INTERNATINAL PATENT APPLICATION (PCT) SINGLE FINGER MULTIPLE FINGER SEGMENTS TRIGGERING

MECHANISM

SPECIFICATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application bears reference to Provisional Patent Application number 62/474,306 filed on 21<* March, 2017.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a computer controlling device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a single finger multiple finger segments triggering mechanism device, a mouse with a set of controls activated by the joints on a user's fingers, enabling single-handed control over multiple computer functions. Such an arrangement is particularly beneficial for use, for example, as a one-handed video game controller.

BACKGROUND

[001] Particularly in the video gaming industry, a variety of controlling mechanisms are constantly being built and adopted by consumers. What started as requiring a two-handed controller has evolved in shape, size, and button arrangement. Indeed, with the relatively recent addition of motion sensors and the like, controllers are changing at a high rate even today. Such devices are also utilized within a variety of professional software packages, including CAD programs, photo and video manipulation programs, and more. The computer mouse itself, often paired with a keyboard, is commonly used to this end. Adding buttons enables the mouse to handle more tasks, and better balance left and right-handed activity during use. Even general web surfing becomes easier when forward and backward navigation buttons are added to the mouse.

[002] However, the development of computer mouse and other controllers has not been living up to its full potential. The computer mouse in general still relies on the two-button arrangement, with a right-click button and a left-click button. Similarly, video game controllers generally limit the user to one button per finger. It is the belief of this inventor that the common arrangement of one button per finger for these devices does not take full advantage of the dexterous possibilities of the hand. Each finger has three joints, but only the tip joint of the finger furthest from hand is bent to actuate left-click and right-click buttons on a mouse.

[003] The resulting lack of multiple buttons results in the necessity of two handed controls. Such an arrangement is less than optimal, as it engages a hand that could otherwise be free. What is needed is a handheld controller with joint buttons in addition to fingertip buttons, thus enabling single-handed control over a variety of technologies and programs.

[004] The present invention addresses this issue. The Single Finger Multiple Finger Segments Triggering Mechanism describes a device with controls conveniently positioned relative to the joints of the fingers. This arrangement enables calibration and subsequent usage of features previously difficult or impossible to access by a mouse or controller alone. Additionally, the potential addition of so many extra buttons may, in many usages, enable single-handed control over primary functions of a given application, subsequently allowing more complex inputs into programs. Additionally, the permutations of button pressing combinations allow for further creativity and diversity of inputs. Further features, such as a thumb-accessible thumb stick, may prove to be of further use in gaming applications and the like.

[006] Thus the present invention is an improvement in many sense over the existing prior arts and the limitations and non-effectiveness of the prior concept has been overcome by the instant invention as described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[007] The present invention is a Single Finger Multiple Finger Segments Triggering Mechanism that enables enhanced control over various computer functions by employing the joints of the user's fingers as button actuators. Such an arrangement allows a user to enjoy games with one hand, and to enter complex inputs previously impossible or difficult with fewer buttons. The Single Finger Multiple Finger Segments Triggering Mechanism comprises a body and a plurality of buttons. The body of the Single Finger Multiple Finger Segments Triggering Mechanism is a container that holds the components of the various embodiments of the present invention.

[008] In an exemplary embodiment, the body comprises a base, a first grip, and a second grip. The base is a generally flat extrusion which, in the preferred usage of the present invention, faces a generally flat surface such as a desktop or a table top or the like. The base comprises a sensor and a plurality of surfaces. The sensor is, in an exemplary embodiment, an optical sensor capable of tracking motion of the base as the user slides the present invention along the generally flat surface.

[009] The plurality of surfaces is a set of extruded segments that physically contact a surface, in the preferred usage of the present invention. The plurality of surfaces is preferably made of polished plastic material, but may be made of any material that enables smooth motion of the body along a generally flat surface.

[010] The first grip is a segment of the body that, in the preferred usage of the present invention, enables convenient grasping of the body by the user's thumb. The first grip comprises a curve. The curve is a concave cut into the first grip that serves as an ergonomic enhancement to the first grip.

[011] The second grip is a segment of the body that, in the preferred usage of the present invention, enables convenient grasping of the body by the user's ring finger and pinky finger. The second grip comprises a curve. The curve is a concave cut into the second grip that serves as an ergonomic enhancement to the second grip. In an alternative embodiment, the body further comprises a connecting means.

[012] The connecting means is a device that enables transfer of data from the sensor and the plurality of buttons to a computer, gaming device, and the like. The connection means might be a cable, a wireless transceiver, a Bluetooth USB connector, or any of a variety of alternative connection means. The plurality of buttons is a set of controls exceeding those available in typical controllers for computers, gaming devices, and the like. [013] The plurality of buttons comprises a wheel, an opening, a thumb stick, a first set of at least two buttons, a second set of at least two buttons, a plurality of ancillary sets of at least two buttons, and a plurality of electrical connections. The wheel is a generally cylindrical extrusion that enables input of scrolling commands common during web browsing and document reading. The wheel comprises a grip. The grip is of a variety of generally high friction materials that facilitates rotation of the wheel by a user's fingers in the preferred usage of the present invention.

[014] The opening is a cut into the curve of the first grip of the body. The opening comprises a plurality of edges. The plurality of edges is a circular pattern of cuts in cardinal directions that biases the thumb stick in various directions. The thumb stick is a cylinder with a cap top that, in an exemplary embodiment, enables control of motion of, for example, a character's movement in a video game.

[015] The thumb stick fits within the opening to enable the user to interact with the thumb stick, in the preferred usage of the present invention, with the user's thumb. The first set of at least two buttons is a linear pattern of pressure-activated buttons positioned optimally near the first grip of the body which, in the preferred usage of the present invention, allows for convenient button actuation through use of the joints of the user's index finger.

[016] The second set of at least two buttons is a linear pattern of pressure-activated buttons positioned optimally adjacent to the first set of at least two buttons which, in the preferred usage of the present invention, allows for convenient button actuation through use of the joints of the user's middle finger. The plurality of ancillary sets of at least two buttons is several linear patterns of pressure-activated buttons positioned optimally near the second grip of the body which, in the preferred usage of the present invention, allows for convenient button actuation through use of the joints of the user's ring and little fingers. [017] The plurality of electrical connections is a set of wires, resistors, controllers, and other common electrical components which enable transmission of signals from the plurality of buttons to the connecting means. In the preferred usage of the present invention, the user acquires a Single Finger Multiple Finger Segments Triggering Mechanism.

[018] The user connects the Single Finger Multiple Finger Segments Triggering Mechanism to the computer, gaming console, or other device by using the connecting means. The user then places the base of the body of the present invention against any of a variety of generally flat surfaces. Once setup is complete, the user places an index finger atop the first set of at least two buttons, the adjacent middle finger atop the second set of at least two buttons, and the ring and pinky fingers either within the curve of the second grip or atop the plurality of ancillary sets of at least two buttons.

[020] The user can then utilize the joints of the relevant fingers to apply pressure to buttons. Applying pressure to multiple buttons simultaneously may result in a different response than actuating any of the pressed buttons independently.

[021] In present time, computer buttons are designed so as to give a fingertip actuation. Each finger controls one button at a time and uses fingertip to actuate it. These tip actuation buttons are referred to as "Tip Buttons" in the present Application.

[022] The present invention has a "Segment Button" that forms one of the core aspects of the invention. This Segment Button is placed on the same computer mouse input device behind the Tip Button and actuated by non-tip section of the same finger that actuates the Tip Button. A traditional mouse generally contains two Tip Buttons and a wheel in between and these two tip buttons are actuated by pressing down the tip of the finger, one button per finger but in the present invention these buttons are pressed down by the index finger tip and the other by the middle finger tip.

[023] In the present invention, two additional buttons are placed behind the segment buttons. These two buttons are economically and strategically placed. The Tip Button is placed in the front and the lower portion and the Segment Button is placed at the back and higher and aligned to index finger in a way that the index finger tip can actuate from Tip Button and the Index finger's non- tip segment can actuate the back Segment Button without interference to each other so that this one index finger can actuate these two buttons individually and/or simultaneously.

[024] These two front back buttons are called Segment Pair in the present invention. There are four buttons forming index finger Segment Pair on one side of the wheel, and middle finger Segment pair on the other side of the wheel.

[025] There are generally three types of finger actuation motion signal for mouse buttons which are as follows: 1) Tap or rapid press down, hereinafter referred to as "tap", 2) rapid tap-tap or rapid press down twice in close succession hereinafter referred to as Tap-Tap and 3) press and hold the button down, hereinafter referred to as "Hold". Holding and moving the mouse will generate the drag. This Tip action buttons only enables each finger generate three (3) triggering mechanisms/signals that are Tap, Tap-Tap, and Hold for each finger. This one finger one button with tip actuation trigger mechanism has not been improved till this invention which takes into account that each human finger is dexterous enough to actuate two buttons using tip and non-tip section of the same finger, either individually or simultaneously, by aligning two buttons along a finger economically. This invention offers control to actuate a front Tip Button with fingertip, and back Segment Button with non-tip segment of the same finger. This pair of Tip Button and Segment Button is hereinafter referred to as "Segment Pair'.

[026] This Segment Button is higher in its inactive position than that of the Tip Button. Each finger can have a Segment Pair aligned economically and generates the following signal combination with this one finger and two (2] buttons, the Segment Pair. Each finger provides the following triggering mechanisms with index finger (1) tip Tap, (2) tip Tap-Tap, (3) tip HOLD, (4) segment Tap, (5) segment Tap-Tap, (6) segment Hold and also the more complex (7) tip Hold + segment Tap, (8) tip Hold + segment Tap-Tap, (9) segment-Hold + tip Tap, (10) segment Hold + tip Tap-Tap, and (11) tip Hold + segment Hold thus generating a total of eleven (11) triggering mechanisms. Each finger's Segment Pair offers eight (8) more signals than that of the traditional tip only trigger mechanism. The plus sign "+", in this paragraph represents pressing both buttons within its actuation requirements simultaneously.

[027] In further embodiments the mouse may be presented with a design with five segments with five Segment Pairs for each of the five fingers. Furthermore, this Segment Button and Segment Pair trigger mechanism can also be placed on game controller and joy sticks alike with similar feasibility and beneficially. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO DRAWINGS

[028] Figure 1 represents the entire design of the Segment mouse disclosed in the invention. [029] Figure 2 and 3 add a hand and fingers to show the whole invention with side notes. [030] The button numbers (1)(2)(3)(4) are identical in all three figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST DRAWING

[031] Figure 1 represents the entire design of the mouse disclosed in the invention wherein the first grip comprises a curve 101. The curve is a concave cut into the first grip that serves as an ergonomic enhancement to the first grip. The second grip is a segment of the body that, in the preferred usage of the present invention, enables convenient grasping of the body by the user's ring finger and Pinky finger 102. The two tip buttons (104 and 106) are placed on the either side of the wheel 105 and with segment buttons 103 placed at the back of the back of the tip button thus forming index finger Segment Pair (103 and 104) on one side of the wheel, and middle finger Segment Pair (106 and 107) on the other side of the wheel. This invention offers control to actuate a front Tip Button with fingertip, and back Segment Button with non-tip segment of the same finger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND DRAWING

[32] Figure 2 represents the top view of a right hand holding the Segment Mouse stated in the first drawing. Figure 3 represents the thumb side view of Figure 2 with triggering motions showing how, where, and what part are the tip and non-tip segments of the index finger interacting with the index Segment Pair buttons (1) and (3). Second page drawing explains the four key naming reference of the invention with figure 2, figure 3 and side notes.