Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; 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 OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F2203/00—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/00 - G06F3/048
  • G06F2203/033—Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/033
  • G06F2203/0333—Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a positional device which will
• dimensional positioning devices such as touch screens, light pens, etc. are
• Hall devices are a known method of determining magnetic
• a conductive material typically a thin layer of a semiconductor.
• This Hall voltage is a maximum when the B-field and
• strain gauges to determine the movement of a portion of the device
• An object of the present invention is to provide a three dimensional
• a movable support and means for producing a magnetic field mounted on a stationary support adjacent but displaced from the movable support.
• the magnetic systems are to three unconnected and unrelated magnetic systems.
• the magnetic systems are configured to three unconnected and unrelated magnetic systems.
• the Hall effect devices are arranged to move between the opposed magnets.
• Hall device is adjacent to one of the magnets and a negative maximum when
• the magnets preferably
• the Hall devices are
• the three Hall devices and associated magnets are preferably mounted
• the device the mouse, but arranged to furnish three dimensional movement
• Movement of the three Hall devices may be proportional to the components of
• Springs may be employed to return the Hall devices to
• any of the three positional modules (each comprising two opposed magnets and an
• the Hall voltages are preferably measured using conventional
• movement in two dimensions can be represented by movement of an object
• the positional device is also governed by its driver software and can be
• the cover of the mouse type device preferably
• buttons similar to the conventional two dimensional mouse, to
• embodiments include a joystick, single handed device, two handed or multi-user
• a three dimensional positional device comprising a stationary portion and a
• the axis about which the movable portion may be pivoted is
• the plane is resolved into two axes, possibly for onward transmission, then the
• axis about which the movable portion may be pivoted is parallel to one of the
• the movable portion may preferably be pivoted about an axis parallel to one of those axes, say the x-axis.
• movement of the movable portion in the plane represents movement in the x-y
• suitable means may be employed, for example switches or an optical system.
• the Hall device or devices are preferably mounted on a movable support or
• movable supports are preferably linked to the movable portion of the device.
• magnet or magnets for example small Nd-Be-Fe Rare Earth magnets.
• Two of the magnetic systems are preferably arranged to measure
• two of the three Hall effect devices are mounted on slides, so arranged within the body of the positional device so that movement
• the remaining Hall device is preferably mounted on a pivoting member
• the slides may be connected
• a bearing or bearings may be disposed between the movable and
• return springs may be disposed between the movable and
• the device preferably has the appearance of a conventional 'mouse'
• the movable portion being comprised in the cover and the stationary
• the device may be arranged so that the
• movable portion may be pivoted about more than one axis, to allow for the
• the present invention affords a number of advantages over the prior art
• a means to exclude dust and dirt for example a flexible skirt, may be
• variable rate return to zero springs can improve the feel of the device.
• embodiment is static relative to its surroundings in contrast to existing "mouse"
• the two opposed magnets of each module is less than the distance between the
• Fig.1 shows a cutaway, perspective view of a first embodiment of a
• Fig.2 shows a cross-sectional plan view of a second embodiment of a
• Fig.3 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a positional device, of
• Fig.4 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of a positional device, of
• Fig.5 shows a partial cutaway schematic view of a third embodiment of
• Fig.6 shows a similar view to Fig.5 with both x and y magnets shown;
• Fig.7 shows an exploded view of the positional device of Figs. 5 and 6;
• Fig.8 shows a plan view of the 'z' chassis of the device of Figs. 5 to 7;
• Fig.9 shows a similar view to Fig.8, where the thrust ball race has been
• Fig.10 shows a schematic representation of the electrical connection of
• Fig.1 1 shows an alternative implementation to the circuit arrangement
• Fig.10 Referring to Fig.1 there is illustrated a positional device. For reference
• the body of the device is comprised of a base 1
• Attached to the cover 2 are two forked formations, the x-fork 3 and the
• Both the forks are comprised of three parallel prongs of circular
• the prongs of the x-fork 3 are aligned along the y-direction, the
• prongs of the y-fork 4 are aligned along the x-direction, as marked on the
• the x-Hall device 14 is comprised of a conventional semiconductor
• Hall chip formed from a substantially flat rectangular piece of semiconductor
• the x-fork 3 and the y-fork 4 are engaged respectively with the x-slide
• the z-Hall probe 7 is fixed relative to the z-pivoting member 6 and arranged
• the second magnet 9 is secured to a projecting tab, formed into the
• the z-magnets are arranged in repelling mode polarity/ and comprise rare earth magnets, for example Nd-B-Fe.
• the base 1 , cover 2, forks 3 and 4 and z-pivot are preferably
• the x-slide is able to slide in the y-direction, relative to the z-
• the x and y-slides are provided with central apertures, magnets are
• the x-magnets 17 are opposed along a line in the x-direction
• the y- magnets 18 are opposed along a line in the y-direction.
• the x-fork 3 and the y-fork 4 extend into the x and y recesses 1 1 ,12
• x-return springs 19 arranged to return the x-fork 3 to a
• y-return springs 20 are disposed between the y-fork 4 and the
• the return springs are constructed from Beryllium Copper, a non ⁇
• Hall effect devices are connected to a suitable circuitry
• the Hall devices are also
• the base 1 results in the pivoting of the z-pivoting member 6 and the movement
• the pivoting member is arranged to pivot about the x-axis.
• the pivoting member 28 has affixed to one end thereof a Hall effect
• pivoting member 28 is supported by two springs 61 , these springs serve to
• the magnets 30 and 31 comprise rare earth
• magnets for example Nd-B-Fe.
• magnets 36 Mounted on the x-slide 32 are two magnets 36, similar to magnets 31 ,
• Hall effect device 34 lies midway between x-magnets 31.
• the arm 38 is arranged in order
• return springs 40 arranged to return
• the uppermost part of the y-slide 35, labelled 41 is of a square cross-
• the underside of the cover 25 also has a projecting lip.
• This arrangement enables the cover to be fitted to the y-slide with a
• the device body and slides are constructed from a non-magnetic plastics
• the return springs are constructed from Beryllium Copper.
• FIG. 5 to 9 there is shown a further embodiment of a
• This embodiment also includes a
• the cover includes three buttons 74.
• cover 64 is ergonomically designed to facilitate comfortable operation with one
• this embodiment includes a mechanical linkage arranged to translate movement of
• the cover 64 is connected to a shaft 62. Mounted rotatably on
• the shaft are two connecting rods, the x-connecting rod 75 and the y-
• the connecting rods 75 and 63 are pivotally connected to
• Hall chip holders 77 and 69 respectively.
• piston blocks 67 which include
• the pistons 66 and 78 are
• the thrust ring ball race 72 sits in an enclosed region 71
• barrier 78 which is formed on the chassis 65.
• race 72 is retained within raised portion 78 by ball race cover 79 which
• Hall chip holders 77 and 79 are aligned approximately midway between their
• FIG.9 shows a similar view to Fig.8
• the ball race arrangement allows the cover 64 to be smoothly moved
• the return springs 73 may be variable rate springs, arranged to provide
• the x and y piston blocks 67, recess 71 and ball thrust race 72 are all of the x and y piston blocks 67, recess 71 and ball thrust race 72.
• the z chassis 65 is pivotally mounted onto the base 61 by engaging
• a z-axis Hall chip holder 81 is also mounted onto the z chassis 65 and a z magnet holder 82 for holding two opposed magnets is
• z-return springs 83 which serve to return the z-chassis to a position where the
• z Hall chip holder 81 lies approximately half-way between the two z magnets
• circuit board 84 Also attached to the circuit board 84 are three chip ribbons 85 for
• non-magnetic material preferably a plastics material.
• This embodiment provides a particularly smooth action, especially when
• the cover is moved in the z and y directions. Moreover the x and y chips are
• FIG.10 there is a illustrated a representation of the Hall
• Hall effect device is able to move relative to and between the magnets 47 and
• each of the three Hall devices are connected to a power supply
• an amplifier 50 which produces a signal relating to the
• microprocessor 51 is a microprocessor 51 .
• the microprocessor converts the three Hall voltages into a signal suitable
• the software is arranged so as to cause
• This software enables the cursor to be rapidly moved to a point on the
• FIG.1 1 there is illustrated an alternative arrangement for the
• a receiver 57 is connected via a microcontroller 58

Landscapes

• 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)
• A Measuring Device Byusing Mechanical Method (AREA)
• Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
• Valve Device For Special Equipments (AREA)
• Measurement Of Length, Angles, Or The Like Using Electric Or Magnetic Means (AREA)
• Wire Bonding (AREA)
• Steering Control In Accordance With Driving Conditions (AREA)
• Control Of Motors That Do Not Use Commutators (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=26310957

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (25)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1998
  • 1998-02-09 EP EP98903117A patent/EP0966725B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-02-09 AT AT98903117T patent/ATE225969T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-02-09 WO PCT/GB1998/000267 patent/WO1998035315A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-02-09 US US09/367,155 patent/US6611139B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-02-09 DE DE69808602T patent/DE69808602T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-02-09 JP JP53398198A patent/JP2001511274A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1998-02-09 CN CNB988038188A patent/CN1160663C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-02-09 AU AU59948/98A patent/AU5994898A/en not_active Abandoned

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