switch mounted on the bottom face of the housing and having a first orientation for operating the controller in the first mode of operation and a second orientation for operating the controller in the second mode of operation; anda flexible elastic strap having a pair of ends mounted along opposite sides of the lower extent and extending rearwardly therefrom with a reduced width at a central extent thereof for encompassing a hand of a user.