NL2032678B1

NL2032678B1 - Computer mouse

Info

Publication number: NL2032678B1
Application number: NL2032678A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Johannes De Haas Fortunatus; Alexander Bons Vincent; Nijhuis Jort
Original assignee: R Go Tools B V
Priority date: 2022-08-04
Filing date: 2022-08-04
Publication date: 2024-02-09
Also published as: WO2024030026A1

Abstract

In an aspect, there is provided a computer mouse, arranged for connecting with a computer to operate said computer within a graphical user interface, said computer mouse comprising a body arranged to support a palm of a user operating said computer mouse, a sensor arranged for detecting a two-dimensional motion of said computer mouse relative to a surface, at least one button arranged for detecting click actions by a finger of said user, a controller for communicating input from said sensor and said at least one button to said computer, and wherein said body comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein said upper part is arranged to support said palm of said user operating said computer mouse, wherein said body is arranged for an angular displacement of said upper part in respect of said lower part.

Description

Title: Computer mouse

Description: BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates in general to a computer mouse. The present disclosure relates in particular to a computer mouse having an ergonomic and flexible design.

Computer mouses are hand-held pointing devices that are arranged to detect two-dimensional motion relative to a surface. The surface may for example be a top of a desk on which the mouse is placed. The motion of the mouse relative to this surface, e.g. the top of the desk, is translated into a motion of a pointer or other element shown on a display of the computer to which the mouse is connected and which forms part of a graphical user interface, arranged as an interface for the user to interact with electronic devices through graphical elements shown on the display of the device.

Computer mouses typically comprise a sensor to detect the movement of the mouse and thus the two-dimensional motion of the mouse relative to the surface, as well as one, but mostly two buttons, arranged to detect click actions, also referred to a right-click and left-click buttons. Additionally, a mouse may also comprise a scroll wheel or scroll input sensor to detect input of the user to scroll within the graphical user interface. The mouse further comprises a controller to detect and process the sensor and button input data for further communication to the computer to which the mouse is connected, which communication can be either a wired or wireless communication interface.

Computer mouses typically have a body which is either compact and slim, which makes such a mouse universal and highly transportable due to the small form factor, or mouses may have shapes configured for particular use, such as dedicated right-hand use, left-hand use, and/or optimized for ergonomics, which renders such a mouses non-universal, specific, and less portable or transportable due to a larger form factor.

Current computer mice thus are either optimized for form factor, or for particular use, not for both.

The present disclosure has for one of its objects to provide for an improved computer mouse in which at least some of the above mentioned disadvantages are resolved.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, there is provided a computer mouse which comprises a body arranged to support a palm of an user operating said computer mouse. Computer mouse may also include a sensor arranged for detecting a two-dimensional motion of said computer mouse relative to a surface. The mouse may furthermore comprise at least one button arranged for detecting click actions, and include a controller for communicating input from said sensor and said at least one button to said computer.

The body of the computer mouse according to the present disclosure may comprise an upper part and a lower part, where the upper part is arranged to support the palm of the user which is operating the computer mouse. The lower part is arranged for placement on said surface, and the body is arranged for an angular displacement of the upper part in respect of the lower part.

The angular displacement of the upper part in respect of the lower part may be arranged by a hinge joint or a pivot joint, to provide at least one degree of freedom of movement, e.g. to move the upper part in respect of the lower part in at least one direction or plane.

The movement is preferably an solely an angular displacement but may comprise a lateral displacement or lateral displacing component within the displacement between upper and lower part.

The lower part is, as indicated, arranged to support the mouse on the surface, e.g. the top-surface of the desk on which the display the computer and computer mouse are located. The lower part thus has a function of providing a functioning and optimal support and contact with the surface to allow smooth motion of the mouse over surface, and to detect the motion relative to the surface in an accurate manner, e.g. at a high resolution. The skilled person will appreciate that the sensor in the computer mouse may be comprised of a rotational encoder, or preferably an optical sensor such as a light emitting diode or laser based sensor.

The inventor has come to the surprising insight that the functions that the mouse fulfils can be classified into two categories which may be related to separate parts of the body of the mouse, e.g. the upper part of the body or the lower part of the body. The lower part is, as indicated, arranged, configured or optimized for contact with the surface to allow smooth motion and high resolution position detection by the sensor. The upper part is however arranged, configured or optimized for support of the palm of the hand of the user, and as interface with the user, i.e. the position of the palm of the hand, and the clicking of the user e.g. on the right or left button. The upper part thus to a large degree accounts for the ergonomics of the mouse by the shape, orientation, size and position of the contact surface of the upper part of the body, and the position of the left and right buttons. Moreover, the upper part defines whether the mouse is configured for right-hand or for left-hand usage. The overall size and shape of the body, and thus the lower and upper part defined the form factor and thus the portability of the mouse.

Whereas conventional mice have a body with integrated upper and lower parts, the mouse according to the present disclosure has a separate, distinct upper and lower part, which parts are connected by connecting means, but which parts may be displaced relative to each other. With a connection means which allows rotational displacement of the upper part with respect to the lower part, such a mouse may be optimized for one or more of the above mentioned requirements such as portability, by having an upper part and lower part which can be angularly rotated with respect to each other, the mouse can be configured in first and second position, e.g. a folded position in which both parts are rotated towards each other such that the form factor is smaller and the mouse can be transported or is an in portable modus, and in an unfolded position in which both parts are rotated away from each other such that the form factor is larger and the mouse is in an operational modus.

The angular rotation or displacement of the upper part relative to the lower part also allows for switching the mouse from a right-hand usage to a left-hand usage but may also allow changing the form-factor of the mouse. Such angular displacement may be achieved by a hinge joint or a pivot joint which enables movement of at least one degree of freedom such that the upper surface can be tipped over or tilted between aright-hand configuration and a left-hand configuration, in which the upper part rotates around a rotational axis which is preferably at least substantially parallel to the surface on which the lower part rests. In other words, the axis may lie on a mirror symmetry plane of the upper part of the body. The rotational axis may however also have a small angle relative to the surface on which the lower part rests. In such a case, the upper part may be slightly tilted backwards, to increase the ergonomics of the mouse. The

In other words, the upper part may rotate around a longitudinal axis of the upper part and may thus be titled to the left or tilted to the right, depending on either left-, or righthand usage.

The angular displacement may however also be achieved by a hinge joint or a pivot joint which enables movement of at least one degree of freedom such that the upper surface can be rotated around a rotational axis which is perpendicular to the upper surface of the upper part which is arranged to be in contact with the palm of the hand of the user.

Accordingly, angular displacement is to be interpreted as a movement or displacement of the upper part, or at least a part comprised in the upper part, in respect of a static part of the body, e.g. the lower part, which angular displacement may be embodied as tiling or rotating. Tilting around a longitudinal axis of the upper part, to achieve displacement of the upper part in respect of the lower part. And rotating around a sagittal axis of the upper part, to achieve displacement of the upper part in respect of the lower part, in which sagittal is defined as perpendicular to the frontal plane of the body.

Other aspects of the present disclosure include corresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programs stored on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure. 5

Implementations may include one or more of the following features.

The angular displacement may be achieved by angular displacement of said upper part around a rotational axis parallel to said surface.

The upper part may be attached to the lower part through a rod or linkage element located at and attaching the upper part near opposing sides on the top and bottom of the upper part with the lower part. These connections provide a rotational axis around the longitudinal direction and around an axis which lies on the bottom plane of the upper part, or on an axis parallel to, or at least substantially parallel to the surface on which the lower part rests, e.g. the top surface of a desk. This has the effect that the upper part can be tilted or tipped from one position into the other. In the first position the mouse is in a right-hand orientation, in which the main surface or top surface of the upper part, which is in contact with the palm of the hand of the user, exhibits an angle of approximately 60 or 55 degrees with the surface on which the lower part rests. In the second position the mouse is tipped over to or tilted 120 degrees with respect to the first position such that the mouse is in a left-hand orientation.

The mechanical linkage may be a three-bar mechanical linkage. The mechanical linkage may be achieved by a three-bar mechanical linkage, or a four bar mechanical linkage, or a five bar mechanical linkage.

The mechanical linkage may include a first and second hinge joint and a slider joint.

The upper and lower part may be connected by a mechanical linkage. One of the examples by which the upper and lower part may be linked, connected or attached is through a mechanical linkage, which may comprise links which may be located on the central axis or longitudinal axis of the upper part, the lower part, or near or one more of the sides, the frontside (where the buttons are located) and/or backside.

Each of the linkages or link-nodes may be comprised of a joint, a hinge joint, a pivot joint or a slide element in which one of the upper or lower parts may exhibit a sliding, translational motion along for example a plane parallel to the surface on which the lower part rests. In a further example, this sliding motion may be achieved by a slot or slotted hole in the lower part which a rod of the upper part e.g. located along an axis defined by approximate or parallel to the side of the top surface.

The body may be arranged for an angular displacement of said upper part in respect of said lower part into a first position and into a second position.

The upper part may in said first position be arranged for left-hand use of said computer mouse, and in said second position be arranged for right-hand use of said computer mouse.

In an example, the upper part may have two discrete positions, and in a further example, the upper part may have three discrete positions. In the first position, the mouse may be in a left hand orientation, the second position in a right hand orientation, and in the third position in a folded position in which the form factor is minimized and optimized for portability. These positions may however also be changed, e.g. the first position being the portable folded position.

The upper part may in said first position be in a folded position in which said upper part is placed into said lower part, and in said second position is an unfolded position in which said upper part is placed at an angle with respect to said lower part.

The computer mouse may include at least two buttons arranged for detecting left and right click actions by said user, and where said controller is further arranged to detect said body to be in said first or second position and to swap said detected left and right click actions by said user upon switching between said first and second position.

The computer mouse may include at least two buttons arranged for detecting left and right click actions by said user, and where said controller is further arranged to communicate to said computer said detected first or second position.

The computer mouse may include two or more buttons. These may be defined as the left and the right button, and possibly the middle button. As the orientation of the mouse changes from left to right handed, the configuration of the buttons may change as well. This can be achieved mechanically and electronically, by detecting the position of the upper part to be in either a left or right hand orientation, and to swap the input from the respective buttons prior to sending the data to the computer, or the orientation detection may be communicated to the computer such that at software, a driver or within the kernel or operating system the swap from left to right or vice versa is corrected in the use of the respective buttons.

In the first and/or second position the upper part may be placed at an angle with respect to said lower part of between 45 and 75 degrees, preferably between 55 degrees and 65 degrees, and more preferably approximately 60 degrees.

The body may further include a little finger supporting surface, attached to said lower part and located in a plane parallel to said surface.

The body may further include a thumb supporting surface, attached to said upper part and located between said upper and lower part.

The little finger supporting surface may be arranged to be repositioned between a first and second position, representing respectively a left-hand and right- hand use of said computer mouse.

For ergonomic reasons the body may be comprise dedicated contact surfaces or supports for the little finger and/or for the thumb. Wherein the little finger support may be located near the surface, preferably as part of the lower part of the body, and the thumb near the top of the mouse, approximate the opposite side of the palm or below the button, as part of the upper part of the body.

In an example, the angular displacement of the upper part in respect of the lower part provides a transition between the first position and second position corresponding to an unfolded position in which the upper part is placed at an angle with respect to the lower part and a folded position in which the upper part is positioned adjacent and in parallel to the lower part, wherein the transition between the first and second position are preferably promoted by spring loading element for promoting rotation around a hinge between the upper and lower parts.

To promote the rotation of the upper part, preferably between the unfolded and folded positions of the mouse, one, several or all hinges may comprise spring elements such as linear but preferably, non linear spring elements like torsion elements. Preferably, the rotational linkages may comprise a torsion element, such that the sliding linkage may have a first transitional motion section and a second or remaining, wherein in between the first and second, there the upper part demonstrates switching in tendency towards either the unfolded or folded position.

Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or a computer tangible medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b show a two positions, i.e. left hand and right hand, use of a mouse;

Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b show an inclination angle of an ergonomic mouse;

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show a mouse according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the mouse according to the first embodiment;

Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b show a two positions, i.e. left hand and right hand, use of a mouse;

Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b show an inclination angle of an ergonomic mouse;

Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b show a mouse according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 8a and Fig. 8b show a different view of the mouse according to the second embodiment;

Fig. 9a and Fig. 9b show a yet another view of the mouse according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 10 shows several views of a mouse according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 11 shows several views of a mouse according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 124-12c show details in several views of a mouse according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to a computer mouse which is arranged to be connected with a computer to operate the computer within a graphical user interface. Computer mouses are typically either general purpose which means that they can be used by both left and right hand users. Such mouses however also have typical universal and mirror-symmetric design which enables the mouse to be used by both left and right hand users. Such mouses typically have small form-factor which means that they are portable. These universal mouses however are far from ergonomic as for example the natural and thereby more ergonomic position of the palm of the hand of a right hand users differs from that of a left hand user. Hence, ergonomic mouses are typically dedicated for either left or right hand use. These mouses however cannot be changed easily affecting the ergonomics, and cannot be transported easily as they have a form-factor which is relatively large when comparted to universal mouses.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the mouse is arranged to have a body which consist of at least two separate body parts, i.e. an upper part and a lower part. The upper part is defined as the part which supports the palm of said user when operating the computer mouse, whereas the lower part is defined as the part resting on the surface on which the mouse rests, e.g. a top surface of a desk on which the laptop, being the computer to which the mouse is connected, is placed. The mouse of the present disclosure has a body which is arranged for an angular displacement of the upper part in respect of the lower part.

With the angular displacement, the mouse may rotate around a certain axis, in case of a hinge type joint, or around a certain point, in case of a pivot type joint. This allow the upper part to be displaced in respect of the lower part such that the mouse can be converted between two distinct positions, e.g. a left hand position and a right hand position, or an unfolded (use) position or a folded (portable) position, or a combination of these positions.

The mouse according to the present disclosure has several components, being a body part which, as indicated comprises at least an upper part and a lower part, and a sensor, button and controller The sensor is arranged to detect two- dimensional motion of the computer relative to the surface, e.g. the top of the desk, whereas the button is arranged to detect click action of the finger of the user. The mouse may also comprise several buttons, for example typically two buttons, three buttons or more buttons. The buttons may be conventional click buttons which provide tactile feedback as these have certain (limited) travel, but may also be of a different type such as a touchpad type of input in which there is only limited travel or in which there is not travel at al. The mouse may optionally also comprise scroll means to provide a scroll type of input to the computer, e.g. embodied as a scroll wheel or a dedicated section on the body of the mouse which detects scroll inputs from the user, for example through a touchpad type of input. The mouse also has a controller which is arranged to receive the input from the sensor and to either (prejprocess or directly proxy the data obtained from the sensor to the computer. The controller also (pre)processes or directly proxies the data obtained from the button(s) to the computer. The controller may further be arranged for wireless communication with the computer to obtain a cordless mouse. The skilled person will appreciate which communication protocols are suitable, which details go beyond the context of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure may be embodied in several different implementations thereof, of which some of the embodiments according to the present disclosure are illustrated in the figures. These figures disclose two different embodiments in which the mouse is arranged to switch between right and left hand use, and also figures disclosing embodiments which are arranged to swich between unfolded and folded positions.

In Fig. 1a and Fig. 2 a mouse is disclosed which is held by a user in the palm of their hand. The body of the mouse 100 has a central portion 101 which is mirror symmetric. The fingers of the user extend beyond the central portion 101 which portion is dedicated for left or right hand use, but by rotating 102 the body, the mouse can be changed between left and right hand use. Accordingly the mouse is grabbed from the other side, see Fig. 1a versus Fig. 1b. Preferably, the mouse to this end is a wireless mouse, to prevent dislocation of mouse cords.

As can be seen in Fig. 2a and corresponding Fig. 2b, the mouse has a body optimized for ergonomics in which the neutral position of the palm of the hand of the user is set at a certain angle, which angle is also illustrated in Fig. 2b and may be defined as a plane corresponding to or parallel to the top surface of the (upper part of the) body. The angle may lie between 45 and 85 degrees, preferably between 55 and 65 degrees and even more preferably between 55 and 60 degrees or approximately 60 degrees.

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show a mouse 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the upper part of the body 111 is arranged to be displaced relative to the lower part of the body 112. The upper 111 and lower 112 parts are connected to each other by connecting means or a linkage means. The linkage means or more general, connecting means comprises in the embodiment shown in these figures of three joint nodes. The upper and lower body parts are connected to each other at one side, in a hinge type of joint, whereas the upper and lower part are connected to at the opposite side by a slider joint. Details thereof are illustrated further in Fig. 12a-c.

The mouse 100 also has an additional thumb support 114 on which the thumb of the user may rest, and may have an additional little finger support 117 on which the little finger may rest. The thumb and little finger supports are both mirror symmetric such that these may be used from both sides, and thus in either left and right hand orientation as both supports 114, 117 are part of lower part of the body 112 which does not rotate when the mouse is switched between left and right hand orientation. In Fig. 3b the details of such switching between left and right hand orientation is further illustrated by the arrow 107 indicating a rotation around an axis 108 or rotation axis or sagittal axis, which is perpendicular to a plane corresponding with, or parallel to the lower or upper surface of the upper part of the body 111.

Fig. 3b also illustrates two buttons 115a and 115b and a scroll wheel 116 and illustrates that the left and right side of the upper part of the body 112 may be mirror symmetric.

In fig. 4 a cross sectional view of the mouse according to the first aspect is shown, which illustrates the details of the connecting means which connect both body parts, 111, 112, and which may comprise three linkage means 118a-c, such as a rod extending lengthwise through the body of the mouse 100. The rods provide a joint means for the upper part to be displaced relative to the lower part. The rods may be part of a three-bar, four, five, six or plural-bar linkage system to provide a hinge motion between both upper and lower body parts 111, 112. The linkage or more general, connecting means, may also be comprised of, or comprising rhombus linkages or scissor linkages to provide for a scissor like motion of section 113, such that the mouse may be changed in form-factor between a folded and unfolded state, which states are illustrated in more detail in fig. 12a-c.

In Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b shown a mouse disclosed which is held by a user in the palm of their hand. This second embodiment illustrated by fig. 5a and 5b is arranged in such a manner that in both left and right hand orientations the mouse is approached and held from the same side, whereas, as illustrated in Fig. 1a and 1b, the mouse is approached and held on the opposite side when switching between left and right hand use.

To this end, as illustrated in Fig. 8a, the body of the mouse 200 is arranged such that the upper part of the body can be rotated with respect to the lower part of the body as illustrated by the rotational axis 204 and the rotation 203 of the upper part around this axis 204, or also referred to as tilting axis, thus relative to the lower part which remains in position and rests on the surface, e.g. the top of the desk.

Such rotation 204 may be achieved by a hinge joint 204 embodied for example by a rod which extends lengthwise through the upper part of the body, as illustrated in more detail in fig. 9a, 9b. The rotational axis 204 may lie parallel to the surface on which the lower part rests. But preferably has a small angle of inclination with respect thereto as shown in Fig. 8a. The rotational axis 204 is in other words, an axis which lies in the plane of, or parallel to the main surface, i.e. top or bottom surface of the upper part of the mouse.

The upper part of the mouse is mirror symmetric, hence, the mirror symmetric over a plane perpendicular to the plane defined above, i.e. the plane in, or parallel to the main surface of the upper part of the body.

As shown in fig. 6a and 8b, the mouse, when either in left or right hand orientation has an inclination angle of approximately 55 or 60 degrees with respect to the plane of the main surface of the lower part of the body, corresponding to the surface of the top of the desk on which the mouse rests. The upper body part can rotate around the rotational axis 204 for approximately 110 degrees to tilt between left and right hand orientation. Both orientations fig. 6a and 6b may in this embodiment have dedicated thumb supports, which may rotate together with the rotation of the upper part and form as such, an integral part of the rotatable upper part.

In fig. 7a and 7b the second embodiment of the mouse 200 is shown having an upper part 211 and lower part 212 of the body, and similar to the first embodiment of the mouse 100, a thumb support 214 and little finger support 217. The little finger support 217 is preferably arranged to be relocated from a first to a second position, 217A, 217B, which may be achieved by a translational motion of the part 217 through the lower body part 212.

In fig. 8a and 8b the rotational axis of the mouse 200 according to the second embodiment is shown in detail which. The rotational axis 204 provides rotation of the upper body part 211 relative to the lower body part 212, which axis 204 may be perpendicular to a plane corresponding with, or parallel to the lower or upper surface of the upper part of the body 211. As shown in fig. 8a the axis 204 preferably has a small degree of inclination relative to the surface, to increase the ergonomics of the mouse 200.

Fig. 9a and fig. 9b show the two orientations of left and right hand use and the rotational axis 204. The lower part 212 is mirror symmetric over vertical plane 206.

The little finger support 217 is located in fig. 9a on the right side in the first position 217a corresponding to the orientation of the mouse in right hand use, whereas it is located in fig. 9b on the left side in the second position 217b corresponding to the orientation of the mouse in left hand use. Alternatively, the little finger support may be located on both sides permanently, which embodiment is not shown.

Fig. 10 shows several illustrations of the mouse 300 according to an embodiment with details of the connection means or mechanical linkage providing several joints, preferably hinge joints around plural axis illustrated in the figures. The embodiment discloses a lower body part 312 and an upper body part 311, which are rotationally connected around a rotational axis and which may be connected to each other through a mechanical linkage 313. The embodiment has an upper body part comprised only of a main upper body part, without separate top upper body part, which contains the support for the palm of the hand, the button(s) and optionally the scroll wheel. As can be seen, both the lower body part 312 and main part of the upper body part 311 are mirror symmetric along plane 306.

Fig. 11 shows the mouse 100 with upper body part 111 comprised both of the main upper body part as shown in fig. 10, together with the top upper body part, which is arranged for supporting the palm of the hand, and comprising the button(s) and optionally the scroll wheel.

The embodiment shown in this fig. 11 is arranged for rotation of the upper body part 111 around the rotational axis 108. As shown in the several figures, the upper body part 111, or at least the top part of the upper body part 111 can be rotated 107 between a right hand orientation and a left hand orientation.

Fig. 12a, 12b, 12c show several stages, e.g. final and intermediate stages, of an embodiment of the mouse 100 wherein the mouse is foldable and can be positioned in a first unfolded position as illustrated by fig. 12a, and into a second folded position, illustrated by fig. 12c. Such folding may be achieved by linkage nodes or means 113a, 113b, 113c which connect the upper and lower body parts 111, 112. One of the linkages 113a, provides a rotational motion around a rotational axis and may thus be considered a hinge joint. The second linkage node 113b also provides an angular displacement and is embodied as a hinge joint. The third linkage node 113¢ is a sliding linkage in which for example a rod is configured as a slider, providing translational motion along for example a plane parallel to the surface on which the lower part rests. In an example, this sliding motion may be achieved by a slot or slotted hole in the lower part which a rod of the upper part e.g. located along an axis defined by approximate or parallel to the side of the top surface as illustrated in the figures.

The sliding motion or discrete motion between the first unfolded 12a and folded 12c position of the mouse, may additionally be spring loaded. The joint 113b may comprise a torsion element or other spring loaded element to push the upper part of the body into the directions d1, d3. Joint 113a may also comprise a torsion element to push the thumb support away from joint 113c, in an outward direction as indicated by rotation d2. The spring elements provide a force to keep the upper part of the body into the orientation as indicated in 12a. By moving, or more exactly, slinging joint 113c over the slot, as illustrated in fig. 12b. The spring elements are thus configured such that the spring force on hinge 113b overcomes that of hinge 1113a, once hinge 113c is slide along the slot, beyond the vertical line below hinge 113a, as indicated in fig. 12b, such that the upper part for that position on, has the tendency toward the folded position as illustrated in fig. 12c. When the mouse is switched from the folded position of fig. 12c towards the unfolded position of fig. 12a, is also will have the tendency to unfold once beyond the tipping position illustrated in fig. 12b.

Claims

CONCLUSIESCONCLUSIONS

1. Een computermuis, ingericht om te worden verbonden met een computer om de computer te bedienen binnen een grafische gebruikersinterface, de computermuis omvattende: - een lichaam ingericht om een handpalm van een gebruiker te ondersteunen die de computermuis bedient; - een sensor ingericht voor het detecteren van een tweedimensionale beweging van de computermuis ten opzichte van een oppervlak; - ten minste één knop ingericht voor het detecteren van klikacties door een vinger van de gebruiker; - een besturingseenheid voor het communiceren van invoer van de sensor en de ten minste ene knop naar de computer; waarbij het lichaam een bovenste deel en een onderste deel omvat, waarbij het bovenste deel is ingericht om de handpalm van de gebruiker die de computermuis bedient te ondersteunen, waarbij het lichaam is ingericht voor een hoekverplaatsing van het bovenste deel ten opzichte van het onderste deel.A computer mouse adapted to be connected to a computer to operate the computer within a graphical user interface, the computer mouse comprising: - a body adapted to support a palm of a user operating the computer mouse; - a sensor designed to detect a two-dimensional movement of the computer mouse relative to a surface; - at least one button designed to detect click actions by a user's finger; - a control unit for communicating input from the sensor and the at least one button to the computer; wherein the body comprises an upper part and a lower part, wherein the upper part is adapted to support the palm of the user operating the computer mouse, wherein the body is adapted for an angular displacement of the upper part relative to the lower part.

2. De computermuis volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de hoekverplaatsing wordt bereikt door een hoekverplaatsing van het bovenste deel rondom een rotatie-as evenwijdig aan het oppervlak.The computer mouse according to claim 1, wherein the angular displacement is achieved by an angular displacement of the upper part about an axis of rotation parallel to the surface.

3. De computermuis volgens conclusie 2, waarbij het bovenste en onderste deel zijn verbonden door een mechanische verbinding.The computer mouse according to claim 2, wherein the upper and lower parts are connected by a mechanical connection.

4. De computermuis volgens conclusie 3, waarbij de mechanische verbinding een mechanische verbinding met drie staven is.The computer mouse of claim 3, wherein the mechanical connection is a three-bar mechanical connection.

5. De computermuis volgens conclusie 3, waarbij de mechanische verbinding een mechanische verbinding met vier staven is.The computer mouse of claim 3, wherein the mechanical connection is a four-bar mechanical connection.

6. De computermuis volgens conclusie 3, waarbij de mechanische verbinding een eerste en tweede scharnierverbinding en een schuifverbinding omvat.The computer mouse of claim 3, wherein the mechanical connection includes a first and second hinge connection and a sliding connection.

7. De computermuis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het lichaam is ingericht voor een hoekverplaatsing van het bovenste deel ten opzichte van het onderste deel naar een eerste positie en naar een tweede positie.7. The computer mouse according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is adapted for an angular displacement of the upper part relative to the lower part to a first position and to a second position.

8. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij het bovenste deel in de eerste positie is ingericht voor linkshandig gebruik van de computermuis, en in de tweede positie is ingericht voor rechtshandig gebruik van de computermuis.8. The computer mouse according to claim 7, wherein the upper part is designed in the first position for left-handed use of the computer mouse, and in the second position is designed for right-handed use of the computer mouse.

9. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij het bovenste deel in de eerste positie een opgevouwen positie is waarin het bovenste deel in het onderste deel is geplaatst, en in de tweede positie een uitgevouwen positie is waarin het bovenste deel onder een hoek ten opzichte van het onderste deel is geplaatst.9. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the upper part in the first position is a folded position in which the upper part is placed in the lower part, and in the second position is an unfolded position in which the upper part is angled with respect to the lower part is placed.

10. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij de computermuis ten minste twee knoppen omvat ingericht voor het detecteren van links- en rechtsklikacties door de gebruiker, en waarbij de besturingseenheid verder is ingericht voor het detecteren dat het lichaam zich in de eerste of tweede positie bevindt en voor het wisselen van de gedetecteerde links- en rechtsklikacties door de gebruiker bij het schakelen tussen de eerste en tweede positie.10. The computer mouse according to claim 7, wherein the computer mouse comprises at least two buttons adapted to detect left and right click actions by the user, and wherein the control unit is further adapted to detect that the body is in the first or second position and for switching the detected left and right click actions by the user when switching between the first and second positions.

11. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij de computermuis ten minste twee knoppen omvat ingericht voor het detecteren van links- en rechtsklikacties door de gebruiker, en waarbij de besturingseenheid verder is ingericht voor het communiceren van de gedetecteerde eerste of tweede positie naar de computer.11. The computer mouse according to claim 7, wherein the computer mouse comprises at least two buttons adapted to detect left and right click actions by the user, and wherein the control unit is further adapted to communicate the detected first or second position to the computer.

12. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij in de eerste en/of tweede positie het bovenste deel onder een hoek tussen 45 en 75 graden, bij voorkeur tussen 55 graden en 65 graden, en bij meer voorkeur ongeveer 80 graden, ten opzichte van het onderste deel is geplaatst.12. The computer mouse according to claim 7, wherein in the first and/or second position the upper part is at an angle between 45 and 75 degrees, preferably between 55 degrees and 65 degrees, and more preferably approximately 80 degrees, relative to the bottom part is placed.

13. De computermuis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het lichaam verder een duimondersteuneningsoppervlak omvat, bevestigd aan het bovenste deel en gelegen tussen het bovenste en onderste deel.The computer mouse of any preceding claim, wherein the body further includes a thumb support surface attached to the upper portion and located between the upper and lower portions.

14. De computermuis volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het lichaam verder een pinkondersteuningsoppervlak omvat, bevestigd aan het onderste deel en gelegen in een vlak evenwijdig aan het oppervlak.The computer mouse of any preceding claim, wherein the body further comprises a little finger support surface attached to the lower portion and located in a plane parallel to the surface.

15. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij het pinkondersteuningsoppervlak is ingericht om opnieuw te worden verplaatst tussen een eerste en tweede positie, die respectievelijk een links- en rechtshandig gebruik van de computermuis vertegenwoordigt.The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the little finger support surface is arranged to be repositioned between a first and second position, respectively representing left- and right-handed use of the computer mouse.

16. De computermuis volgens conclusie 7, waarbij de hoekverplaatsing van het bovenste deel ten opzichte van het onderste deel een overgang verschaft tussen de eerste positie en de tweede positie die overeenkomt met een uitgevouwen positie waarin het bovenste deel onder een hoek ten opzichte van het onderste deel is geplaatst en een opgevouwen positie waarin het bovenste deel aangrenzend aan en evenwijdig aan het onderste deel is geplaatst, waarbij de overgang tussen de eerste en tweede positie bij voorkeur wordt bevorderd door een veerbelastend element voor het bevorderen van rotatie rondom een scharnier tussen de bovenste en onderste delen.The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the angular displacement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion provides a transition between the first position and the second position corresponding to an expanded position in which the upper portion is angled relative to the lower portion. part is placed and a folded position in which the upper part is placed adjacent and parallel to the lower part, the transition between the first and second positions preferably being assisted by a spring-loading element for promoting rotation about a hinge between the upper and lower parts.