Capacitive mouse
US6587093B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 1, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2203/0339
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A pointing device some or all of whose elements are made from capacitive sensors. Such elements may include a rotary motion detector which includes a rotating member and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; a rolling ball with patterned conductive surface and a plurality of fixed capacitive detecting members; capacitive touch sensors or capacitive switches to serve as mouse buttons; and a scrolling wheel, knob, or touch surface built from capacitive sensors. The pointing device further includes a capacitance measuring circuit and processor to measure variations of capacitance on the various capacitive elements and to determine the movement of and other activations of the mouse.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.