Importance

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Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for an improved computer pointing device. The present invention facilitates positioning the computer cursor and includes a pointing device for providing coordinate input signals and a gain control device for providing gain signals, wherein gain is defeined as the ratio of the cursor movement along the y-axis and x-axis relative to the corresponding amount movement of the pointing device along the y-axis and x-axis. The coordinate input signals and gain signals are received by a processor. The processor is operative to execute a program that scales the coordinate input signals as a function of a gain value determined from the gain signal. The processor then outputs the scaled coordinate input signals in a form simulating a mouse output. The pointing device can be any computer peripheral device capable of providing coordinate input signals indicating an amount of movement along the y-axis and x-axis. The gain control device is any device capable of providing gain signals to a processor. One embodiment of the gain control device includes a variable resistor to manipulate the magnitude of the gain signal. The gain control device can also include an analog/digital converter for converting the gain signal into digital form and a buffer amplifier for providing a low impedance input from the variable resistor to the analog/digital converter. Preferably the gain signals emanating from the gain control device is manipulable by a foot pedal mechanism.

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First Claim