Computer mouse

Abstract

A computer mouse including a base with a lower surface for sliding across a work surface, the lower surface having a first base contact footprint with contact feet for supporting the mouse on the work surface. An upper body extends from the base with a palm rest extending from the rear of the mouse upper. At least one trigger button is located forward of the palm-rest and at least two primary buttons are located forward of the trigger button. A recess is formed underneath the trigger button and is at least partially formed by the underside of the trigger button. An optical movement sensor is included along with a communication system, for communicating with the computer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mouse for use with a computer, the mouse including:
 a base with a lower surface configured for sliding across a work surface, the lower surface having a first base contact footprint for supporting the mouse on the work surface, the first base contact footprint including one or more contact feet lying in a first base contact plane, the mouse being in a first orientation when the first base contact plane is parallel to the work surface;   an upper body, extending from the base;   at least one contact sensor located on the upper body, the contact sensor activated by a contact or force applied in a direction at least partially toward the first base contact plane;   a movement sensor system, capable of detecting mouse movement relative to the work surface, the movement sensor system including an optical movement sensor and generating a movement data signal capable of being processed by the computer to determine mouse movement;   a communication system, for communicating with the computer,   wherein a frame of reference for the mouse is defined by:
 two mutually orthogonal axes; hereinafter X WS  and Y WS  axis, defining a plane including the work surface, upon which the mouse is operated by a user's hand, the X WS  and Y WS  axes being respectively orientated anteriorly and laterally to the user; 
 a third work surface axis hereinafter Z WS  orientated mutually orthogonal to both the X WS  and Y WS  axes; 
 X WS  and Y WS  axes work surface movements by the mouse as detected by the movement sensor system correlate to X S  and Y S  axis on-screen pointer movements on the computer; 
 a lateral mouse axis X M  and longitudinal mouse axis Y M  corresponding to the on-screen X S  and Y S  axes respectively; 
 a third mouse axis, hereinafter the Z M  axis, is orientated mutually orthogonal to both the X M  and Y M  axes; and wherein: 
 the “rear” of the mouse is the portion closest to the user's wrist in use; 
 the “forward” part of the mouse is closest to the user's fingertips at the opposing side of the mouse to the “rear”; 
 the Y M  axis extends in a longitudinal direction between the “front” and “rear” of the mouse; 
 the mouse Z M  axis is orientated vertically, perpendicular to a horizontal work surface when the mouse is positioned with a lower portion resting on the work surface; 
   wherein the mouse provides three-dimensional movement data, the mouse including at least one orientation sensor capable of detecting the orientation of the computer mouse and outputting data indicative of the orientation, the communication system transmitting a data signal to the computer indicating the orientation of the computer mouse, the orientation sensor providing movement data indicative of movement of the mouse in at least a third dimension, the third dimension including rotation about an axis, and   wherein at least one contact foot is configured to act as a pivot point, fulcrum or edge (hereinafter referred to as a ‘pivot axis’) about which the mouse may rotate, wherein the position of the contact foot is laterally adjustable to adjust the position of the pivot axis relative to a longitudinal axis of the mouse, hereinafter Y MC  axis.   
     
     
         2 . A mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first base contact footprint includes multiple spaced-apart contact feet, at least two of the feet configured to act as the pivot axis and the mouse includes two pivot axes, a pivot axis provided on each side of the central longitudinal Y MC  axis, the at least two pivot axes being mutually divergent and extending forward from the rear of the mouse on opposing sides of the central longitudinal Y MC  axis of the mouse and wherein the first base contact footprint is reconfigurable to alter the angle of divergence between the two pivot axes. 
     
     
         3 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first base contact footprint is reconfigurable to increase the lateral separation of a said pivot axis to the central longitudinal Y MC  axis. 
     
     
         4 . A mouse as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the mouse includes a second base contact footprint, each of said base contact footprints including at least one corresponding contact foot, forming respective base contact planes and including a common pivot axis at the boundary between the first and second base contact footprints. 
     
     
         5 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a third base contact footprint is formed on an opposing side of the central longitudinal Y MC  axis to the second base contact footprint. 
     
     
         6 . A mouse as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first base contact footprint includes at least two adjustable portions, laterally adjustable to increase the separation of the contact feet in the first base contact footprint, wherein the adjustable portions (hereinafter referred to as linked feet assemblies) each include one or more of the contact feet and also include at least one lateral foot and wherein the linked feet assemblies each include one or more of the contact feet and also include at least one lateral foot. 
     
     
         7 . A mouse as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the linked feet assemblies are locatable or positionable on the mouse in a plurality of orientations or locations at differing lateral separation to the central longitudinal Y MC  axis. 
     
     
         8 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to provide at least one command to an application when the orientation sensor data relating to at least one axis passes at least one predetermined threshold value, and wherein the computer is configured to provide a variable input to a computer application, the variable input related to the orientation sensor data corresponding to at least one axis. 
     
     
         9 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one command includes a press of a button or keyboard key when the orientation sensor data relating to at least one axis passes the threshold value and a release of the same button or key when the orientation sensor data subsequently passes the threshold value. 
     
     
         10 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one command includes a press of a button or keyboard key when the orientation sensor data relating to at least one axis passes the threshold value and a second press of the same button or key when the orientation sensor data subsequently passes the threshold value. 
     
     
         11 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the orientation sensor provides mouse rotation data indicative of the mouse rotation about X M , Y M  and Z M  axes, the computer configured to respectively provide corresponding pitch, roll and yaw commands to a computer application. 
     
     
         12 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the communication system contemporaneously transmits both the orientation sensor data and movement sensor system data to the computer. 
     
     
         13 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a said contact sensor is a button and includes a force transducer capable of outputting a data signal indicative of the force applied to the button. 
     
     
         14 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , including a scroll wheel with a force transducer capable of outputting a data signal indicative of the force applied to the scroll wheel. 
     
     
         15 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the computer is configured to provide at least one command to a computer application when data signal indicates the force applied to the force sensor passes a predetermined threshold force value. 
     
     
         16 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the threshold force value is automatically altered if the orientation sensor data passes at least one predetermined threshold orientation value. 
     
     
         17 . A computer mouse as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the buttons includes a force transducer capable of outputting a data signal indicative of the force applied to the button. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program for use with a mouse as claimed in  claim 1 , the computer program embodied in computer-executable instructions, executable to:
 process at least one data signal generated by the orientation sensor;   process at least one data signal generated by the optical movement sensor;   process the data signals and provide at least one command to at least one computer application, the command being a variable input dependant on both the orientation sensor data and optical sensor data.   
     
     
         19 . A computer program for use with a mouse as claimed in  claim 13 , the computer program embodied in computer-executable instructions, executable to:
 process at least one data signal generated by the force transducer;   process at least one data signal generated by the optical movement sensor;   process the data signals and provide at least one command to at least one computer application, the command being a variable input dependant on both the force transducer data and optical sensor data.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program for use with a mouse as claimed in  claim 13 , the computer program embodied in computer-executable instructions, executable to:
 process at least one data signal from the mouse generated by the force transducer;   process the data signal and provide at least one command to at least one computer application if the force transducer provides a signal indicating a threshold value of force.