Novel cursor control system

• US 20020005910A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JLB Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Eagle New Media Investments, LLC (Nexstar Media Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/037 using the raster scan of a cathode-ray tube [CRT] for detecting the position of the member, e.g. light pens cooperating with CRT monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a novel cursor control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of manipulating a cursor on a tv screen utilizing a wireless remote control. The method includes detecting a location on the screen pointed to by the remote control. The method also includes Transmitting the location to a set-top box.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

A television having a screen;

A set-top box coupled to the television, the set-top box including;

A receiver;

A processor coupled to the receiver to receive signals as received and translated by the receiver;

A video controller coupled to the processor and coupled to the television, the video controller to receive commands from the processor and translate those commands to signals, the signals sent to the television to control the screen; and

A remote control, the remote control including;

A housing having an aperture;

A sensor within the housing, coupled to the housing at a location within an optical path from the aperture;

A microcontroller electrically coupled to the sensor and coupled to the housing; and

A transmitter electrically coupled to the microcontroller and coupled to the housing.

2. A method of manipulating a cursor on a tv screen utilizing a wireless remote control comprising:

Detecting a location on the screen pointed to by the remote control; and

Transmitting the location to a set-top box.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

Displaying a cursor at the location.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

Moving the remote control to a position pointing to a new location on the screen;

Detecting the new location; and

Transmitting the new location to the set-top box.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

Moving the remote control to a position pointing to a new location on the screen;

Detecting the new location; and

Transmitting the new location to the set-top box.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

Displaying the cursor at the new location.

7. A method of manipulating a cursor on a tv screen utilizing a wireless remote control comprising:

Receiving a grab of the cursor, the cursor pointed to by the wireless remote control;

Transmitting an indication of the grab to a set-top box coupled to the tv screen;

Receiving an indication of motion of the remote control;

And

Transmitting the indication of motion of the remote control to the set-top box.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

Displaying the cursor at a location determined based on the indication of motion of the remote control.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

The indication of motion is an indication that a sector boundary has been crossed.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein:

The indication of motion is an indication of a location pointed to by the remote control different from a location of the cursor when the indication of the grab was transmitted.

11. A remote control device comprising:

A housing having an aperture;

A sensor within the housing, coupled to the housing at a location within an optical path from the aperture;

A microcontroller electrically coupled to the sensor and coupled to the housing; and

A transmitter electrically coupled to the microcontroller and coupled to the housing.

12. The remote control device of claim 11 wherein:

The transmitter is an infrared transmitter.

13. The remote control device of claim 11, further comprising:

A semi-mirror coupled to the housing and disposed within the optical path from the aperture between the aperture and the sensor;

And

A light source coupled to the housing and disposed in a position relative to the semi-mirror suitable for emitting a light beam targeted at the semi-mirror which, upon reflection by the semi-mirror, follows the optical path from the semi-mirror to the aperture.

14. The remote control device of claim 13, further comprising:

A first focus element disposed in the optical path between the semi-mirror and the aperture.

15. The remote control device of claim 14, further comprising:

A second focus element disposed in the optical path between the semi-mirror and the first focus element.

16. The remote control device of claim 15 wherein:

The light source is a laser LED;

The first focus element is a blind; and

The second focus element is a blind.