Six degree of freedom graphic object controller

A device for providing signals indicative of an object's location on a display, comprising:

• a housing operative to be manipulated by a user;
• a first translation position indicating means affixed to said housing for producing a first signal indicative of a first position of said object on said display with respect to a first translational axis;
• a second translation position indicating means affixed to said housing for producing a second signal indicative of a second position of said object on said display with respect to a second translational axis;
• a third translation position indicating means affixed to said housing including a bidirectional controller operated by one or more fingers of said user, for producing a third signal indicative of a third position of said object on said display with respect to a third translational axis,
• said bidirectional controller including a roller operative to be bidirectionally moved by said fingers and having means for detecting bidirectional movement of said roller and converting the detected movement of said roller to said third signal.
• said roller being affixed to said housing in such a manner that said user can operate said roller equally as well when said device is stationary as when said device is being moved across a surface by said user;
• and
• a first orientation indicating means affixed to said housing for converting the motion of a first bidirectional manipulator operated by said fingers of said user into a first orientation signal indicative of the orientation of said object on said display with respect to one of said first, second or third translational axis;
• whereby a movement of said device over said surface results in said first and second positions of said object being defined on said display, whereby a movement of said bidirectional controller results in said third position of said object being defined on said display, and whereby a movement of said first bidirectional manipulator results in a change in the orientation of said object.

Apparatus for generating signals indicative of the three-dimensional position and orientation of an object, comprising:

• an external housing;
• a first translation position indicating means mounted to said housing for producing a first signal indicative of a first position of said object along a first axis;
• a second translation position indicating means mounted to said housing for producing a second signal indicative of a second position of said object along a second axis;
• a third translation position indicating means mounted to said housing for converting the motion of a bidirectional controller into a third signal indicative of a third position of said object along a third axis, said bidirectional controller having a belt opertive to be bidirectionally moved by a finger of said user and means for detecting the bidirectional movement of said belt and converting the detected movement of said belt to said third signal, said belt including a plurality of fingertip sized holes formed therein through which said finger can be inserted;
• and
• a first orientation indicating means affixed to said housing for converting the motion of a first bidirectional manipulator operated by one or more fingers of a user into a first orientation signal indicative of the orientation of said object with respect to one of said first, second or third axes;
• whereby movement of said apparatus over a surface results in said first and second positions of said object being defined, whereby movement of said bidirectional controller results in said third position of said object being defined, and whereby a movement of said first bidirectional manipulator results in a change in the orientation of said object.