The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1995
Rainer Kuth, Herzogenaurach, DE;
Wolfgang Pritzel, Prutting, DE;
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, DE;
Abstract
An input unit for a computer has a housing with a transparent plate at one side thereof over which an input element is movable. The housing contains a camera which identifies the position of the input element and converts this position into a position output signal. An evaluation unit converts the position output signal into control signals for the computer according to a mouse protocol. The input unit can thus be used to control the computer in a manner which mimics the control of a computer using a conventional mouse, but avoids the disadvantages associated with conventional mouse control. The input element may be an element specifically dedicated for that purpose, or may be a tool which the user happens to have available, or may simply be the finger of a user.