Programmable Computer Mouse With On-Device Menu System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation devices, such as computer mice and gaming console controllers, lack programmability and flexibility in adjusting operational parameters, limiting user customization and portability across different computing devices.
Innovation Solution
A navigation device with a tracking device, multiple buttons, a scroll wheel, a display, and a controller that allows users to program operational parameters, store selections, and navigate graphical user interfaces independently of external computing devices, using a menu system and macro generation capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If navigation devices are designed with fixed operational parameters, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability and user customization capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a menu system that is pre-configured with multiple operational parameters (acceleration, buttons, ergonomics, macro, pointer speed, scrolling) that users can select and customize. This preliminary preparation of configurable options allows users to adapt the device to their needs without requiring complex real-time programming capabilities, thus improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation device enables users to independently customize operational parameters through an integrated menu system without requiring external programming assistance or complex setup procedures. Users can directly modify acceleration, button configurations, ergonomics, macro settings, pointer speed, and scrolling behavior through the device's own interface, making the device self-configurable and improving adaptability while maintaining reasonable complexity levels.
2Adaptability or versatility
If navigation devices lack programmability, then ease of operation is improved and device complexity is reduced, but adaptability across different software applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes pre-configured operational parameters for different usage scenarios (ergonomics, acceleration, buttons, macro, pointer speed, scrolling) that can be selected from the menu. This preliminary setup of configurable options enables portability across different software applications and devices without requiring complex programmability, as users can quickly adapt to different environments using the pre-prepared parameter sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The menu system provides multiple operational parameters that can be configured for different software applications and computing devices. By offering universal configuration options covering ergonomics, acceleration, buttons, macro, pointer speed, and scrolling, the device achieves broad adaptability across diverse platforms without requiring application-specific programming, thus improving portability while controlling complexity.
3Ease of operation
If navigation devices require external computing devices for programming, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation and user independence deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation device incorporates an integrated menu system that enables users to independently configure operational parameters (acceleration, buttons, ergonomics, macro, pointer speed, scrolling) directly on the device without requiring external computing devices or programming assistance. This self-service capability improves ease of operation and user independence while maintaining manageable device complexity through a user-friendly interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes pre-configured operational parameters and a ready-to-use menu system that allows users to immediately begin customization without external programming tools. This preliminary preparation of configuration options enables independent programming capability while controlling device complexity, as the framework for customization is already in place and requires only user selection rather than complex programming operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer mouse having a tracking device to navigate in a graphical user interface presented by a software application or control aspects thereof, a plurality of buttons, a scroll wheel, a display, a memory, and a controller coupled to the tracking device, the plurality of buttons, the display, and the memory. The controller can be operable to present by way of the display a plurality of scrollable options to program a corresponding plurality of operational parameters of the computer mouse, detect from a tactile contact of at least one of one or more of the plurality of buttons and the scroll wheel a selection from the plurality of options, store in the memory the selection, and operate at least one of the plurality of operational parameters of the computer mouse according to the stored selection. Additional embodiments are disclosed.