Patent ID: 6246391
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer input device for providing three-dimensional position signals for use by a computer in accordance with external forces selectively applied to the input device by a user, comprising:a support;first, second and third elongated elastic members each having a first end and a second end, said first ends being connected to said support at spaced apart positions along the support;an object connected to the second ends of said first, second and third elastic members so that said elastic members elastically support the object for movement of the object, relative to the support, between a stable rest position absent an application of external forces to said movable object, and a second position at least one of translated and rotated from said rest position in response to applied external forces, and so that said object is returned from said second to said rest position under a return urgency of said elastic members upon removal of the applied external forces, each said elastic member defining in said rest position of the movable object an axis extending along the elongation of said each elastic member; andfirst, second and third detectors each respectively connected to one of said first, second and third elastic members for detecting changes in orientation of the axis of the respective elastic element connected thereto and for operatively outputting a signal related to a detected change in the orientation of said axis of the respective elastic member connected thereto, so that said outputs of the first, second and third detectors collectively indicate the three-dimensional position of said movable object relative to said support, wherein said support peripherally surrounds said object in the rest position of said object and thereby defines a visual reference plane having mutually opposed open sides through which said object is viewable whereby the three-dimensional position of said movable object is visually determinable with reference to said support.