[54] DATA INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR USE WITH A VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM
[75] Inventor: Tae-Kyung Kwon, Seoul, Rep. of Korea
[73] Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd., Rep. of Korea
[21] Appl. No.: 08/736,066 [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1996
[51] Int. CI.6 G09G 5/00; G09G 5/08
[52] U.S. CI 345/158; 345/156
[58] Field of Search 345/156, 161,
345/167, 158
[56] References Cited
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5,451,924 9/1995 Massimino et al 340/407.1
5,488,362 1/1996 Ullman et al 341/20
5,512,919 4/1996 Araki 345/156
5,555,894 9/1996 Doyama et al 128/739
Primary Examiner—Jeffery Brier
Assistant Examiner—David L. Lewis
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Pennie & Edmonds LLP
[57] ABSTRACT
A data input device for use with a virtual reality system comprises an upper case, a lower case rotatably supporting the upper case, five push-buttons, and a potentiometer. The push-buttons correspond to the fingers of a virtual hand displayed on a screen of the virtual reality system, respectively, and are located on an upper portion of the upper case. Disposed under each push-button is a sensor which is activated when the corresponding push-button is pressed, which, in turn, allow a signal to be transmitted to a CPU. The signal from the sensor determines the corresponding finger to be flexed. The potentiometer generates signals which linearly vary depending on a rotation angle of the upper case and transmits the signals to the CPU. The determined finger is linearly flexed in response to the signals from the potentiometer. If no finger is determined to be flexed, the hand is linearly rotated in response to the signals.
1 Claim, 5 Drawing Sheets
