WO2008040366A1

WO2008040366A1 - Polar coordinates computer input method and devices

Info

Publication number: WO2008040366A1
Application number: PCT/EG2006/000042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cherif Atia Algreatly
Original assignee: Cherif Atia Algreatly
Priority date: 2006-10-04
Filing date: 2006-10-04
Publication date: 2008-04-10

Abstract

This invention presents an input method and devices for providing position information to a computer system based on the polar coordinate system. The method utilizes a polar cursor comprised of a circular portion (201) that gives the feeling of the (ϑ) value, a dotted line (202) which serves as a ray reaching all possible target points of the cursor direction on the computer display, and a solid line (203) that represents the movement length (r) of the cursor in its determined direction on the dotted line from a starting position (200) to a targeted position (204). To utilize said polar cursor, different input devices are introduced such as mice, touch-sensitive pads, tilt wheels, and finger rings.

Description

Polar Coordinates Computer Input Method and Devices Technical Field

The present invention relates to an input method and device for a computer system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an input method and device for providing position information to a computer system based on the polar coordinates system. Background Art

In my previous patent application PCT/EG 2006/000025 entitled "3D Mouse and Method" I presented a computer input method and devices that provide three-dimensional position information to a computer system based on the spherical coordinates system. This patent application presents a computer method and devices that provide two- dimensional position information to a computer system based on the polar coordinates system.

The traditional computer input devices, such as mice, touch-sensitive pads, pointing sticks, or joysticks are configured in a traditional manner that provides immediate input for a computer system based on the Cartesian coordinates system.! In this system, the user of the computer moves his/her hand (such as in the case of using a mouse or a joystick), or moves his/her fingers (as in the case of using a touch-sensitive pad or a pointing stick), to manipulate the cursor on the computer's display to move in the x-y plane. In such cases there is no accurate, logical control of the exact angle of movement of the cursor on the computer display; in order to move the cursor to a targeted position on the computer display, the cursor is moved in multiple, discrete steps until it reaches its target. In the present invention, the polar coordinates system is used instead of the Cartesian coordinate system to solve these previously mentioned problems, giving the computer user a simple, logical method and easy-to-use input devices that have several usability advantages over traditional input methods and devices. Description of Invention

In the Cartesian coordinates system a point (P) is represented by a tuple of two components (x) and (y). Where (x) is the distance between the point (P) and the origin projected onto the x-axis, and (y) is the distance between the point (P) and the origin projected onto the y-axis.

To move a cursor from a starting position to a targeted position on a computer display using the Cartesian coordinates system, the input device used provides immediate input for (x) and (y) to the computer system. For example, if the traditional mechanical mouse which houses a rotated ball is used, the movement of the mouse's ball is translated into (x) and (y) inputs through two scroll wheels as known in the art. When the user looks at the cursor's starting and targeted positions on the computer display, he or she has an innate sense of the magnitude of the movement(s) along the x- and y-axis that is/are needed to reach the target; if this distance is small, the user moves the cursor in one step . to reach the target. In most cases the distance is not small enough and accordingly, the user moves the cursor in more than one step until he or she reaches the targeted position. In general to move a computer cursor using the Cartesian coordinates system, the user, the input device, and the computer system communicate with each other using the two components (x) and (y) of the Cartesian coordinates system.

In the polar coordinate system as shown in FIG. 1, a point (P) is represented by a tuple of two components (θ) and (f), where (θ) is the angle between the positive x-axis on the Cartesian coordinates plane and a line from the origin to the point (P), and (r) is the distance between the point (P) and the origin. The present invention utilizes the polar coordinates system instead of the Cartesian coordinates system in moving the cursor of the computer display, whereas the (θ) and (r) components of the polar coordinate system replace the (x) and (y) components of the Cartesian coordinates system. Accordingly, to move a cursor from a start position

> 5 to a targeted position on a computer display using an input device, the user needs to determine the angle of the cursor movement (θ) which is the angle of the line that connects between the start position and targeted position, and the positive x-axis on the Cartesian coordinates plane. Following that, the user needs to move the cursor on the s determined angle or direction until he or she reaches the targeted position. In this case the

10 computer cursor is called a "Polar Cursor" and its shape differs from the traditional shape of the computer cursor which is used with the Cartesian coordinates system. As shown in Fig. 2, the polar cursor is comprised of a circular portion 201 that gives the feeling of the (θ) value, a dotted line 202 which serves as a ray reaching all possible target points of the cursor direction on the computer display, and a solid line 203 that represents the

15 movement length (r) of the cursor in its determined direction (on the dotted line) from the start position 200 to a targeted position 204 on the computer display.

To move a polar cursor from a starting position to a targeted position, the user needs to rotate the dotted line 202 of the polar cursor to intersect with the target position; such targeted position could be an icon, menu, or any specific point on the computer

20 display. The user then protracts the solid line 203 until it reaches the targeted position. For more illustration, Fig. 3 shows five consecutive movements A, B, C, D, and E of a polar cursor on a computer display using the polar coordinate system; in this figure it is obvious that controlling the exact angle of the polar cursor movement enables the user to move the polar cursor in lines, and, accordingly, the successive movements of the polar

25 cursor can form or draw any geometrical shape that consists of a plurality of lines.

In general, the difference between manipulating the computer cursor using the Cartesian coordinates system and the polar coordinates system is that in the former, the i cursor is moved relative to the (x) and (y) coordinates until it reaches its target, while in the polar coordinates system, the polar cursor doesn't move until it is clear for the user

30 that the movement direction (the dotted line 202) passes over the targeted position. In other words, to reach a target position using the Cartesian coordinates system, the cursor • is moved to achieve the right movement distances for (x) and (y) together in tandem, whereas in the polar coordinate system, the polar cursor is moved to first obtain the right angle (θ), then second, the right distance (r). This simple difference makes a huge

35 distinction for the usability of the present invention as will be described subsequently.

In general there are several advantages of using the polar cursor and its movement technique, some of which are the following:

(1) It is human nature that in real life when a specific position is targeted, our head is rotated until the targeted position is seen, and then an imaginary line connecting

40 our position with the targeted position is drawn. This imaginary line is the direction that we walk on until we reach the targeted position. In the present invention, rotating our head is emulated by rotating the dotted line 202 of the polar cursor, while the imaginary drawn line that we walk on is the dotted line itself which identifies the direction to the targeted position, and our walking on the imaginary line is the solid line which protracts

45 to reach the targeted position. Using the polar cursor movement technique which matches human nature gives the computer user a simple, logical, and intuitive method to control the cursor movements on the computer display that is accurate. (2) The input of the present technique provides the two inputs or values of (θ) and (r) subsequently one after the other, where each of the two values can be represented linearly in one dimension, accordingly it is possible to substitute the traditional 2D mouse

' pad or the traditional 2D touch-sensitive pad with a linear pad or strip. This linear strip 5 can easily be held in one's hand, or even be attached to any available linear space or object; such an innovation facilitates the use of the pads anywhere.

(3) When the icons and menus of a program's interface are aligned on a circular <• or boundary arrangement, whereby each icon or menu is identified with a unique musical tone that plays when the dotted line 202 of the polar cursor touches it, such an interface

10 can be used easily for blind and vision-impaired people. The same application cannot be accomplished by the traditional cursor of the Cartesian coordinate system, since there is > no way to make the traditional cursor navigate all the computer display points as the polar cursor does. It is also of note that the rotation of the dotted line 202 can be done > easily by a finger rotation of the top scroll wheel of the regular mouse. 15 ^s (4) Since the polar cursor moves in lines, accordingly the computer user can easily draw any geometrical shape that consists of a plurality of lines. Adding numerical 1 i digits on the circular portion 201 and the solid line 203 to indicate the numerical value of , (θ) and (r) gives the user full control to draw accurate dimensions of geometrical shapes.

(5) The technique of reaching a targeted position using the polar cursor can serve 20 3D applications by making minor adjustments to the mechanism as will be described subsequently. This advantage adds a lot to 3D drawings or graphics since the user can move or draw sloped lines in three dimensions and is not just limited by the horizontal or vertical lines as in case of using the three dimensional Cartesian coordinates system.

(6) The order of inputting of the two values of (θ) and (r) gives the computer user 25 an innovative method to move the cursor on the computer display in circular paths, where the default for the user is to input the value of (θ) then after that to input the value of (r). If the user starts to input the value of (r) before the value (θ) then the cursor will move in a circular path where the radius of such circle is of (r) and its center is the origin which is the starting position 200 of the polar cursor.

30 Overall, the greatest advantage of using the polar cursor method for providing

■ position information to a computer system is giving the user a number of input device alternatives that enable the user to choose the suitable one for his or her task or circumstances; some of these input devices are:

The Polar Mouse

35 This mouse looks like a traditional mouse and can be a mechanical mouse which houses a rotated ball, or optical mouse which houses an optical sensor, or any other type of mice, whereas it provides an immediate input for the two components (θ) and (r) consecutively, one after the other, to a computer system. The first step for the user is to input the value of (θ) by moving the mouse a few millimeters in a specific direction and, 40 accordingly, the dotted line 202 is manipulated to the same movement direction on the i computer screen. If the first mouse movement is not accurate enough to align the dotted i line to the exact direction, then the user moves the mouse again a few millimeters to adjust the dotted line 202 direction. As long as the mouse movement is a few millimeters, the computer system considers the mouse movement as an input for the angle of the 45 dotted line (θ). After the user sees the dotted line of the polar cursor overlapping the targeted position which could be an icon, menu, or any targeted point on the computer screen, the user moves the mouse in the direction or close to the direction of the dotted line 202 to provide immediate input for (r). The solid line 203 protracts from the origin or the start position 200 to the targeted position 204. If the user protracts the solid line more than needed, meaning passing the targeted position, the user then will retract the i solid line by moving the mouse in the opposite direction or close to the opposite direction of the dotted line 202.

5 The computer system distinguishes between the mouse's movement input of (θ) and (V) by measuring the polar mouse movement distance. If this movement distance is a few millimeters (assumed to be less than 3 millimeters), then the input is considered as an input for (θ), and if this movement distance is equal to or more than the few millimeters i (equal to or greater than 3 millimeters), then the input is considered as input for (r). 0 When the user reaches the targeted position then he or she clicks on the left bottom of the t mouse to "enter" his or her polar cursor position.

Fig. 4 shows three movement steps for a polar mouse on a mouse pad. The first movement from point 1 to point 2 is a polar mouse movement less than 3 millimeters, accordingly, it is considered to be an input for (θ). While this movement was not 5 accurate enough to make the dotted line overlap with its targeted position on the computer display, accordingly, the user moved the polar mouse a second small movement from point 2 to point 3 for less than 3 millimeters to adjust the direction of the dotted line which achieved the user's goal and made the dotted line overlap with the targeted position on the computer display. The third movement is to protract the solid line to0 provide input for (r) to the computer system, accordingly, the user moved the mouse on the mouse pad more than 3 millimeters from point 3 to point 4 until the solid line reached the targeted position on the computer display.

Fig. 5 shows the three polar cursor movements 501, 502, and 503 on the computer display where these three steps are associated respectively with the three polar mouse5 movements of Fig. 4 on the mouse pad, where point A represents the starting position of the polar cursor and point B represents the targeted position.

Fig. 6 shows another example for another three steps for a polar mouse on the mouse pad. Whereas the first step from point 1 to point 2 is a small movement less than 3 millimeters, accordingly, it is considered to be an input for (θ) where in this step the0 dotted line of the polar cursor reached its targeted position from the first time. The second step from point 2 to point 4 is a polar mouse movement greater than 3 millimeters and, accordingly, it is considered to be an input for (r) whereas the solid line of the polar cursor protracted to reach its targeted position; however, this movement was bigger than the needed distance (r), so accordingly, the solid line passed the targeted position. To5 remedy this, the user moved back the polar mouse from point 4 to point 3 in the opposite, or close to the opposite direction of the dotted line of the polar mouse to get back the solid line to intersect with targeted position.

Fig. 7 shows the three steps 701, 702, and 703 of the polar cursor movement on i the computer display where point A represents the starting position, and point B 0 represents the targeted position of the polar cursor. However, is of note, that these three steps are associated with the three mouse movement steps of Fig. 6 on the mouse pad.

Fig. 7 indicates two regions on the computer screen which are numbered 704 and 705, where region 704 defines the mouse movement directions that are considered to be in or close to the direction of the dotted line, and the region 705 defines the mouse5 movement directions that are considered to be in the opposite or close to the opposite direction of the dotted line. The following mathematical relationships express the values of the two regions 704 and 705 accurately as follows: (θ + 90) > "region 704" > (θ - 90) (θ + 90) < "region 705" < (θ - 90)

According to the previous mathematical relationships, the region 704 clarifies what is meant by saying "moving the polar mouse in or close to the direction of the dotted line" and the region 705 clarifies what is means by saying "moving the polar mouse in the opposite or close to the opposite direction of the dotted line".

Another technique for the poly mouse is to consider its movement on the mouse pad in the direction or close to the direction of x-axis of the Cartesian coordinates plane as immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, and to consider its movement on the mouse pad in the direction or close to the direction of y-axis of the Cartesian coordinates plane as immediate input for (r) to the computer system. This technique eliminates the need to estimate the polar mouse movement to differentiate between the input of (θ) and i (r) as in the previous technique.

It is also possible to use the vertical scroll wheel on the top side of the polar mouse which is placed between the left and right mouse buttons as a tool to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system by rotating it vertically anti-or clockwise, in this case the polar mouse movement in any direction provides immediate input for (r).

One innovative design is to fix a horizontal scroll wheel on the left side of the mouse to be rotated by the user's thumb finger to provide immediate input for (θ), where the top vertical scroll wheel of the mouse will be rotated to provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system. This technique enables the user to move the polar cursor on the computer display without the need to move the polar mouse on a mouse pad of surface. The Double Polar Mouse.

This mouse can be a mechanical mouse, optical mouse, or any other type of mouse, with one main difference, which is having two rotated balls housed in the mechanical mouse, or two optical sensing holes in the optical mouse instead of one. Where the first rotated ball of the mechanical mouse and the first sensing hole of the optical mouse provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, and the second rotated ball of the mechanical mouse and the second sensing hole of the optical mouse provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system. To give the user a choice to input (θ) or (r), the bottom side of the mouse is divided into two parts, the first part which includes the first rotated or the first sensing hole is parallel to the mouse pad, while the second part, which includes the second rotated ball or the second sensing hole is sloped relative to the mouse pad, and only can be parallel to the mouse pad when the user presses lightly on the top side of the mouse. This idea enables the user to provide both of the inputs for (θ) or (r) according to his or her choice.

Fig. 8 illustrates the two cases of moving the double polar mouse where the first case A is when the user moves the double polar mouse naturally, as the same way he or she moves the traditional mouse (without pressing on the top side of the mouse) to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, and the second case B is when the user presses lightly on the top back side of the double polar mouse to provide immediate input for input (r) to the computer system. It is important to note that the user of the double polar mouse does not need to move the mouse less than a few millimeters to input (θ) as explained in the previous polar mouse, since the difference between the inputs of (θ) or (r) are well-defined by moving different mouse parts. The Linear Touch-Sensitive Pad

< As mentioned previously the polar cursor technique provides the two inputs or values of (θ) and (r) subsequently, one after the other, accordingly, each of the two values can be represented linearly by using linear touch-sensitive pads that look like a linear strip as shown in Fig. 9. The user touches the linear touch-sensitive pad for the first time and moves his or her finger on it to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, then the user detaches his or her finger from the linear strip then touches it again for the second time to move his or her finger to provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system. As long as the user keeps touching or moving his or her finger on the linear touch-sensitive pad, the computer system considers that action as one step — no matter how many moves happen. ■

In the first and second step, moving the user's finger from left to right on the linear touch-sensitive pad provides immediate positive input values for (θ) and (r) to the > computer system, wherein moving the user's finger from right to left provides immediate negative input for (θ) and (r) to the computer system. '

The linear touch-sensitive pad can take any other shapes as a circular strip or L- shape strip. The advantage of having many different shapes gives a flexible usability that suits different users' needs or different applications as will be described subsequently. > The Polar Ring

Fig. 10 shows a polar ring which is a computer input device comprised of a first scroll wheel 1001 which can be rotated anti- or clockwise to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, a second scroll wheel 1002 which can be rotated anti- or clockwise to provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system, a first button 1003 which functions like a left-click button on a traditional mouse, a second button 1004 which functions like a right-click button on a traditional mouse, and a ring 1005 to house or hold the two scroll wheels 1001 and 1002, and the two buttons 1003 and 1004.

To operate the polar ring, the user puts it on one of his or her digits and uses the thumb finger to rotate the two scroll wheels or to press the two buttons. For the two scroll ■ wheels, rotating them clockwise provides immediate positive input for (θ) or (r) to the computer system, while rotating them anti-clockwise provides immediate negative input for (θ) or (r) to the computer system. The polar ring can be wireless to give its user a greater flexibility to move around the computer during operation. The Horizontal Tilt Wheel As shown in Fig. 11, the horizontal tilt wheel comprised of a scroll wheel 1201 that can be rotated horizontally about its vertical axis or center, and also can be tilted vertically by pressing downward on any of its boundary points, a first button 1202 which' ! functions like a left-click button on a traditional mouse, and a second button 1203 which functions as a right-click button on a traditional mouse. Rotating the horizontal tilt wheel clockwise provides immediate positive input for (θ) to the computer system, and rotating it anti-clockwise provides immediate negative input for (θ) to the computer system. : Tilting the horizontal wheel 1201 vertically downward from any point in the direction or close to the direction of the dotted line of the polar cursor provides immediate positive ' input for (r) to the computer system, and tilting it vertically downward from any point in the opposite direction or close to the opposite direction of the dotted line of the polar cursor provides immediate negative input for (r) to the computer system. The horizontal tilt wheel can be fixed on the top side of the traditional mouse to enable using the polar coordinates system and the Cartesian coordinates system together with the same mouse. It is also possible to fix the horizontal tilt wheel on a ring where the user can put it on his or her pointing finger and use the thumb finger to operate it. It can also be placed on a computer keyboard to be accessible to the user's fingers during computer keyboard use. Overall, the small size of the horizontal tilt wheel and the ease of operating it facilitates its attachment to different objects and helps in utilizing it in different tasks or circumstances.

As mentioned previously, one of the advantages of using the polar coordinate system and the polar cursor is the ability to use the same idea to enable the computer 5 ' cursor to move in thee dimensions with only minor modifications to the polar cursor shape and the mouse movement mechanism or parts. However, to do so, the polar cursor and the previously presented input devices need to input a third vector which is the angle : between the dotted line of the polar cursor and the positive z-axis which is the vertical

)i line on the x-y Cartesian coordinates plane. In this case, the polar coordinate system will 10 • be changed to the spherical. coordinate system and the polar cursor will be changed to what will be called a "Spherical Cursor" with its shape as shown in Fig. 12. This spherical cursor comprised of a circular portion 1201 that gives the feeling of (θ) value, a dotted line 1202 which serves as a ray reaching all possible target points of the cursor ; ; direction on the computer display, a solid line 1203 that represents the movement length 15 (r) of the cursor in its determined direction on the dotted line from the starting position 1200 to the targeted position 1204, and vertical circular portion 1205 that gives the feeling of (φ), which is the angle between the dotted line 1202 and the z-axis which is the vertical line on the x-y Cartesian coordinates plane.

> ^■ . ^• The difference between the polar cursor and the spherical cursor is the third

20 component, or the value of the angle (φ). This third value needs to be provided by the previous present input devices in order to move the spherical cursor on the computer display in three dimensions. The following description explains these modifications or additions to the present previous input devices:

1. Polar Mouse and the Double Polar Mouse 25 To input the third component (φ) of the spherical coordinate system using the polar mouse or the double polar mouse, having a scroll wheel fixed on the top side of the polar mouse or the double polar mouse between the left and right click, (the same traditional scroll wheel on the traditional mice) can provide the needed input, where : rotating this scroll wheel clockwise provides immediate positive input for (φ) to the 30 computer system, and rotating it anti-clockwise provides immediate negative input for (φ) to the computer system. The good thing about using this scroll wheel is its vertical direction on the mouse pad which matches the vertical direction of the z-axis on the polar cursor plane or the x-y Cartesian coordinate plane.

3. Linear Touch-Sensitive Pad

35 = - Having the linear touch-sensitive pad in an L-shape as shown in Fig. 13 can provide the three components of the spherical coordinates system in a simple and easy way, whereas the horizontal part 1301 of the L-shape of the linear touch-sensitive pad can be used to provide immediate input for the two components of (θ) and (r) to the ; computer system as described previously, and the vertical part 1302 of the L-shape of the

40 linear touch-sensitive pad can be used to provide immediate input for (φ) to the computer: system. Moving the user's finger on the vertical strip 1302 from "down" to "up" provides

! immediate positive input for (φ) to the computer system, and from "down" to "left" . _* provides immediate negative input for (φ) for the computer system. ^"• I

4. Polar Ring ^• , ^•

45 Having a third scroll wheel in addition to the first 1001 and second scroll wheels

1002 of the polar ring can provide immediate input for (φ) to the computer system. In this i case, similar to the first and second scroll wheels, rotating the scroll wheel clockwise provides immediate positive input for (φ) to the computer system, and rotating it anticlockwise provides immediate negative input for the computer system. 5. Horizontal Tilt Wheel

To enable the horizontal tilt wheel to provide an immediate input of (φ) to the computer system, a vertical scroll wheel is fixed inside the horizontal scroll wheel as shown in Fig. 14. This vertical scroll wheel 1402 has it axis perpendicular to the axis of the horizontal scroll wheel 1401, where the two axes are intersected at a point which is i the rotation center point of the horizontal and vertical scroll wheels. In this case rotating the vertical scroll wheel clockwise provides immediate positive input for (φ), and rotating it anti-clockwise provides immediate negative input for (φ) for the computer system. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is the polar coordinates system where a point (P) is represented by a tuple of two components (θ) and (r), where (θ) is the angle between the positive x-axis on the Cartesian coordinates plane and a line from the origin to the point (P), and (r) is the distance between the point (P) and the origin. '

Fig. 2 is a polar cursor comprised of a circular portion 201 that gives the feeling of the (θ) value, a dotted line 202 which serves as a ray reaching all possible target points of the cursor direction on the computer display, and a solid line 203 that represents the movement length (r) of the cursor in its determined direction (on the dotted line) from a start position 200 to a targeted position 204 on the computer display

Fig. 3 is five consecutive movements A, B, C, D, and E of a polar cursor on a computer display using the polar coordinate system >

Fig. 4 is three movements steps for a polar mouse on a mouse pad, the first movement from point 1 to point 2 , the second one is from point 2 to point 3, and the third one is from point 3 to point 4.

Fig. 5 is the three polar cursor movements 501, 502, and 503 on the computer display where these three steps are associated respectively with the three polar mouse movements of Fig. 4 on the mouse pad, where point A represents the start point of the polar cursor and point B represents the targeted point on the computer display. Fig. 6 is another example for another three steps for a polar mouse on the mouse pad; whereas the first step is from point 1 to point 2, the second step is from point 2 to point 4, and the third step is from point 4 to point 3. >

Fig 7 is the three steps 701, 702, and 703 of the polar cursor movement on the computer display that are associated respectively with the three polar mouse movement of Fig. 6 on the mouse pad, where the point A represents the start point of the polar cursor and the point B represents the targeted point on the computer display.

Fig. 8 is a double polar mouse comprised of a mouse body 801devided into two parts, the first part includes a first rotated ball 802 or sensing hole 802, and the second part includes a second rotated ball 803 or sensing hole 803, whereas the second part has it bottom side sloped to the mouse pad 804. Case A illustrates when the user moves the i double polar mouse naturally and case B illustrates when the user presses lightly on the ' top back side of the double polar mouse to provide immediate input for input (r) to the computer system.

Fig. 9 is a linear touch-sensitive pad that looks like a linear strip where the user moves his or her finger on it to provide immediate input for (θ) and (r) to the computer system.

Fig. 10 is a polar ring which is a computer input device comprised of a first scroll wheel 1001 to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, a second scroll wheel 1002 to provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system, a first button 1003 which functions like a left-click button on a traditional mouse, a second button 1004 which functions like a right-click button on a traditional mouse, and a ring 1005 to house or hold the two scroll wheels 1001 and 1002, and the two buttons 1003 and 1004. Fig. 11 is a horizontal tilt wheel comprised of a scroll wheel 1101 that can be rotated horizontally about its center to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer • system, and also can be tilted vertically by pressing downward on any of its boundary points to provide immediate input for (f) to the computer system, a first button 1102 which functions like a left-click button on a traditional mouse, and a second button 1103 which functions as a right-click button on a traditional mouse.

Fig. 12 is a spherical cursor comprised of a circular portion 1201 that gives the « feeling of (θ) value, a dotted line 1202 which serves as a ray reaching all possible target points of the cursor direction on the computer display, a solid line 1203 that represents "the movement length (r) of the cursor in its determined direction on the dotted line from the starting position 1200 to the targeted position 1204, and vertical circular portion 1205 that gives the feeling of (φ), which is the angle between the dotted line 1202 and the z- < axis which is the vertical line on the x-y Cartesian plane.

Fig. 13 is a linear touch-sensitive pad in L-shape whereas the horizontal part 1301 ^•of the L-shape provides immediate input for (θ) and (f) when the user's finger is moved on it, and the vertical part 1302 of the L-shape provides immediate input for (φ) to the computer system when the user's finger is moved on it.

Fig. 14 is an input device to move the spherical cursor in three dimensions on the computer display where said input device comprised of a horizontal tilt wheel 1401 to provide immediate input for (θ) and (r) to the computer system, a vertical scroll wheel 1402 to provide immediate positive input for (φ) to the computer system, a first button 1203 to function like a left-click button on a traditional mouse, and a second button 1204 ■ to function as a right-click button on a traditional mouse. \ Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The present input devices of the present invention are simple and straightforward and can utilize a number of existing technologies to easily and inexpensively achieve the polar coordinate system or the spherical coordinate system input. However, the invention includes some main parts that are described in the following points: 1 1. Polar Mouse

Technically the polar mouse is a traditional mechanical mouse that houses a rotated ball, or an optical mouse which houses an optical sensor, or any other mouse as known in the art. The only difference is the mouse software that is used with the computer system which converts the (x) and (y) inputs of the mouse movement into corresponding inputs or values for (θ) and (r) that is done through two steps. The first ■t step is to estimate the movement distance of the polar, mouse, where this movement distance is considered an input for (θ) if its value is less than a small specific value (a) which is suggested to be 3 millimeters. If the movement distance is equal to or greater ithan (a), then the computer system will consider the polar mouse movement as input for (f). This step can be expressed by the following logical statement:

If the mouse movement < a ■• Then this mouse movement is an input for (θ), and If the mouse movement > a Then this mouse movement is an input for (r) The second step for the software of the computer system is to convert the input values of (x) and (y) into corresponding angle value for (θ) and distance value of (r) using the following mathematical equations:

In the previous equation, the value of "a" is the polar mouse movement that makes the dotted line 202 of the polar cursor rotates 360 degrees which means one complete rotation about the origin. >

2. Double Polar Mouse 0 Technically the double polar mouse houses two rotated balls if it is a mechanical mouse type, and houses two optical sensing holes if it is an optical mouse type, where the two rotated balls and the two optical sensitive holes function in different periods of times based on the functionality of the double polar mouse as described previously. Accordingly the technical design of the double polar mouse will be as two mice in one5 but the output will be as one mouse since always one rotated ball or one sensing hole functioning on the time.

3. The Linear Touch-Sensitive Pad

It operates as in existing technologies of the traditional touch-sensitive pad by sensing the capacitance of the user's finger or the capacitance between sensors, wherein0 capacitive sensors are laid out along the axis of the linear touch-sensitive pad where the location of the finger is determined from the pattern of capacitance from these sensors. 4- The Polar Ring

The polar ring utilizes two scroll wheels when it is used with the polar cursor and three scroll wheels when it is used with the spherical cursor; however, the scroll wheels5 can be carried out in a similar fashion to the regular mouse scroll wheels by using optical encoding disks including light holes, wherein infrared LED's shine through the disks and sensors gather light pulses and accordingly the scroll wheel rotation is detected.

5- The Horizontal Tilt Wheel

■ It is essentially conventional mouse wheels that rotated horizontally to provide0 immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, and said conventionally mouse wheels^{■ '■} have been modified with a pair of sensors articulated to the tilting mechanism, these sensors are mapped to convert the downward titling to provide immediate input for (r) to, the computer system.

Industrial Applicability : 5 It is important to note if this invention become commercially available, it is believed that developers of current mouse-friendly software systems would come up with innumerable additional uses and application, however, some of the industrial applications of this invention are as follows: > : •

1. As an alternate for the conventional mouse that uses the Cartesian coordinates0 system to a new mouse that utilizes the polar coordinates system. =

2. In two or/and three dimensional drawings program to help the user to draw accurate dimensions of geometrical shapes easily. »

3. As a ring mouse to substitute the traditional computer mouse with a computer input device that is operated by two fingers without the need for a mouse pad. 5 4. As a linear touch-sensitive pad to replace the conventional sensitive pad to a linear strip which needs less space and easier to be used.

5. As a horizontal tilt wheel that is able to control the movement of the cursor on the computer instead of the computer mouse.

Claims

1. A method for providing position information to a computer system based on the polar coordinates system where said method provides immediate input for a tuple of the two components (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinates system to the computer system,

5 where (θ) is the angle between the positive x-axis on the Cartesian coordinate plane and a line from the origin to the point (P), and (r) is the distance between the point (P) and the ' origin, and said method utilizes a new computer cursor shape which is called "Polar Cursor" whereas said polar cursor comprised of a circular portion 201 that gives the feeling of the (θ) value on the computer display, a dotted line 202 which serves as a ray 10 reaching all possible target points of the cursor direction on the computer display, and a i solid line 203 that represents the movement length (r) of the cursor in its determined direction (on the dotted line) from a start position 200 to a targeted position 204.

2. A method to move the polar cursor of claim 1 on a computer display from a start > point to a targeted position in succeeding steps comprised of;

15 a) rotating the dotted line 202 of the polar cursor to overlap with the target position on the computer display by providing an immediate input for (θ) to the computer system. b) protracting the solid line 203 until it reaches the targeted position by providing an immediate positive input value for (r) to the computer system. 20 c) retracting the solid line 203 if the polar cursor passed the targeted position during its protracting, by providing immediate negative put to for (r) to the computer system.

3. A method to move a computer cursor on a computer display from a start position to a targeted position by providing two immediate succeeding inputs to the computer

25 system; where the first input provides the angle value of the cursor movement on the computer display from the start point to a targeted point, and the second input provides . the movement distance or value of the cursor on the computer display form the start point to the targeted position. r i 4. A method to move a computer cursor in a circular paths on a computer display by 30 providing two immediate succeeding inputs to the computer system, where the first input ^■'^• provides a radius distance (f) which represents the computer cursor movement in the direction of the x-axis in the Cartesian coordinates plane, and the second input provides an angle value (θ) which represents the rotation of the computer cursor in a circular path or a circle or part of said circle, whereas the radius of said circle is of (r) and its center is 35 the starting position of the computer cursor.-

5. A method to enable the computer user to move the computer cursor to reach a specific icon or menu of a program's interface without seeing said program's interface where said method comprising of aligning said icons or menus of said program's interface on a circular or boundary arrangement where each icon or menu is identified

40 with a unique musical tone that plays when a rotated line overlaps with any of said icons or menus, and a rotated line serves as a ray reaching all possible targets points on the computer display where said line rotates about a point inside said circular or boundary arrangement of said icons or menus.

6. A method for providing three dimensional position information to a computer system 5 based on the spherical coordinates system using the method of claim 1 further said polar cursor includes a vertical circular portion 1205 that gives the feeling of (φ) on the ; computer display, where (φ) is the angle between the dotted line 1202 and the z-axis which is the vertical line on the x-y Cartesian coordinates plane.

7. A method of claim 1 further numerical digits are indicated on both of the circular i portion 202 and the solid line 204 to represent or indicate the numerical value of each of them.

8. A method of claim 6 further numerical digits are indicated on the vertical circular 5 portion 1205 to represent or indicate the numerical value of (φ).

9. A polar mouse to move a computer cursor on a computer display by providing immediate inputs for a tuple of the two components (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinates system to a computer system where said polar mouse is moved on a mouse pad or surface to provide immediate input for (x) an (y) to the computer system, where the (x) and (y)

•»'■ 10 values are converted to correspondent values of (θ) and (r) according to the following 1 equations θ = tan^"1 ((y2 - yl) / (x2 -Xl)) '^■ - . ^■ .^" r = ((x2-xl) ² + (y2- yl)²) ⁰-⁵

Where xl and yl are the Cartesian coordinates of the start point on the computer 15 display, and x2 and y2 are the Cartesian coordinates of the end point or targeted point on ; the computer display, and the input of (θ) is provided when said polar mouse is moved less than 3 millimeters on the mouse pad or surface, and the input of (r) is provided when said polar mouse is moved 3 or more millimeters on the mouse pad or surface.

10. The polar mouse of claim 9 wherein the input of (θ) is provided if said polar mouse 20 movement is in the direction or close to the direction of the x-axis of the Cartesian coordinate plane according to the following equation; θ = 360 ((x2 - xl) ² + (y2 - yl)²) ^{0 5} / a, where "a" is a pre-determined value for the mouse movement to make the value of θ = 360 degrees which means one complete rotation for (θ), and the input of (r) is provided if said polar mouse movement is in the 25 direction or close to the direction of the y-axis of the Cartesian coordinates plane, according to the following equation;

• • r = ((x2 - xl) ² + (y2 - yl)²) °'^5' , where xl and yl are the Cartesian coordinates of the start point on the computer display, and x2 and y2 are the Cartesian coordinates of the targeted point on the computer display 30 11. The polar mouse of claim 9 wherein the input of (θ) is provided by rotating a vertical scroll wheel on the top side of said polar mouse where rotating said scroll wheel ; clockwise provide immediate positive input for (θ) to the computer system, and rotating i said scroll wheel anti-clockwise provide immediate negative input for (θ) to the computer system, and the positive input of (r) is provided when said polar mouse is moved in the 35 direction or close to the direction of the dotted line of the polar cursor, and the negative input of (r) is provided when said polar mouse is moved in the opposite direction or close .! , to of the opposite direction of the dotted line of the polar cursor. . ; < ■

12. The polar mouse of claim 9 wherein the input of(θ) is provided by rotating a i i horizontal scroll wheel on the left side of said polar mouse where said horizontal scroll 40 ■ wheel is rotated by the user' thumb finger, and its clockwise rotation provides immediate negative input for (θ) to the computer system; and its anti-clockwise rotations provides immediate positive input for (θ) to the computer system, and the input of (r) is provided i by rotating a vertical scroll wheel on the top side of said polar mouse where rotating said vertical scroll wheel clockwise provide immediate positive input for (r) to the computer ,45 system, and rotating said vertical scroll wheel anti-clockwise provide immediate negative input for (r) to the computer system.

13. A double polar mouse to provide immediate input for the two components (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinates system to a computer system where said double polar mouse comprised of; a) a mouse body 801 that is divided into two parts, the first part has its bottom parallel to the mouse pad, and the second part has its bottom sloped relative to the mouse > pad. b) a first rotatated ball 802 or first optical sensor 802 housed in the first part of i said mouse body to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, according to the following equation; θ = 360 ((x2 - xl ) ² + (y2 - y 1 )²) ° ⁵ / a, where "a" is a pre-determined value for the mouse movement to make the value of θ = 360 degrees which means one complete rotation for (θ), and xl and yl are Cartesian coordinates of the start point, and x2 and y2 are the Cartesian coordinates of the targeted point on the computer display c) a second rotating ball 803 or second optical sensor 803 housed in the second part of said mouse body to provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system, according to the following equation; r = ((x2- xl) ² + (y2- yl)²) °⁵, where xl and yl are Cartesian coordinates of the start point and x2 and y2 are the Cartesian coordinates of the targeted point on the computer display 14. A linear touch-sensitive pad to provide immediate input for the two components (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinate system subsequently one after the other to a computer system; wherein said linear touch-sensitive pad comprised of a linear strip that is sensitive to the motion of the user's finger where the first movement of the user's finger provides immediate input for (θ) to the computer system, thereby the second movement of the user' finger provides immediate input for (r) to the computer system, and the movement of the user finger from left to right provides immediate positive input for (θ) or (r) to the computer system, and the movement of the user's finger from "right" to "left" provides immediate negative input for (θ) or (r) to the computer system. 15. A polar ring which is a finger's ring to provide immediate input for the two components (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinates system to a computer system where said polar ring comprised of; a) a first scroll wheel 1001 which can be rotated anti- or clockwise to provide immediate input for (θ) to the computer system. b) a second scroll wheel 1002 which can be rotated anti- or clockwise to provide _* immediate input for (r) to the computer system. c) a first button 1003 functions like a left-click button on a traditional mouse. d) a second button 1004 functions like a right-click button on a traditional mouse. e) a ring 1005 to house or hold the two said scroll wheels 1001 and 1002, and the two said buttons 1003 and 1004. 16. A horizontal tilt wheel to provide immediate input for the two components (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinates system to a computer system, where said horizontal tilt wheel comprised of; a) a scroll wheel 1101 that can be rotated horizontally anti- or clockwise about its vertical axis to provide immediate negative or positive input for (θ) to the computer system, and said scroll wheel can be tilted vertically by pressing its boundary points downward to provide immediate input for (r) to the computer system, where (r) is positive if the pressed boundary points are in the direction or close to the direction of (θ), and (r) is negative if the pressed boundary points are in the opposite direction or close to the opposite direction of (θ). b) a first button 1102 functions like a left-click button on a traditional mouse, d) a second button 1103 functions as a right-click button on a traditional mouse. 17. i The polar mouse of claim 9 to provide three dimensional position information to a computer system based on the spherical coordinates system using the method of claim 6 i wherein said polar mouse further has a scroll wheel fixed on its top side, where said scroll wheel is rotated vertically by the user's finger to provide immediate positive input for (φ) to the computer system. 18. An L-shape linear touch-sensitive pad to provide three dimensional position • information to a computer system based on the spherical coordinates system using the method of claim 6 wherein said L-shape linear touch-sensitive pad comprised of two linear touch-sensitive pads of claim 14 forming an L-shape, where the horizontal part of said i L-shape provides immediate input for (θ) and (r) to the computer system, and the • vertical part of said L-shape provides immediate input for (φ) to the computer system 19. The polar ring of claim 15 to provide three dimensional position information to a ■ computer system based on the spherical coordinates system using the method of claim 6, • wherein said polar ring further has a third scroll wheel 1404 fixed on the ring to be rotated by the user's finger to provide immediate input for (φ). 20. The horizontal tilt wheel of claim 16 to provide three dimensional position information to a computer system based on the spherical coordinates system using the method of claim 6 wherein said horizontal tilt wheel further has a vertical scroll wheel 1402 fixed inside the horizontal scroll wheel 1401 where the two scroll wheels axis are perpendicular to each other and intersected at a point which is the rotation center of said two scroll wheels, and said vertical wheel is rotated by the user's finger to provide immediate input for (φ).

21- A software program to convert the mouse input values of (x) and (y) of the Cartesian coordinates system into corresponding input values for (θ) and (r) of the polar coordinates system using two step, where the first step is to estimate the movement distance of the polar mouse, where this movement distance is considered an input for (θ) if its value is less than a pre-determined value (a) and said movement distance is considered as input for (r) if it is equal to or greater than (a), as expressed by the following logical statement:

If the mouse movement < a Then this mouse movement is an input for (θ), and

If the mouse movement > a

And the second step for the software program is to convert the input values of (x) and (y) into corresponding angle values for (θ) and distance value of (r) using the following mathematical equations: O = [(x² + y²) ⁰⁵] 360 / a r = (x² _{+ y} ²) ⁰-⁵

Where said software program can be used with the computer system or the > computer input device.