Patent ReferencesPressure sensitive switch structure Cursor control Graphics pen for soft displays Cursor position controller for a display device Hand movement controller Cursor control system System and apparatus for providing three dimensions of input into a host processor Patent #: 4961138 InventorApplicationNo. 348062 filed on 05/05/1989US Classes:345/163, Mouse341/34, Pressure sensitive actuation345/169, Portable (i.e., handheld, calculator, remote controller)345/180Light pen for CRT displayExaminersPrimary: Oberley, Alvin E.Assistant: Hjerpe, Richard Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassG09G 005/00AbstractA hand controlled peripheral pointing device having an optional analog switch to permit the user to dynamically and continuously change the value of an attribute, for example, the width of a line or color saturation value, when the device is moved. Activation of the analog button or key permits the user to change an attribute value of graphical data input as desired depending on the depth of depression of the key. In the preferred embodiment, the device is a mouse having a numeric keypad placed thereon. This numeric key pad allows the user to directly enter data without moving the hand back and forth between the mouse and a computer key board. The numeric mouse is able to operate in two modes, including a conventional point and click mode and an analog mode. An alternate embodiment comprises a light pen having a finger actuated analog button disposed adjacent the writing tip of the pen. One manner of switching between modes (analog to click and vice versa) is program driven, i.e. depending on what item the mouse or light pen is pointing to, the activation of the key varies an attribute value or functions in the conventional "click" or keystroke manner.Other References
| |