CN1322988A - Human engineering tracing-ball apparatus - Google Patents

Human engineering tracing-ball apparatus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CN1322988A
CN1322988A CN01103696A CN01103696A CN1322988A CN 1322988 A CN1322988 A CN 1322988A CN 01103696 A CN01103696 A CN 01103696A CN 01103696 A CN01103696 A CN 01103696A CN 1322988 A CN1322988 A CN 1322988A
Authority
CN
China
Prior art keywords
finger
described device
thumb
tracking ball
palm
Prior art date
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.)
Granted
Application number
CN01103696A
Other languages
Chinese (zh)
Other versions
CN1275129C (en
Inventor
彼得·希恩
卡塔尔·洛克南
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Logitech Europe SA
Original Assignee
Logitech Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US29/118,496 external-priority patent/USD448380S1/en
Priority claimed from US09/510,091 external-priority patent/US6292175B1/en
Application filed by Logitech Inc filed Critical Logitech Inc
Publication of CN1322988A publication Critical patent/CN1322988A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CN1275129C publication Critical patent/CN1275129C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Landscapes

  • Prostheses (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Abstract

A pointing device, comprises a upper surface which comprises a phalange (MP) arthrosis, the second finger metacarpal bone can placepalm region and the third finger metacarpal bone, the crown of the phalange arthrosis; a frontal area of the second and fouth finger extending down and forward from the crown; and a back area of the hypothenar area can place hands and extending down and backwards from the crown. The casing also comprises a inferior fovea medial surface and a trackball which comes out from the medial surface in part, and a lateral surface which can place the fifth finger. The medial surface has a flange which can place a thumb in the left side below the trackball.

Description

Human engineering tracing-ball apparatus
The application submits 9 days commonly assigned February in 2000, and exercise question is the right of the U.S. Patent application (attorney docket is 009623-023700) of " human engineering tracing-ball " and the part continuation application of interests.
The present invention relates generally to indicator device, particularly the ergonomics indicator device.
The indicator device of computer tracking ball device and so on is commonly used to for example control the motion of cursor on computer screen.When using indicator device, usually highly repeat the action of hand and finger and position.Use indicator device, especially when moving and/or position when stiff and nervous, can cause repetition tonicity disease.Therefore require the shape of indicator device to be unlikely the wrist, hand and the finger that force the user and take stiff and nervous position and/or action.
The design of existing indicator device meets the ergonomics requirement.This assignee's U.S. design patent No.411,837 show the guiding arm away from direction under the palm omnidirectional.
The U.S. Patent No. 4,862,165 of Gart discloses a kind of mouse, and this mouse has an arch metacarpal bone-phalanges supporting surface and that supports the front surface of hand to support the recessed thenar portion supporting surface of the thenar portion of hand.
People's such as Goldstein U.S. Patent No. 5,726,683 discloses a kind of mouse, and this mouse has a upper surface, a right flank and a left surface vertically upward.This upper surface is 15-30 ° in the past backward, is 20-30 ° negative slope from left to right, and its front portion is used for supporting phalanges.This upper surface comprises that one stretches, is positioned in the past the peak and a surface of operator's thenar portion protuberance below, support thenar portion protuberance backward, and the operator can promote mouse by this surface with its thenar portion protuberance.
The U.S. Patent No. 5,576,733 of Lo discloses a kind of mouse, this mouse have all fingers of one one upright hand support to a straight position and a upright heap upright, point main supporting surface.The another side of this mouse has the thumb supporting surface of a thumb support.
People's such as Scenna U.S. Patent No. 5,894,302 discloses a kind of mouse, and this mouse comprises a upper surface, and a protuberance that supports by the trigonum of thenar region, hypothenar region and metacarpal bone-hand that the finger joint style lower zone surrounds is arranged on this upper surface.The afterbody of this upper surface has a riser portions that is positioned at user's the thenar of hand and hypothenar convergent portion below, bears the pressure of this convergent portion.The finger button of mouse front portion is higher than this protuberance.
People's such as Kaneko U.S. Patent No. 5,414,445 discloses a kind of mouse, and this mouse comprises a upper surface, and the protuberance of a support metacarpal bone-finger joint style is arranged on this upper surface.Hand is on mouse the time, and wrist is resisted against on the workplace at mouse place.
The present invention makes improvements existing indicator device with the unique combination and various newly the having a shave of each feature, improves the comfort of indicator device.For this reason, the invention provides a kind of indicator device, this indicator device prevents that when supporting user's hand the wrist of hand and finger and joint are in extreme posture position, for example wrist stretches, under the palm omnidirectional of hand, the interior receipts or the abduction of thumb.The shape of this device also makes the canalis carpi pressure reduce, reduces contact pressure on the wrist sensitizing range by wrist being lifted to workplace top.Therefore, this indicator device in use makes the attitude of going smoothly with wrist more loosen, reduce the static load of muscle and alleviate tensity.
According to one aspect of the present invention, one uses at the indicator device on the workplace and comprises that one can place the bottom surface on this workplace and the sensing parts of at least one finger control.In one embodiment, this indicator device is a computer tracking ball device.
This device comprises a upper surface, and metacarpal bone-phalanges (MP) joint and the Guan Ding of at least a portion in the MP joint of the 3rd finger preferably of second finger in the palm district of a contact user palm arranged on this upper surface.The remainder height of the aspect ratio upper surface of this relative bottom surface of Guan Ding.Because one of multinomial repetitive operation needs to use the second and/or the 3rd finger to press the button when using this device, and this relates to main MP joint motions around these fingers, so this Guan Ding advantageously provides from these MP joints to the main support of wrist.
This upper surface stretches and forms a proparea, stretches and form a back zone and stretch and form an outskirt to the MP joint of export-oriented the 4th and the 5th finger downwards to user's wrist backward downwards to the finger tip of forward direction second and the 3rd finger downwards from Guan Ding.One transverse uplift outwards stretches from Guan Ding, the MP joint of the 4th and the 5th finger in contact palm district (part that may also have the 3rd finger MP joint).This transverse uplift is downward-sloping from the hat top, makes hand away from direction under the palm omnidirectional.The hypothenar region of hand is supported in this back zone.
Guan Ding is preferably relative with the back zone, and the bottom surface is enough high, and wrist is remained on workplace top, makes wrist be positioned at nearly neutral position and seldom stretches or do not stretch, and reduces by the contact pressure on the wrist sensitizing range of causing with the workplace Long contact time.
The back zone recedes downwards with enough big curvature, avoiding contacting the canalis carpi district of palm, thereby reduces the pressure on the canalis carpi.For example the general structure in back zone makes middle part and the close end at least of avoiding contacting canalis carpi, but can contact the distal portion of canalis carpi.In one embodiment, the curvature that forwards makes progress greater than the proparea of the curvature on the backward directions of back zone.
The back zone comprises one " Yuji point (thenar void) ", avoiding supporting thenar region, and the relative point device free movement thereby thumb can be suspended in down on the thumb neutral position.This has eliminated pressure and load on the thenar region that is caused by the thenar support in the existing mouse apparatus.
This housing comprises that a medial surface and its part expose this medial surface with the tracking ball in the face of thumb.This medial surface is desirably generally recessed with the zone of tracking ball adjacency.This medial surface have in the tracking ball lower left one inwardly the flange of configuration be used for the distal phalanx of thumb support.
Guan Ding and back zone are preferably enough high, so that the distal phalanx of thumb is resisted against on this flange or the workplace, on the rest position between interior receipts and the abduction extreme position.In one embodiment, the about halfway of thumb between interior receipts and abduction.
The proparea can comprise the button of placing the second and the 3rd finger thereon.Button preferably aligns with the phalanges of the second and the 3rd finger respectively, and like this, each finger can be pushed downwards and action button and move not stiff or nervous (receipts or abduction promptly) effectively at neutral position basically.
Brief description of drawings
Fig. 1 is the skeleton view of a Trackball device of one embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is the vertical view of Fig. 1 Trackball device;
Fig. 3 is the front elevation of Fig. 1 Trackball device;
Fig. 4 is the right view of Fig. 1 Trackball device;
Fig. 5 is the left view of Fig. 1 Trackball device;
Fig. 6 is the rear view of Fig. 1 Trackball device;
Fig. 7 is the upward view of Fig. 1 Trackball device;
Fig. 8 illustrates the palm and the synoptic diagram of proficiency in each district on every side.
Fig. 1-7 illustrates a housing of Trackball device 10 with sensing parts of at least one finger control.This device 10 comprises an asymmetric upper surface 12 and a normally flat bottom surface 14 of operating on a smooth workplace.The one preferably circular hat top 16 that is used for contacting the palm district of user's palm is arranged on the upper surface 12.The remainder height of the aspect ratio upper surface 12 of 16 relative bottom surfaces 14, hat top.Trackball device 10 structures of Fig. 1-7 make and are suitable for making right-handed user to use, but should point out, the also available principle of the invention can be used to structure and make to be suitable for the Trackball device (for example mirror image of this embodiment) that sinistral user uses.
Fig. 8 illustrates a right hand 20, comprises first finger or thumb 21, second finger 22, the 3rd finger the 23, the 4th finger the 24 and the 5th finger 25.Each finger in second to the 5th finger has three phalanges, i.e. distal phalanx 26, middle part phalanges 27 and proximal phalanx 28.Thumb 21 comprises a distal phalanx 26 and a proximal phalanx 28.Metacarpal bone and carpal bone extend between five finger 21-25 and the wrist 30.The MP joint of finger 21-25 is between proximal phalanx 26 and the corresponding metacarpal bone of finger 21-25.Fig. 8 illustrates a contact region 32 of the tight below, MP joint that generally is positioned at the second and the 3rd finger 22,23.Preferably, contact region 32 is positioned at the tight below of the part in the MP joint of second finger 22 and the 3rd finger 23 MP joint.The hat of Trackball device 10 top 16 is used for contacting and support the contact region 32 of user's hand 20 among Fig. 1-7.Therefore, hat top 16 asymmetricly inwardly is positioned at device 10 upper surfaces 12 left sides.
As shown in Figure 8, thumb 21 bottoms are thenar region 34, and the another side of palm is a hypothenar region 35.Canalis carpi 36 is between thenar region 34 and hypothenar region 35.
Shown in Fig. 1-7, upper surface 12 tilts to a proparea 40 downwards forward from being preced with top 16, and this proparea is used for supporting the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 and preferably also has the 4th to point 24 distal portion.Upper surface 12 tilts towards the back zone 42 of wrist 30 to one downwards backward from hat top 16.Upper surface 12 16 outwards tilts to the outskirt 46 in MP joint of the 4th and the 5th finger 24,25 on hand 20 the right downwards from hat top.Because circular crown top 16 tilts to bottom surface 14 downwards on all directions of afore mentioned rules, so hand 20 can more pivot and deflection on the neutral position, and away from extreme posture position, the static load on hand 20 each joint reduces as a result.The superficial makings that prevents that hand from sliding can be arranged on the upper surface 12.
Shown in Fig. 1,2 and 4, the transverse uplift 47 of outskirt 46 is outwards stretched in the profile formation one between proparea 40 and the back zone 42 from hat top 16.From Fig. 4, can see the most clearly, a succession of arch 49 expressions between profile available apparatus 10 front portions of outskirt 46 and the rear portion on this direction.Transverse uplift 47 regions cover the summit of each arch 49.
Hat top 16 is as the main supports of hand 20, bears most surfaces pressure on operating control 10 during the sensing parts of each finger control.Hat top 16 is at the contact region 32 upper support hands 20 at least a portion place in the MP joint of the MP joint of second finger 22 and the 3rd finger 23.The MP joint of the 4th and the 5th finger 24,25 (part that may also have the MP joint of the 3rd finger 23) is placed on from hat top 16 outwards to be stretched on the transverse uplift 47 of outskirt 46.Transverse uplift 47 is not positioned at from left to right on the direction as the crow flies, but its outside is consistent with the shape with hand 20 to back zone 42 bendings.
Because one of a plurality of common repetitive operation relate to second and/the three finger, 22,23 buttons of firmly for example pressing in the proparea 40 during operative installations 10, therefore contact region 32 is supported on and is preced with that to push up on 16 be favourable at least a portion place in the MP joint of the MP joint of second finger 22 and the 3rd finger 23.The great majority action of these fingers 22,23 is carried out around the MP joint.Hat top 16 provides from these MP joints to the main support of wrist 30.The shape on hat top 16 preferably can support more roomy contact region 32 shown in Figure 8, to obtain support and load distribution uniformly.Hat top 16 is the relatively flat district of upper surface 12, can be by defining from the angle of the relative bottom surface of AP, summit.For example, as shown in Figure 3, hat top 16 can be one around summit AP, the angle φ of bottom surface 14 is less than about 10-25 ° zone relatively.Width W generally is about the 1.25-2 inch.
In addition, transverse uplift 47 is used for supporting the MP joint (part that may also have the MP joint of the 3rd finger 23) of the 4th and the 5th finger 24,25.Device 10 is firmly caught in the MP joint of the available the 4th and the 5th finger 24,25.Support hand 20 by the MP joint at finger 22-25, hat top 16 and protuberance 47 static loads that reduce on hand 20 each joint are worked finger 22-25 more neutrally.
As shown in Figure 5,16 preferably relative bottom surfaces 14 with back zone 42, the hat of upper surface 12 top are enough high, user's wrist 30 is remained on the workplace top at 14 places, bottom surface.For example, the maximum height on hat top 16 is at least about 1.25 inches, is preferably about 1.5-2.25 inch.Support the 16 downward slopes from the hat top of second to the 5th finger 22-25 in proparea 40 and outskirt 46, the raising of wrist 30 makes wrist be positioned on the nearly neutral position and seldom or do not have wrist to stretch, thereby the static load at wrist 30 places reduces.Wrist 30 is lifted to can prevent wrist 30 on the workplace the sensitizing range because of being under pressure and load with the workplace Long contact time.It also can limit wrist 30 about action, use better that forearm muscle is held, operating control 10.This also can reduce the tensity of wrist 30.In a preferred embodiment, when hand 20 usefulness contact regions 32 were resisted against on the hat top 16, no matter what angle forearm becomes with workplace, wrist 30 was lifted to the workplace top.
Shown in Figure 4 and 5, upper surface 12 stretches to proparea 40 downwards with easy grade gentle slope from hat top 16, ends at the leading edge 48 on 14 sides, bottom surface.Because the gradient in the proparea 40 of upper surface 12 is mild and wrist 30 is raised by hat top 16 and back zone 42, therefore at least the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 and preferably also have the MP joint of the 4th and the 5th finger 24,25 to support hand 20 with relative smaller angle.For example, as shown in Figure 5, the angle θ of MP joint is approximate identical between the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 metacarpal bone and proximal phalanx, and the MP bending generally is about 10-50 °.In certain embodiments, angle θ is about 20-40 °.In the embodiment shown in fig. 5, Trackball device 10 handles support to for example metacarpal bone and bottom surface 14 almost parallels of the second and the 3rd finger 22,23, and angle θ is decided by zone and bottom surface 14 angulations of device 10 upper surfaces 12 in 16 the place aheads, hat top.
Because the angle of MP joint of finger 22-25 is mild, therefore point the full stretching, extension (being straight position) that 22-25 avoids the MP joint or the extreme position of extreme crooked (the fist position of promptly holding with a firm grip), thereby hand 20 loosens in the attitude of MP joint.This is desired and since with the second and/or the 3rd finger 22,23 around the MP joint control button and point 22-25 with some or all and hold Trackball device 10 repeatedly.
Proparea 40 make the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 sagging rather than be suspended in aerial to descending slope with attitude more neutral and that loosen.This attitude can reduce the tensity of muscle.
In the embodiment shown, the ratio of curvature proparea 40 of back zone 42 backward directions forwards to curvature big, therefore shown in outline line among Fig. 5 45, upper surface 12 to descending slope in back zone 42 than in proparea 40 suddenly.Back zone 42 is preferably in the curvature enough big (promptly enough steep to descending slope) on the backward directions, to avoid contacting user's canalis carpi 36.This is avoided canalis carpi 36 pressure boosts, thereby reduces the pressure on the canalis carpi.Be noted that avoiding contacting canalis carpi 36 required curvature is decided by distance between the size of hand 20, particularly contact region 32 and the canalis carpi 36.The hand certain for size or magnitude range is certain, back zone 42 structures make has enough curvature, to avoid contacting canalis carpi 36.
The hat top 16 of upper surface 12 preferably is supported on relative bottom surface 14, the MP joint of second finger 22 than on the high slightly height in the MP joint of the 3rd finger 23.In an alternative embodiment, also can be on sustained height the MP joint support of the second and the 3rd finger 22,23.Because the transverse uplift 47 in the MP joint of upper surface 12 outskirts, 46 upper supports the 4th and the 5th finger 24,25 (part that may also have the MP joint of the 3rd finger 23) is downward-sloping, so the MP joint of the aspect ratio second finger 22 in these MP joints is low.Owing to successively decrease along transverse uplift 47 from the height in three-Di, five MP joints, the 2nd MP joint to the, therefore hand 20 outwards turns right, make hand to neutral position ground more away from palm omnidirectional under (being that palmar aspect is to the below) position, palm slightly inwardly is tilted to the left, and reduces static load.As shown in Figure 3, hat top 16 enough wide (for example width W is at least about the 1-1.5 inch), the gradient on outskirt 46 outward directions is enough mild, makes hand 20 be unlikely to outwards to slide to the right.In one embodiment, the curvature of back zone 42 on backward directions of the ratio of curvature upper surface 12 on outskirt 46 outward directions is little.
Shown in Fig. 1-7, Trackball device 10 comprises that one is positioned in the face of the medial surface 50 on thumb 21 one side.This medial surface 50 intersects along convex ridge 51 in one and upper surface 12, is formed between convex ridge 51 and the bottom surface 14.Can see the most clearly from Fig. 5, convex ridge 51 14 stretches upwards hat top 16 at device 10 leading edge 48 places from the bottom surface, is stretched over the trailing edge of bottom surface 14 at device 10 then downwards.Interior convex ridge 51 constitute upper surfaces 12 to inner boundary and medial surface 50 to the coboundary.The rear portion at 42 places, upper surface 12 back zones of Trackball device 10 is stretched at the rear portion 52 of medial surface 50 backward.
Can see the most clearly from Fig. 1 and 2, the rear portion of device 10 is distortion to the right outwards.The rear portion 52 of medial surface 50 and the back zone 42 of upper surface 12 are formed the right of the thenar region 34 that outwards is positioned at hand 20, thereby avoid supporting thenar region 34.Therefore, device 10 shape forms one " Yuji point ", and thumb is suspended on the thumb neutral position for 21 times, thus pining down of not being subjected to that thenar supports in the existing Trackball device and can install 10 free movements relatively.Different when supporting thenar region 34 with thenar, thenar region 34 is not stressed or load.Therefore, back zone 42 contacts, supports the hypothenar region 35 of hand 20 as the hypothenar region supporting surface but do not contact, supports thenar region 34 or canalis carpi 36, except with thenar region 34 side contacts taking place sometimes.
Can see the most clearly from Fig. 5, Trackball device 10 comprises its a part of exposing inside thereof face 50, faces a ball 58 of thumb 21.The position of ball 58 and size cosily are placed on it for the distal phalanx 26 of thumb 21, make thumb 21 roating sphere 58 in different directions easily.
Shown in Fig. 1,3,5 and 6, medial surface 50 is preferably recessed with the zone of ball 58 adjacency.There is a flange 53 medial surface 50 inboard below ball 58, in the upper outer of ball 58 leading edge 54 is arranged.Flange 53 is used for the distal phalanx 26 of stationary support thumb 21, although thumb 21 also can be supported on the workplace.Flange 52 can tilt as shown in the figure, but also substantial horizontal.Recessed medial surface 50 helps generating an open space around ball 58, but make thumb 21 not be subjected to the pining down of housing of device 10 and free movement to handle ball 58.Like this, but user's handle 20 is handled ball 58 when remaining on the upper surface 12 of device 10, around housing during with thumb 21 manipulation balls 58 hand 20 need not to lift or be in any stiff or nervous position.
Leading edge 54 is used for guiding the distal portion of thumb 21 when roating sphere 58.Can see the most clearly from Fig. 2, it is roughly straight that leading edge 54 is located above ball 58 is tight.Leading edge 54 can tilt as shown in Figure 6, but also perpendicular.Ball 58 is used for controlling the motion of a cursor.In one embodiment, ball 58 moves up and down cursor when being subjected to thumb 21 roating spheres 58 of leading edge 54 guiding.
In another embodiment, thumb 21 along its phalanges 26,28 directions move and during roating sphere 58 ball 58 move up and down cursor.Thumb 21 makes the cursor move left and right around the rotation in its MP joint.This layout reduces the stiff action of thumb 21 when normally handling ball 58, thereby reduces user's stressed and load on hand.
As shown in Figure 5, upper surface 12, particularly on hat top 16 and in back zone 42, enough high with respect to the bottom surface, in when needing the distal phalanx 26 of thumb 21 being placed on flange 53 or workplace between receipts and the abduction on the resting guard.For example, the maximum height on hat top 16 is at least about 1.25 inches, preferably is about the 1.5-2.25 inch.Abduction is meant that thumb 21 moves apart the palm of hand 20.The palm abduction is meant that thumb 21 and palm plane vertically move apart palm, and radially abduction moves apart palm with being meant thumb 21 and palm plane parallel.The interior receipts is meant that thumb 21 also stretches to the front portion of hand forward on the palm plane.Arrow 55 expression thumbs 21 outside exhibition positions are put mobile, and arrow 56 expression thumbs 21 are inwardly received the position and moved.Thumb 21 abductions take place when too far away from hat top 16 when upper surface 12 makes thenar region 34 be positioned at the too high and/or ball 58 in workplace top.When making thenar region 34, when workplace is too near, receives in the generation upper surface 12.Abduction and interior receipts are on the extreme position attitude of thumb 21, and static load is very big as a result, therefore will add and avoid.Thumb 21 is used for holding Trackball device 10 and handles tracking ball.Thumb 21 is remained on the neutral position, is favourable with the static muscle load that reduces on the thumb 21.In one embodiment, device 10 is supported on thumb 21 on the flange 53 on the resting guard of about halfway between (also can on the workplace) abduction and the interior receipts.
In addition, when thumb 21 reached the extreme higher position in roating sphere 58 processes, it highly preferably was not higher than the height of second finger 22.Therefore thumb 21 keeps not abduction when roating sphere 58, to reduce tensity.In addition, anxiety is caused to guarantee thumb 21 too not deflect into the abduction position left when the roating sphere 58 in the position close enough of ball 58 hat top 16.For avoiding the extreme position of abduction and interior receipts, the angle between the metacarpal bone of thumb 21 and second finger 22 is preferably in about 20-60 ° the scope.
Shown in Fig. 2-4 and 6, the simultaneously lateral surface 60 of the distal phalanx 26 of adversary 20 the 5th finger 25 is arranged on the right of device 10.Lateral surface 60 extends between the outskirt 46 and bottom surface 14 of upper surface 12.Lateral surface 60 is used for contacting the 5th finger 25, is generally its distal phalanx 26, also can randomly comprise its middle part phalanges 27.Shown in Fig. 2,4 and 6, the outskirt 46 of upper surface 12 is at the lateral surface 60 other lower concave parts 64 that a support the 4th finger 24 is arranged.One outer convex ridge 65 is arranged between lower concave part 64 and the lateral surface 60.In this embodiment, 60 contacts of lateral surface the 5th finger 25.Lower concave part 64 is used for stable support the 4th finger 24, prevents that its from outwards sliding to the right.In another embodiment, lateral surface 60 also can be used to support the 4th finger 24.
Shown in Fig. 1,2 and 6, device 10 includes the second finger button 72 of placing second finger 22 thereon and places the 3rd finger button 73 of the 3rd finger 23 thereon in the proparea 40 of upper surface 12.Second finger button 72 aligns with each phalanges of second finger 22, and these phalanges align with the bending axis in the MP joint of second finger 22.The 3rd finger button 73 aligns with each phalanges of the 3rd finger 23, and these phalanges align with the bending axis in the MP joint of the 3rd finger 23.Because the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 is main around its MP joint motions, so this alignment makes the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 touch the button 72,73 down effectively at neutral position, carries out along the bending axis in its MP joint thereby point 22,23 motion.This is avoided pointing 22,23 and carries out causing the distortion of obvious fatigue or laterally move (being abduction or interior receipts) and so on stiff or tonic action.Button 72,73 best long enoughs make the hand and the finger that vary in size all can handle Trackball device 10 and button 72,73 at least a portion in the MP joint of the MP joint of second finger 22 and the 3rd finger 23 when placing the hat of upper surface 12 to push up on 16.In addition, the size of ball 58 is suitable for different big or small hands with the position, when hand is supported on the hat top 16 thumb is worked more like a cork.
The second and the 3rd finger button 72,73 has front 74,75 on device 10 leading edges 48 sides.Front 74,75 preferably exceeds above the leading edge 48 of device 10.Even thereby the second and the 3rd finger 22,23 fronts 74,75 that extend through button 72,73 also are convenient to press the button 72,73.From Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, can see the most clearly among this embodiment, front 74,75 is suspended at leading edge 48 tops of device 10.
The height of the second and the 3rd finger button 72,73 is all low than hat top 16.On the button 72,73 indentation 72A, 73A are arranged preferably,, prevent outwards the slip away upper surface 12 of devices 10 of hand 20 to the right with the finger of stable support more 22,23.
Shown in Fig. 1,2,4 and 6, between the second and the 3rd finger button 72,73 roller 84 is arranged.Roller 84 for example becomes can rotate relative to the housing that installs 10 in device 10 inner upper supports.Roller 84 is generally handled by second finger 22, and preferably each phalanges along second finger 22 rotates.Each phalanges of second finger 22 generally aligns with the bending axis in the MP joint of second finger 22.Rotate around its MP joints because second finger 22 is main, so this alignment makes second finger 22 effectively handle roller 84 with neutral position, thereby the rotation of second finger 22 is carried out along the bending axis in its MP joint.This is avoided causing the stiff or tonic action of obvious fatigue.
Roller 84 also can rotate to be handled by the 3rd finger 23 along the 3rd finger 23 each phalanges.Roller 84 also can rotate on the direction between second finger 22 each phalanges and the 3rd finger 23 each phalanges, so that handle with the second or the 3rd finger 22,23.
The structure of Trackball device 10, profile and the gradient shown in Fig. 1-7 only are used for example one embodiment of the invention are shown.Be noted that as long as can realize purpose of the present invention, can make all corrections.
Available principle of the invention structure makes to be suitable for the Trackball device that different big or small hands use.For example, the shape of tracking ball is scalable or dwindle, but relative angle and relative size are constant substantially.Can be according to the length of the distance adjustment Trackball device front end between the 3rd finger 23 finger tips and the wrist 30 to the rear end.For example, the length of this device can equal 0.9-1.1 times of distance between the 3rd finger 23 finger tips and the wrist 30.In addition, each internal part can remain unchanged, and only changes housing.Each internal part can be contained on the bottom surface, need only change housing top.This top can comprise that one is detachably connected to the shell on the bottom surface.In addition, the button of finger control can remain unchanged.In this case, on this detachable shell opening is arranged, so that expose button and the ball that is connected on the bottom surface.
The apparatus and method of a said structure example illustrates the application of the principles of the present invention, can use other many embodiment and make other many corrections in the spirit and scope that are defined by the claims.For example, the quantity of the sensing parts of the finger control on this device and configuration can change.Its roller is supported on that as seen a kind of example of structure on the isolated middle button is included in this as the reference material between two buttons, and the applying date is the U.S. Patent application No.09/408 on September 29th, 1999, and 089.Therefore, scope of the present invention should not determined according to the above description, and should be determined according to the gamut of appended claim and equivalent thereof.

Claims (34)

1, a kind of indicator device that is used on the workplace, this device comprises a housing, this housing comprises:
Be configured a bottom surface that is placed on this workplace;
The sensing parts of at least one finger control; And
One upper surface, this upper surface comprises a Guan Ding, this hat is very useful to contact at least a portion of the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of a user the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of second finger in palm district of palm and the 3rd finger, the remainder height of this upper surface of aspect ratio of this relative bottom surface of Guan Ding, this upper surface stretches and forms a proparea to the finger tip of forward direction second and the 3rd finger downwards from this Guan Ding, downwards stretch and form a back zone to user's wrist backward, and downwards stretch and form an outskirt to metacarpal bone-finger joint style of export-oriented the 4th and the 5th finger, it is outer to avoid supporting this thenar region basically that this back zone is positioned at the thenar region of palm.
2, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that the Guan Ding of upper surface and back zone opposite working are enough high, wrist is remained on the workplace top.
3, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that the back zone is big in the curvature of ratio of curvature outskirt on outward direction on the backward directions.
4, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that, receive in the height that supports the upper surface opposite working of hand makes the distal phalanx of thumb be placed on to be on the workplace and abduction between the position.
5,, it is characterized in that the upper surface outskirt comprises that one outwards stretches, is used for contacting the transverse uplift of metacarpal bone-finger joint style of the 4th and the 5th finger in the palm district of palm from Guan Ding by the described device of claim 1.
6, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that, this housing comprises that further one is positioned in the face of the medial surface on thumb one side, this medial surface extends between upper surface and the bottom surface, this medial surface has one to stretch to the rear portion of wrist, and this rear portion of this medial surface and this back zone of this upper surface are positioned at the thenar region of palm outward to avoid contacting thenar region basically.
7,, it is characterized in that the sensing parts of this at least one finger control comprise that its part exposes with the tracking ball in the face of thumb from this medial surface by the described device of claim 6.
8, by the described device of claim 7, it is characterized in that, this medial surface recessed with a zone this tracking ball adjacency.
9, by the described device of claim 7, it is characterized in that there is a flange this medial surface inboard below tracking ball, the distal phalanx of this flange support thumb is between interior receipts and abduction.
10, by the described device of claim 7, it is characterized in that this medial surface has a leading edge in the tracking ball upper outer, the roughly straight distal portion with the guiding thumb of this leading edge is rotated tracking ball.
11, by the described device of claim 7, it is characterized in that this tracking ball is used for controlling the motion of a cursor, thumb moves and when rotating tracking ball, tracking ball moves up and down cursor along each phalanges of thumb.
12, by the described device of claim 7, it is characterized in that this tracking ball is used for controlling the motion of a cursor, thumb rotates and when rotating tracking ball around metacarpal bone-finger joint style of thumb, tracking ball move left and right cursor.
13, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that, the sensing parts of this at least one finger control comprise that a second finger button and of placing second finger is thereon placed the 3rd the 3rd finger button of pointing thereon in the upper surface proparea, the second finger button aligns with each phalanges of second finger, and the 3rd finger button aligns with each phalanges of the 3rd finger.
By the described device of claim 13, it is characterized in that 14, the indentation that supports the second and the 3rd finger is respectively arranged on the second and the 3rd finger button.
15, by the described device of claim 13, it is characterized in that, the sensing parts of this at least one finger control comprise a roller between second finger button and the 3rd finger button, and this roller can rotate relative to housing, and this roller is oriented along each phalanges of second finger and rotates.
By the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that 16, this housing also has a lateral surface on one side of the distal phalanx of the 5th finger of facing hand, this lateral surface extends between the outskirt and bottom surface of upper surface.
By the described device of claim 16, it is characterized in that 17, the outskirt of upper surface has one to be used for supporting the 4th lower concave part of pointing on this lateral surface side.
18, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that the ratio of curvature proparea of back zone on backward directions is big in the curvature that forwards makes progress.
19, by the described device of claim 1, it is characterized in that the curvature of back zone on backward directions is enough big, to avoid contacting the canalis carpi district of palm basically.
20, a kind of computer tracking ball device that is used on the workplace, this device comprises a housing, this housing comprises:
One bottom surface;
One upper surface, this upper surface comprises:
One places the Guan Ding of at least a portion of the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of second finger in palm district of user's palm and the 3rd finger, the aspect ratio upper surface remainder height of this relative bottom surface of Guan Ding thereon;
One places the proparea of the second and the 3rd finger thereon, and stretch forward downwards from this Guan Ding in this proparea; And
One places the back zone of the hypothenar region of hand thereon, and stretch downwards backward from Guan Ding this back zone, and it is constituted as the canalis carpi of avoiding contacting hand basically;
One places the medial surface of thumb thereon; And
One places the lateral surface of the 5th finger thereon,
Wherein, this device comprises that also its part exposes with in the face of a tracking ball of thumb from this medial surface.
21, by the described device of claim 20, it is characterized in that this proparea comprises:
Place the second finger button of second finger thereon, this second finger button is configured to align with each phalanges of second finger;
Place the 3rd finger button of the 3rd finger thereon, the 3rd finger button is configured to align with each phalanges of the 3rd finger; And
A roller that disposes between second finger button and the 3rd finger button, this roller can rotate relative to this housing, and this roller is oriented along one of the second and the 3rd finger and rotates.
22, by the described device of claim 20, it is characterized in that, this housing comprises that also one places the transverse uplift of metacarpal bone-finger joint style of the 4th and the 5th finger in the palm district of palm thereon, this transverse uplift outwards stretches from Guan Ding, and wherein the curvature of back zone on the ratio of curvature transverse uplift outward direction on the backward directions is big.
23,, it is characterized in that regional recessed with the tracking ball adjacency of this medial surface by the described device of claim 20; This medial surface is inboard below tracking ball a flange, in the upper outer of tracking ball one leading edge is arranged, this flange is constituted as a thumb distal phalanx and is supported on position between interior receipts and the abduction, and this leading edge is roughly straight to rotate tracking ball with guiding thumb distal portion.
24, a kind of indicator device that is used on the workplace, this device comprises a housing, and this housing comprises the sensing parts of a bottom surface, a upper surface and at least one finger control, and this upper surface comprises:
One places the Guan Ding of at least a portion of the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of second finger in palm district of user's palm and the 3rd finger, the aspect ratio upper surface remainder height of this relative bottom surface of Guan Ding thereon;
One places the transverse uplift of metacarpal bone-finger joint style of the 4th and the 5th finger in the palm district of palm thereon, and this transverse uplift outwards stretches from Guan Ding;
One places the proparea of the second and the 3rd finger thereon, and stretch forward downwards from this Guan Ding in this proparea; And
One places the back zone of the hypothenar region of hand thereon, and this back zone is stretched backward downwards and is constituted as the canalis carpi of avoiding contacting hand basically from Guan Ding.
25, by the described device of claim 24, it is characterized in that this housing further comprises:
One places the medial surface of thumb thereon; And
One places the lateral surface of the 5th finger thereon.
26,, it is characterized in that the sensing parts of this at least one finger control comprise that its part exposes with the tracking ball in the face of thumb from this medial surface, wherein regional recessed with the tracking ball adjacency of this medial surface by the described device of claim 25.
By the described device of claim 24, it is characterized in that 27, the proparea forwards upwards has a curvature to support the second and the 3rd finger so that the metacarpal bone-phalanges angle of bend of the metacarpal bone-finger joint style of the second and the 3rd finger is about 10 °-50 °.
28, by the described device of claim 24, it is characterized in that the Guan Ding of upper surface is relative with the back zone, and the bottom surface is enough high, make thumb in this device duration of work is suspended on, receive and abduction between on the position.
By the described device of claim 24, it is characterized in that 29, this transverse uplift stretches to guide this hand away from palm omnidirectional upper/lower positions from Guan Ding downwards.
30, by the described device of claim 24, it is characterized in that the ratio of curvature proparea of back zone on backward directions is big in the curvature that forwards makes progress.
31, by the described device of claim 25, it is characterized in that upper surface, medial surface and lateral surface removably are connected with the bottom surface.
32, by the described device of claim 31, it is characterized in that upper surface, medial surface and lateral surface are formed the shell that removably is connected with the bottom surface as.
By the described device of claim 32, it is characterized in that 33, the bottom surface can connect to be suitable for the hand of different sizes with the shell of different sizes.
34, by the described device of claim 24, it is characterized in that, this housing comprises a medial surface in the face of thumb, wherein the sensing parts of this at least one finger control comprise the tracking ball that its part is exposed from this medial surface, and wherein upper surface and tracking ball structure make the angle that makes between the metacarpal bone of during this device busy thumb and second finger and be maintained at about in 20 ° of-60 ° of scopes.
CNB011036966A 2000-02-09 2001-02-09 Human engineering tracing-ball apparatus Expired - Fee Related CN1275129C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US29/118,496 USD448380S1 (en) 2000-02-09 2000-02-09 Ergonomic trackball
US29/118,496 2000-02-09
US09/510,091 2000-02-22
US09/510,091 US6292175B1 (en) 2000-02-09 2000-02-22 Ergonomic trackball device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CN1322988A true CN1322988A (en) 2001-11-21
CN1275129C CN1275129C (en) 2006-09-13

Family

ID=26816434

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CNB011036966A Expired - Fee Related CN1275129C (en) 2000-02-09 2001-02-09 Human engineering tracing-ball apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CN (1) CN1275129C (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101952791B (en) * 2007-11-30 2013-09-18 雷蛇(亚太)私人有限公司 Ergonomic mouse device with multi-programmable buttons
WO2017035681A1 (en) * 2015-08-28 2017-03-09 肖湘茂 Ergonomic mouse

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101952791B (en) * 2007-11-30 2013-09-18 雷蛇(亚太)私人有限公司 Ergonomic mouse device with multi-programmable buttons
WO2017035681A1 (en) * 2015-08-28 2017-03-09 肖湘茂 Ergonomic mouse

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1275129C (en) 2006-09-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN2257042Y (en) Computer mouse casing with shape capable of making hand comfortable
CN1229713C (en) Human engineering mouse device
US6292175B1 (en) Ergonomic trackball device
JP4671469B2 (en) Computer mouse that can be moved by the user's hand
CN1853156A (en) Ergonomic pointing device
US6005553A (en) Ergonomic computer mouse
US20030098851A1 (en) Pointing means for a computer
JP5540418B2 (en) mouse
JP4414101B2 (en) Shaping computer mouse
EP0843847A1 (en) Ergonomic computer mouse
JP4671468B2 (en) Computer mouse that can be moved by the user's hand
US20030043117A1 (en) Stress relieving mouse
CN1275129C (en) Human engineering tracing-ball apparatus
JP2005524897A5 (en)
WO2008086712A1 (en) Horizontal mouse
JP2005524897A (en) Ergonomic computer pointing device
US20090213068A1 (en) Ergonomic Pointing Device
US7671838B2 (en) Biomechanically low load multi-angle multi-dexterity computer mouse
CN1295704A (en) Thumb-actuated computer pointing-input device
AU2006262987B2 (en) Control device for a computer
JP3933848B2 (en) mouse
US20050056738A1 (en) Mouse rest for hand and wrist
CN104281277A (en) Obliquely holding type mouse device
JP4936143B2 (en) Computer mouse
KR102228973B1 (en) Input device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
C10 Entry into substantive examination
SE01 Entry into force of request for substantive examination
C06 Publication
PB01 Publication
ASS Succession or assignment of patent right

Owner name: LOGITECH EUROPE S.A.

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: LOGITECH ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Effective date: 20031210

C41 Transfer of patent application or patent right or utility model
TA01 Transfer of patent application right

Effective date of registration: 20031210

Address after: Morges Switzerland

Applicant after: Logitech Europe S. A.

Address before: American California

Applicant before: Logitech Inc.

C14 Grant of patent or utility model
GR01 Patent grant
C19 Lapse of patent right due to non-payment of the annual fee
CF01 Termination of patent right due to non-payment of annual fee