Input device with adaptive grip orientation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12197654-B2
Application number	US-202318472173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2023
Priority date	Sep 22, 2022
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

A computer input system includes a mouse including a housing having an interior surface defining an internal volume and a sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume. A processor is electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component having electronic instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine an orientation of the mouse relative to a hand based on a touch input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly. The mouse can also have a circular array of touch sensors or lights that detect hand position and provide orientation information to the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer input system, comprising:
a mouse, comprising:
a housing including an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an internal volume; and
a sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume;

a light; and
a processor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component, the memory component having electronic instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine one of a plurality of different orientations of the mouse relative to a hand based on an input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly and to illuminate the light to indicate a current orientation of the plurality of different orientations.

2. The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor assembly comprises a first touch sensor disposed on the interior surface and a second touch sensor disposed on the interior surface;
the input from the hand includes a plurality of touch inputs corresponding to contact locations between the exterior surface and the hand;
the electronic instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine a hand position of the hand relative to the mouse; and
the orientation of the mouse is determined based on the hand position.

3. The computer input system of claim 2 , wherein the first touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element.

4. The computer input system of claim 2 , wherein:
the housing defines an external surface of the mouse;
the input from the hand includes a first touch input and a second touch input;
the first touch sensor is configured to detect the first touch input at a first location on the exterior surface; and
the second touch sensor is configured to detect the second touch input at a second location on the exterior surface.

5. The computer input system of claim 4 , wherein the orientation of the mouse is determined based on relative positions of the first location and the second location.

6. The computer input system of claim 4 , wherein:
the processor is configured to send a first function signal based on a first input gesture detected by the first touch sensor; and
the processor is configured to send a second function signal based on a second input gesture detected by the second touch sensor.

7. The computer input system of claim 4 , wherein the orientation includes a user-facing direction that varies depending on relative positions of the first location and the second location.

8. The computer input system of claim 1 , further comprising a lower surface configured to face a support surface, wherein the housing includes a circular cross-sectional shape in a plane parallel to the lower surface.

9. The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein the light is part of a light array disposed in the internal volume, and wherein the electronic instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to display, via the light array, the current orientation of the mouse relative to the hand.

10. An electronic input device, comprising:
a housing including an interior surface defining an internal volume, the housing having an at least partially upward-facing surface being at least semi-transparent;
a touch sensor array disposed in the internal volume;
a motion sensor configured to sense a movement of the housing on a support surface; and
a light disposed in the internal volume and illuminatable to direct light through the at least partially upward-facing surface of the housing responsive to an input detected by the touch sensor array, wherein the light is configured to indicate, dependent on the input, multiple different forward directions for the housing.

11. The electronic input device of claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor array is configured to detect multiple touch inputs contacting the housing.

12. The electronic input device of claim 11 , wherein the light is configured to direct light through the housing in response to determining an orientation of the electronic input device based on at least two of the multiple touch inputs.

13. The electronic input device of claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor array comprises multiple capacitive sensors arranged circularly.

14. The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein the multiple capacitive sensors are disposed against the interior surface.

15. The electronic input device of claim 13 , wherein the light is a first light of a circular light array disposed concentrically with the touch sensor array.

16. A circular user input device, comprising:
a housing defining a major plane and having a circular cross-section in the major plane centered on a central axis normal to the major plane, the housing having an internal surface defining an internal volume;
a capacitive sensor array including a set of sensing elements disposed in the internal volume and circularly arranged and concentric with the central axis; and
a light array disposed in the internal volume, the light array including a set of lights circularly arranged and concentric with the central axis, wherein each light of the set of lights is separately illuminable on different sides of the central axis.

17. The circular user input device of claim 16 , wherein the set of sensing elements are disposed against the internal surface.

18. The circular user input device of claim 16 , the housing comprising:
an upper curved surface; and
a lower surface parallel to the major plane and configured to rest on a support surface.

19. The circular user input device of claim 16 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect a movement of the housing on a support surface.

20. The circular user input device of claim 16 , further comprising a communications interface to connect to an external computing device.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Andre Bart K
• Gleeson Brian T
• Bauerly Kristi E
• Lindmeier William D
• Sundstrom Matthew J
• Luo Geng
• Kim Seung Wook
• Christodoulou Evangelos
• Sapp Megan M
• Kwon-Perez Kainoa
• Bloom David H
• Taylor Steven J
• Morrell John B
• He Miao
• Kashif Hamza

Classifications

• G06V40/28

  Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language (static hand signs G06V40/113) · CPC title

• G06F3/03545

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F2203/0337

  Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user · CPC title

• G06F3/0362

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• G06F3/03547

  Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface · CPC title