US5512892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand held control device
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-02-25
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Granted: 1996-04-30
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Expires: 2014-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A hand held control device formed as a rigid body adapted to be gripped and carried by a single hand of a user and comprising a plurality of control elements operable by the thumb or a finger of the user's hand gripping and carrying the body, a pointing stick and a chirality detector for sensing whether a right or left hand is gripping and carrying the body for controlling the flow of information to or from a computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Liam P. Corballis
- 👤 Joseph D. Rutledge
- 👤 Edwin J. Selker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:41
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A hand held control device comprising: a rigid body adapted for being gripped and carried by a single hand of a user while leaving the thumb and finger tips of said gripping and carrying hand free to operate control elements mounted in said rigid body; a plurality of control elements mounted in the rigid body for activation by a thumb or finger tip of said gripping and carrying hand to generate control data; transmission means located in the rigid body for communicating said control data between the hand held control device and a remotely located computing system having a display; at least one of said control elements being a pointing stick for controlling in a joystick-like manner actions at said display; at least one of said control elements corresponding to a left gripping and carrying hand-and being mounted on the rigid body for activation only by a finger tip of said gripping and carrying hand when said gripping and carrying hand is a left hand and at least one other one of said control elements corresponding to a right gripping and carrying hand and being mounted on the rigid body for activation only by a finger tip of said gripping and carrying hand when said gripping and carrying hand is a right hand: and a chirality detector mounted in the rigid body for automatically sensing whether said gripping and carrying hand is a left hand or a right hand and automatically enabling said control elements corresponding thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A hand held control device comprising: a rigid body adapted for being gripped and carried by a single hand of a user while leaving the thumb and finger tips of said gripping and carrying hand free to operate control elements mounted in said rigid body; a plurality of control elements mounted in the rigid body for activation by a thumb or finger tip of said gripping and carrying hand to generate control data; transmission means located in the rigid body for communicating said control data between the hand held control device and a remotely located computing system having a display; at least one of said control elements being a pointing stick for controlling in a joystick-like manner actions at said display; at least one of said control elements corresponding to a left gripping and carrying hand-and being mounted on the rigid body for activation only by a finger tip of said gripping and carrying hand when said gripping and carrying hand is a left hand and at least one other one of said control elements corresponding to a right gripping and carrying hand and being mounted on the rigid body for activation only by a finger tip of said gripping and carrying hand when said gripping and carrying hand is a right hand: and a chirality detector mounted in the rigid body for automatically sensing whether said gripping and carrying hand is a left hand or a right hand and automatically enabling said control elements corresponding thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The hand held control device of claim 1 wherein the control elements include a four position switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hand held control device of claim 2 wherein the four position switch controls voice communications through the device to a remotely located computer system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The hand held control device of claim 1 having a feedback means for signaling the user of the device of an occurrence of selected conditions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-04-30 | 1999-10-30 | 2000-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-30 | 2003-10-30 | 2004-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-30 | 2007-10-30 | 2008-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |