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US Patent 5298919 - Multi-dimensional input device
US Patent Issued on March 29, 1994
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
July 31, 2012Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
Estimated Patent Expiration Date:
July 31, 2012Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.AbstractAn input device for providing multi-dimensional spatial input data to a computer is disclosed. The device incorporates multiple independently operable locating members or input mechanisms, such as a roller ball for entry of two translational coordinates, a thumb wheel for entry of a third translational coordinate, and a trackball for entry of three rotational coordinates. The input mechanisms are also available for performing additional or alternative functions. The input mechanisms may be configured in several arrangements, while a single unified interface is presented to the host computer regardless of the configuration. In an additional embodiment, a seventh degree of freedom can be provided by sensing rotation of the housing containing the locating members.Other References
| InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 922804 filed on 07/31/1992US Classes:345/163, Mouse74/471XY, Control moves in two planes345/167TrackballField of Search74/471XYControl moves in two planesExaminersPrimary: Weldon, UlyssesAssistant: Goon, Gin Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References4562347, Input device featuring both trackball and mouse capabilityIssued on: 12/31/1985 Inventor: Hovey , et al.4578674, Method and apparatus for wireless cursor position control Issued on: 03/25/1986 Inventor: Baker , et al.4638199, Stator body with laminated compression plates Issued on: 01/20/1987 Inventor: Brem , et al.4685070, System and method for displaying, and interactively excavating and examining a three dimensional volume Issued on: 08/04/1987 Inventor: Flinchbaugh4692878, Three-dimensional spatial image system Issued on: 09/08/1987 Inventor: Ciongoli4719455, Integrating pointing device Issued on: 01/12/1988 Inventor: Louis4748441, Multiple function control member Issued on: 05/31/1988 Inventor: Brzezinski4763100, Joystick with additional degree of control Issued on: 08/09/1988 Inventor: Wood4763116, Input apparatus for design work on an image-bearing screen Issued on: 08/09/1988 Inventor: Eichholz4766423, Three-dimensional display apparatus Issued on: 08/23/1988 Inventor: Ono , et al.4782327, Computer control Issued on: 11/01/1988 Inventor: Kley , et al.4786892, X-Y direction input device having changeable orientation of input axes and switch activation Issued on: 11/22/1988 Inventor: Kubo , et al.4787051, Inertial mouse system Issued on: 11/22/1988 Inventor: Olson4791581, Method and apparatus of forming curved surfaces Issued on: 12/13/1988 Inventor: Ohba4796201, Stored program controlled system for creating and printing graphics bearing packaging Issued on: 01/03/1989 Inventor: Wake4812829, Three-dimensional display device and method for pointing displayed three-dimensional image Issued on: 03/14/1989 Inventor: Ebina , et al.4835528, Cursor control system Issued on: 05/30/1989 Inventor: Flinchbaugh4839838, Spatial input apparatus Issued on: 06/13/1989 Inventor: LaBiche , et al.4862152, Sonic positioning device Issued on: 08/29/1989 Inventor: Milner4875033, Graphics input apparatus Issued on: 10/17/1989 Inventor: Kato, et al.4885433, Position determining apparatus Issued on: 12/05/1989 Inventor: Schier4885702, Method of forming curved surfaces and the apparatus Issued on: 12/05/1989 Inventor: Ohba4886941, Circuit for interfacing mouse input device to computer system Issued on: 12/12/1989 Inventor: Davis, et al.4887230, Cursor display apparatus Issued on: 12/12/1989 Inventor: Noguchi, et al.4891632, Computer graphic drawing apparatus with coarse and fine controls Issued on: 01/02/1990 Inventor: Chang4901250, Graphic communication processing apparatus capable of chaining graphic information with a small number of processes Issued on: 02/13/1990 Inventor: Ishida4911527, Fiber optics input device Issued on: 03/27/1990 Inventor: Garcia, Jr., et al.4917516, Combination computer keyboard and mouse data entry system Issued on: 04/17/1990 Inventor: Retter4928093, Cursor control mechanism Issued on: 05/22/1990 Inventor: Rahman4939508, Point and select device Issued on: 07/03/1990 Inventor: Lawrence, et al.4952919, Trackball mechanism Issued on: 08/28/1990 Inventor: Nippoldt4961138, System and apparatus for providing three dimensions of input into a host processor Issued on: 10/02/1990 Inventor: Gorniak4962475, Method for generating a document utilizing a plurality of windows associated with different data objects Issued on: 10/09/1990 Inventor: Hernandez, et al.4977397, Touch-control computer house Issued on: 12/11/1990 Inventor: Kuo, et al.5008528, Invertible trackball Issued on: 04/16/1991 Inventor: Duchon5095302, Three dimensional mouse via finger ring or cavity Issued on: 03/10/1992 Inventor: McLean, et al.5095303, Six degree of freedom graphic object controller Issued on: 03/10/1992 Inventor: Clark, et al.5111005, Graphics tablet with N-dimensional capability Issued on: 05/05/1992 Inventor: Smith, et al.5167781Continuous plastics molding process and apparatus Issued on: 12/01/1992 Inventor: Kemerer, et al. Foreign Patent References
International ClassG06F 003/02 |
