A cursor controller with a handle which moves in X, Y directions has the handle cantilevered on a upper platform which slides on an intermediate platform in an X direction with the axis of the handle intersecting the effective center of X guide means. And then the intermediate platform slides on a Y guide on a lower fixed platform, all of the foregoing being captured by a top cover. The top cover has a slot through which the handle, which is cantilevered on a bracket fixed to the end of the top platform, extends. The controller can be mounted directly on a keyboard or with a specially shaped enclosure to be operated by one hand.
A cursor controller for use with a computer uses a single moving slider actuated by a handle for indicating X and Y movement by mounting a pair of planar screens each having parallel lines at right angles to each other. Two light sources and associated detectors are respectively arranged on either side of the respective pair of screens so that light pulses resulting from movement of the slider indicate the amount of movement to control the cursor on a computer screen. Each associated detector may be formed by a side-by-side pair of light detectors with intermediate fixed screens having displaced lines to provide a quadrature sine wave output. In effect the pair of screens float between the sources and the detectors to eliminate unnecessary wiring and create a simple robust device. A hand held unit may be constructed by wrapping the screens in a drum shape and placing them in a cylindrical tube where a handle operated by the finger of the user may either axially slide the drum containing the screens for one orthogonal direction or rotate the drum around the axis for the other orthogonal direction.
A pointing device makes groping manipulation possible with a single finger and comprises a stick, a vector detection mechanism placed away from the stick by a predetermined distance so as to turn around the longitudinal axis of the stick, for outputting a signal corresponding to a force vector of a force applied by the stick when the stick contacts with the mechanism, and a detector for detecting a force applied in the longitudinal direction of the stick. In response to a signal output from the vector detection mechanism, it is judged whether an evaluation value of the force vector satisfies a predetermined condition. When the evaluation value of the force vector satisfies the predetermined condition, execution of a first kind of manipulation according to the evaluation value is instructed. When the evaluation value does not satisfy the predetermined condition, execution of a second kind of manipulation is instructed.
A pointing device includes a single control element to provide a user with absolute coordinate information and to enable user control of a computer cursor and emulation of mouse clicks. User movement of the single control element in an (x-y) plane preferably moves an optically reflective surface relative to an optical sensor system stationary within the device housing, such movement precluding rotation relative to the (x-y) plane. Mouse clicking may be emulated by moving the single control element up or down and/or by tilting relative to the (x-y) plane. Alternatively mouse clicking may be emulated by user activation of left and right sensor type switches or sensors. The device may be used by handicapped persons who can control cursor movement and mouse clicking using the single control element.
A pointer control device includes a housing and a keypad mounted on the housing. A movable guide member extends over the keypad. The movable guide member is operable for being moved over different locations of the keypad. The movable guide member causes a direction control signal to be generated to control a display screen pointer. A pointer control mechanism is positioned along on the movable guide member. The pointer control mechanism is movable along the movable guide member and movement of the pointer control mechanism provides a direction control for the display screen pointer. The housing unit may be a remote control unit with a set of function keys operable to select one of a plurality of modes of operation of a computer system. The function keys may be operable to select a television mode, network communication mode or a video cassette recorder mode. The keypad over which the pointer control mechanism move may be a typewriter style keypad on the remote control. Alternatively, the keypad be part of a computer keyboard.
A single control element device provides a user with absolute coordinate information and enables user control of a computer cursor and emulation of mouse clicks. The single control element is user-moved relative to a surface having a dynamic coefficient of friction that reduces false double-clicks. The device may be used by handicapped persons and emulates left mouse clicking and double clicking by recognizing downward force of the single control element into the surface, and recognizes upward movement of the single control element away from the surface as a right mouse click.
