Input device with adaptive grip orientation
A computer input system includes a mouse including a housing having an interior surface defining an internal volume and a sensor assembly disposed in the internal volume. A processor is electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and a memory component having electronic instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to determine an orientation of the mouse relative to a hand based on a touch input from the hand detected by the sensor assembly. The mouse can also have a circular array of touch sensors or lights that detect hand position and provide orientation information to the user.
1 . A computer input system, comprising:
a mouse, comprising:
a housing having:
a central axis oriented normal to a lower housing surface; and
a sensor assembly disposed within the housing;
an array of lights coupled to the housing and positioned about the central axis, each light of the array of lights being separately illuminable; and
a haptic feedback actuator disposed within the housing;
a processor electrically coupled to the sensor assembly and the haptic feedback actuator; and
a memory component electrically coupled to the processor, the memory component storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
detect, using the sensor assembly, a rotational input to rotate the housing about the central axis; and
transmit a signal to the haptic feedback actuator to cause the haptic feedback actuator to generate haptic feedback based on the rotational input, and wherein an illuminated light of the array of lights is configured to shift based on the rotational input.
2 . The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein the haptic feedback actuator comprises a linear resonant actuator or an eccentric rotating mass motor.
3 . The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein the haptic feedback actuator is configured to generate an audible sound as the rotational input is performed.
4 . The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein the haptic feedback actuator is configured to generate a vibrational output as the rotational input is performed.
5 . The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein based on the rotational input, the haptic feedback actuator is configured to generate at least one of an audible sound or a vibrational output at predetermined increments of angular displacement for the housing relative to the central axis.
6 . The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein based on the rotational input, the haptic feedback actuator is configured to generate at least one of an audible sound or a vibrational output based on a speed of angular displacement for the housing relative to the central axis.
7 . The computer input system of claim 1 , wherein in response to the rotational input, the illuminated light appears to remain positionally fixed with respect to a user.
8 . A computer input system, comprising:
a mouse comprising:
a touch-sensitive housing; and
a haptic component coupled to the touch-sensitive housing;
a processor electrically coupled to a sensor and the haptic component; and
a memory component electrically coupled to the processor, the memory component storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
identify, via the touch-sensitive housing, a set of contact regions contacted by a hand;
infer a user hand placement based on the set of contact regions, wherein the user hand placement indicates a first mouse mode if a palm is not detected in the set of contact regions and the user hand placement indicates a second mouse mode if a palm is detected in the set of contact regions;
detect angular displacement of the touch-sensitive housing; and
if the user hand placement indicates the first mouse mode, transmit, to the haptic component, a haptic signal responsive to the angular displacement, and
if the user hand placement indicates the second mouse mode, do not transmit, to the haptic component, a haptic signal responsive to the angular displacement.
9 . The computer input system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to infer a user intent by identifying a hand orientation from the user hand placement and associating an intended action with the hand orientation.
10 . The computer input system of claim 8 , wherein the mouse comprises a component configured to generate a signal output, the component comprising at least one of an electrical element, a magnetic element, or an ultrasonic element.
11 . The computer input system of claim 10 , further comprising an external computing device electrically coupled to the mouse, wherein the external computing device comprises a sensor configured to sense the signal output from a dumb component.
12 . The computer input system of claim 11 , wherein:
application of the user hand placement to the housing causes a modification to the signal output; and
the sensor is configured to identify the modification to the signal output as indicative of the user hand placement.
13 . The computer input system of claim 8 , wherein the user hand placement is associated with a grip profile for a particular user.
14 . The computer input system of claim 13 , wherein the grip profile is learned over time and repeat usage via an artificial intelligence algorithm based on at least one of unique hand positions, contact region sizes, degrees of force applied to the touch-sensitive housing, or a weight upon the touch-sensitive housing.
15 . The computer input system of claim 8 , wherein the touch-sensitive housing comprises a touch sensor array to identify the user hand placement.
16 . A computer input system, comprising:
a mouse comprising:
a housing;
a component disposed within the housing and configured to generate a signal output, the component comprising at least one of a magnetic element or an ultrasonic element; and
a haptic component coupled to the housing;
an external computing device electrically coupled to the mouse, the external computing device comprising:
a processor electrically coupled to the haptic component; and
a memory component electrically coupled to the processor, the memory component storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
detect a modification to the signal output;
identify a user grip applied to the housing is a knob grip based on the modification to the signal output;
detect angular displacement of the entire housing about a central axis of the housing; and
transmit, to the haptic component, a haptic signal responsive to the angular displacement of the entire housing.
17 . The computer input system of claim 16 , wherein the haptic component is configured to generate a haptic click effect as the angular displacement occurs.
18 . The computer input system of claim 17 , wherein the haptic click effect has a user-configurable resolution.