Numeric mouse one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device

Claim 2

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device for selecting and controlling a portion of a computer screen display and for input to a mouse-based computer program comprising in operative combination: (a) a housing, said housing being: (i) sized to enclose means for on-screen pointing functioning of said pointing device; and (ii) adapted to be held by one hand; (b) said housing having at least one first surface; (c) at least one finger-actuable button disposed on said first surface, each of said finger-actuable button being positioned on said pointing device for convenient and efficient actuation by one or more fingers of one of a user's hands while said pointing device is being controlled by said hand; and (d) an analog switch, disposed in association with at least a first one of said finger-actuable buttons, said analog switch and associated finger-actuable button having dual function mode capability including: (i) a first function mode for use as a selection mechanism; and (ii) a second function mode for inputting to a computer a signal corresponding to the depth that said button is directly actuated by fingers of said user's one hand to dynamically control the value of an attribute of input data represented on a computer screen display.

Claim 3

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said pointing device is a relative positioning device including a plurality of buttons; (b) said relative positioning device having at least two modes of operation including a first digital mode and a second analog mode wherein: (i) each of said buttons has on/off, click states during operation in said digital mode, and (ii) at least said first button is a dynamically controllable button associated with said analog switch during operation in said analog mode.

Claim 4

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 2 wherein said relative positioning device includes means for switching back and forth between said digital mode and said analog mode.

Claim 5

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 3 wherein: (a) said plurality of buttons includes a numeric keypad array to permit input of numeric data.

Claim 6

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 4 wherein: (a) said relative positioning device is a mouse; and (b) a cable connected to said mouse, said cable transmitting signals to said computer in response to actuation of each of said buttons or relative movement of said pointing device.

Claim 7

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 3 wherein: (a) said plurality of buttons includes a function-key keypad array to permit keying a command.

Claim 8

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 6 wherein: (a) said relative positioning device is a mouse; and (b) a cable connected to said mouse, said cable transmitting signals to said computer in response to actuation of each of said buttons or relative movement of said pointing device.

Claim 9

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said pointing device is a light pen; (b) said housing comprises a hand graspable barrel having a first end defining a pen tip; (c) said first button being disposed on said barrel in finger-use position.

Claim 10

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 8 which includes: (a) a cable connected to said light pen, said cable transmitting signals to said computer in response to actuation of each of said buttons or relative movement of said pointing device.

Claim 11

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 8 wherein: (a) said first button is disposed adjacent said pen tip for convenient actuation by a user's finger while said light pen is held in a writing position.

Claim 12

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 4 wherein: (a) said numeric keypad array is ______________________________________ 7 8 9 4 5 6 1 2 3 ;and ______________________________________ (b) said plurality of buttons further includes a 0 key disposed below the 1,2,3 key row.

Claim 13

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 11 wherein: (a) an enter key is provided substantially adjacent one of the upper numeric key rows of said numeric keypad array; (b) a decimal point key is provided adjacent one of said upper numeric rows opposite to said enter key.

Claim 14

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 12 wherein: (a) said first dynamically controllable button is the number 4 key.

Claim 15

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 13 wherein: (a) said key array includes keys having left, center and right key functions.

Claim 16

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 14 wherein: (a) said left function key is the number 4 key; (b) said center function key is the number 5 key; and (c) said right function key is the number 6 key.

Claim 17

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 15 wherein: (a) said relative positioning device is a mouse; and (b) a cable connected to said mouse, said cable transmitting signals to said computer in response to actuation of each of said buttons or relative movement of said pointing device.

Claim 18

Method of dynamically controlling an attribute of data input to a mouse-based computer program by actuation of a finger-actuable key on a peripheral pointing device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an analog switch in association with said key; (b) providing variable depth of actuation of said key by finger motion; and (c) varying the output of said key in relation to the depth of finger actuation to control or select the attribute of data input in a computer; (d) providing said key with dual function mode operational capability including a first, analog data attribute mode and a second digital click selection mode; and (e) providing means for distinguishing between said modes of said peripheral pointing device key in accordance with software written in said mouse-based program.

Claim 19

Method of dynamically controlling an attribute of data input to a mouse-based computer program by actuation of a finger-actuable key on a peripheral pointing device, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an analog switch in association with said key; (b) providing variable depth of actuation of said key by finger motion; and (c) varying the output of said key in relation to the depth of finger actuation to control or select the attribute of data input in a computer; (d) providing said key with dual function mode operational capability including a first, analog data attribute mode and a second digital click selection mode; and (e) providing means for distinguishing between said modes of said peripheral pointing device key in accordance with software written in said mouse-based program.

Claim 20

Method of dynamically controlling an attribute of data input to a computer by actuation of a finger-actuable key as in claim 17 wherein: (a) said key is provided in association with a relative positioning device; and (b) said step of key actuation may include simultaneously moving said relative positioning device.

Claim 21

Method of dynamically controlling an attribute of data input to a computer by actuation of a finger-actuable key as in claim 17 wherein: (a) said key is provided on a light pen; and (b) said step of key actuation may include simultaneously moving said light pen.

Claim 22

A one hand controllable mouse-type computer peripheral pointing device for selecting and controlling a portion of a computer screen display and for input to mouse-based computer applications programs comprising in operative combination: (a) a mouse having a housing sized and configured to be held and manipulated by one hand of a user; (b) said mouse housing having a first upper surface, which surface has a first finger end and a second heel end; (c) said mouse housing enclosing means for relative positioning on-screen pointing functions of said device; (d) twelve dedicated keys disposed projecting from said mouse first upper surface; (e) said twelve dedicated keys including ten numeric keys 0 through 9; (i) keys 1 through 9 of said ten numeric keys are disposed in the following array: ______________________________________ 7 8 9 4 5 6 1 2 3 ; ______________________________________ (ii) said 7, 8, 9 key row being disposed adjacent said finger end of said first surface; (iii) said 4, 5, 6 key row being disposed medial of said finger and said heel ends of said first surface; (iv) said 1, 2, 3 key row being disposed medial of said 4, 5, 6 key row and said heel end of said first surface; (v) said zero key is disposed medial of said 1, 2, 3 key row and said heel end of said first surface; (f) an enter key disposed substantially adjacent one of said key rows; (g) a decimal point key disposed adjacent one of said key rows; (h) means for identifying said enter key and said decimal point keys with their respective function, and for identifying each of said ten numeric keys with a particular character of a ten character numeric character set, each character associated with its unique dedicated numeric function, said identifying means permitting single keystroke input of numeric data for numerical data input programs and single keystroke selection of alphanumeric data for data presented in a tabulated format on said computer screen display.

Claim 23

A one hand controllable mouse-type computer peripheral pointing device for selecting and controlling a portion of a computer screen display and for input to mouse-based computer applications programs comprising in operative combination: (a) a mouse having a housing sized and configured to be held and manipulated by one hand of a user; (b) said mouse housing having a first upper surface, which surface has a first finger end and a second heel end; (c) said mouse housing enclosing means for relative positioning on-screen pointing functions of said device; (d) twelve dedicated keys disposed projecting from said mouse first upper surface; (e) said twelve dedicated keys including ten numeric keys 0 through 9; (i) keys 1 through 9 of said ten numeric keys are disposed in the following array: ______________________________________ 7 8 9 4 5 6 1 2 3 ; ______________________________________ (ii) said 7, 8, 9 key row being disposed adjacent said finger end of said first surface; (iii) said 4, 5, 6 key row being disposed medial of said finger and said heel ends of said first surface; (iv) said 1, 2, 3 key row being disposed medial of said 4, 5, 6 key row and said heel end of said first surface; (v) said zero key is disposed medial of said 1, 2, 3 key row and said heel end of said first surface; (f) an enter key disposed substantially adjacent one of said key rows; (g) a decimal point key disposed adjacent one of said key rows; (h) means for identifying said enter key and said decimal point keys with their respective function, and for identifying each of said ten numeric keys with a particular character of a ten character numeric character set, each character associated with its unique dedicated numeric function, said identifying means permitting single keystroke input of numeric data for numerical data input programs and single keystroke selection of alphanumeric data for data presented in a tabulated format on said computer screen display.

Claim 24

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 20 wherein: (a) at least one of said plurality of keys is an analog key having means for inputting to said computer a signal corresponding to the depth that said key is depressed to dynamically control the value of an attribute of an input represented on said computer screen display.

Claim 25

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 21 wherein: (a) said analog key is one of said dedicated numeric keys.

Claim 26

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 22 wherein: (a) said analog key is the number 4 key.

Claim 27

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 20 wherein: (a) said key array includes keys having left, center and right key functions.

Claim 28

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 24 wherein: (a) said left function key is the number 4 key; (b) said center function key is the number 5 key; and (c) said right function key is the number 6 key.

Claim 29

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 25 wherein: (a) at least one of said plurality of keys is an analog key having means for inputting to said computer a signal corresponding to the depth that said key is depressed to dynamically control the value of an attribute of an input represented on said computer screen display.

Claim 30

A one hand controllable computer peripheral pointing device as in claim 26 wherein: (a) said analog key is one of said dedicated numeric keys.