Foot-operated computer control
OwnerDavid Scalloninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A foot-operated input device for use in combination with a computer includes a housing to which one or more track balls are mounted, and a series of switches mounted to the housing. The track balls are employed to control the position of the computer's cursor, cross hair or the like in response to an operator's foot movements. The switches are also actuated in response to the operator's foot movements, and function in the same manner as switches associated with a mouse. Alternatively, the switches can be employed to provide other inputs to the computer, such as programmable macro inputs, ASCII inputs or the like.
Claims18
In combination, a computer for use by an operator and including a cursor;
- and a foot-operated control for controlling operation of the computer in response to movement of one or more of the operator's feet, the foot-operated control including a foot-enclosing housing located below the computer for receipt of at least one of the operator's feet, and one or more control elements mounted to the housing and interconnected with the computer, the one or more control elements including a track ball positioned within the housing directly below the operator's foot for controlling the position of the computer's cursor and a plurality of switches positioned within the housing, said plurality including a switch on different sides of the housing to be engaged by lateral movement of the operator's foot.
A foot-operated control for use by an operator in combination with a computer having a cursor, comprising:
- a housing located below the computer for receipt of at least one of the operator's feet;
- one or more control elements within the housing and interconnected with the computer, including a track ball for controlling the position of the cursor and a plurality of switches, each switch on different sides of the housing;
- wherein the track ball and the switches are operable by one of the operator's feet for controlling operation of the computer in response to the operator's foot movements.
A foot-operated control for use by an operator in combination with a computer having two cursors, comprising:
- two foot-receiving housings located below the computer in the vicinity of the operator's feet;
- a plurality of control elements mounted to each housing and interconnected with the computer, each plurality of elements including a track ball for controlling the position of one cursor and a plurality of switches, each switch on different sides of a respective housing;
- wherein the track ball and the switches for each housing are operable by one of the operator's feet for independently controlling operation of the computer and one of the cursors in response to the operator's foot movements without affecting the operation and position of the other cursor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.