GB2442973A

GB2442973A - Finger worn computer mouse with an optical sensor on a pivoting arm

Info

Publication number: GB2442973A
Application number: GB0620872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Moonie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-20
Filing date: 2006-10-20
Publication date: 2008-04-23
Also published as: GB0620872D0

Abstract

A computer interface device has a finger worn main body 10 with a U-shaped channel 11 and an optical motion sensor 21 linked to the main body by an arm 19 so that the sensor lies next to another part of the finger. The device can transmit and receive signals (e.g. infra-red) from a computer and be used as a mouse. Foam pads 12 and a hook and loop or magnetic fastened strap 13 fit the user's finger. The arm pivots and is held in set positions by friction, one position being below a fingertip for mousing, and another position allowing keyboard typing. A ribbed surface (23, fig 2) of the sensor housing 21 contains at least one microswitch which functions as a mouse button, and buttons 25 can be thumb operated.

Description

COMPUTER INTERFACE DEVICE

This invention relates to a human/computer interface device, intended for use with a graphical user interface on a computer. The interface device is intended to replace a conventional mouse such as is usually employed with a personal computer as a pointing and selecting device. As such, the interface device of this invention should have essentially the same functionality as at least a basic form of computer mouse.

Personal computers mostly run the Microsoft Windows operating system, though some other graphical user interfaces are known and employed on personal computers. These interfaces require a device to allow pointing to objects or icons displayed on a screen and the selection of such objects or icons. Conventionally a mouse is employed for this purpose, though other pointing devices are also known, such as trackballs and optical pens. All of these devices are relatively large and require a user to employ his entire hand for proper manipulation. Further, a mouse requires a significant area of desk space for adequate operation, as well as for storage while normal keyboard The most common form of mouse consists of a palm-held unit which is moved by a user's hand over a flat surface such as a mat provided on a desktop, the mouse having either a freely rotatable ball or an optical sensor, to detect the motion over the surface in any direction. Further, the mouse has at least two operational buttons arranged for depression by the index and middle fingers, though many more modern mice have several buttons with different functionalities. The fact that there are so many different designs of computer mice on the market suggests that an optimum or most favoured design has yet to emerge.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a computer interface device able to replace a conventional mouse but which is of a smaller, more user friendly and ergonomic design. It is also an aim of a preferred embodiment to provide a pointing and selecting device for use with a personal computer running a graphical user interface which device is less cumbersome for the user than a conventional mouse and takes up far less desk space.

According to this invention, there is provided a human/computer interface device comprising a main body defining a generally U-shaped channel extending therethrough and by means of which the main body may be mounted on a user's finger, an optical motion sensor, an arm linking the motion sensor to the main body whereby the sensor may lie under another part of the user's finger on which the main body is mounted, and a transmitter arranged to receive signals from the sensor and transmitting corresponding signals to a receiver associated with the computer.

It will be appreciated that the device of this invention is profiled and sized so as to fit on to a finger of a user, and most preferably the index finger.

The device is arranged for location either over the proximal phalanx of the index finger or the middle phalanx, depending upon the user's preference. The arm should support the optical motion sensor forwardly of the main body so that the motion sensor may be contacted by the underside of the tip of that index finger; in this way, the motion of the sensor over a surface may be precisely and accurately controlled. The detected motion is fed back to the personal computer by way of signals transmitted from the transmitter to a receiver associated with the computer, in much the same way as is done with a conventional cordless mouse.

Most preferably, the arm is either flexible or pivoted to the main body for movement between a forwardly-projecting position so that the motion sensor is disposed ahead of the main body and can be contacted by the underside of the tip of the user's finger carrying the main body and a typing position where the motion sensor underlies the main body so permitting the tip of the user's finger to be used for striking keys on a keyboard. If pivoted, advantageously the pivotal connection is relatively stiff, such that the arm will tend to stay in a set position (such as the typing position), until the arm is positively moved to another position by a force exceeding a pre-set threshold value. A flexible arm should be capable of being deformed along its length as required and then staying in the set position.

The motion sensor may typically comprise an infrared transmitter and detector combination together with suitable circuitry, corresponding to that of a conventional mouse. The sensor is preferably mounted in a housing pivoted to the end of the arm remote from the main body, whereby the user may change the angle between his finger and a surface on which the housing is being slid, without changing the angle of the arm with respect to the main body. The housing may have an upper surface provided with a friction-enhancing finish, so as to minimise slip between a user's fingertip and that surface. At least one, but preferably a pair of electrical switches are associated with that upper surface which switches are operated by pressure applied to an appropriate region of the upper surface. Each such switch could be purely mechanical and so take the form of a microswitch, or other switch designs could be employed such as a pressure switch or a proximity switch.

In a preferred embodiment, the main body is generally arch-shaped and has an internal surface defining said channel. The outer surface of the main body may also be arch-shaped, with a cavity formed between the internal and external surfaces. The transmitter may be located within that cavity, along with an electrical power source such as a rechargeable battery. In addition, a control circuit which is connected to the various components of the device, including the motion sensor and the transmitter, may be located in the cavity.

The main body may have at least one further switch provided on the side thereof, for operation by another finger or the thumb of a user. Preferably, two such switches are arranged side-by-side on the main body. These switches may emulate the switches associated with the conventional left and right buttons of a mouse, or the switches could be given other functionality, controlled by software running on the computer.

The channel extending through the main body must be sized and profiled to allow the accommodation of a significant range of sizes of fingers of different users. Though the device of this invention could be provided in a number of different sizes, conveniently the main body may have a channel extending therethrough of a size sufficiently large to accommodate the largest finger expected to be encountered by average users, and then the effective size of the channel is adjusted by adhering therewithin foam pads of differing thicknesses. For example, a plurality of such pads could be supplied with the device, the intending user then selecting the most appropriate foam pads so that when adhered within the channel, the device is securely located on that user's finger.

For additional security, a strap may be provided to pass underneath the phalanx on which the device is located. Such a strap is preferably secured at one end to one side of the main body and is releasably attachable to the other side of the body, for example by means of a two-part hook-and-loop fastener, one part of which is provided on the strap and the other part of which on the main body. Other releasable connections may be provided, such as a magnetic connection.

By way of example only, one specific embodiment of computer interface device of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is an isometric view of the device, from the front and one side and with the optical sensor in an extended position; Figure 2 is similar to Figure 1 but with the optical sensor in a retracted position and the strap omitted for clarity; Figure 3 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1 but with the strap omitted; Figure 4 is a plan view of the device of Figures 1 and 3; and Figure 5 is a front view of the device of Figures 1 and 3.

The interface device of this embodiment is intended to replace a conventional computer mouse which is used in conjunction with a graphical user interface of a computer operating system such as Microsoft Windows .

The device has an arch-shaped main body 10 which defines a U-shaped channel 11 extending therethrough, sized so that the arch will fit over the index finger between two knuckles, for a wide range of users. Thus, the channel should have a sufficient depth and width to accommodate the largest finger expected to be encountered in ordinary use by an average user. The effective depth and width of the channel may be adjusted by means of foam pads 12 adhered internally within the channel, so that the main body may comfortably be retained on the finger of a user.

In addition to the foam pads 12, a simple strap 13 is provided on the main body, to extend around the underside of a user's finger. That strap 13 extends from a lower edge 14 on one side 15 of the main body 10 and conveniently includes one part of a hook-and-loop fastener. The other part of that hook-and-loop fastener is provided on a side face 16 on the other side of the main body 10, whereby the effective length of the strap when secured around a finger may be adjusted securely to hold the device to the finger. As an alternative to the hook-and-loop fastener, a magnet may be provided on the side face 16, and in this case the strap should be magnetic so as to be attracted to the magnet and thus held at a required setting.

Pivoted to the lower edge 18 of the other side face 16 of the main body 10 is an L-shaped arm 19, movable between a first position where the arm projects generally forwardly from the body (as shown in Figure 1) and a second position where the arm extends back and below the main body (as shown in Figure 2). The pivotal connection of the arm to the body is such that there is friction between the two whereby the arm will not freely pivot; rather, the arm must be deliberately moved to a required setting by applying a sufficient force thereto and the arm will then stay in that setting until deliberately moved once more. Figures 1 and 2 do not show the extremes of movement of the arm though they do show the normal range of movement through which the arm would be pivoted, when the device is in use.

The L-shaped arm 19 includes a laterally projecting extension 20 which is pivoted to a housing 21 including an optical motion sensor (not shown) looking through the lower face 22 of the housing. That optical motion sensor may correspond in all respects to the motion sensor associated with a conventional optical computer mouse, including the electronic circuitry of that mouse. Further, the housing 21 has an upper surface 23 having ribs to enhance friction with a user's finger, a microswitch being associated with that upper surface such that pressure exerted thereto by a user's finger and in excess of a threshold value will operate the microswitch. Again, the functionality of such a switch may correspond to that of one of the finger buttons on a conventional computer mouse.

A further possibility would be to include two microswitches in the housing 21, one at the front end thereof and the other at the rear end thereof, whereby a user may select which switch to operate, by applying pressure either to the front end of the upper surface 23 or to the rear end thereof.

Highly flexible wires interconnect an electronic control circuit (not shown) provided within the main body 10 and the optical motion sensor and the or each microswitch within the housing 21. Those wires extend within an internal channel formed in the arm 19 mounting the housing 21 to the main body 10.

Provided on side 15 of the main body is a pair of buttons 25, disposed so as to be selectively operable by the thumb of a user when the main body is carried on the user's index finger. Internally within the body, the buttons are connected to the control circuit which senses the depression of a selected one of the two buttons 25. A power source such as a button cell or a rechargeable battery is located within the main body, below a removable access hatch 26, for providing power to the control circuit, and the optical motion detector within housing 21.

Also provided within the main body 10 is a short range transmitter operating either within the electromagnetic frequency spectrum or with infra-red light, in a generally similar manner to that conventionally employed with a cordless computer mouse, which transmitter is also powered by the power source. The technology associated with such a short range transmitter is well known and understood by those skilled in the art and forms no part of this invention; it will therefore not be described in further detail here.

In use, a user presses the main body on to his index finger typically over the proximal phalanx bone though possibly over the middle phalanx bone, and then wraps the strap 13 around the underside of the finger, to connect to the other side 16 of the main body 10. The arm 19 is then pivoted forwardly so that the tip of the finger overlies the upper surface 22 of the housing 21. The device is then ready to use. Movement of the housing 21 over a surface, simply by moving the hand, sends motion signals to a computer with which the device has been associated, in just the same way as does movement of a conventional computer mouse. Pressure applied to the upper surface 23 of the housing 21 corresponds to clicking the left mouse button but in a case where two microswitches are provided within the housing 21, the user may select the forward end or rearward end of the housing 21 before applying pressure, thereby corresponding to clicking the left button or right button of a conventional mouse.

The buttons 26 provided on the main body may be pressed selectively by the thumb of a user. These buttons may correspond to the left and right buttons of a conventional mouse and so in effect be connected in parallel to the microswitches mounted within the housing 21, or those buttons 26 may be given different functionality.

When the user wishes to type on a keyboard, the arm 19 should be pivoted rearwardly to the position shown in Figure 2, so that the housing 21 underlies the phalanx on which the main body 10 is carried. The housing 21 is then clear of the forward tip of a finger, so permitting typing on a standard keyboard. -10-

Claims

1. A human/computer interface device comprising a main body defining a generally U-shaped channel extending therethrough and by means of which the main body may be mounted on a user's finger, an optical motion sensor, an arm linking the motion sensor to the main body whereby the sensor may lie under another part of the user's finger on which the main body is mounted, and a transmitter arranged to receive signals from the sensor and transmitting corresponding signals to a receiver associated with the computer.

2. An interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is pivoted to the main body for movement between a forwardly-projecting position so that the motion sensor is disposed ahead of the main body and a typing position where the motion sensor underlies the main body.

3. An interface device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arm is frictionally connected to the main body, whereby the arm will remain in a set position until acted on by a force exceeding a threshold value.

4. An interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is flexibly deformable along its length, whereby the arm may be deformed to position the motion sensor ahead of the main body or to position the motion sensor below the main body.

5. An interface device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the motion sensor is provided in a housing pivoted to the end of said arm remote from the main body.

6. An interface device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the housing for the motion sensor includes an upper surface, an electrical switch being associated with that upper surface and which is operated by pressure applied to the upper surface.

7. An interface device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a pair of electrical switches are associated with said upper surface, said switches being selectively operable by pressure applied to a corresponding region of the upper surface.

8. An interface device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the main body is generally arch-shaped having an internal surface defining said channel and an external surface, a cavity being formed between said internal and external surfaces.

9. An interface device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transmitter is located within said cavity.

10. An interface device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein an electrical power source is located within said cavity.

11. An interface device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the electrical power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

12. An interface device as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein a control circuit is located within the cavity, said control circuit being connected to at least the motion sensor and the transmitter.

13. An interface device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one switch provided on one side of the main body, said switch being positioned so as to be operable by another finger or thumb of a user. -12-

14. An interface device as claimed in claim 13, wherein a pair of switches is provided on said one side of the main body, the switches being selectively operable by another finger or the thumb of a user.

15. An interface device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein one end of a flexible strap is connected to one side of the main body, the other end region of the strap being adjustably connectable to the other side of the main body whereby in use the strap may pass under a user's finger to retain the main body thereto.

16. An interface device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a hook-and-loop fastener has one part thereof provided on the other end region of the strap and the other part thereof on the side of the main body so allowing a releasable and adjustable connection of the other end region to the main body.

17. An interface device as claimed in claim I and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.