WO2011008100A1

WO2011008100A1 - Foot operated computer mouse

Info

Publication number: WO2011008100A1
Application number: PCT/NO2009/000264
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rita Eilen Aronsen
Original assignee: Rita Eilen Aronsen
Priority date: 2009-07-14
Filing date: 2009-07-14
Publication date: 2011-01-20

Abstract

A foot operated computer mouse is disclosed. Said mouse consists of a small mat (1) equipped with a central pointing area (5) and two electrical switches (3a, b) for the functions of the right hand and left hand mouse buttons. The switches may be arranged in pairs on the left hand and/or right hand side of the pointing area. Each position in the pointing area is related to a corresponding position on a computer display device. The mouse is designed as a thin mat in an elastic material lying flat and stable on the floor.

Description

FOOT OPERATED COMPUTER MOUSE Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foot operated computer mouse intended to be included in a data system in order to control the position of a cursor on a computer display device.

Background

Foot operated computer mice are used as practical alternatives to hand operated computer mice. Such mice are used to prevent stress related illness, commonly called mouse arm, and they are also used by disabled persons suffering from limited use of his/her arms. In the last case they may be used as an alternative to a keyboard; the keyboard being shown on the screen and controlled by the foot.

On the market there is a product called "No hands mouse" consisting of two foot pedals for controlling the necessary functions. This design is somewhat inconvenient in use as the pedals protrude high above the floor. The feet must be held on the pedals giving a very limited freedom of movement. The design is also technically complicated with many movable parts. A similar construction is known from US patent application 2008/129695 Al.

US 2006/0278716 Al describes a system wherein a plate with wireless chips is placed on a floor, while the operator wears footwear with a reader detecting the position of the footwear in relation to the plate.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a foot operated mouse with a simple and reliable function and a better ergonomic design than prior art computer mice.

The scope of the patent appears from the attached claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now given a detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a section through a foot operated mouse according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows the invention in perspective,

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the inventive foot operated mouse, Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention with a scroll field, Fig. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the invention. Detailed description

The invention is a practical alternative to a hand operated mouse. It is characterized in that the function of the invention may be controlled by the foot/feet via a "foot operated mouse". The invention consists of a small mat equipped with sensors and a membrane, In the middle of the mat there is a marked sensor area. By leading a foot over a membrane in this area, a computer cursor may be moved. On each side of this area there are a marked area which can perform the functions of right hand and left hand mouse clicks, by touching (or depressing) them with the foot. The underside of the mat has a surface of soft rubber making it staying steady on the floor. The foot mouse consists of a mat 1 of rubber or a similar material. It has a smooth and slippery surface on the upper side 2. The lower side 4 is in a soft rubber preventing it from slipping on the floor.

The centrally placed movement sensor area or pointing area 5 has a slippery surface. Below the surface there are movement sensors sensitive to pressure/touch, which makes it possible to move the cursor around the computer screen. Such movement responsive sensors are well known on the market.

The mat includes two grooved areas 3a, b controlling right hand and left hand mouse clicks. Under the surface there are switches or pressure sensors transmitting signals to the computer. The switches may be made in membrane technique. By touching the marked grooved areas forming the right hand 3b or left hand 3a mouse buttons, signals are transmitted via the sensors to the computer in the same way as in a conventional mouse. The switches should preferably be of a type providing a distinct switch point, so it will be easy for the user to detect the activation of the switch. The resting zones 6 provide ample resting and movement room for the feet.

A wireless transceiver with accompanying battery is embedded in the mat for transferring signals to and from the computer.

The foot mouse/mat is thin, flexible and light in weight. It may be rolled together making it easy transportable.

Pressure sensors are well known in the market, as mentioned earlier, and are among other used in pointing plates in laptops. There exists several types of such plates, and the most common devices are based on resistive or capacitive detection of the position of a pressure point. The plates include several layers of plastic or glass with printed electrodes. Currently it is assumed that a resistive solution is to be preferred, as then it is easy to include switches as discrete pressure sensitive areas.

In order to make the foot mouse as practical in use as possible, it is important to avoid too many and repeated foot movements. Thus, Fig. 3 shows a solution wherein both switches are located on one side of the pointing area. The foot mouse may of course be equipped with a set of switches on both sides of the pointing area, meaning that the user may choose "orientation" according to his/her wishes. With such a solution, the user may constantly hold one foot on the pointing area, while the other foot is operating the switches. Then it is avoided having to move the foot away from the pointing area when a button is to be clicked. In conventional pointing plates there are also no positional connection between the pressure point on the plate and the cursor on the screen. A finger is placed anywhere on the plate and the cursor is "pushed" in the desired direction. However, the cursor is always where it was left the last time, when the finger was removed from the plate. This creates unnecessary large finger movements, as when hitting the edge of the pressure sensitive area, the finger must be lifted and removed back into the central area of the plate. In the present invention on the other hand, there is a 1 :1 relationship between the position of the foot on the mat and the cursor's position on the screen. If, e.g. the foot is put down in a corner of the pressure sensitive area, the cursor will instantly relocate into the corresponding position on the screen. Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein the foot mouse is equipped with a separate possibility of scrolling; either by means of a particular area 7 dedicated this function in the pointing area 5, which when used automatic scrolls the active window in the display. Or by using a dedicated device with a scrolling function, as for example a wheel as used on common hand operated mice.

Fig. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the invention in which the position of the feet on the mat is detected and displayed on the computer screen. The invention includes a mat 51 , as in the previous embodiments, but where the whole mat area, or at least a substantial part thereof, is positional sensitive. The position of the feet on the mat is determined by a controller 52. A wireless transceiver handling the connection to a computer 57 is also included in the mat, as well as batteries powering the mat (not shown). The controller determines if the feet are located within the pointing area 53, in the resting zones 54, within the scrolling area 55 or on one or more of the buttons 56. The information is sent to the computer 57 and displayed on the screen 58 in a small window 59. The wireless transmission of the information is indicated with an arrow. The position of the feet may be indicated as grey figures showing the outlines of the feet in the window 59. Alternatively, or in addition, the position of the feet may be indicated by a change in lightness, colour or a blinking of the corresponding field on the screen. I.e. if one foot is positioned in a location corresponding to a key on a keyboard 510, the key shown on the screen may be accentuated in a yellow blinking colour. It is also possible to have two cursors on the screen; one for each foot, whereby a user may "type" with both feet. The "clicking" for entering letters may then optionally be performed by tapping on the mat. This relates to a setup wherein the mat is used as a replacement for a keyboard, but the mat may also be used for controlling the position of a cursor, i.e. as a replacement for a mouse only.

The mat shown in Fig. 5 includes a set of switches or buttons 56 on both sides of the pointing area 53. Then, the user may chose which buttons he/she prefers to use dependent on whether he/she is left or right footed. However, if this should be regarded as unnecessary, one of the button pairs and resting zones may be omitted in order to conserve space.

As mentioned earlier, the mat is preferably made in an elastic material allowing it to be rolled together for transport, where it may be transported in a small case or bag suited for the purpose. As an alternative, the mat may be provided with specific hinge zones allowing it to be folded together for transport.

Even though the invention has been described as a flexible mat that may be rolled up for transport, it may also be produced as a stiff plate.

Claims

1. Foot operated computer mouse consisting of a mat or plate (1), the mat or plate (1) including a central pointing area (5) with sensors activated by

touch/pressure, as well as electric switches (3a, b) embedded in the mat or plate (1), the switches controlling the functions of right hand and left hand mouse clicks,

characterized in that there is positional connection between each position on the pointing area (5) and a corresponding position on a computer display device.

2. Foot operated computer mouse as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switches (3a, b) are arranged in pairs on the left hand and/or right hand side of the pointing area (5).

3. Foot operated computer mouse as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mat or plate includes resting zones (6) for the feet on each side of the pointing zone (5) and next to each switch or switch pair (3a, b).

4. Foot operated computer mouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the mat is smooth and slippery, while the other side is covered in a soft rubber preventing the mat or plate from slipping on a floor, and the electrical switches being marked as grooved fields.

5. Foot operated computer mouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mat or plate includes a wireless transceiver adapted to transfer signals from sensors and switches to a computer.

6. Foot operated computer mouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switches (3a, b) are designed as membrane switches embedded in the mat or plate (1).

7. Foot operated computer mouse as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mouse is realized as a mat made in an elastic material allowing it to be rolled together for transport.