Two- and three-dimensional trackball with enhanced measurement optics
OwnerEdward T. Bullisterinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cursor control device for computers includes a ball whose surface is marked with a regular pattern based on the Platonic solids. The ball surface is illuminated and the rotations are measured precisely from the observed motions of the Platonic solids. The precision of measurement enables the rotation to be measured about other axes and transformed to the desired coordinates without undue deterioration of accuracy. In one embodiment, a nonplanar retainer exposes adjacent faces of a trackball for three components of rotation. In another embodiment, the ball rotation is measured inside a mouse, and the high accuracy of detection of rotation enables collection of transformed rotations from a sensor mounted to the side for a more compact design.
Claims17
A device for measuring motion corresponding to coordinate information for input to a computer, comprising:
- a) a foundation,
- b) a spherical ball, said ball;
- i) having a center,
- ii) being rotatable with respect to said foundation about any axis passing through said center of said ball,
- iii) being coextensive with a sphere which is substantially fixed with respect to said foundation, such that said ball is retained adjacent to said foundation,
- iv) having first and second areas on the surface of said substantially fixed sphere, said first and second areas exposed for manipulation and suitable for grasping between a user's thumb and a user's finger when said thumb and said finger are located on opposite sides of said ball,
- c) a sensor, said sensor being:
- i) supported by said foundation,
- ii) capable of detecting rotation with respect to said foundation about at least one of said axes passing through said center of said ball,
- d) a retainer, said retainer:
- i) supported by said foundation,
- ii) covering a third area on the surface of said substantially fixed sphere, said third area separating said first area from said second area,
- iii) trapping said ball adjacent to said foundation such that said coextensive sphere is held substantially fixed with respect to said foundation,
- iv) exposing said first and second areas for grasping between said user's thumb and said user's finger;
- whereby a user of said device for measuring motion corresponding to coordinate information can grasp exposed areas on opposite sides of said ball and apply opposing forces between said user's finger and said user's thumb, and thereby easily apply simultaneous rolling and twisting motions to said ball.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.