Pen-type computer input device with multiple spheres
OwnerKenneth W. Kraussinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pen-type computer input device operates in the same fashion as a mouse with the added advantage that the device has the features of a ball point pen having a narrow tip, with a small diameter ballpoint for tracing fine detail. The point may optionally deposit ink on the path traversed. The device has an elongate housing which may be grasped like a pen. A stack of contiguous spheres rotatably mounted within the housing serially transmits motion of the lowermost tip sphere to the uppermost sphere which operates as a mouse ball to provide computer signal input directly related to motion of the pen tip. The device may incorporate a mouse at the top or be adapted for retrofit to an existing mouse.
Claims18
A data input device comprising:
- an elongate housing having a narrow lower tip end, an intermediate portion and an upper end portion, said intermediate portion arranged for grasping by the hand of a user;
- three or more spheres rotatably mounted within said housing with each sphere contiguous with at least one other sphere, with a lowermost of said spheres partially extending below said lower tip for providing a rolling contact with a surface, said spheres arranged for serially driving one another, whereby motion imparted by rolling the lowermost sphere on said surface is transmitted serially through said spheres to an uppermost of said spheres.
A data input device comprising:
- an elongate housing having a narrow lower tip end, an intermediate portion and an upper end portion, said intermediate portion arranged for grasping by the hand of a user;
- four or more spheres rotatably mounted within said housing with each sphere contiguous with at least one other sphere, with a lowermost of said spheres partially extending below said lower tip for providing a rolling contact with a surface, said spheres arranged for serially driving one another, whereby motion imparted by rolling the lowermost sphere on said surface is transmitted serially through said spheres to an uppermost of said spheres.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.