Patent Publication Number: US-2003227437-A1

Title: Computer pointing device and utilization system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority based on provisional application Serial No. 60/295,757, filed Jun. 4, 2001, and entitled Ergonomic Computer Pointing Device. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002] This invention relates to computer pointing devices and utilization systems. More particularly, it relates to a pointing device that is positionable on a users hand, and is usable to execute program functions and control pointer and cursor movement in the X-Y plane of a computer video display, while allowing a users hand and body to be in a relaxed position and while allowing unimpeded use of a keyboard.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] There are several types of computer input devices, the most common types being the “mouse” and “trackball.” The most common “mouse” is a surface based input device. It must be used on a surface to function because it includes a tracking mechanism in contact with the surface that rotates when the mouse is moved over the surface. A disadvantage of this type of device is that it limits the positions that the users hand can be in since the mouse is grasped with the hand on its top. The user&#39;s body position is also limited by the need for a base surface and the user must make repeated motions to and from the keyboard. There is a known “mouse” that uses an optical sensor in place of a rolling ball sensor. It provides less limitation to body position since it can be used on the users leg but it does not solve the problems of limited hand position and repeated motion to and from the keyboard.  
       [0004] The “trackball” provides the same problems as a mouse. The “trackball” is a surface based pointing device with a rotating ball on top while the hand is placed atop the ball. The same attributes are associated with this device, limited hand position, limited body position and repeated motion to and from the keyboard.  
       [0005] Another type of pointing device is a hand worn pointing device or glove. Devices of this kind were developed in an attempt to alleviate the problems associated with the mouse and trackball. One such device is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,369, granted Aug. 1, 2000, to Mark L. Wambach. This device requires that a glove be worn, covering the entire hand. A disadvantage of this device is it is much larger than needed to produce the desired result of pointer movement on a computer screen. Also, the buttons and controls are awkwardly placed and overly complicated to use. Hands are different sizes and the glove may not fit properly rendering usability awkward and difficult. Another such device is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,199, granted Nov. 28, 2000, to Craig L. Butler. The device of this patent has similar features and functions as the device of U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,369.  
       [0006] There is a need for a hand worn pointing device that allows the user to rest his hand in the most comfortable position while using the device and operating the computer. There is a further need for a hand worn pointing device that is not restricted to use on a surface and which eliminates repeated motion from a surface base pointing device to a keyboard. There is also a need for a hand-held pointing device that can be adjusted to fit each user&#39;s hand size and which can be mounted to either the right or the left hand. The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held pointing device which fulfills these needs.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] The input device of the present invention is basically characterized by a band that is mountable on a computer user&#39;s thumb. This band supports a sensor that is directed towards the fingers of the hand that are adjacent the thumb. The sensor is a part of a cursor control circuit that is adapted to control x-y positioning of a cursor on a computer screen in response to finger movement relative to the sensor.  
       [0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a thumb band support for both a sensor and one or more “click” buttons. In preferred form, the band supports of pair of “click” buttons.  
       [0009] A further object of the invention is to provide two “click” buttons on the band, positioned side-by-side across the thumb, and a sensor positioned on the band outwardly along the thumb from the “click” buttons.  
       [0010] A still further object of the invention is to provide a band that is positionable on a computer user&#39;s thumb outwardly of the thumb knuckle. This band supports a sensor and preferably supports at least one “click” button in close proximity to the sensor.  
       [0011] Yet another object of the invention is to provide an input device that includes a control circuit housing that is positionable on the back of the computer user&#39;s hand. As many electrical conductors as are necessary extend from the sensor along the computer user&#39;s thumb and hand to circuitry within the housing.  
       [0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a second band that is mountable on the computer user&#39;s thumb inwardly of the thumb knuckle. The necessary conductors extend from the sensor and “click” buttons supported by the first band to the second band and from the second band to the circuitry within the housing at the back of the hand.  
       [0013] The pointing device of the invention allows the user to rest his/her hand in the most comfortable position and allows any body positions since it is not restricted to use on a surface and it eliminates repeated motion from a surface base of pointing device to a keyboard. The pointing device of the invention uses area on the thumb and a portion of the back of the hand and can be adjusted to fit the user&#39;s hand size. One pointing device can be used for both left and right hands. The mechanism used to detect and move the position of the pointer, and the “click” buttons used for functions, are placed on the forward part of the thumb and are manipulated by use of the adjacent fingers. Signal transmission can be by way of a connector cord. Preferably, however, wireless transmission is used. A radio transmitter is preferred and it is adapted to rely the electrical signal from the pointing device to the computer control. The pointing device of the invention provides unlimited hand and body positions and it can be used in conjunction with a keyboard.  
       [0014] Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description of the best mode set forth below, from the drawings, from the claims and from the principles that are embodied in the specific structures that are illustrated and described. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0015] Like reference numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawing, and:  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the prior art system that is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,199;  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is a view of a hand worn pointing device that embodies the present invention, such view showing the device as it appears when looking towards the palm side of the user&#39;s hand;  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a system of the present invention, showing the pointing device on the right hand of the user and showing the right hand of the user positioned on a keyboard;  
     [0019]FIG. 4 is a view of the pointing device of the present invention as it appears when looking towards the side of the thumb of the user&#39;s hand which confronts the index finger on the user&#39;s right hand;  
     [0020]FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, such views including arrows showing where some movement can occur and further showing the circuit housing partially fragmented to expose circuit components inside of the housing;  
     [0021]FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown by FIG. 5, such view also including arrows indicating where movement can occur;  
     [0022]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the sensor housing, including a phantom line showing some internal components;  
     [0023]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the sensor housing, taken substantially along line  8 -- 8  of FIG. 7, such view including phantom line showings of other components;  
     [0024]FIG. 9 is an end view of the sensor housing shown by FIGS. 7 and 8, such view being taken substantially along line  9 -- 9  in FIG. 8;  
     [0025]FIG. 10 is a pictorial view of a frame assembly that extends between the thumb assembly and the circuit housing;  
     [0026]FIG. 11 is an exploded pictorial view of the frame assembly shown by FIG. 10;  
     [0027]FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the frame assembly shown by FIGS. 10 and 11;  
     [0028]FIG. 13 is an exploded sectional view of the frame assembly shown by FIGS.  10 - 12 ; and  
     [0029]FIG. 14 is a pictorial view showing the preferred embodiment of the invention mounted onto the right hand of a user, with the sensor and “click” buttons directed towards the fingers of the hand that are adjacent the thumb. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0030]FIG. 1 is like FIG. 4 in U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,199. It discloses a hand mounted mouse  10  which includes a glove  12  and a tracking ball  16 . The tracking ball  16  is positioned where it can be operated by the user&#39;s thumb. The glove includes a device  18  that is adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to rotational movement of the tracking ball  16 . “Click” buttons are mounted on the palm side of the glove  12 . The backside of the glove  12  includes the circuitry contained in a housing  30 . The tracking ball device  16 ,  18  and the “click” buttons are connected to the circuitry contained in a housing  30 . The circuitry contained in housing  30  transmits signals, e.g. radio waves, to a receiver  32  that is connected to control functions of a computer  26 .  
     [0031] Existing pointing device technology includes a cordless mouse in which the tracking ball has been replaced by an optical sensor. One such device is produced by “Logitech, Inc.,” having a place of business at 6505 Kaiser Drive, Fremont, Calif. Currently, this device is marketed under the trademark “MouseMan.” The pointing device of the present invention utilizes this optical-cordless technology and at the same time provides significant improvements in ergonomics.  
     [0032] FIGS.  2 - 4  are like FIGS. 3, 1 and  2  of my provisional application Serial No. 60/295,757. These views show the basic elements of the invention and their relative positioning. Referring to FIG. 3, a pointing device  40  is shown mounted on the thumb  42  of a computer user&#39;s hand  44 . The device  40  includes a rigid housing and a sensor  46  (FIG. 2) that may be a track ball or an optical sensor, or some other yet to be developed sensor for performing the same function. The sensor housing is positioned on the pad of the user&#39;s thumb and is adjustable in position on the thumb. It contains an optical integrated circuit, a lens, a light emitting diode (LED) and a pair of switches. A circuit board  48  is preferably mounted on the back of the computer user&#39;s hand  44 . Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a pair of “click” buttons  50 ,  52  are preferably mounted on the user&#39;s thumb  42  closely adjacent the sensor  46 . The thumb mounted housing is attached to a thumb band  54  that is located forwardly of the thumb knuckle. Band  54  snugly surrounds the portion of the thumb that projects outwardly from the thumb knuckle. The sensor  46  and the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  in the housing that is are connected to band  54 . The necessary electrical conductors extend from the sensor  46  and the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  to the circuitry within housing  48 .  
     [0033] Band  54  may be a full loop or a split loop of material into which a tip portion of the thumb  42  is inserted. Preferably, a second band  56  is provided on the thumb  42  inwardly of the thumb knuckle. Band  56  is preferably a two part band that is suitably secured together by a fastener, such as a Velcro® fastener. Structure  58  may be a strip of material with some stiffness but which can be bent and twisted to some extent.  
     [0034] Band  56  may include a housing  60  into which the member  58  extends. There are many ways of adjusting the device  40  for mounting it onto the computer user&#39;s thumb. For example, housing  60  may include a spring loaded retracting spool  61  on which the rear end portion of member  58  is wound, providing for continuous self adjustment between band  54  and band  58 . Or, member  58  may be a member having end portions connected to the bands  54 ,  56  and a center portion that is built like an accordion so that the end portions can move together and away from each other. The electrical connectors associated with structure  58  extend between the two bands  54 ,  56 . The conductors may be incorporated in the material of band  54  and strip  58 . The conductors from the sensor  46  and the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  may be first incorporated within the member  58  and may emerge from the member  58  and enter a sheath  62  that extends from housing  60  to the housing  48 . The conductors may be a bendable light gauge plastic coated wire, both within member  58  and within sheath  62 .  
     [0035] Because a thumb tip tapers outwardly, the band  54  can be a split loop or a closed loop of a particular size. Adjustment is achieved by the distance of insertion of the thumb tip into the band  54 . If the user&#39;s thumb tip is narrow, the thumb tip will move forwardly into the band  54  more than it will if the thumb tip is wider. When the band  54  is on the thumb tip, the band  56  is in position and adjusted to the user&#39;s thumb inwardly of the thumb knuckle. The structure  58  must be constructed to allow the resulting spacing of the bands  54 ,  56  along the thumb. If the spring loaded adjustment mechanism is used, the member  58  will move outwardly from housing  60  an amount necessary to provide for the necessary spacing of band  54  from band  56 . If an accordion section is used, for example, it will either expand or contract, as necessary, to provide the necessary amount of adjustment.  
     [0036]FIG. 2 shows the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  positioned inwardly along the thumb from the sensor  46 . They are also positioned side-by-side across the thumb  40 . As shown by FIGS. 2 and 4, and to some extent by FIG. 3, the sensor  46  and the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  are in a confronting relationship with the user&#39;s fingers  66 ,  68  adjacent the thumb  40 . This allows the index finger  66  or the middle finger  68  to be used to operate the sensor  46  and allows the fingers  66 ,  68  to be used to depress the “click” buttons  50 ,  52 . This is hereinafter described in greater detail.  
     [0037] Referring to FIGS.  5 - 9 , the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a thumb-mounted structure  70  that includes the two thumb bands  54 ,  56 , a sensor  46  and two “click” buttons  50 ,  52  integrated into a housing  53  that includes a printed circuit  55 . It also comprises a control circuit section  72  that includes a housing  48 , and a connecting section  74  that extends between and interconnects the section  70  with the section  72 . In this embodiment, the housing  48  is positioned on the back of the user&#39;s hand  44  (FIG. 14). It contains a main printed circuit board  76  and houses batteries  78  that provide electrical energy to the circuit. The necessary conductors extend from the sensor  46  and the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  through sheathing or materials in the sections  70 ,  74  to the housing  48  in section  72 . In FIGS. 5 and 6, the conductor path is designated  80 . Housing  48  also houses a transmitter that sends a wireless signal to the computer.  
     [0038] Section  74  may comprise two end members  82 ,  84  that are connected together in an adjustable manner to make section  74  adjustable in length. Member  82  may be connected to housing  60  by a pivotal connection  86 . Member  84  may be connected to housing  48  by a pivotal connection  88 . Connections  86 ,  88  provide for pivotal movement between housings  60 ,  82  and housings  84 ,  48 .  
     [0039] Referring to FIGS.  10 - 13 , member  84  may include a top section  90  and a bottom section  92  that is connected to the top section  90 . Section  82  includes a member  94  that is telescopically received within the members  90 ,  92 . Member  92  includes a longitudinal slide member  96  and member  94  includes a longitudinal slide way  98  in which slide member  96  is received (FIG. 12). A stop  100  on member  90  is positioned to contact a stop  102  on member  94 . The members  82 ,  84  are telescopically movable together and apart within limits provided by the stops  100 ,  102 . The engagement of the slide  96  within the slide way  98  permits length adjustment of the member  74  while holding the members  82 ,  84  together and restrained against movement in other directions.  
     [0040] Use of the preferred embodiment will now be described. Firstly, the user&#39;s thumb is inserted into the band  54  and the housing  72  is positioned on the back of the user&#39;s hand. Members  82 ,  84  are extended or retracted as necessary to allow for the placement of the housing  72  on the back of the user&#39;s hand while the user&#39;s thumb is within band  54 . Housing  53  is adjusted in position on the band  54 . For this purpose, the housing  53  may include a lateral tunnel opening in which the band  54  is received. The band  54  is moved through this tunnel opening in the direction an amount necessary in order to properly place the housing  53  on the user&#39;s thumb. Band  56  is then secured to the user&#39;s thumb. In the process, the member  58  and reel  61  (or accordion section) will automatically adjust the distance between the bands  54 ,  56  along the user&#39;s thumb.  
     [0041] Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and  9 , a LED  106  is preferably provided to illuminate the user&#39;s index finger as it passes over a lens  108 , which that is a part an optical integrated circuit  110  uses for functionality and contained within the housing  30 . The optical integrated circuit  110  senses the movement and in response causes movement of the cursor or pointer on the video display. The “click” buttons  50 ,  52  are activated by movement of the user&#39;s index and middle fingers  66 ,  68 . Switch buttons  50 ,  52  control specific software and pointing device functions substantially the same as is done in the “MouseMan® pointer device.  
     [0042] Commercially available batteries  59  are used to provide the necessary electrical energy. These batteries  59  are housed within the housing  48 . The batteries  59  may be rechargeable batteries, and if so, the pointing device is a connected to a battery charger (not shown) when it is not in use. A radio transmitter within the housing  48  transmits signals to a receiver  110  that is adapted to supply control signals to the computer C (FIG. 3).  
     [0043] In another embodiment, the member  58  extends through a slot in the housing  60  and then extends continuously onto the housing  48 . In this embodiment, there may be a frictional grip between the housing  60  and the member  48 . Or the housing  60  may include a spring biased detent that engages the member  58  and releasably secures the two of them together. The detent may be released when it is desired to move the member  58  relatively through housing  60  for the purpose of adjusting the position of band  56  relative to band  54 . The section of member  58  that extends between housing  60  and housing  48  may include an accordion section that will provide for its adjustment in length where it extends between housing  60  and housing  48 .  
     [0044] As can be seen, when the sensor  46  and the “click” buttons  50 ,  52  are properly positioned on the user&#39;s thumb, the sensor  46  is positioned for operation by a relative movement of one of the user&#39;s fingers across the optical sight of the sensor. The “click” buttons are positioned for quick and easy access and operation by use of the user&#39;s index and middle finger  66 ,  68 . As a result, the pointing device of this invention does not possess the problems inherent to surface based pointing devices.  
     [0045] The thumb mounted housing may be made from plastic. As has been described, it is movable in position around the girth of the thumb so that it can best be positioned for operation by the index and/or middle fingers of the user. The band  54  may be constructed from plastic coated thin metal that is flexible.  
     [0046] The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is to be understood that many changes in the particular structure, materials and features of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the “click” buttons can be positioned other than side-by-side. In some embodiments they may be spaced along the thumb, or otherwise positioned. Therefore, it is my intention that my patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments illustrated and described herein, but rather are to be determined by the following claims, interpreted according to accepted doctrines of patent claim interpretation, including use of the doctrine of equivalents and reversal of parts.