Pointing device with hand detection
First Claim
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1. An input device comprising:
- a housing;
electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs and transmitting signals corresponding to said inputs to an electronic device;
a sleep-mode circuit, coupled to said electronic circuitry, for activating a reduced power operation of said electronic circuitry;
a hand detection circuit for detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said housing and producing a hand detect signal; and
said sleep mode circuit being responsive to said hand detect signal to awaken said electronic circuitry from said reduced power operation.
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Abstract
An input device having a housing and electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs, and transmitting signals corresponding to those inputs to an electronic device, such as a computer. A sleep mode is provided for the electronic circuitry to conserve power. A hand detection circuit is provided for detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to the housing and producing a hand detect signal in response. The hand detect signal will awaken the input device from its sleep mode.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a housing;
electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs and transmitting signals corresponding to said inputs to an electronic device;
a sleep-mode circuit, coupled to said electronic circuitry, for activating a reduced power operation of said electronic circuitry;
a hand detection circuit for detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said housing and producing a hand detect signal; and
said sleep mode circuit being responsive to said hand detect signal to awaken said electronic circuitry from said reduced power operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A mouse comprising:
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a housing;
electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs and transmitting said inputs to an electronic device, said electronic circuitry including an optical module for reflecting light off a surface and detecting movement of said mouse relative to said surface;
a sleep-mode circuit, coupled to said electronic circuitry, for activating a reduced power operation of said electronic circuitry, said sleep mode circuit being responsive to a wake-up signal to awaken said electronic circuitry from said reduced power operation; and
a hand detection circuit for detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said housing and producing said wake up signal, said hand detection circuit comprising first and second electrodes on said housing for capacitive connection with a user'"'"'s hand, a first circuit, coupled to said first electrode, for determining an amount of time for charging of a capacitance connected to said first circuit, and a second circuit, coupled to said second electrode, for determining an amount of time for discharging of a capacitance connected to said second circuit. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 17, 18, 19)
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12. A method for operating an input device comprising:
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detecting user inputs and transmitting said inputs to an electronic device external to said input device;
activating a reduced power mode of said input device in the absence of user inputs for a period of time;
detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said input device and producing a hand detect signal; and
awakening said input device from said reduced power mode in response to said hand detect signal.
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15. A method for operating an optical mouse comprising:
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detecting movement of said optical mouse using optical detection and transmitting said movement signals to an electronic device external to said optical mouse;
activating a reduced power mode of said optical mouse in the absence of movement signals or other user input for a period of time;
detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said optical mouse by detecting a change in capacitance using the simultaneous charging and a discharging of capacitances coupled to two electrodes, and producing a hand detect signal; and
awakening said input device from said reduced power mode in response to said hand detect signal.
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16. A computer mouse comprising:
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a housing;
electronic circuitry for detecting movement of said mouse and transmitting movement signals to a computer;
a hand detection circuit for detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said housing and producing a hand detect signal; and
a response element, in one of said computer mouse and said computer, for activating a function in response to said hand detect signal.
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20. An input device comprising:
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a housing;
electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs and transmitting signals corresponding to said inputs to an electronic device; and
an optical hand detection circuit for optically detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said housing and producing a hand detect signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An input device comprising:
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a housing;
electronic circuitry for detecting user inputs and transmitting signals corresponding to said inputs to an electronic device; and
an optical hand detection circuit for optically detecting the proximity of a user'"'"'s hand to said housing and producing a hand detect signal, said optical hand detection circuit including a light emitter mounted in a housing of said device, and a light detector mounted in said housing and positioned to receive light from said light emitter reflected off a hand proximate said device;
a recess in said housing for enclosing said light emitter and light detector, including a shunt barrier mounted in said recess between said light emitter and said light detector; and
a sleep-mode circuit, coupled to said electronic circuitry, for activating a reduced power operation of said electronic circuitry, said sleep mode circuit being responsive to said hand detect signal to awaken said electronic circuitry from said reduced power operation.
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Specification