US20010010515A1 - Ergonomic computer mouse - Google Patents
Ergonomic computer mouse Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20010010515A1 US20010010515A1 US09/809,571 US80957101A US2001010515A1 US 20010010515 A1 US20010010515 A1 US 20010010515A1 US 80957101 A US80957101 A US 80957101A US 2001010515 A1 US2001010515 A1 US 2001010515A1
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- Prior art keywords
- mouse
- work surface
- thumb
- user
- computer mouse
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 32
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 8
- 210000004932 little finger Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 abstract description 3
- 210000000707 wrist Anatomy 0.000 description 3
- 208000012514 Cumulative Trauma disease Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 206010038584 Repetitive strain injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000344 soap Substances 0.000 description 1
- 208000011580 syndromic disease Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 210000002435 tendon Anatomy 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
- G06F3/03543—Mice or pucks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
- G06F2203/033—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033
- G06F2203/0335—Finger operated miniaturized mouse
Definitions
- the present Application concerns a computer mouse whose preferred internal mechanism for sensing motion is an optical technique described by previously filed U.S. Patent Applications assigned to Hewlett-Packard Co. While such optical sensing of motion is perhaps not essential, it certainly is the case that the conventional mechanism of a rubber coated steel ball coupled to encoders is simply physically too large to easily fit into a mouse of the relatively small size contemplated by this application. A technique requiring less space is desirable. Other advantages accrue as well, such as absence of the need for a mouse pad, etc. For these reasons the following U.S. Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference: “SEEING EYE” MOUSE FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM, Ser. No. 09/052,046, filed on Mar.
- RSI Repetitive Strain Injury Syndrome
- RSI is a well documented and recognized medical condition, and RSI from using a conventional computer mouse is understood to affect a significant percentage of the workforce that uses computers. See, for example the book entitled Repetitive Strain Injury A Computer User's Guide by Emil Paccarelli, M.D., and Deborah Quilter (ISBN 0-471-59533-0, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1994) On page 167 they lay the blame for many serious cases of RSI on the use of a computer mouse. We shall term such injuries (and they are nothing less than genuine injuries) “mouse RSI”.
- mouse RSI the primary cause of mouse RSI is the unnatural inwardly rolled position of the hand (palm parallel to the desk top) required by the shape of a conventional mouse and the location of the buttons, or finger actuated controls, thereon.
- a more neutral position is one where the palm of the hand and wrist are 45° to 90° less twisted.
- the conventional “bar of soap” mouse with its side-by-side horizontally aligned keys, forces an extreme unnatural position of the hand.
- An ergonomic mouse that alleviates mouse RSI is obtained by gripping the mouse with a pinching action between the thumb and opposing fingers while the mouse is in the U-shaped opening formed in the hand when in a neutral and unflexed condition with the little finger and the heel of the palm opposite the thumb resting upon a work surface.
- the mouse has two gripping surfaces; one receives the thumb and the other the opposing fingers. Indentations in the gripping surfaces help locate the fingertips.
- Mouse buttons are located in the indentations.
- the gripping surfaces are inclined toward each other, so that the pinching action to actuate the mouse buttons produces a slight downward force toward a base surface that rests upon and slides over the work surface. This acts to provide stability as the mouse buttons are pressed.
- the third and the fourth (little) finger may be allowed to drag on the work surface to provide tactile feedback and assist in fine positioning.
- the mouse utilizes an optical motion sensing technique instead of the conventional rubber coated steel ball.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right hand holding an ergonomic mouse constructed in accordance with the invention
- FIG. 2 is a right side view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a left side view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is a front end view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 5 is a top view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 1 wherein is shown a perspective view of a right human hand 2 holding an ergonomic computer mouse 1 .
- the mouse 1 is corded; that is, it has a strain relief 8 and an electrical cable 7 that is connected at a distant end to a computer (not shown). It will be appreciated that a wireless version of the mouse 1 falls within the scope of the present disclosure.
- the thumb 3 grips one side of the mouse 1
- the mouse 1 is resting on a work surface, such as a desk top.
- the right edge of the palm of hand 2 is also resting on that work surface, as is at least the last joint of the little finger 9 .
- ergonomic mouse 1 is small, being intended to fit within the unflexed U-shaped opening formed between a neutrally positioned thumb 3 and opposing index finger 4 and middle finger 5 .
- Some representative dimensions of the ergonomic mouse 1 will be given in conjunction with other figures. In a typical adult this U-shaped opening is generally about one and a half inches across.
- the tip of thumb 3 is resting in an indentation that is not easily depicted in FIG. 1.
- the tip of third finger 6 is resting in an indentation.
- the tips of fingers 4 and 5 rest in indentations that also contain push buttons or electrical switches that can be activated by pressure from those fingers.
- the ergonomic mouse 1 is a right handed version for use by the right hand. It is equally clear that the ergonomic mouse 1 could also be produced as a left handed version for use by the left hand.
- FIG. 2 is a right side view of the mouse 1 .
- the particular mouse 1 shown is a two button mouse, but it will be readily appreciated that it might as well be a single button or a three button mouse.
- the two mouse buttons (keys, or electrical switches) shown are denoted by reference numerals 13 and 14 , and are located in respective slight concavities 10 and 111 which serve to locate and register the tips of the user's index and middle fingers, respectively. Note also the additional concavity, or depression, 12 , which does the same for the user's third finger.
- This concavity 12 assists in allowing the user's little finger 9 to drag across the work surface, which in turn is useful as a point of applied force (or simply as a point of contact forjudging the degree of force being applied and any resulting movement) during fine positioning of the mouse 1 . If there were a third mouse button it could either be located in concavity 12 , or in concavity 18 for the opposing thumb, shown in FIG. 3.
- mouse key 13 Note also the vertical separation of mouse key 13 above mouse key 14 by approximately 3 ⁇ 4 inch. This matches the natural separation between the index and middle fingers, so there is no need to move a finger through any, let alone a large, angular displacement. Finally, note the approximately 1 ⁇ 4 inch horizontal displacement between mouse buttons 13 and 14 . This accommodates the fact that the middle finger is longer than the index finger.
- FIG. 3 is a left side view of the mouse 1 . Visible here are the indentation or concavity 18 that receives and locates the user's thumb, and a line 17 that also represents a change in surface angle (see FIG. 4).
- FIG. 4 is a front end view of the mouse 1 , it can readily be seen that the width of the mouse 1 is rather small as a mouse goes: only about 11 ⁇ 2 inches.
- the surfaces 21 and 22 are the regions of the right side view of FIG. 2 that are separated by lines 15 and 16 . Each such region forms an angle with the base surface 23 . In a preferred embodiment these angles are about 50° for surface 24 and about 70° for surface 22 . Either angle could be different, however, and their range is preferably 30° to 90°, and most preferably 40° to 80°.
- FIG. 5 is a top view of the mouse 1
- FIG. 6 is a rear end view. In view of the foregoing discussion, these views are believed to be self-explanatory.
- FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the mouse 1 .
- Items 20 are optional low friction glides.
- Aperture 19 represents the location of what is preferably an optical motion sensing apparatus of the sort described in the incorporated Patents, although it must be scholared that other motion sensing mechanisms could be employed.
- mouse 1 is indeed an ergonomic mouse that alleviates mouse RSI, since its use allows the user's hand to rest in a natural position with the palm and wrist much less twisted than with a conventional mouse.
- the user's fingers are not required to extend into any contorted shapes, since the mouse fits naturally into the U-shaped region between the unflexed thumb and fingers of a hand resting comfortably upon a work surface.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present Application concerns a computer mouse whose preferred internal mechanism for sensing motion is an optical technique described by previously filed U.S. Patent Applications assigned to Hewlett-Packard Co. While such optical sensing of motion is perhaps not essential, it certainly is the case that the conventional mechanism of a rubber coated steel ball coupled to encoders is simply physically too large to easily fit into a mouse of the relatively small size contemplated by this application. A technique requiring less space is desirable. Other advantages accrue as well, such as absence of the need for a mouse pad, etc. For these reasons the following U.S. Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference: “SEEING EYE” MOUSE FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM, Ser. No. 09/052,046, filed on Mar. 30, 1998 by Gary B. Gordon. That Application in turn incorporates two issued U.S. Pat. No. (5,578,813 and 5,644,139) and a U.S. Application (Ser. No. 08/540,335), each of which are thus by implication also incorporated herein by reference.
- For many computer users the conventional mouse is an invitation to experience Repetitive Strain Injury Syndrome, or RSI. RSI is a well documented and recognized medical condition, and RSI from using a conventional computer mouse is understood to affect a significant percentage of the workforce that uses computers. See, for example the book entitled Repetitive Strain Injury A Computer User's Guide by Emil Paccarelli, M.D., and Deborah Quilter (ISBN 0-471-59533-0, John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1994) On page 167 they lay the blame for many serious cases of RSI on the use of a computer mouse. We shall term such injuries (and they are nothing less than genuine injuries) “mouse RSI”.
- In simple terms, the primary cause of mouse RSI is the unnatural inwardly rolled position of the hand (palm parallel to the desk top) required by the shape of a conventional mouse and the location of the buttons, or finger actuated controls, thereon. A more neutral position is one where the palm of the hand and wrist are 45° to 90° less twisted. Continued unnatural twisting causes the tendons to assume contorted paths and subsequently chafe in their sheaths. The conventional “bar of soap” mouse, with its side-by-side horizontally aligned keys, forces an extreme unnatural position of the hand.
- This problem has not gone unrecognized by mouse designers and manufacturers. There are a number of mouse products that have been brought to market that have attempted to alleviate mouse RSI. There have been pistol grip designs. These do not require an unnatural hand position, but are notorious for lack of ease in fine positioning of the screen pointer, owing to the fact that both wrist and arm motions are needed, rather than allowing the heel of the palm to anchor fine motions of the fingers. Track balls tend to require the same or nearly the same amount of unnatural twisting as does a conventional mouse. A stylus for a tablet is generally easily and naturally held, but is inefficient to lay down and pick up again. Also, buttons or keys located on a stylus are usually not convenient to actuate.
- Accordingly, it would be highly desirable if there were a computer pointing device that matches the conventional computer mouse in functionality (ease of fine positioning, free standing, etc.), but that is gripped in a more natural and in a less or non-damaging way, so as to reduce or eliminate any mouse RSI associated with its use.
- An ergonomic mouse that alleviates mouse RSI is obtained by gripping the mouse with a pinching action between the thumb and opposing fingers while the mouse is in the U-shaped opening formed in the hand when in a neutral and unflexed condition with the little finger and the heel of the palm opposite the thumb resting upon a work surface. The mouse has two gripping surfaces; one receives the thumb and the other the opposing fingers. Indentations in the gripping surfaces help locate the fingertips. Mouse buttons are located in the indentations. The gripping surfaces are inclined toward each other, so that the pinching action to actuate the mouse buttons produces a slight downward force toward a base surface that rests upon and slides over the work surface. This acts to provide stability as the mouse buttons are pressed. The third and the fourth (little) finger may be allowed to drag on the work surface to provide tactile feedback and assist in fine positioning. Preferably, the mouse utilizes an optical motion sensing technique instead of the conventional rubber coated steel ball.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a right hand holding an ergonomic mouse constructed in accordance with the invention;
- FIG. 2 is a right side view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a left side view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is a front end view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 5 is a top view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1; and
- FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the ergonomic mouse of FIG. 1.
- Refer now to FIG. 1, wherein is shown a perspective view of a right
human hand 2 holding anergonomic computer mouse 1. In this particular instance themouse 1 is corded; that is, it has astrain relief 8 and anelectrical cable 7 that is connected at a distant end to a computer (not shown). It will be appreciated that a wireless version of themouse 1 falls within the scope of the present disclosure. - To continue, note that the thumb3 grips one side of the
mouse 1, while theindex finger 4, middle =finger 5 andthird finger 6 grip themouse 1 from an opposing side. Although it is not explicitly depicted in the figure, themouse 1 is resting on a work surface, such as a desk top. The right edge of the palm ofhand 2 is also resting on that work surface, as is at least the last joint of thelittle finger 9. - Compared to a conventional computer mouse,
ergonomic mouse 1 is small, being intended to fit within the unflexed U-shaped opening formed between a neutrally positioned thumb 3 and opposingindex finger 4 andmiddle finger 5. Some representative dimensions of theergonomic mouse 1 will be given in conjunction with other figures. In a typical adult this U-shaped opening is generally about one and a half inches across. - As will be understood from an appreciation of subsequent figures, the tip of thumb3 is resting in an indentation that is not easily depicted in FIG. 1. Likewise, the tip of
third finger 6 is resting in an indentation. The tips offingers - It is clear from the foregoing that the
ergonomic mouse 1 is a right handed version for use by the right hand. It is equally clear that theergonomic mouse 1 could also be produced as a left handed version for use by the left hand. - Refer now to FIG. 2, which is a right side view of the
mouse 1. Theparticular mouse 1 shown is a two button mouse, but it will be readily appreciated that it might as well be a single button or a three button mouse. The two mouse buttons (keys, or electrical switches) shown are denoted byreference numerals slight concavities 10 and 111 which serve to locate and register the tips of the user's index and middle fingers, respectively. Note also the additional concavity, or depression, 12, which does the same for the user's third finger. Thisconcavity 12 assists in allowing the user'slittle finger 9 to drag across the work surface, which in turn is useful as a point of applied force (or simply as a point of contact forjudging the degree of force being applied and any resulting movement) during fine positioning of themouse 1. If there were a third mouse button it could either be located inconcavity 12, or inconcavity 18 for the opposing thumb, shown in FIG. 3. - Note the dimensions shown: 2{fraction (1/16)} inches in length and 1⅞ inches in height. This is a small mouse!
- Note also the vertical separation of
mouse key 13 abovemouse key 14 by approximately ¾ inch. This matches the natural separation between the index and middle fingers, so there is no need to move a finger through any, let alone a large, angular displacement. Finally, note the approximately ¼ inch horizontal displacement betweenmouse buttons - From a brief reference to FIG. 4 it can be seen that the right side of the
mouse 1 depicted in FIG. 2 may be inclined at different angles to the base of the mouse.Lines - Refer now to FIG. 3, which is a left side view of the
mouse 1. Visible here are the indentation orconcavity 18 that receives and locates the user's thumb, and aline 17 that also represents a change in surface angle (see FIG. 4). - Turning now to FIG. 4, which is a front end view of the
mouse 1, it can readily be seen that the width of themouse 1 is rather small as a mouse goes: only about 1½ inches. Note thesurfaces lines base surface 23. In a preferred embodiment these angles are about 50° forsurface 24 and about 70° forsurface 22. Either angle could be different, however, and their range is preferably 30° to 90°, and most preferably 40° to 80°. - Note
arrows mouse buttons base surface 23, although in our example they are each inclined toward it. These lines of action cooperate with a line ofcounter action 26 applied by the user's thumb as it resists a pinching action by one or more of the fingers to actuate a mouse button on the right side. The force represented byline 26 may become further inclined toward thebase surface 23 if the user applies a sideways component of force into theindentation 18 for the thumb. If there were a mouse button located in theconcavity 18 then the force represented byline 26 would be more than a simple counter force resisting forces from the right, and would involve actual movement of the thumb. - In any event, it will be appreciated that a pinching action is involved between the thumb and one or more of the fingers in order to actuate a mouse button. In addition to actuating the mouse button(s) this produces a slight resultant downward force toward the
base surface 23, which in addition to the dragging little finger 9 (and possibly also the thumb and third finger), helps anchor themouse 1 against undesired movement during such actuation. - FIG. 5 is a top view of the
mouse 1, while FIG. 6 is a rear end view. In view of the foregoing discussion, these views are believed to be self-explanatory. - Finally, FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the
mouse 1.Items 20 are optional low friction glides.Aperture 19 represents the location of what is preferably an optical motion sensing apparatus of the sort described in the incorporated Patents, although it must be confessed that other motion sensing mechanisms could be employed. - In conclusion, then, from an understanding of the foregoing it will be appreciated that
mouse 1 is indeed an ergonomic mouse that alleviates mouse RSI, since its use allows the user's hand to rest in a natural position with the palm and wrist much less twisted than with a conventional mouse. The user's fingers are not required to extend into any contorted shapes, since the mouse fits naturally into the U-shaped region between the unflexed thumb and fingers of a hand resting comfortably upon a work surface.
Claims (9)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US09/809,571 US6396479B2 (en) | 1998-07-31 | 2001-03-14 | Ergonomic computer mouse |
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US12722598A | 1998-07-31 | 1998-07-31 | |
US09/809,571 US6396479B2 (en) | 1998-07-31 | 2001-03-14 | Ergonomic computer mouse |
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US5894302A (en) * | 1995-08-28 | 1999-04-13 | Contour Design, Inc. | Ergonomic housing for a computer mouse |
US5880715A (en) * | 1997-04-17 | 1999-03-09 | Garrett; Michael David | Pyramidally-shaped computer mouse |
US6072471A (en) * | 1997-09-17 | 2000-06-06 | Lo; Jack | Ambidextrous upright computer mouse |
-
2001
- 2001-03-14 US US09/809,571 patent/US6396479B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US6954198B2 (en) | 2002-05-02 | 2005-10-11 | Hung-Ying Shih | Ergonomically shaped computer pointing device |
WO2006024063A2 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2006-03-09 | Ig El Ingenieur Gemeinschaft | Computer mouse |
WO2006024063A3 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2006-06-15 | Ig El Ingenieur Gemeinschaft | Computer mouse |
JP2008511939A (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2008-04-17 | シユテフアン クリヒバウム, | Computer mouse |
US20080094359A1 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2008-04-24 | Stefan Krichbaum | Computer Mouse |
JP2008529153A (en) * | 2005-01-30 | 2008-07-31 | シムトリックス リミテッド | Computer mouse peripherals |
US20080259026A1 (en) * | 2007-04-20 | 2008-10-23 | Leonid Zeldin | Ergonomic cursor control device that does not assume any specific posture of hand and fingers |
WO2018002734A1 (en) * | 2016-06-27 | 2018-01-04 | Ampollini Michele | Computer mouse |
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US6396479B2 (en) | 2002-05-28 |
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