Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02476710 2004-08-16
COMPUTER MOUSE WITH EXTRA SURFACE FOR THUMB OPERATION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Computer mouse devices have been useful input devices for a long time. Despite
their various
shapes, aII mouse devices to date have one relatively flat top front surface
where buttons and a
wheel in some models locate. The design generally works well with three
fingers: index, middle and
ring finger, but poorly with thumb. There are some models with very limited
number of buttons, for
example two, located on the vertical side where thumb rests. However, it is
difficult to place more
buttons under thumb due to the limited space. Furthermore, pressing the thumb
outward while
holding the mouse steady in a functional way is unnatural.
DESCRITP10N OF THE INVENTION
This invention improves the situation described in the background section by
offering an extra
surface made possible by changing the one top front surface into two sloped
surfaces, or one level
one sloped surfaces, makes easy and possible for placing more control elements
under the thumb,
while preserving the feeling and ways of using existing computer mouse. In the
invention, the top
front part of a computer mouse comprises one inclined surface and an
additional inclined or level
surface forming a sloped roof like structure instead of the current one flat
surface. One surface,
either Ieft or right, hosts the conventional buttons and wheels, preserving
the current way of
operating a computer mouse; the other surface, where control elements designed
for thumb are
located, improves the controlling capability of thumb by providing a
supportive platform on which it
can rest, move and press comfortably. The surfaces can be either curvy or
flat.
In the drawing FIG. 1, which forms a part of this specification, "1"
illustrates the slope where
conventional buttons and wheels locate; "2" illustrates the extended surface
provided by the other
slope where control elements for thumb locate; "3" illustrates the control
elements, buttons in this
drawing, on the extended surface.
CA 02476710 2004-08-16
EXAMPLE OF AN INTENDED US~
A mouse utilizing this invention can enhance computer game playing experience.
One possible
game scenario could be the player selects a target, a monster for example, by
clicking the left button
of a mouse, casts a spell on the monster by. pressing Ctrl + p on keyboard,
and then jumps over by
pressing Ctrl + J, slashes at the monster by pressing Ctrl + S, finally runs
away by pressing Ctrl + R.
The combination of the actions could become a routine and is repeated multiple
times during the
game play. In addition, how fast the combination is performed could be a
determining factor
between life and death: By using this invention; with help from device driver
software, the game
player can record the sequence of the mouse click and key strokes and other
similar sequences and
map them to buttons controlled by the thumb. Because of the improvement made
by this invention,
the player can control these buttons comfortably by her thumb, while use the
mouse with her other
fingers like before. As a result, the player can perform the actions easier
and faster simply by
pressing one button under her thumb without moving her hand away from the
mouse:
