GB2292441A - Touch pad device - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch pad device for controlling cursor movement on a computer monitor comprises a touch sensitive surface 13 over which a finger can be moved to effect movement of the cursor and which can be pressed to operate as a pick button, a thumb operable return button 14, and a serial cable 12 for connecting the device with the computer. <IMAGE>

Description

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD "MOUSE" Field of this Invention THIS PRESENT INVENTION RELATES TO A COMPUTER "MOUSE" WHICH HAS A WHOLE TOUCH PAD SURFACE FOR CURSOR MOVEMENT AND ONE SINGLE RETURN BUTTON.

Backaround to the Invention Prior art has described the computer "mouse" in a number of forms and designs. It is known to be an input device, hemispherical in appearance which when moved about on a flat surface close to the computer will cause the cursor to move about on the monitor or display screen.

A mouse normally has one or more controlling buttons to instruct the computer in a specific way when the pointer is superimposed on the screen. The "mouse" is connected to the VDU screen by cable and it allows the user to choose options within menu driven software.

The most common form of computer "mouse" employs a pair of small wheels which rotates as the "mouse" is moved. The movement is measured and transmitted to the computer which moves the cursor or marker in sympathy from one option to another in the menu. When the cursor is positioned over the right option pressing a button on the "mouse" signifies the selection of that option.

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD "MOUSE" The development of the "mouse" from a two button type to four buttons and to "mice" without buttons has progressed through the past few years. A buttonless "mouse" is activated by the hand touching the upper surface of the instrument and then any key on the manual keyboard can be used as a mouse button. Such a means of operation allows the left hand (if a person is right-handed) to be poised over the space bar or other selected keyboard key for rapid "clicking".

It is the first aspect of this present invention to produce a computer "mouse" which is somewhat rhomboidal in outline shape which has one button of somewhat triangular shape and the remainder is a touch pad surface.

The touch pad is a relatively flat, rhomboidal shaped plastic housing in which is the sensory hardware and from which a length of serial cable connects with the computer.

The touch pad is a conductive grid having at least four hundred vertical columns and three hundred spaces.

The touch pad is supported on a single action compression spring of minimal vertical movement and acts as the "pick" button. The return button, which would be operated by the thumb, is sited along the lowest and shortest side of the rhomboidal shape.

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD ''MOUSE" A specific embodiment will now be more particularly described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 illustrates a select number of existing "mice" by way of comparison.

Figure 2 is a plan view and isometric view of the TOUCH PAD MOUSE and grid pattern of the touch pad.

Figure 3 shows the analysis areas and spring orientations for the TOUCH PAD MOUSE Figure 4 shows the grid pattern incorporated in the TOUCH PAD MOUSE and a circuit diagram.

According to Figure 1 there is shown a number of existing commercially available Computer "nice" to illustrate the comparison between such existing units and the embodiment of this invention.

No description of the "Mice" shown is deemed necessary since their specifics are already the subject of prior art. The significance and therefore the purpose in including these examples in this specification is to draw attention to the "inventive step" introduced by the TOUCH PAD MOUSE. It can be seen from the examples illustrated in Figure 1 that the use of press buttons and roller balls features throughout the initial designs.

Figure 1, view la shows one of the original patterns of computer "mouse" which has two press buttons. View ib illustrates a "mouse" in the form of a pen.

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD "MOUSE" Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown as view 2a a plan view of the TOUCH PAD MOUSE 10 which clearly indicates its rhomboidal outline shape. The vertical edge 11 would approximate 50 millimetres and would be relatively flat.

The serial cable 12 to the computer monitor screen is indicated extending away from edge 12a.

The touch pad surface 13 occupies most of the surface area as viewed. The touch button 14 which1 as mentioned earlier in this description is somewhat triangular in outline shape is sited at the lower shorter edge 15 of the TOUCH PAD MOUSE 10.

The touch pad 13 may also be used either as a relative digitiser or in the "mouse" mode. This latter mode means that the movement of a finger across the surface 13 which is in effect a grid, will cause the computer cursor to move in the direction of the finger across the monitor screen. If the finger is lifted from the bottom left corner of the touch pad surface 13 and placed on the top right hand corner of the said touch pad there will be no relative movement of the cursor on the computer screen.

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD "MOUSE" When in digitiser mode, if the finger is removed from the lower right hand corner of the touch pad surface 13 and then placed on the top right hand corner of the said surface 13 the curser on the computer screen will have moved from the bottom right to the top left on the computer screen. The touch pad surface 13 is divided into a grid pattern (Figure ) with 400 vertical columns and 300 horizontal rows. Every first and second sensor is a column and every third and fourth sensor is a row. This alternates on each row for maximum senitivity. The touch pad surface 13 is supported on a single action spring switch (see Figure 3 view 3b) of limited vertical movement which will be the pick button.As a finger is moved across the surface of the touch pad 13 while still in contact with the said surface circuits are opened and closed and will be shown as and represented by the cursor movement on the computer screen. Because the finger passing along the grid will cause more than one horizontal or vertical circuits to be opened at any one time there must be an averaging analysis carried out to determine the centre of the finger. When a circuit is closed a light will show which should warn to vacate or clear the touch pad 13.

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD "MOUSE" Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a schematic layout of the electronic components in the TOUCH PAD "MOUSE" 10.

View 3a shows the areas of influence incorporated in the "mouse" 10 and indicates that the vertical grid analysis 16 is concentrated near the bottom edge 15. Orientated along the left edge 11 are the grid movement analysis 17, the "mouse" interpreter 18 and the horizontal grid analysis 19.

View 3b illustrates the single movement springs 20 and 21 which return the "pick" button 13 and the return button 14.

The circles in view 3a indicate the centres of influence relative to the springs 20 and 21.

It will be obvious other methods of creating spring return movement for these respective buttons can be introduced in other embodiments of this invention.

The essential feature of the buttons 13,14 is that the switches they both operate must be single action and should create a positive "click" action. The action of the switches 20,21 incorporated in this embodiment ensures a double "click" action to be sensed and recognised.

It will be obvious that the views 3a, 3b illustrate the layout of the TOUCH PAD MOUSE 10 for right handed persons.

The position of the button 14 would be transferred to the right hand corner for a left-handed person.

COMPUTER TOUCH-PAD "MOUSE" Referring now to Figure 4 there is shows the pattern of electronic grid incorporated in the TOUCH PAD MOUSE 10.

The touch pad surface 13 is divided vertically and horizontally. In the preferred embodiment there are 400 vertical columns 22 and 300 horizontal rows 23 - very obviously the view illustrated does not portray these specific numbers. In another embodiment the electronic grid pattern could be replaced by pressure sensitive plastics or conductive rubber. Alternatively magnetic sensing could be adopted. The description thus far given will have indicated the inventive step introduced by comparison with the currently available pattern of computer "mouse" some examples of which are given in Figure 1.

Claims (8)

1. Claim!

   t. A touch pad sensory device Figure 2 wew 2a comprising of a housing. a sensory pad Figure 2 13, a pick button Figure 3 20 and a retum button Figure 3 21 the pick button and sensory pad being the one surface.
2. 2. A touch pad sensory device as claimed in claim 1 of size that can be rested on a flat upward surface and be accessed by a finger over the whole of the touch pad area with the palm of the hand resting in one place.
3. 3. A touch pad sensory device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 that incorporates a sensory pad Figure 2 13 mounted in the said housing and is used to determine relative or absolute movement of a finger over its surface area.
4. 4. A touch pad sensory device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 that uses a button figure 3 20 to emulate a mouse pick button, both single action and dual action, and which is incorporated with the sensory pad described in Claim 3.
5. 5. A touch pad sensory device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 that uses a button figure 3 21 to emulate a mouse retum button and which is situated so it may be accessed by the thumb of the same hand used to operate the sensory Pad.
6. 6. A touch pad sensory device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 that incorporates a electronic cable figure 3 t2 to connect the touch pad to the computer.
7. 7. A touch pad sensory device as claimed in any preceding claim that within the design layout is a mirror image of the Figure 2 view 2a. about the Y axis to provide a left hand version.
8. 8. A touch pad sensory device as described herein and with reference to Figures 2 - 4 of the accompanying drawing.