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Multifunction tactile manipulatable control
| Details |
Inventors: Culver, Craig F.;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Herrmann; Allan D.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Skjerven, Morrill, MacPherson, Franklin & Friel
A multifunction human digit control includes a rotating cylinder journalled in a movable bar slidable in a groove in a deflectable support track. Rotation of the cylinder by a thumb or finger generates a first motion signal and movement of either or both of the bar and the cylinder by tactile movement, generates a second motion signal, representing, for example, X-axis and Y-axis positions, respectively, of a cursor on a computer screen. Various types of motion detectors or encoders are disclosed to detect the various movements of the bar and cylinder. The mechanism also permits actuation of a switch or other motion detector in a Z-axis by deflection of any one of the bar, the cylinder or portions of the support track with respect to a support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the overall control has its digit-operated tactile surfaces exposed in an aperture contained in a device casing, such as an opening in a computer keyboard or in an instrument housing or control panel. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION The multifunction control of this invention for use with computer keyboards and other instruments incorporates a rotating cylinder fo generation of a motion signal.
The rotating cylinder itself is journalled in a longitudinally traveling hoizontal member or sliding bar, which itself is part of the control surfaces and which generates a second motion signal.
The motion signals normally will represent X-axis and Y-axis orthogonal positions.
The sliding bar has top surfaces curved for optimal finger/thumb or other digit contact and the bar is slidable in an elongated fixed support track.
The track also serves as a lever arm to transfer pressure downwardly in a Z-direction to operate a Z-axis switch or other motion detector.
In FIG.
1, a contactable topside portion of the overall control 50 is seen exposed in an aperture 56 positioned across a middle third of a computer keyboard frame 53 in front of a standard space bar 54.
The exposed parts of the control include a surrounding connected rear switchbar 6, a front switchbar 5, and side switchbars 7.
Other keyboard keys 55 are provided above and to the sides of the space bar as known in the computer art.
Within the "frame" formed by the connected switchbars are seen slidable bar 8 extending thereacross and a rotary cylinder 16 journalled in the bar.
It can be seen in FIG.
1 that the hands of the user in normal input "home" position for the striking of keys is such as to allow primarily the thumbs of the user to not only press the space bar 54 but also to manipulate either or both the rotary cylinder and the sliding bar to generate an X-axis and Y-axis, signal to suitable motion detectors.
At any time, the user may press down on any part of the switchbars or any exposed part of the cylinder or sliding bar to produce due to a deflectable track in which the bar slides, a Z-axis motion, and resultant actuation of a pressure-or other motion-sensitive switch or control.
The principal parts of the control 50 are shown in FIG.
2
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