FALSE NAIL COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE

DISPOSITIF INFORMATIQUE D'ENTREE PAR FAUX ONGLE

English Abstract

~ A computer input device for a touch-screen computer comprises a ring.
The ring has a bottom portion, a cylindrical side portion and a top
portion. The top portion of the ring extends semi-conically upwards
forming a claw-shaped false nail having a pointed tip. The ring is
capable of slidably mounting onto a human finger. A touch-screen
computer system comprises a central processing unit, a touch screen
operably connected to the central processing unit, a keyboard, and a
false nail computer input device. The pointed tip of the false nail
computer input device is capable of controlling the precise movement of
a cursor or a pixel displayed on the touch screen of the touch-screen
computer, and allows a human finger to engage in unobstructed typing on
the keyboard. This invention relates to computer input devices, and the
principal use of the invention is for inputting into a touch-screen
computer.

Claims

Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A computer input device for a touch-screen computer comprising in
combination:
~ a ring, having a bottom portion, a cylindrical side portion and a
top portion, the top portion extending semi-conically upwards
forming a claw-shaped false nail having a pointed tip;
the ring being capable of slidably mounting onto a human finger, the
pointed tip of the ring being capable of precisely controlling a cursor
or a pixel displayed on the touch-screen computer, the pointed tip of
the ring allowing the human finger to engage in unobstructed typing on
a keyboard.
2. A computer input device for a touch-screen computer as defined in claim
1, in which the pointed tip of the top portion of the ring has a
circular cross section with an aspect ratio of 1:1.
3. A computer input device for a touch-screen computer as defined in claim
1, in which the side portion of the ring has a slit so that the
diameter of the ring can be adjusted to fit onto a human finger of
different sizes.
4. A computer input device as defined in claim 1, in which the ring is
made of plastic.
5. A computer input device as defined in claim 1, in which the ring is
made of metal.
6. A touch-screen computer system comprising in combination:
~ a central processing unit;
~ a touch screen operably connected to the central processing unit;
and
~ a false nail computer input device having a pointed tip;
the pointed tip of the false nail computer input device being capable
of controlling the precise movement of a cursor or a pixel displayed on
the touch screen of the touch-screen computer.
7. A touch-screen computer system as defined in claim 6, further
comprising:
~ a keyboard operably connected to the central processing unit;
the pointed tip of the false nail computer input device allowing a
human finger to engage in unobstructed typing on the keyboard.
8. A touch-screen computer system as defined in claim 6, in which the
central processing unit and the touch screen are integrated into one
unit.

Description

CA 02369627 2002-O1-25
Description
Title
o False Nail Computer Input Device
Technical Field
o This invention relates to computer input devices, more particularly to
a computer input device for a touch-screen computer.
Background Art
o There are many instances where it would be desirable to be able to
provide a wearable computer input device for a touch-screen computer in
order to control a cursor or a pixel displayed on the touch-Screen
computer.
o A large number of patents disclose computer input devices.
o Many computer input devices (a mouse, a trackball, a trackpad; a
trackpoint, a graphics tablet, etc.) do not provide a one-to-one
correspondence between the position of the input device and the
location of a cursor or a pixel on the screen. As a result, it is very
difficult to draw a picture on the screen with a proper hand-eye
co-ordination.
o A few other computer input devices (a light pen, a stylus, etc.)
provide a one-to-one correspondence between the position of the input
device and the location of a cursor or a pixel on the screen. However,
they do not allow easy switching between using the input device and
typing on a keyboard.
o There is a wearable stylus commercially available on the market for a
handheld touch-screen computer. However, this wearable stylus does not
allow typing on a keyboard while wearing the stylus.
o Simply using a finger on a touch-screen computer does not produce a
high quality picture drawing due to the low resolution.
o These prior art arrangements do not provide a one-to-one correspondence
between the position of the input device and the location of a cursor
or a pixel on the screen, while allowing easy switching between using
the input device and typing on a keyboard.
Description of the Invention
o It is a primary object of the invention to provide a computer input
device which is wearable on a human finger.
o It is another object of the invention to provide a computer input
device which has a stylus to precisely control a cursor or a pixel
displayed on a touch-screen computer.
o It is another object of the invention to provide a computer input
device which allows a human finger to engage in unobstructed typing on
the keyboard.
o A computer input device for a touch-screen computer comprises a ring:
The ring has a bottom portion, a cylindrical side portion and a top
portion. The top portion of the ring extends semi-sonically upwards

CA 02369627 2002-O1-25
forming a claw-shaped false nail having a pointed tip. The ring is
capable of slidably mounting onto a human finger. A touch-screen
computer system comprises a central processing unit, a touch screen
operably connected to the central processing unit, a keyboard, and a
false nail computer input device. The pointed tip of the fal a nail
computer input device is capable of controlling the precise movement of
a cursor or a pixel displayed on the touch screen of the touch-screen
computer, and allows a human finger to engage in unobstructed typing on
the keyboard.
Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawings
o In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
o Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a false nail
computer input device;
o Figure 2 is a top view of the invention of Figure 1;
o Figure 3 is a top view of another embodiment of a false nail computer
input device; and
o Figure 4 is a perspective view of a touch-screen computer system
according to the invention.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
o In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, a computer input
device for a touch-screen computer comprises a ring. The ring has a
bottom portion 1-1, a cylindrical side portion l-2 and a top portion
1-3. The top portion 1-3 of the ring extends semi-sonically upwards
forming a claw-shaped false nail having a pointed tip 1-4.
o The ring is capable of slidably mounting onto a human finger. The
pointed tip 1-4 of the ring is capable of precisely controlling a
cursor or a pixel displayed on the touch-screen computer. The pointed
tip 1-4 of the ring allows the human finger to engage in unobstructed
typing on a keyboard.
o Figure 2 shows a top view of one embodiment of a false nail computer
input device. The pointed tip 1-4 of the top portion 1-3 of the ring
may have a circular cross section with an aspect ratio of 1:1.
o Figure 3 shows a top view of another embodiment of a false nail
computer input device. The side portion 1-2 of the ring may have a slit
1-5 so that the diameter of the ring can be adjusted to fit onto a
human finger of different sizes.
o The false nail computer input device may be made of plastic. The false
nail computer input device may be made of metal.
o Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a touch-screen computer system,
comprising a central processing unit 2-1, a touch screen 2-2 operably
connected to the central processing unit 2-1, and a false nail computer
input device 2-3 having a pointed tip.
o The pointed tip of the false nail computer input device ~-3 is capable
of controlling the precise movement of a cursor or a pixel displayed on
the touch screen 2-2 of the touch-screen computer.
o The touch-screen computer system may further comprise a keyboard 2-4
operably connected to the central processing unit 2-1. The pointed tip

CA 02369627 2002-O1-25
of the false nail computer input device 2-3 allows a human finger to
engage in unobstructed typing on the keyboard.
o The central processing unit 2-1 and the touch screen 2-2 of the
touch-screen computer system may be integrated into one unit.
o The technology used in the touch screen 2-2 of the touch-screen
computer system may be capacitive, infrared, resistive, or acoustic
(Surface Acoustic Wave?.

Representative Drawing