Apple Patents: Optical Touch Pad Mouse?

MacRumors · 04:39 PM

MacPlus.org (French) notes a relatively new Apple Patent (Filed Sept 2002):

Quote:

A peripheral input device for controlling movements on a display screen, the peripheral input device comprising: a housing; and an optical touch pad carried by the housing, the optical touch pad being configured to translate finger motion into movements on the display screen.

Essentially, the new patent appears to be for a mouse with touchpad in place of the button. This appears to be an update to a previous concept patented by Apple -- the rotary mouse.

FatSweatyChimp · Mar 17, 2004, 04:24 PM

Sounds weird.

ImAlwaysRight · Mar 17, 2004, 04:29 PM

Any pictures? Why do you need a touch pad on a mouse?

bigsteve · Mar 17, 2004, 04:30 PM

cool, so basically a small ipod scroll wheel, but on a mouse

DPazdanISU · Mar 17, 2004, 04:31 PM

I think it would be neat to have a mouse without any push buttons. Apple has done a great job on the iPods with sensor buttons that I think if they came out with a wireless mouse like that I would have to buy one. Even cooler would be one with sensor pad inbetween the right and left sensor pads on the mouse that would allow u to scroll simply by sliding your finger up or down it like on laptop pads...

aftk2 · Mar 17, 2004, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsteve

cool, so basically a small ipod scroll wheel, but on a mouse

Yes, which, incidentally, would be so much better for scrolling a document or web page. With today's scroll mice, you have to scroll the wheel, stop, move your finger back to the top of the wheel, and repeat. With something like the previous rotary mouse patent, you wouldn't have to do that. You could use your index or middle finger and scroll the page with one continuous motion.

rueyeet · Mar 17, 2004, 04:35 PM

Maybe a bit like the touch-sensitive scroll-wheel on that Kensington mouse that I can't think of the name of. Maybe it could scroll up, down, left, or right with the touch of a finger, like the iPod scroll wheel. Maybe it could be like the trackpad on the laptops, but with a hand rest.

With Apple, only two things are certain: there's no way to tell, but it's always fun to find out.

virividox · Mar 17, 2004, 04:36 PM

if it like an ipod scroll wheel ona mouse then it looks promising

jrv3034 · Mar 17, 2004, 04:37 PM

If they do this right... it could be the evolution of the mouse as we know it. Think of the possibilities:

Gaming: use the mouse to control the direction of your movement, and the touchpad to move in that direction, or something like that!

Pro video/audio: built in shuttle jog in the mouse!

Web surfing: scroll up/down AND left/right with a flick of the finger!

The list goes on and on...

As long as it matches the aluminum G5, it's all good!

7on · Mar 17, 2004, 04:38 PM

Finally, we find out the true reason for the iPod, R&D for mice :P

jeffgarden · Mar 17, 2004, 04:40 PM

but from looking at my friends laptops, which are all a few years old now, the part of the trackpad they use the most is discolored. i don't mind the laptop mouse but i use a usb one for my powerbook just to keep the trackpad looking new. and the one on the ipod you don't really use enough to wear out.

DPazdanISU · Mar 17, 2004, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffgarden

but from looking at my friends laptops, which are all a few years old now, the part of the trackpad they use the most is discolored. i don't mind the laptop mouse but i use a usb one for my powerbook just to keep the trackpad looking new. and the one on the ipod you don't really use enough to wear out.

I use my trackpad on my iBook constantly everday for the past 3 years and it isn't discolored one bit. Tell your friends that they don't have to press down so hard!

mvc · Mar 17, 2004, 04:48 PM

This is just so Apple can put in a scroll wheel without appearing to be just like everyone else (say Microsoft) and simply using a Scroll Wheel™. And there is still no second button

mvc · Mar 17, 2004, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPazdanISU

I use my trackpad on my iBook constantly everday for the past 3 years and it isn't discolored one bit. Tell your friends that they don't have to press down so hard!

Or perhaps wash their hands more often

Wonder Boy · Mar 17, 2004, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aftk2

Yes, which, incidentally, would be so much better for scrolling a document or web page. With today's scroll mice, you have to scroll the wheel, stop, move your finger back to the top of the wheel, and repeat.

yeah, thats really killing me. if it wasnt for scrolling, i would exercise at all.

nagromme · Mar 17, 2004, 04:52 PM

* Apple patents stuff that doesn't always become a real product. Looks cool though. I want a BT version.

* Looks very Kensington-like in function--which I've heard is NOT that functional, and Apple couldn't patent that, so I'm clearly wrong

* The little touch pad could also be a second mouse button (tap, or click down like an iPod Mini).

* From the picture, it is clear that this mouse is targeted towards tree frogs.

klaus · Mar 17, 2004, 04:55 PM

scrolling along a touchpad..that sounds really weird to me.. i've simulated here, on my mouse, and it feels so akward.. the scroller with steps feels so much more natural to me, with an emphasis on "me"

niter · 05:01 PM

I think the concept is really revolutionary and I would love to see Apple develop it. My ideal design would be BT and the scroll on the mouse would have a depressible button underneath, as do traditional scroll mice. Once I figured out what the ctrl button does, I do not need a two buttoned mouse. However, I keep one around so that I can set the F9 expose function to it. Imagine if this type of scroll could do the same. I am understanding that this scroll is similar to the one in the iPod (which I love).

I am also thinking more of this rendition:

<img src=http://www.macplus.org/magplus/IMG/jpg/souris2.jpg>

soosy · Mar 17, 2004, 04:59 PM

Yes, didn't Kensington do this a year or so ago:
http://www.kensington.com/html/1216.html

lostngone · Mar 17, 2004, 05:00 PM

Did anyone look at the picture? In the top two diagrams the hand looks disfigured?

Doesn't Kensington already have a product that looks like that already?

Wonder Boy · Mar 17, 2004, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soosy

Yes, didn't Kensington do this a year or so ago:
http://www.kensington.com/html/1216.html

i have that. i love it.

MrMacMan · Mar 17, 2004, 05:03 PM

Looks cool...

Certainly a new mouse is very needed.

Optical... scroll wheel... 2 BUTTONS OR MORE!

Please!!!

hotmaj · Mar 17, 2004, 05:04 PM

check this link out on the apple uk store
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObje...5.10.3.32.13.0

greenstork · Mar 17, 2004, 05:04 PM

Man, it seems like everyone is so interested in the technology and is not seeing the big picture here. Apple, more stubborn about their one button mouse than any other computer maker on the planet, is finally, after years and years of complaints, developing a new mouse!!!

This is the best rumor day in months. New PM's, iPods, Displays, and now mice.

jsw · Mar 17, 2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soosy

Yes, didn't Kensington do this a year or so ago:
http://www.kensington.com/html/1216.html

I also have and love this mouse (well, the wireless version of it). If you press and hold the top or bottom of the middle area, it keeps on scrolling, thus eliminating even that small amount of exercise from my day.

Mar 17, 2004, 04:31 PM	#5
DPazdanISU macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Near Chicago	I think it would be neat to have a mouse without any push buttons. Apple has done a great job on the iPods with sensor buttons that I think if they came out with a wireless mouse like that I would have to buy one. Even cooler would be one with sensor pad inbetween the right and left sensor pads on the mouse that would allow u to scroll simply by sliding your finger up or down it like on laptop pads... __________________ What I like to say to PC fans that rip on Macs is this: Buy a Mac, use it for a year, and come back to me. Then if you still don't like Macs then at least you have supporting evidence, however I doubt that will be the case! mac mini 1.42mhz/512mb on 61" HD Television

Mar 17, 2004, 04:35 PM	#7
rueyeet macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: MD	Maybe a bit like the touch-sensitive scroll-wheel on that Kensington mouse that I can't think of the name of. Maybe it could scroll up, down, left, or right with the touch of a finger, like the iPod scroll wheel. Maybe it could be like the trackpad on the laptops, but with a hand rest. With Apple, only two things are certain: there's no way to tell, but it's always fun to find out. __________________ -----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK----- Version: 3.12 GCS/O d+(---) s+:+>+: !a C+$ U P L+(-) E-- W++ N- o? K- w(---) O? M+ V PS++ PE Y+ PGP- t(--) 5++ X- R+ tv- b+ DI++ D G e++ h-- r x+ ------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------

Mar 17, 2004, 04:36 PM	#8
virividox macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Manila - Nottingham - Philadelphia - Santa Barbara - Boston (ugh hate not knowing where to call home)	if it like an ipod scroll wheel ona mouse then it looks promising __________________ 17" MBP , 2 gig ram, 200 gig fw800 + 120 gig fw400 + 250 gig usb2 ext, 5g 80gig Ipod, Tiger d200 & d70

Mar 17, 2004, 04:37 PM	#9
jrv3034 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New York City	If they do this right... it could be the evolution of the mouse as we know it. Think of the possibilities: Gaming: use the mouse to control the direction of your movement, and the touchpad to move in that direction, or something like that! Pro video/audio: built in shuttle jog in the mouse! Web surfing: scroll up/down AND left/right with a flick of the finger! The list goes on and on... As long as it matches the aluminum G5, it's all good! __________________ jrv3034 Dual 2GHz G5 PowerMac / 160GB & 200GB internal HDDs / Two 250GB LaCie FW HDDs / 1.5GB RAM / Superdrive / Mitsubishi 22" DiamondPro / JBL Creature / Logitech MX500 / Zip 100 / iPod 15GB 3G / Samsung i500 / Miglia AlchemyTV DVR

Mar 17, 2004, 04:38 PM	#10
7on macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Thriller Bark	Finally, we find out the true reason for the iPod, R&D for mice :P __________________ 任天堂 Leave luck to heaven MRoogle

Mar 17, 2004, 04:24 PM	#2
FatSweatyChimp macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2004	Sounds weird.

Mar 17, 2004, 04:29 PM	#3
ImAlwaysRight macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2002	Any pictures? Why do you need a touch pad on a mouse?

Mar 17, 2004, 04:30 PM	#4
bigsteve macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2003	cool, so basically a small ipod scroll wheel, but on a mouse

Mar 17, 2004, 04:40 PM	#11
jeffgarden macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Miami	but from looking at my friends laptops, which are all a few years old now, the part of the trackpad they use the most is discolored. i don't mind the laptop mouse but i use a usb one for my powerbook just to keep the trackpad looking new. and the one on the ipod you don't really use enough to wear out. __________________ Jeffgarden.com Intel iMac 2ghz Core Duo

Mar 17, 2004, 04:48 PM	#13
mvc macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Outer-Roa	This is just so Apple can put in a scroll wheel without appearing to be just like everyone else (say Microsoft) and simply using a Scroll Wheel™. And there is still no second button __________________ If Apple really wanted to secure their OS to their own hardware, they might have tried something stronger than limmericks

Mar 17, 2004, 04:52 PM	#16
nagromme macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Blinking blue dot	* Apple patents stuff that doesn't always become a real product. Looks cool though. I want a BT version. * Looks very Kensington-like in function--which I've heard is NOT that functional, and Apple couldn't patent that, so I'm clearly wrong * The little touch pad could also be a second mouse button (tap, or click down like an iPod Mini). * From the picture, it is clear that this mouse is targeted towards tree frogs. __________________ nagromme Would you like a treatment?

Mar 17, 2004, 04:55 PM	#17
klaus macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Belgium	scrolling along a touchpad..that sounds really weird to me.. i've simulated here, on my mouse, and it feels so akward.. the scroller with steps feels so much more natural to me, with an emphasis on "me"

Mar 17, 2004, 04:58 PM	#18
niter macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2003	I think the concept is really revolutionary and I would love to see Apple develop it. My ideal design would be BT and the scroll on the mouse would have a depressible button underneath, as do traditional scroll mice. Once I figured out what the ctrl button does, I do not need a two buttoned mouse. However, I keep one around so that I can set the F9 expose function to it. Imagine if this type of scroll could do the same. I am understanding that this scroll is similar to the one in the iPod (which I love). I am also thinking more of this rendition: <img src=http://www.macplus.org/magplus/IMG/jpg/souris2.jpg> Last edited by niter : Mar 17, 2004 at 05:01 PM.

Mar 17, 2004, 04:59 PM	#19
soosy macrumors regular Join Date: May 2002	Yes, didn't Kensington do this a year or so ago: http://www.kensington.com/html/1216.html

Mar 17, 2004, 05:00 PM	#20
lostngone macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Anchorage	Two things Did anyone look at the picture? In the top two diagrams the hand looks disfigured? Doesn't Kensington already have a product that looks like that already?

Mar 17, 2004, 05:03 PM	#22
MrMacMan macrumors 601 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1 Block away from NYC.	Looks cool... Certainly a new mouse is very needed. Optical... scroll wheel... 2 BUTTONS OR MORE! Please!!! __________________ There is a little Steve in all of us! -->Folding is Fighting Against Disease and help MacRumors. Join Today!<-- Props to --> Shadowfax For Making My Avatar! IM Me On AIM Already!

Mar 17, 2004, 05:04 PM	#23
hotmaj macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2004	one exists check this link out on the apple uk store http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObje...5.10.3.32.13.0

Mar 17, 2004, 05:04 PM	#24
greenstork macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle,WA	Man, it seems like everyone is so interested in the technology and is not seeing the big picture here. Apple, more stubborn about their one button mouse than any other computer maker on the planet, is finally, after years and years of complaints, developing a new mouse!!! This is the best rumor day in months. New PM's, iPods, Displays, and now mice. __________________ "The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

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