Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Melissa S Jacobson

Thomas W Brooks

Allen M Han

Christopher G Alviar

Hugh E McLoone

Gregory G Jones

I-Chiang Sun

Aditha May Adams

Kevin D Van Flandern

Wolfgang Adam Mack, Jr

Steven Nabil Bathiche

Steven T Kaneko

Damon V Danieli

Bin An

Matthew J Stipes

Mark K Svancarek

Drew Calvin Bamford

Daniel J Blase

Paul Hornikx

Robert E Gruhl

Jonathan S Bruck

A hand held computer input device includes a first housing portion having at least one user actuable input device. A first extending handle is coupled to, and extends away from, the first housing portion. A second handle is also coupled to, and extends away from, the first housing portion. An orientation sensor is coupled to the first housing and is configured to sense a physical orientation of the first housing portion. The orientation sensor provides an orientation signal indicative of the physical orientation sensed.

Two-handed computer input device with orientation sensor

A control device that combines a movable pod, that is sized to comfortably support a user's hand, with control buttons that are easily commanded by the user's fingers and thumb without interfering with pod movement, thereby allowing the user to quickly, simultaneously, and intuitively, command multiple aspects of a user application software, such as a game. Preferably, the pod is movable simultaneously in three different directions: forward-and-backward, side-to-side; and axially about an axis. The device also uses the distance the pod is displaced from a neutral position as an additional control parameter for commanding the application software. In addition, control commands associated with the control buttons and movement of the pod may be programmed by the user either &ldquo;on the fly&rdquo; or by using a graphical user interface. Also, the device provides feedback to the user regarding the programmed status of each button and available pod movement.

Control device with enhanced control aspects and method for programming same

A navigation input device for navigating a graphical display includes a substantially elliptical sensing window and a touch sensor, which is sensitive to placement of a user's digit within the sensing window.

X-Y navigation input device

The present invention provides a dual axis articulated computer input device. Position sensors are configured to provide position information indicative of a position of two handle members relative to one another.

Dual axis articulated electronic input device

A computer input device that comfortably supports the hand of the user while the thumb and fingers are associated with buttons, a trackball, and a scrolling wheel carried on the device. The overall configuration of the device and the arrangement of these actuators permits the user to easily and effectively operate all of the actuators while the hand and arm of the user are in a comfortable position. The device includes a housing having thumb-side and finger-side surfaces. The trackball extends from the thumb-side surface. The finger-side surface includes four input buttons and the scrolling wheel. The thumb-side surface is fairly steep and almost at right angles to the finger-side surface. This helps enable the motion of the thumb to fall along its natural axis of flexion/extension. The thumb-side surface extends above the top of the ball to provide a stop when the thumb is moved inwardly off the ball. The buttons and the wheel on the finger-side surface are in line in a single row to allow the fingers to move within a natural range of motion for efficient control. Two of the input buttons are effectively embedded within a respective other input button. This relative positioning other allows the user to move between two buttons with either side-to-side or forward-and-back translation. Two buttons located at respective outer edges of the finger-side surface and have raised projections for tactile feedback. The housing includes a convex surface behind the ball that provides constant thumb support and reduce fatigue.

Ergonomic computer input device

A computer input device that comfortably supports the hand of the user while the thumb and fingers are associated with buttons, a trackball, and a scrolling wheel carried on the device. The overall configuration of the device and the arrangement of these actuators permit the user to easily and effectively operate all of the functions provided by the actuators while the hand and arm of the user are in a comfortable position. The device includes a housing having an asymmetrical dividing ridge forming a &ldquo;thumb-side surface,&rdquo; for placement of the thumb, and a &ldquo;finger-side surface,&rdquo; for placement of the remaining four fingers. The finger-side surface includes a ball rotatably mounted in the housing and further includes first and second input buttons disposed to the side of the ball which may be used as &ldquo;forward&rdquo; and &ldquo;back&rdquo; buttons. The first and second input buttons adjacent to the ball may be replaced by a linearly slidable or pivotally movable actuator. The movable member is preferably of the three-position-type enabling the user to activate the movable member in a forward or a backward direction for transmission of respective signals to the computer. The thumb-side surface includes a horizontally-disposed scrolling wheel and third and fourth buttons on opposite sides of the scrolling wheel that can be used as &ldquo;primary&rdquo; and &ldquo;secondary&rdquo; buttons. The primary button has a curved bottom portion that serves as a thumb rest, and may be used as such without activating the button as the button is movable laterally towards the fingers.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Melissa S Jacobson