Apple inc. (20240103656). MULTI-MODE MOUSE simplified abstract

MULTI-MODE MOUSE

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Bart K. Andre of Palo Alto CA (US)

Brian T. Gleeson of Mountain View CA (US)

Kristi E. Bauerly of Los Altos CA (US)

William D. Lindmeier of San Francisco CA (US)

Matthew J. Sundstrom of Campbell CA (US)

Geng Luo of Santa Clara CA (US)

Seung Wook Kim of San Jose CA (US)

Evangelos Christodoulou of Santa Clara CA (US)

Megan M. Sapp of San Francisco CA (US)

Kainoa Kwon-perez of San Francisco CA (US)

David H. Bloom of San Francisco CA (US)

Steven J. Taylor of San Jose CA (US)

MULTI-MODE MOUSE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240103656 titled 'MULTI-MODE MOUSE

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a patent application for an input device, such as a mouse, that includes a sensor assembly and an emitter. The sensor assembly detects touch inputs on the housing of the device, and the emitter sends signals with information about the angular position of the grip portion and the direction of force exerted on the housing.

• The input device includes a housing with an exterior grip portion and an internal volume.
• A sensor assembly is located inside the housing to detect touch inputs.
• An emitter is electrically coupled to the sensor assembly to send signals based on the touch inputs.
• The emitter sends a first signal with information on the angular position of the grip portion in response to a first touch input.
• The emitter sends a second signal with information on the direction of force from a second touch input.

Potential Applications

This technology can be applied in various input devices such as computer mice, touchpads, and styluses to enhance user interaction and control.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of accurately detecting touch inputs and providing feedback on the position and force applied by the user.

Benefits

- Improved user experience with precise touch input detection - Enhanced control and customization options for input devices

Potential Commercial Applications

"Enhancing User Interaction with Advanced Input Devices: Applications in Gaming and Design"

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be touch-sensitive input devices that provide feedback on touch inputs, but the specific features of detecting angular position and force direction may be unique to this patent application.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology impact the design of future input devices?

This technology can potentially influence the development of more advanced and user-friendly input devices with enhanced touch input capabilities.

What are the potential challenges in implementing this technology on a larger scale?

Some challenges may include the cost of production, compatibility with existing devices, and the need for user training to fully utilize the features of the input device.

Original Abstract Submitted

an input device, such as a mouse, can include a housing defining an exterior grip portion and an internal volume, a sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume, and an emitter electrically coupled to the sensor assembly. in response to the sensor assembly detecting a first touch input on the housing, the emitter sends a first signal including information regarding an angular position of the grip portion. in response to the sensor assembly detecting a second touch input on the housing, the emitter sends a second signal including information regarding a direction of a force exerted on the housing from the second touch input.