Locator device for control of graphical objects
US5512920A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 17, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 17, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/04845
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A three degree-of-freedom locator device for the control of graphical objects on a computer display mimics natural two-dimensional movement of the user's hand by providing for simultaneous translation and rotation of the graphical object. In one embodiment, a computer mouse-type locator with two trackball and position-encoder sensor systems detects movement of the locator over a stationary pad or like device. The graphical object is selected by a mouse button click. Subsequent two-dimensional translation and rotation of the locator are detected by the dual trackball system and used to control the position and orientation of the graphical object. The result is intuitive control of the placement of the selected object on the computer screen. The natural movement of the mouse in the user's hand is transformed into simultaneously translation and rotation of the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.