Abstract:
A therapeutic human interface device includes an input device subassembly to detect movement of the device. A movable section is disposed on the device that allows for adjustment of a dimensional quality of the device. A drive system assembly may be in communication with a controller and cause the movable section to move.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for providing a human interface device for a computing device, and more specifically to a human interface device that changes shape or size to reduce or eliminate repetitive motion injuries. 
         [0002]    Some human interface devices (e.g., a computer mouse) allow a user to manually configure aspects of the human interface device in a static fashion. Other human interface devices have sections or attachments that may be assembled to a shell or chassis to modify the shape or size of the human interface device. Other human interface devices provide customizable human interface devices, but still compel a user to continuously use a same action over a same range of motion. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for an improved apparatus and method that automatically changes shape during use to prevent repetitive stress disorders. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a therapeutic human interface device comprises an input device subassembly for detecting a movement of the therapeutic human interface device; a movable section disposed on the therapeutic human interface device, wherein the movable section is configured to move to alter a dimensional quality of the therapeutic human interface device; a drive system subassembly for causing the movable section to move; and a controller in communication with the drive system subassembly and the input device subassembly. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, a pointing device for detecting two-dimensional motion relative to a surface comprising a circuit board; a movable side wall having a first surface disposed on an outside surface of the pointing device; a movable top wall having a second surface disposed on the outside surface of the pointing device; a first means for urging the movable side wall in a first direction, wherein the first means for urging is controlled by the circuit board; and a second means for urging the movable top wall in a second direction, wherein the second means for urging is controlled by the circuit board. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling a dimensional quality of a human interface device comprises determining that the human interface device is engaged by a user; setting a countdown timer; setting a total time counter; incrementing the total time counter; determining that the human interface device is not engaged by the user; determining that the total time counter is not less than or equal to the countdown timer; and activating a drive subassembly associated to the countdown timer, wherein the drive subassembly alters the dimensional quality of the human interface device. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an oblique perspective view of a therapeutic mouse shown in use; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a an oblique perspective view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1  with a flexible cover shown as a dashed line; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  shown in a first configuration with an operator&#39;s hand shown as a dashed line; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  shown in a second configuration; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 - 5  shown in a third configuration with an operator&#39;s hand shown as a dashed line; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 - 5  shown in a fourth configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1  taken along line  5 - 5  shown in a fifth configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a process flow diagram of a method of controlling the therapeutic mouse of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0018]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0019]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a therapeutic human interface device that changes size and shape intermittently during use. The changing size and shape prevent repetitive motion disorders that may cause nerve irritation and micro muscle fatigue by reducing a chance of repeated use injuries such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel injuries. 
         [0020]    Referring to the Figures, a therapeutic mouse  10  is shown that may be manipulated by a user  40  on a surface or in three-dimensional space. User  40  may grasp therapeutic mouse  10  by a flexible cover  22  and manipulate a scroll wheel  38 . Therapeutic mouse  10  may include an input device subassembly  12  that may be situated on a circuit board  42  and may provide relative positional and orientation feedback to therapeutic mouse  10 . 
         [0021]    A left side wall  14  may be in mechanical communication with a left side wall drive subassembly  18 , which may be situated on circuit board  42 . A right side wall  16  may be in mechanical communication with a right side wall drive subassembly  20 , which may be situated on circuit board  42 . A top wall  28  may be in mechanical communication with a top wall drive subassembly  36 , which may be situated on circuit board  42 . 
         [0022]    One or more fasteners  34  may secure a movable wall  26  to circuit board  42 . A hinge rod  30  may assemble movable wall  26  on one end thereof to a lower cover  32 , and may provide rotatable movement for movable wall  26  and allow circuit board to nest inside lower cover  32 . A switch  24  may be situated on a bottom side of circuit board  42 , and may be a momentary switch to detect a tilt or rotation thereof. 
         [0023]    Left side wall, right side wall, and top wall drive subassemblies  18 ,  20 ,  36  may include mechanical actuators that may include a gear or toothed member for engaging a track, idle gear, or belt, for example, that may be in mechanical communication with a track, shaft, or surface for example, of left side, right side, and top walls  14 ,  16 ,  28  respectively, which may be moved or urged thereby in a reciprocating motion in a plane about parallel with the track, shaft, or surface. 
         [0024]    Portions of left side, right side, and top walls  14 ,  16 ,  28  may be disposed on an outside surface of therapeutic mouse  10 , and may be configured to press against an inside surface of flexible cover  22 , causing flexible cover  22  to deform, and therefore, alter a dimensional quality of therapeutic mouse  10 . 
         [0025]    According to some other exemplary embodiments, left side wall, right side wall, and top wall drive subassemblies  18 ,  20 ,  36  may be means for urging or moving left side, right side, and top walls  14 ,  16 ,  28 , and may include a drive gear in mechanical communication to the wall by a transmitting means such as a connecting rod or a track, for example, to reciprocate the wall by a rotation of the drive gear, which may be in communication with a motor that may include a stepper motor, for example. 
         [0026]    Input device subassembly  12  may include an encoded track ball, optical or laser input module, and standard input device buttons. Input device subassembly  12  may interface with a computing device through electronic communication (e.g., PS/2, universal serial bus (USB)), or radio communication. Lower cover  32  may be a rigid element that may include a metal (e.g., aluminum or stainless steel) or plastic (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, nylon), and may provide structural support for therapeutic mouse  10 . 
         [0027]    A method of controlling therapeutic mouse  10  may include steps implemented by elements described herein. According to one exemplary embodiment, circuit board  42  may include a logic device or hardware that may include instructions embedded thereon that execute one or more steps of the method. Circuit board  42  may include a plurality of electrical components that may provide control, transmission, and buffering, for example. According to other exemplary embodiments, circuit board  42  may receive, interpret, and execute control instructions implemented by software operating on the computing device that may be in communication with therapeutic mouse  10 . Circuit board  42  and the software operating on the computing device may be referred to herein as a controller. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a method  90  of controlling therapeutic mouse  10  may include determining, by the controller, that therapeutic mouse  10  is engaged by user  40 , step  92 . The controller may create a plurality of countdown timer values T 1  through T X  and may correspondingly set values thereof to values that are less than a preset or predetermined value T XMAX , step  94 . The controller may create a plurality of total time counters TT 1  through TT X  and may increase values thereof by adding countdown timer values T 1  through T X  respectively thereto. The controller may associate each of the plurality of total time counters TT N  (for TT 1  through TT X ) and countdown timer values T N  (for T 1  through T X ) to a drive subassembly (e.g., left side wall, right side wall, top wall drive subassemblies  18 ,  20 ,  36 ). The controller may determine that therapeutic mouse  10  is not engaged (e.g., device is not in use) by user  40 , step  98 . The controller may determine whether total time counter TT N  is greater than or equal to a corresponding countdown timer value T N , step  100 . If the total time value TT N  is greater than the corresponding countdown timer value T N , the controller may reverse a polarity of the corresponding drive subassembly, step  102 . The controller may reset the total time value TT N  to zero, step  104 . If the total time value TT N  is not greater than a corresponding countdown timer value T N , the controller may activate or engage the corresponding drive subassembly for a time equivalent to the corresponding countdown timer value T N , step  106 . The controller may determine that it has completed activating or engaging the corresponding drive subassemblies, and may determine that therapeutic mouse  10  is ready for a next use by user  40 , step  108 . The controller may idle in a sleep or polling state, step  110 . 
         [0029]    According to another exemplary embodiment, the method of controlling therapeutic mouse  10  may include determining, by the controller, that therapeutic mouse  10  is engaged by user  40 . The controller may wait for a period of time, which may be a predetermined, configurable (e.g., user settable) period of time, or randomly determined period of time. Waiting may include instructions for sleeping or polling. The controller may activate a drive subassembly to engage or move a respective movable wall, which may be moved or urged a distance or magnitude. The controller may wait for a second period of time, which may be a predetermined, configurable, or randomly determined period of time, and the controller may then activate a second drive subassembly to engage or move a respective second movable wall, which may be moved or urged a second distance or magnitude. 
         [0030]    The controller may determine that therapeutic mouse  10  is not engaged by user  40 . The controller may wait for a third period of time, which may be a predetermined or configurable period of time, which may indicate an idle or inactive state, and the controller may return therapeutic mouse  10  to an initial configuration, which may include a neutral or preset configuration. 
         [0031]    According to some exemplary embodiments, circuit board  42  may include a tilt drive subassembly (not pictured) that may be in mechanical communication with a cam or gear drive that may control a tilt of circuit board  42  with respect to lower cover  32  of up to about thirty degrees above or below a horizontal plane about a horizontal axis of therapeutic mouse  10 . Left side, right side, and top walls  14 ,  16 ,  28  and movable wall  26  may be ridged, molded plastic (e.g., ABS, polycarbonate) and may be configured to extend about 0.01 to about 0.6 inch beyond an outside surface of movable wall  26 . Left side wall, right side wall, and top wall drive subassemblies  18 ,  20 ,  36  may be stepper motors, for example. Flexible cover  22  may be an injection molded polyurethane (PU) or silicone that may exhibit elastic and may be about 0.01 to about 0.15 inch thick. 
         [0032]    According to other exemplary embodiments, therapeutic mouse  10  may be configured to tilt side-to-side up to about thirty degrees from horizontal to either side about a vertical axis of therapeutic mouse  10 . 
         [0033]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.