Input apparatus with ball
AssigneeACCO Brands USA LLC
InventorJohn Cavacuiti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An input apparatus is disclosed. The input apparatus provides a control signal to a host system. It includes a housing that includes an upper portion and a lower portion. A ball is coupled to the upper portion of the housing and can reside within a ring. A first sensor assembly is configured to sense the position of the ball, and a second sensor assembly is configured to sense the position of the input apparatus relative to a work surface. The input apparatus also includes a mode switch, where the mode switch is operatively coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly. The mode switch includes a first mode where the first sensor assembly provides the control signal to the host system and a second mode where the second sensor assembly provides the control signal to the host system.
Claims34
An input apparatus for providing a control signal to a host system, the input apparatus comprising:
- a housing comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;
- a ball at the upper portion of the housing;
- a first sensor assembly configured to sense the position of the ball;
- a second sensor assembly configured to sense the position of the input apparatus relative to a work surface;
- and
- a mode switch, wherein the mode switch is operatively coupled to the first sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly, the mode switch comprising a first mode where the first sensor assembly is used to provide the control signal to the host system and a second mode where the second sensor assembly is used to provide the control signal to the host system.
The input apparatus of claim I wherein the first sensor assembly is a first optical sensor assembly and the second sensor assembly is a second optical sensor assembly.
A modular desktop assembly comprising:
- a keyboard comprising a first connector;
- and
- a control device comprising a second connector, wherein the first connector is connectable to the second connector.
A ball assembly for providing a control signal, the ball assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a holding structure;
- a ball cooperatively configured with the holding structure, wherein the ball is accessible from outside the housing;
- and
- a sensor assembly configured to sense the relative movement of the ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.