Abstract:
A method and apparatus are provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable grips with multiple axes of motion. The grips include means for holding the device while keeping a user&#39;s fingers and thumbs free to activate touch sensitive areas on the grips. Both the positions of the grips and the location of touches are used to determine the input codes sent to the computer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 8,810,536 filed by the same inventor on Nov. 2, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    This non-provisional application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 61/896,127 filed on Oct. 18, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    This invention relates to a method of typing and pointing on a computer. 
         [0005]    2. Statement of the Problem 
         [0006]    A common method for entering data into a computer requires two devices: a keyboard and a separate pointing device. This requires users to remove their hands from one device to use the other, thereby slowing down the human-computer interaction. Furthermore, to be used effectively, these devices often require a horizontal surface to rest upon which limits their viability in mobile applications. A hand-held input device with touch sensitive regions attached to moveable grips is one attempt to address these limitations. In a pointer mode, the movement of the grips can control a cursor, while in a typing mode, the position of the grips can be used to set the current definition for the touch-sensitive areas under a user&#39;s fingers. The current generation of these devices have a single axis of movement for the grips which limits their ergonomic adaptability in typing mode and their effectiveness in pointing mode. The limitation on movement is necessary in part because the device is held by pressing in of the hands to free the fingers from gripping so they can be used for typing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE SOLUTION 
       [0007]    The present invention solves the above and other problems by adding means for the device to rest in a user&#39;s hands and adding additional axes of movement to the grips. The means for resting the device may include pegs or molded contours positioned in the crook between a user&#39;s thumb and index finger. The means for resting may also include means that hook around the back of a user&#39;s hand to more positively affix the device to the hands. With these improved holding means, additional axes of motion can be added to the grips while still keeping the fingers free from gripping so they can be used for typing. 
       Aspects 
       [0008]    An aspect of the invention is how it is shaped to allow it to rest in a user&#39;s hands without the need for fingers to grip it. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the shape includes protuberances that fit in the crook between the thumbs and index fingers of a user&#39;s hands. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the protuberances can be retracted when not needed to reduce the size of the device. 
         [0011]    Preferably the invention includes means that hook around the backs of a user&#39;s hands to more positively affix the invention to a user&#39;s hands. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the invention is how the grips have multiple axes of motion. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the axes of motion allow for a back and forth rocking motion and an in and out rolling motion. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the invention has a pointer mode where the rocking motion moves the display focus on the plane of the display while the rolling motion moves the focus into and out of the display by zooming in and out. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the invention has a typing mode where the rolling motion allows a user to position the grips in a comfortable position for typing while the rocking motion is used to select a current set of key definitions for the touch sensitive areas under a user&#39;s fingers. 
         [0016]    Preferably, while in typing mode, the rolling motion has multiple positions that can emulate the shift, ctrl, and alt functions found on common computer keyboards. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The above and other advantages and features of the invention may be better understood from a reading of the detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. The same reference number represents the same element on all drawings. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing an example of how a tablet computer is placed in the input device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the invention resting in a user&#39;s hands in a neutral configuration with the rocking position at 15 degrees and the rolling position at 30 degrees.  FIG. 2B  is a front view of the invention in a compact configuration with the rocking position fully closed and the rolling position fully in. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a back view of the invention resting in a user&#39;s hands in a neutral configuration with the rocking position at 15 degrees and the rolling position at 30 degrees.  FIG. 3B  is a back view of the invention in a compact configuration with the rocking position fully closed and the rolling position fully in. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a back isometric view of the invention with the protuberances extended.  FIG. 4B  is a back isometric view of the invention with the protuberances refracted. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a back view of the invention with protuberances that hook around a user&#39;s hands. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C  are front views of the invention showing the grips in various rocking positions. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C  are top views of the invention showing the grips in various rolling positions. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8A  is a front view of the invention in pointer mode with the grip rocking position moving the display focus up.  FIG. 8B  shows the grip rocking position moving the display focus down.  FIG. 8C  shows the grip rocking position moving the display focus left.  FIG. 8D  shows the grip rocking position moving the display focus right.  FIG. 8E  shows the grip rolling position moving the display focus in.  FIG. 8F  shows the grip rolling position moving the display focus out. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the device where the rolling position is in an ergonomic typing position while the rocking position is selecting a “home row” key set. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of the electronics of the device. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a flow chart of a method for determining which input codes to send to a tablet computer based on key states and grip positions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIGS. 1-11  and the following description depict specific exemplary embodiments of the invention to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use the best mode of the invention. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, some conventional aspects of the invention have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the features described below can be combined in various ways to form multiple variations of the invention. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below, but only by the claims and their equivalents. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a computer input device  100  that is designed to accept tablet computer  101 . Computer input device  100  has grips  110  and  120  mounted on the left and right sides respectively. The grips  110  and  120  are mounted to device  100  at rocking pivot points  111  and  121  respectively and rolling pivot points  112  and  122  respectively. These mounts allow grips  110  and  120  to move independently about these pivot points along these two axes of motion. As drawn, both grips are able to both roll and rock up to 90 degrees. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2A  shows the computer input device  100  resting in a user&#39;s hands with grips  110  and  120  in a neutral configuration with the rocking position at 15 degrees and the rolling position at 30 degrees.  FIG. 2B  shows the computer input device  100  with grips  110  and  120  in a compact configuration with the rocking position fully closed and the rolling position fully in.  FIG. 2A  shows touch sensitive areas  210  and  220  on the sides of grips  110  and  120  respectively. Touch sensitive area  210  is located so it can be activated by a user&#39;s left thumb while touch sensitive area  220  is located so it can be activated by a user&#39;s right thumb. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 3B  show the back side of the same user holding the same device in the same manner as in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  respectively. The fingers of the left hand (shown on the right in this perspective) are over touch sensitive areas  312  through  315 . The index finger can rotate to access switch  311  and the little finger can rotate to access key  316  without requiring any hand movement. In a likewise manner, the fingers of the user&#39;s right hand can access switches  321  through  326 . 
         [0033]    All fourteen touch sensitive areas can be implemented by various means including touch pads, long piano type keys, or smaller key switches that slide up and down to be positioned to suit user preferences. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4A  shows device  100  with protuberances  410  and  420  extended from grips  110  and  120  respectively. These protuberances are located to fit in the crook between a user&#39;s index finger and thumb to support the weight of device  100  without requiring the user to grip the device with their fingers.  FIG. 4B  shows the same device with the protuberances retracted to reduce the envelope of the device for storage. Or, in some usage scenarios, the protuberances may not be necessary when the device is in use. 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows protuberances  410  and  420  fitted with hooks  510  and  520  respectively. Hooks  510  and  520  wrap around the backs of a user&#39;s hands to more positively affix the device to a user&#39;s hands. Holding means  510  and  520  might also be implemented as straps that wrap all the way around the back of a user&#39;s hands. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6A  through  FIG. 6C  shows how grips  110  and  120  are free to move around pivots  111  and  121  respectively.  FIG. 6A  shows the grips at 0 degrees of rocking,  FIG. 6B  shows the grips at 15 degrees of rocking, and  FIG. 6C  shows the grips at 30 degrees of rocking. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7A  through  FIG. 7C  shows how grips  110  and  120  are free to move around pivots  112  and  122  respectively.  FIG. 7A  shows the grips at 0 degrees of roll,  FIG. 7B  shows the grips at 30 degrees of roll, and  FIG. 7C  shows the grips at 60 degrees of roll. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8A  through  FIG. 8F  show one possible interpretation of grip positions when computer input device  100  is used in pointer mode. Grip rocking motion moves the display focus  800  anywhere in the plane of the display.  FIG. 8A  shows how rocking the grips out moves the display focus up and  FIG. 8B  shows how rocking the grips in moves the display focus down.  FIG. 8C  shows how rocking the grips left moves the display focus left and  FIG. 8D  shows how rocking the grips right moves the display focus right. Grip rolling motion moves the display focus  800  into and out of the display.  FIG. 8E  shows how rolling the grips in moves the display focus in by zooming in the display and  FIG. 8F  shows how rolling the grips back moves the display focus back by zooming out the display. 
         [0039]      FIG. 9  shows computer input device  100  resting in a user&#39;s hands in an ergonomically preferred configuration for using the device in typing mode. Grips  110  and  120  rolling position is 30 degrees. The demonstrated rocking position of 15 degrees assigns the home row keys of a QWERTY keyboard to touch sensitive areas  311  through  316  for the left hand and  321  through  326  for the right hand. Different key assignments are made to the touch sensitive areas when the grips are in the 0 degree or 30 degree rocking position. Likewise, modifier key assignments such as those normally provided by the shift and ctrl keys of a traditional computer keyboard can be made to the touch sensitive areas when the grips are in the 15 degree or 45 degree rolling position. 
         [0040]      FIG. 10  shows a schematic diagram of circuit  1000  which is a possible implementation for the electronics of the invention. The core of the electronics is micro-controller  1001 . Micro-controller  1001  is connected to computer  101  via communications channel  1006 . In a preferred embodiment, channel  1006  is a wireless connection. Touch sensitive areas  210 , and  311  through  316  from the left grip  110 , and touch sensitive areas  220 , and  321  through  326  from the right grip  120  connect directly to micro-controller  1001  where they are monitored for state changes. Potentiometers  1011  and  1012  indicate the position of pivots  111  and  112  respectively that connect grip  110  to computer input device  100 . Likewise, potentiometers  1021  and  1022  indicate the position of pivots  121  and  122  respectively that connect grip  120  to computer input device  100 . The voltage on the wiper pins of potentiometers  1011 ,  1012 ,  1021 , and  1022  are read by analog to digital converter  1005  by way of analog multiplexor  1004 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates a flow chart of process  1100  running on micro-controller  1001  to monitor grip positions and touch states to determine input codes to send to computer  101 . At any given time process  1100  is in either pointer mode described in steps  1101  through  1106 , or in keyboard mode described in steps  1111  through  1116 . Process  1100  is a continuous loop so an explanation of its operation can begin at any step. At step  1101  micro-controller  1001  enters into pointer mode and continues to step  1102  where it checks for a specific touch sequence to determine if it should enter keyboard mode. If it is to enter keyboard mode, processing continues at step  1111  described below, otherwise processing continues at step  1103 . Step  1103  checks for a touch and, if found, returns pointer button press codes at step  1104 . Processing then continues at step  1105  where the micro-controller looks for grip motion and if found returns pointer location updates at step  1106 . Processing then returns to step  1102 . 
         [0042]    If step  1102  finds a proper touch sequence for entering keyboard mode, then processing continues to step  1111  where the micro-controller enters keyboard mode. Processing continues at step  1112  where the micro-controller checks for a specific grip motion sequence to determine if it should return to pointer mode. If it is to enter pointer mode, processing returns to step  1101  described above, otherwise processing continues at step  1113 . Step  1113  checks for touches and, if found, returns key press codes at step  1114 . Processing then continues at step  1115  where the micro-controller looks for grip motion and if found assigns a new set of codes to the touch areas at step  1116  based on the new grip position. Processing then returns to step  1112 . 
         [0043]    Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and any equivalents therein.