Abstract:
A cursor positioning device that can be sealed if the environment requires sealing, that can withstand harsh use, and can position the cursor easily and quickly. In operation the operator places their fingers on the positioning articulator and rocks or slides the articulator in the direction they want the cursor to move. And by movement signatures do single and double clicks, and character strings to the host computer, either through the mouse port or the keyboard port.  
     The invention has a top surface, key caps, key interrupters, and cursor positioning device with a means allowing fabrication from stainless steel or less expensive materials. The key and articulator interrupters block optical beams for key and mouse like positioning thus eliminating any physical contact or force from the user. The cursor positioning device being a downwardly positioning interrupter disposed in ring of optical emitters and detectors, whereas depending on the amount of downward movement and the position of downward movement by the positioning interrupter emission is blocked, or partially blocked, between a particular pair of emitters and detectors, that point being the direction of cursor movement.  
     The key and articulator are only removable by releasing them from within the mouse. The invention has a seal protected by the key and articulator whereas only the thick non-flexing portion of the seal is exposed to a user. When keys and articulator are in the most depressed position there is no physical contact with any of the detector surfaces protecting all internal parts from pressure, or force from harsh use or a vandals blow.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention generally relates to mouse type input devices for computers that need data entry in office and harsh environments, both indoor and outdoor, and in public access areas.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Prior art mouse type input devices fall into five basic category types: rotating mechanism, strain mechanism, electronic touch positioning, optical surface detecting and switch.  
           [0005]    Rotating mechanisms include the most common and widely used whereas a ball is in contact with a surface, either a hand or desk, and the relative movement of the hand or distance traveled over a surface rotates either an optical counter or potentiometer. Other variations include joysticks and wheels that are moved and in turn rotate an optical counter or potentiometer. None of these types have been successfully sealed because if a contaminate gets on the ball or wheel it is forced past the seal and into the rotating mechanism. And just the fact that there is a-rotating mechanism with bearings, balls, shafts, and wheels means the MTBF is less that if they were not needed. Strain type input devices are stressed in the direction of desired cursor movement and that direction is interpolated in the strain gage and sent to the host computer. These devices generally having a stem for operation similar to a joystick are sealed with an elastomer boot that cracks with age or can be cut by a vandal. And if severe strain is applied will damage the sensor because normal operation requires contact with the sensor.  
           [0006]    Capacitive and resistive type touch pads interpolate a touched finger movement to direct a cursor and input single and double clicks. These are contact sensitive type devices whereas sharp object will damage the device. The main environment of use is in notebook computers where limited use is necessitated and generally only by one user, and where an user-friendlier mouse would be an extra peripheral.  
           [0007]    Optical surface detection mice read differences in the surface they rest on as they are moved around in an area to show cursor positional differences. Harsh environments or on irregular surfaces limit the use of such devices.  
           [0008]    Arrays of switches are also used for four or eight quadrant direction of cursor movement. These types of input devices are not user-friendly because of limited angular positioning of the cursor.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is therefor the primary objective of this invention to provide a cursor positioning device that can be sealed if the environment requires sealing, that can withstand harsh use, and can position the cursor easily and quickly.  
           [0010]    The key and articulator interrupters block optical beams for key and cursor positioning detection, thus eliminating any physical contact or force from the user from the key or articulator to any detection components. The cursor positioning device being a positioning interrupter disposed between an inner and outer ring of optical emitters and detectors, whereas depending on the amount of movement and the position of movement by the interrupter emission is varied between a particular pair of emitters and detectors, that point is the direction of cursor movement.  
           [0011]    In design if the environment requires sealing an island or plurality of islands are disposed on a top surface of the cursor positioning device and place a key position in each island. As with an island when fluid is introduced it is only held in depth by surface tension and the viscosity of the fluid. The top surface of this cursor positioning device is a planar or descending surface from the base of the island to at least one, or part thereof, side of the cursor positioning device periphery. These islands with the key and articulator having the section of an umbrella, even without seals, or if a physical seal fails, give the invention an inherent resistiveness from external fluids to interior cursor positioning device fluid contamination.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of this invention to have a cursor positioning device that is stationary, and does not require an area to physically move the cursor positioning device around in.  
           [0013]    It is a further object of this invention to have a cursor positioning device that totally controls the cursor, left and right clicks, and preprogrammed computer input control functions from one articulator by movement signatures.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of this invention to have stainless steel or other material key and articulator that are only removable by releasing them from within the cursor positioning device.  
           [0015]    It is a further object of this invention to have a seal protected by the key or articulator whereas only the thick non-flexing portion of the seal is exposed to a user.  
           [0016]    It is also a further object of this invention to have optical detectors whereas in the most depressed position require no physical contact with any of the detection means.  
           [0017]    It is also a further object of this invention when a key or articulator is in the most depressed position the key cap or articulator is against the cursor positioning device top surface protecting all internal parts from pressure, or force from harsh use or a vandals blow.  
           [0018]    It is also a further object of this invention to allow the cursor positioning device to be easily cleaned.  
           [0019]    It is also a further object of this invention to alternatively have a top surface, key caps, key interrupters, and cursor control device fabricated from plastic.  
           [0020]    And it is also a further object of this invention to alternatively have a planar top surface with fasteners stepped in from the periphery to facilitate attaching the cursor positioning device to a mounting surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cursor positioning device with a single actuator in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1A is a side view of the cursor positioning device with a single actuator of FIG. 1 in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1B is a section view through the cursor positioning device in FIG. 1 in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cursor positioning device in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2A is a left side view of the cursor positioning device in FIG. 2 in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a section view through the mouse of FIG. 2 in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a mountable cursor positioning device with a planar top surface in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a section view through the mountable cursor positioning device with a planar top surface of FIG. 4 in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a section view through the cursor positioning device of FIG. 2 that is alternatively non-sealed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6A is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in an intermediate position in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6B is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a full downward position in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a mechanical schematic illustrating the relationship of the emitters and detectors to the key and circular interrupters of the cursor positioning device of FIG. 2 in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 7A is a diagram of the optical beam illustrating the effect of the varying downward movement of the circular interrupter on the optical beam in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 8 is a section view through the cursor positioning device of FIG. 2 that is alternatively non-sealed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9 is a section view through the cursor positioning device of FIG. 2 when molded and without seals in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10 is a section view through the cursor positioning device of FIG. 2 when molded and without seals showing a joystick type of cursor articulator in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11 is a section view through the cursor positioning device of FIG. 2 when molded and without seals, and without keys in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating the function of the mouse in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 13 is a schematic illustrating the microprocessor section of the cursor positioning device in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 14 is a schematic illustrating the elements of a typical detector matrix of the cursor positioning device in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 15 is a schematic illustrating the elements of a typical emitter matrix of the cursor positioning device in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position with an alternative optical design with dual stationary mirrors in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 17 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position with an alternative optical design with dual floating mirrors in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 18 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position with an alternative optical design with lenses for collimation in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 19 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position with an alternative optical design with single floating mirrors in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 20 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position with an alternative optical design whereas the interrupter is moved out of the optical beam to show direction in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 21 is an enlarged detail view of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in an intermediate position with an alternative optical design showing the interrupter in FIG. 20 partially out of the optical beam in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 22 is a section view FIG. 27 with a pivoting interrupter in a first position or non-depressed position in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 23 is a section view of FIG. 27 with the pivoting interrupter of FIG. 22 in an intermediate position blocking the optical beam in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 24 is a section view of FIG. 26 with a sliding interrupter in a first position or blocking position in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 25 is a section view of FIG. 26 with the sliding interrupter of FIG. 24 in a second position not blocking the optical beam in accordance with the teachings of this invention;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 26 is a plan view of a cursor positioning device with a sliding single actuator in accordance with the teachings of this invention; and  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 27 is a plan view of a cursor positioning device with a pivoting single actuator in accordance with the teachings of this invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0055]    Referring now to the drawings, in which the same reference numeral indicates the same element in the various figures, FIG. 1 shows a top surface  10  of cursor positioning device  11  and cursor articulator  18  used to position a cursor. Articulator top  9  shows a shape that can be used by one finger to position the cursor, and stops a vandal from hitting articulator  18  with a fist. Cursor positioning device  11  is a full function mouse in as much as all control of the cursor and related functions are preformed with cursor articulator  18 . Clicking is preformed by down up movement, speed of down up movement and location of down up movement making up a signature for a single or double click or drag as required for cursor functions. FIG. 1A is a side view of FIG. 1 with top surface  10 , side view of cursor articulator  18  and peripheral seal  32 . FIG. 1B is a cross section view at A-A through the mouse in FIG. 1. Cursor articulator  18  is retained by fasteners  143  being threadably received into projections  152  coming from the lower side of cursor articulator  18  holding circular interrupter  145  rigid against projections  152 . Projections  152  are pressed through cursor upper flex part  142  of cursor elastomer seal  151  forming an upper seal to stop liquids from entering the interior of the cursor positioning device. Cursor lower thick part  150  of cursor elastomer seal  151  is pressed over cursor extruded island  153  forming a lower seal to stop liquids from entering the interior of the cursor positioning device. Cursor lower thick part  150  is the only part of the seal that is exposed to users, so even if lower thick part  150  is completely cut through, bushing  149  will hold cursor lower thick part  150  in place so the seal to the inside of the mouse will not be broken. Cursor upper flex part  142  is protected by key cap  70  so the user cannot cut or damage it.  
         [0056]    Cursor bushing  149  is slideably received in cursor extruded island  153 . Circular interrupter  145  is slideably received in cursor bushing  149  with enough clearance to allow angular movement of circular interrupter  145 . The periphery of circular interrupter  145  is allowed to float in the downwardly direction only being opposed by mouse spring  148 , and when depressed the periphery of circular interrupter  145  can block or partially block the cursor optical beam  147  emitting from emitter  146  and being detected by detector  144 .  
         [0057]    The cursor positioning device in FIG. 2 showing a three button mouse  20  with a top surface  22 , a left button  14  and right button  17  for normal left and right clicks. Cursor movement is preformed by the same cursor articulator  18  as in FIG. 1. Center button  16  can be used for sensitivity of cursor movement whereby downward movement of cursor articulator  18  verses linear movement of the cursor on a display device can be adjusted. This adjustment is made by a series of center button  16  depressions that increment and decrement the sensitivity. Center button  16  in some applications could be programmed for a drag function, but in most applications drag is preformed by holding down the left button and then positioning the cursor with cursor articulator  18 . Center button  16  could also be programmed to input the scrolling feature like the wheel on a standard type mouse. FIG. 2A is a left side view of FIG. 2 showing the side view of left button  14  and the left side of cursor articulator  18 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 3 is a section view through FIG. 2 at B-B rotated 90 degrees. Key indicia  72  in FIG. 3 can be press fit or adhesively attached in key cap  70  of key  12  over press-in threaded insert  74 . Key indicia  72  can be printed on adhesive coated plastic or embossed in or printed on metal. These options allow key indicia  72  to be in color or have custom text so they can be installed after the keyboards have been assembled.  
         [0059]    Key stem  80  is press fit over threaded insert  74  and is slideably received in bushing  73 . Key stem  80  is pressed through upper flex part  71  of physical elastomer key seal  82  forming an upper seal to stop liquids from entering the interior of the cursor positioning device. Lower thick part  76  of a physical elastomer seal  82  is pressed over extruded island  81  forming a lower seal to stop liquids from entering the interior of the mouse. Lower thick part  76  is the only part of the seal that is exposed to users, so even if lower thick part  76  is completely cut through, bushing  73  will hold lower thick part  76  in place so the seal to the inside of the cursor positioning device will not be broken. Upper flex part  71  is protected by key cap  70  so the user cannot cut or damage it. Bushing  73  is slideably received in extruded island  81  and is held in place by snaps  83  over washer  78 . Once snaps  83  engage over washer  78  bushing  73  retains key seal  82  in a contact position with mouse top surface  22 . Although elastomer key seal  82  is a physical seal, even when removed the inherent seal in the design of the extruded island gives the cursor positioning device a means of sealing the interior of the cursor positioning device. Points A, B, and C show that these surfaces are all below extruded island top  13 , so even if a seal would fail the fluids would drain to the periphery of the cursor positioning device rather than going inside to contaminate components.  
         [0060]    Key retainer  77  is slideably received over key stem  80  and secures keys  12 . By retaining key  12  in this manner, the only way to remove key  12  is by from within the mouse. Optical beam  84  is blocked by key stem  80  when key  12  is in the depressed position.  
         [0061]    Upper spring  75  returns key  12  to a non-depressed position and maintains a bias pressure on upper flex part  71  of elastomer key seal  82 . Each time a key is pressed upper flex part  71  is also forced up to the under side of key cap  70  to assure position is maintain during the life of the cursor positioning device.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 4 shows mouse  50  with a planar top surface  52  and key  12 . FIG. 5 showing the C-C cross section view through FIG. 5 with planar top surface  52  with key  12  and mounting studs  54 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that while key  12  is shown round it should be appreciated it could just as easily be square like key  16  of FIG. 2. Mouse  50  in FIGS. 4 and 5 are to be mounted to a desk, machine or other structure with mount studs  54  disposed inwardly around the periphery of rear planar surface  58 . Printed wiring board  56  mounts and connects the electronic components of mouse  50 .  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 6 shows the cross section at A-A of FIG. 2. Key  12  is shown in a depressed position with weld on stem interrupter  122  blocking beam  84 . Detail  140  shows the cursor control device of the cursor positioning device. Cursor articulator  18  is shown in a depressed position. The periphery of circular interrupter  145  is allowed to float in the downwardly direction only being opposed by cursor positioning device spring  148 , and when depressed the periphery of circular interrupter  145  can block or partially block the cursor optical beam  147  emitting from emitter  146  and being detected by detector  144 .  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 6A is an enlargement of detail  140  of FIG. 6 with some of the internal parts removed for clarity to better show circular interrupter  145  in a partially blocked position. As shown circular interrupter  145  can partially block the cursor optical beam  147  emitting from emitter  146  and being detected by detector  144 . FIG. 6B is an enlargement of detail  140  of FIG. 6 with some of the internal parts removed for clarity to better show circular interrupter  145  in a fully blocked position, and to show that in the most downward position that cursor articulator  18  will contact the top surface  10  to stop harsh use or excessive force prior to damage of internal parts. As shown circular interrupter  145  can block the cursor optical beam  147  emitting from emitter  146  and being detected by detector  144 .  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 7 is a mechanical schematic illustrating the relationship of the emitters and detectors to the key and circular interrupters of the mouse. Lower key spring  89  is disposed around emitter  91  and detector  92  and stem interrupter  93  disposed between emitter  91  and detector  92 . Stem interrupter  93  is shown with a square cross section but it should be appreciated that the cross section could be another polygon or even round. A cross section other than round inherently limits key rotation about the center axis of stem interrupter  93 .  
         [0066]    The downwardly positioning circular interrupter  147  is disposed between and concentric with the center of an inner circular ring of optical emitters  146  and an outer circular ring of detectors  145 , whereas depending on the amount of downward movement and the position of downward movement by circle interrupter  147  emission is blocked, or partially blocked, between a particular pair of emitters and detectors that point the direction of cursor movement. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the inner ring could be detectors and the outer ring could be emitters, the number of emitters and detectors could vary and produce a similar result. The numbers of degrees shown about the center of circular interrupter  147  depict the relation to cursor movement. If the cursor is to be moved up the display then pressing circular interrupter  147  at angle zero would direct the cursor in that direction, if pressing the at angle  270  the cursor would move to the right on the display. Sixteen emitter detector pairs are shown giving sixteen direct angles of cursor movement. Angular interpolation between any two of the sixteen pairs can be made to give to give a resolution greater than the sixteen direct angles. The distance that the cursor moves is related to the distance circular interrupter  147  is depressed. This distance can be scaled to be a course or finer movement.  
         [0067]    Movement signatures can be made in any one of the direct or interpolated angles. Whereas if an operator made a movement signature in the direction between the zero and ninety degrees shown at forty five degrees the cursor positioning device could input a series of commands to match an action to be made in a particular program, example while in a net browser, the forty five degree movement signature could equal a tab being sent to the computer to highlight the command prompt line for a web address to be input. This would save time in as much as the operator would not have to move the cursor to the command prompt line and then left click, instead it would only be a quick movement of the articulator in the forty five degree direction.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 7A is a diagram viewing optical beam  161  through the axis of cursor optical beam  147  as shown in FIG. 14A illustrating the effect of the varying downward movement of circular interrupter  147  on optical beam  161  at various positions of downward movement. Line  160  shows the lower edge of circular interrupter in the non-depressed position. First curved line  159  shows the radius formed when one side of circular interrupter is moved in a downward direction. Second curved line  158  shows the radius gets smaller as circular interrupter  147  is positioned in a further downward position. As seen by line  160  when circular interrupter  147  is in the non-depressed position optical beam  161  between inner ring emitters  146  and outer ring detectors  145  all see a flat line. As soon as circular interrupter  147  is depressed downward the smallest amount a radius is formed and the lowest point of that radius through angle interpolation between the closest emitter detectors point the cursor in the direction of desired cursor movement.  
         [0069]    When the cursor positioning device has only cursor articulator  18  and no keys for left, right button or drag a signature including the location of depression is used to determine which function is being required. The location for the movement signature for left button is at 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 7, for right button is 270 degrees, drag is 0 degrees, and for sensitivity is 180 degrees. Depending on the application the signature functions at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees can be changed to other locations, or some functions could be omitted. In operation to do a right click a user would depress and release the cursor articulator  18  at 270 degrees in the time frame necessary to match that down up movement signature and a right click would be input to the host computer. If the operator would depress cursor articulator  18  slower then the cursor would move in the angular direction of the depression. Because slower would not meet the down up timing signature of a click. These locations being controlled in firmware can obviously be changed to match different applications.  
         [0070]    In environments that do not require seals either because of lower cost or where contamination is not a factor FIG. 8 is a section view through FIG. 2 at B-B showing mouse  20  without seals. Molded key  100  and molded cursor articulator  101  are shown. Those skilled in the art will recognize that while molded key  100  is shown in a position to actuate an optical switch it should be appreciated it could just as easily actuate a mechanical switch with standard type contacts. Hollow stem interrupter  113  can allow LED beam  111  to be emitted from key stem LED  114  to illuminate through translucent indicia lens  116  showing an input has been made to the host computer, or that the host computer has input data to the mouse.  
         [0071]    Top surface  164  of FIG. 9 is similar to top surface  22  of FIG. 2 in as much as it functions the same except that it is of less expensive molded construction. Molded island  165  is shown and can be molded from a material with high lubricity so no bushing is needed to slideably receive key stem  167 . In this configuration the only sealing means is the inherent umbrella and island design of the invention. It can be seen that molded island  165  gives an inherent resistiveness to fluids because the fluid would have to reach the depth of the height of molded island  165  before it would overflow into the mouse. Angle foot  168  is added to elevate the rear of the cursor positioning device to a different angle for typing.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 10 shows a cursor positioning device of molded construction similar to FIG. 9 with a joystick  102  forming the top of cursor articulator  18 . FIG. 11 shows a mouse of molded construction similar to FIG. 9 with only cursor articulator  18  being used for complete cursor control.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 12 is a firmware flow chart of the cursor positioning device, in INITALIZE ports are set to be in either input or output conditions depending on use, ram is tested, and start up sequence with the host is done. Key detection is optical so because emitters and detector vary with age SCAN INTERRUPTER AND STORE BASELINE AMPLITUDE stores a baseline amplitude for the interrupters for buttons  14 ,  16  and  17 , and circular interrupter  145  before the optical beams are blocked. The optical beams are then checked at HAVE BUTTONS BEEN DETECTED for buttons  14 ,  16  and  17  and compared to the baseline value, if a difference is found at YES the particular button at LOAD WHICH BUTTON BIT TO HOST PACKET BYTE is loaded into a data packet to be sent to the host at an interval time set by the host. If data been loaded into the data packets IS DATA READY TO SEND tests and sends at SEND DATA TO HOST. SCAN INTERRUPTERs FOR AMPLITUDE CHANGE FROM BASELINE scans the inner and outer rings of emitters and detectors shown in FIG. 15. HAS AMPLITUDE CHANGED tests if the circular interrupter  145  has been depressed, if no change is detected then a test is made at IS HOST SENDING to see if the host is requesting data, if no, then a return is made to retest for interrupter detection. If YES at IS HOST SENDING then the data is received and a test is made if parameters need to be changed at DO PARAMETERS NEED CHANGING, if YES, then CHANGE PARAMETERS and return, if no, RESPOND TO HOST as requested and return.  
         [0074]    If YES at HAS AMPLITUDE CHANGED then CHECK WHICH DETECTOR BLOCKED, then CHECK SIGNATURE OF BLOCKAGE. A blockage signature is set by the host and is the timing of the on/off duration of how long a detector is blocked. This duration can be set to match a users response time when clicking or double clicking, if a user wants to single or double click very slow or very fast this duration or combination of duration&#39;s give a user a blocking signature. By checking this signature at CHECK SIGNATURE OF BLOCKAGE the logic can tell if a click should be sent to the host or a cursor movement should be sent, this test is made at IS SIGNATURE A CLICK, if YES, then test which button at IS RIGHT CLICK, if not right click it must be a left click, load the bit to the data packet to be sent to the host or computer display.  
         [0075]    If the signature at IS SIGNATURE A CLICK is not a click then a signature for a sensitivity is checked at IS SIGNATURE SENSE, if yes then the a different ratio is loaded at ADJUST SENSITIVITY and is used to compute the amount of movement of the cursor when sending cursor movement to the host computer. If the check for signature of sensitivity is no, then INTERPOLATION OF DIRECTION is made. With the detectors being in a circle a detector or detectors that are blocked point in the direction the circular interrupter is being depressed. A curve is calculated by the difference in amplitude of the blocked detectors. The calculated peak of this curve combined with the location of the blocked detectors gives the direction to move the cursor. A direction ratio to match the direction of X and Y position is loaded into the data packet to be sent to the host at LOAD X &amp; Y VALUE TO HOST DATA PACKET. The amount of cursor movement in distance on the display is a direct relation to how much of the detector is blocked to the movement delta from the previous movement sent to the host. The direction ratio is only to show direction, by adding to the direction ratio the delta from previous movement a speed and distance of movement of the cursor is made. A sensitivity adjustment can be added to vary the amount of movement of the circular interrupter to the distance traveled by the cursor. Example, at one sensitivity setting moving the circular interrupter one millimeter could move the cursor one hundred millimeters, another sensitivity setting could be moving the circular interrupter a half millimeter could move the cursor two hundred millimeters. This sensitivity adjustment modifies the movement delta. It can be a fixed value for some applications or a user variable in other applications.  
         [0076]    After the direction ratio, the movement delta, and the sensitivity are calculated the sum is loaded into the data packet at LOAD X &amp; Y VALUE TO HOST DATA PACKET, then a return to test for buttons is made.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 13 is the micro processor schematic for the cursor positioning device. Cursor positioning device micro processor  210  has various ports under control of the firmware, one such port  212  is shown labeled PC referring to Port C, these ports control the input/output of the mouse, turning on and off the emitters and detectors, and detecting varying voltage amplitudes from the detectors. One such input/output is shown at mouse connector  214 . Mouse connector  214  connects to a host computer to send mouse movement, and other signals generated from the cursor positioning device or sent from the host. When the cursor positioning device is used to input movement signatures special programs in the host must be installed to receive these commands. Keyboard connector  213  can be connected to the host so that the cursor positioning device can directly input character strings to any application running on the host without special programs, because the character string could be the same as an operator inputs from a standard host keyboard. Example, if an operator made a movement signature in the twenty-two degree direction it could send a character string with ‘tab’ to get to the command prompt line in a browser, then ‘www.’. This would be a short cut to start inputting a web address.  
         [0078]    The quantities of emitters and detectors can vary with different mice for different applications as shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2. FIG. 14 shows a typical detector matrix, and FIG. 15 shows the detectors matching typical emitter matrix, and depending on the number of detectors and emitters needed in a given mouse these typical matrixes can be increased or increased to match the application. If the application need is a very accurate cursor positioner then more detectors can be used so less interpolation is needed, but if the application need is only for X and Y positioning then only four detectors are needed. In operation PFET  220  is turned to give a positive bias to reverse blocking diode  228  and detector  226 . At the same time NFET  229  is turned on to give a negative bias to the cathode of detector  226  by port  221 . A voltage amplitude is then seen across signal resistor  222  and at input port  225 . This voltage amplitude will then vary depending on the amount of light that is emitted to detector  226 . The amount of light that can be emitted to the detector is governed by the position of the key or cursor positioning interrupter. If the interrupter is not depressed then the majority of the light from an emitter is received by the detector, then depending on the amount of depression by the user on the interrupter varying amounts of light will be seen as voltage amplitude changes at port  225 . When the base line amplitude is stored the amplitude is stored when the emitters are not turned on.  
         [0079]    In FIG. 15 PFET  230  is turned on by port  234  to give a positive bias to emitter  231  through current limiting resistor  231 , NFET  203  is then turned on by port  234  the give a negative bias to emitter  232  thus illuminating emitter  232 . Using a matrix like is shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 has two distinct advantages, one being a power saving in overall current drain from the host because the detectors are alternatively turned on, and two, isolating detector emitter pairs to limit cross talk between different detector emitter pairs.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 16 is an enlarged detail view  140  of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position showing a light beam  254  being directed from emitter  258  to emitter mirror surface  256  to detector mirror surface  250  to detector  252 . The downward movement of circular interrupter  145  will attenuate beam  254  by the amount of downward movement. In this alternate design by increasing the length of beam  254  will increase the divergence of beam  254  and decrease the sensitivity in position of the downward movement.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 17 is an enlarged detail view  140  of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position showing a light beam  266  being directed from emitter  269  to emitter mirror surface  268  to detector mirror surface  262  to detector  264 . In this alternate design as mirror circular interrupter  260  is moved in a downward direction the center of beam  266  is directed away from the center of detector  264  thus attenuating the amount of light to detector  264 .  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 18 is an enlarged detail view  140  of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position having two lenses to first diverge and then collimate the light beam, thus allowing the circular interrupter  145  a more linear attenuation of light beam  274 . Emitter  278  divergent light beam is collimated by emitter lens  276 , which is then converged through detector lens  272  to detector  270 .  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 19 is an enlarged detail view  140  of FIG. 6 with the circular interrupter in a non-depressed position showing a light beam  284  being directed from emitter  288  to emitter mirror surface  286  to detector  282 . In this alternate design as mirror circular interrupter  280  is moved in a downward direction the center of beam  284  scans detector  282  thus attenuating the amount of light to detector  282 . Detector  282  in this alternative means can be larger with more detection area, be an array with multiple discrete detectors, or a charge surface type detector. This larger detection area allows the distance of circular interrupter  280  ratio to cursor movement to be more linear.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 20 is an enlarged detail view  140  of FIG. 6 showing an alternative circular interrupter  301  in a non-depressed position where it is moved out of the optical beam  305  to show cursor direction. Emitter  304  and detector  306  with an optical beam  305  there between being attenuated by circular interrupter  301  secured to circular interrupter support  303  protruding through printed wiring board  300 . In this alternative design detector  306  is non-conducting during times of non-use, thus reducing current drain.  
         [0085]    [0085]FIG. 21 shows alternative circular interrupter  301  of FIG. 20 in an intermediate position only partially blocking optical beam  305  showing the direction of cursor movement.  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 22 shows a section view E-E of FIG. 27 with a pivoting cursor positioning device with interrupter  316  in a non-interrupting position out of the optical beam  314  between emitter  35  and detector  313 . Stem articulator  310  with pivot ball  311  is pivotally received in pivot mount  319  and being retained by pressure seal  312 . Pivot mount  319  is then retained through top surface  318  by retainer  317 . Although centering spring  321  is not necessary for operation it can be used to bias stem articulator  310  to a central position whereby holding interrupter  316  in a non-interrupting position.  
         [0087]    [0087]FIG. 23 shows interrupter  316  of FIG. 22 pivoted to an intermediate position partially blocking optical beam  314  showing cursor direction.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 24 shows section view D-D of FIG. 26 with a sliding cursor positioning device. In this configuration the cursor position device can be made thinner. Sliding articulator interrupter  337  is disposed through elastomer seal  328  being retained by upper housing  326  against the lower surface of top surface  325 . Sliding articulator interrupter  337  is shown blocking optical beam  333  being emitted by emitter  332  mounted on printer wiring board  329 . Glide point  336  spaces sliding articulator interrupter  337  from mirror  335 , and is the opposing force to central spring  338 . When optical beam  333  is not blocked mirror  335  reflects optical beam to detector  334 . It should be appreciated that those skilled in the art could substitute hall effect technology and get a similar result. In operation a finger or other object is placed on articulator interrupter  337  and slides articulator interrupter  337  in the direction of desired cursor movement, or by movement signatures input control signals to the host, or computer display. These movement signatures can be input through a mouse input port, or through a keyboard input port in the form of single characters or multiple character strings. When movement is made elastomer seal  328  is elongated in the direction of movement, and when released elastomer seal  328  centralizes articulator interrupter  336  over the ring of emitter  332  and detector  334  pairs. If the application does not require articulator interrupter  337  to be sealed it can be centralized by central spring  338  being installed over upper tab  330  and lower tab  331  of lower cover  327 . Lower cover  327  is the opposing force to a vandals blow so it will not contact emitter  332  or detector  334 .  
         [0089]    [0089]FIG. 25 shows articulator interrupter  336  in a second position allowing the reflected optical beam  333  to be received by detector  334 . In operation to do a right click a user would slide articulator interrupter  337  in the 270 degree direction and then slide it back to the central zone in the time frame necessary to match the movement signature of a right click, and a right click would be input to the host computer display. If the operator would slide articulator interrupter  337  slower then the cursor would move in the angular direction of articulator interrupter  337  was slid. Because slower would not meet the timing signature of a click.  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 26 shows a plan view of a sliding cursor positioning device with top surface  325  and sliding articulator interrupter  337 .  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 27 shows a plan view of a pivoting cursor positioning device with top surface  318 , pivoting stem articulator interrupter  310  and pivot mount  319 .  
         [0092]    While the invention has been described in terms of a single preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.