Three-dimensional data input device
US6466831B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2000 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0383
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A three-dimensional data input device for a computer having a display screen includes a ball rotatably provided in a device body, and sensors for detecting rotation magnitudes of the ball along two axes on a plane and outputting displacement signals indicative of the detected rotation magnitudes, respectively. The device further includes a gyro for detecting an angular velocity of the device body about an axis extending at a given angle relative to the foregoing plane and outputting an angular velocity signal indicative of the detected angular velocity. The device further includes switches for outputting a selection signal in response to operation of at least one of selection buttons. The device derives displacement data based on the foregoing displacement signals and angular data based on the foregoing angular velocity signal and outputs the displacement data, the angular data and the selection signal to the computer. The computer moves a corresponding object on the screen on a plane corresponding to the displacement data and rotates the corresponding object corresponding to the angular data about one of given axes selected by the selection signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.