US5585823A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-state one-button computer pointing device
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1994-12-30
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Granted: 1996-12-17
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Expires: 2014-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A multi-state, one-button computer mouse includes a housing movable over a reference surface, a tracking mechanism coupled to the housing to provide positional coordinates relative to the reference surface, a single button, and a switch mechanism coupled to the button. The single button is movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on the button. The button is biased to the base position in absence of the force. The switch mechanism is coupled to the button such that it activates a first switch at the first button position and a second switch at the second button position. A computer system with the pointing device includes a processing unit, a visual display, a pointing device as described above, and a computer implemented process for indicating on the visual display when the button of the pointing device is in a locked button mode. A computer-implemented process for processing pointer data includes intercepting pointer data entered into the processing unit of the computer system, determining whether the pointer data includes locked button data, entering a locked button state if it is included, processing the pointer data in a pointer data handler, and changing a cursor image to be displayed on the visual display to indicate that the button is in the locked button state.
Inventors
- 👤 Brent Duchon
- 👤 Anh Nguyen
- 👤 James Baldwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04812
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A computer pointing device with multiple states on a button comprising: a housing; a tracking mechanism coupled to said housing to provide positional coordinates in a reference surface; a button movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on said button, said button being biased to said base position in the absence of said force; and a switch mechanism coupled to said button, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at said first button position and a second switch at said second button position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A computer pointing device with multiple states on a button comprising: a housing; a tracking mechanism coupled to said housing to provide positional coordinates in a reference surface; a button movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on said button, said button being biased to said base position in the absence of said force; and a switch mechanism coupled to said button, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at said first button position and a second switch at said second button position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer pointing device as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch mechanism is coupled to said button by a cam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer pointing device as recited in claim 2 wherein said cam has two cam surfaces, disposed in two, separate planes, and wherein said switch mechanism includes two switches, one of which is activated by a first cam surface and the other of which is activated by a second cam surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer pointing device as recited in claim 1 wherein said switch mechanism is a ganged switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A computer pointing device as recited in claim 1 wherein said button is of integral construction and includes a fixed portion and a button portion coupled together by a hinge portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A multi-state one-button computer mouse comprising: a housing movable over a reference surface; a tracking mechanism coupled to said housing to provide positional coordinates relative to said reference surface; a single button movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on said button, said button being biased to said base position in the absence of said force; and a switch mechanism coupled to said button, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at said first button position and a second switch at said second button position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
A multi-state one-button computer mouse comprising: a housing movable over a reference surface; a tracking mechanism coupled to said housing to provide positional coordinates relative to said reference surface; a single button movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on said button, said button being biased to said base position in the absence of said force; and a switch mechanism coupled to said button, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at said first button position and a second switch at said second button position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A multi-state one-button computer mouse as recited in claim 6 wherein said switch mechanism is coupled to said button by a cam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A multi-state one-button computer mouse as recited in claim 7 wherein said cam has two cam surfaces, disposed in two, separate planes, and wherein said switch mechanism includes two switches, one of which is activated by a first cam surface and the other of which is activated by a second cam surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multi-state one-button computer mouse as recited in claim 6 wherein said switch mechanism is a ganged switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A multi-state one-button computer mouse as recited in claim 6 wherein said button is of integral construction and includes a fixed portion and a button portion coupled together by a hinge portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
134 words
A computer system with pointing device comprising: a computer system including a processing unit and a visual display; a pointing device coupled to said processing unit, said pointing device including: a housing; a tracking mechanism coupled to said housing to provide positional coordinates in a reference surface to said processing unit; a button being movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on said button, said button being biased to said base position in the absence of said force; and a switch mechanism coupled to said button, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at said first button position and activating a second switch at said second button position; and means for indicating on said visual display when said second switch has been closed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
A computer system with pointing device comprising: a computer system including a processing unit and a visual display; a pointing device coupled to said processing unit, said pointing device including: a housing; a tracking mechanism coupled to said housing to provide positional coordinates in a reference surface to said processing unit; a button being movable between a base position, a first button position, and a second button position by a force exerted on said button, said button being biased to said base position in the absence of said force; and a switch mechanism coupled to said button, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at said first button position and activating a second switch at said second button position; and means for indicating on said visual display when said second switch has been closed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer system as recited in claim 11 wherein said means for indicating is a computer implemented process running on said processing unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer system as recited in claim 12 wherein said computer implemented process provides a locking button mode cursor after said second switch has been closed.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for processing switch inputs to a computer system comprising: (a) entering a known state comprising one of a zero state, a one state, and a two state; (b) detecting at least two button positions of a button with a switch mechanism, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at a first button position and activating a second switch at a second button position; and (c) if in said zero state, entering said one state if said second switch is activated, if in said one state entering said two state if neither the first switch nor the second switch are activated, and if said two state entering said zero state if said first switch is activated, where said one state indicates a non-locked position of said button and said one state and said two state indicate a locked position of said button.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for processing switch inputs to a computer system comprising: (a) entering a known state comprising one of a zero state, a one state, and a two state; (b) detecting at least two button positions of a button with a switch mechanism, said switch mechanism activating a first switch at a first button position and activating a second switch at a second button position; and (c) if in said zero state, entering said one state if said second switch is activated, if in said one state entering said two state if neither the first switch nor the second switch are activated, and if said two state entering said zero state if said first switch is activated, where said one state indicates a non-locked position of said button and said one state and said two state indicate a locked position of said button.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising the step of: (d) repeating steps (b) and (c).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of entering said one state from said zero state further comprises: displaying a locked cursor on said visual display to indicate that said button is locked.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of entering said zero state from said two state further comprises: displaying a normal cursor on said visual display to indicate that said button is not locked.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer-implemented process for processing pointer data comprising: intercepting pointer data entered into processing unit of a computer system; determining in said processing unit if said pointer data includes locked button data and entering a locked button state if said pointer data includes said locked button data; processing said pointer data in a pointer data handler in said processing unit; and changing a cursor image to be displayed on a visual display coupled to said processing unit to indicate said locked button state.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
83 words
A computer-implemented process for processing pointer data comprising: intercepting pointer data entered into processing unit of a computer system; determining in said processing unit if said pointer data includes locked button data and entering a locked button state if said pointer data includes said locked button data; processing said pointer data in a pointer data handler in said processing unit; and changing a cursor image to be displayed on a visual display coupled to said processing unit to indicate said locked button state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer implemented process as recited in claim 18 wherein said pointer data is mouse data including data from a first switch and a second switch associated with a single button, and wherein said locked button data includes data from said second switch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer implemented process as recited in claim 19 wherein said cursor image indicating a locked button state is an image of a hand with a forefinger extended.
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) | 1999-12-17 | 2000-06-17 | 2000-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-17 | 2004-06-17 | 2004-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-17 | 2008-06-17 | 2008-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |