Integrated multi-function computer input device

• US 20020097225A1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Muranami, Masahiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,710,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0464 capable of performing non-simultaneous scanning at more than one scanning station
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details

Abstract

An input device functions as both a pointing device and a scanning device. The input device can have a switch with a first position in which the input device functions as a pointing device and a second position in which the input device functions as a scanning device. When operating as a scanning device, the input device can have two modes of scanning operation: a document scan mode and a virtual scan mode. In the document scan mode, the input device can scan an image on a document page. In the virtual scan mode, the input device can scan an image on an electronic page. The input device can include a multi-functional scanning system that can scan an image horizontally, vertically, or any angle diagonally relative to a document or electronic page.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a pointing device; and

a scanning device integrated with the pointing device.

2. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device comprises a wireless mouse.

3. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device comprises a mouse having a detachable cable.

4. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device comprises an optical mouse.

5. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a mouse and further comprising a memory to store an image captured with the scanning device.

6. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a mouse having a switch, the switch being configured to toggle between a first position in which the input device functions as a pointing device and a second position in which the input device functions as a scanning device.

7. An input device as recited in claim 6, wherein the input device is configured to activate scanning software in a computing device when the second position of the switch is selected.

8. An input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a mouse comprising a switch to toggle between a document scan mode in which the input device is configured to scan an image on a document page, and a virtual scan mode in which the input device is configured to scan an image on an electronic page, wherein the electronic page is rendered on a display.

9. An input device as recited in claim 8, the mouse further comprising a second switch to activate the scanning device, wherein the input device is configured to activate scanning software in a computing device when the second switch activates the scanning device.

10. An input device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an optical sensor to sense the direction of movement of the input device;

a first scanning optical system being configured to scan an image in a first direction relative to a document page; and

a second scanning optical system being configured to scan an image in a second direction relative to the document page, the second direction being different than the first direction.

11. An input device as recited in claim 10, wherein the scanning optical systems are configured to be activated when the optical sensor senses a movement of the input device.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the pointing device comprises a wireless mouse.

14. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the pointing device comprises an optical mouse.

15. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the input device comprises a switch to toggle between a document scan mode in which the input device is configured to scan an image on a document page, and a virtual scan mode in which the input device is configured to scan an image on an electronic page, wherein the electronic page is rendered on the display.

16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the input device further comprises a second switch having a first position configured to activate the pointing device, and a second position configured to activate the scanning device.

17. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the input device further comprises a memory to store the image captured from the document page and the image captured from the electronic page.

18. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the input device is configured to activate scanning software in the processor when the scanning device is activated.

19. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the input device comprises:

a first scanning optical system being configured to scan an image in a first direction relative to a document page; and

a second scanning optical system being configured to scan an image in a second direction relative to the document page, the second direction being different than the first direction.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the input device further comprises an optical sensor to sense a direction of movement of the input device, and wherein the scanning optical systems are configured to be activated when the optical sensor senses a movement of the input device.

21. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the input device further comprises:

a switch configured to activate the first scanning optical system when scanning with the input device in the first direction; and

a second switch configured to activate the second scanning optical system when scanning with the input device in the second direction.

12. A system, comprising:

a computing device having a display and a processor; and

an input device communicatively linked to the computing device to operate as both a pointing device and a scanning device, the input device being configured to generate an input to the processor and the processor being configured to translate the input for rendering on the display.

22. A method, comprising:

positioning an indicator on a display corresponding to an input generated with an input device functioning as a pointing device;

switching functionality of the input device from a pointing device to a scanning device; and

scanning an image with the input device.

23. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising activating scanning software upon said switching.

24. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising displaying the image on the display while scanning the image.

25. A method as recited in claim 22, wherein the image is a section of an electronic page rendered on the display, and said scanning comprises capturing the image with a virtual scan of the electronic page image.

26. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising saving the image in a memory in the input device.

29. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, wherein the pointing component comprises an optical sensor and a digital signal processor coupled to the optical sensor, the pointing component configured to sense a direction of movement of the computer mouse.

30. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, further comprising a memory component mounted in the housing to store an image captured with the scanning component.

31. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, wherein the computer mouse is wireless.

32. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, wherein the computer mouse is an optical mouse.

33. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, further comprising a function switch supported by the housing, the switch configured to toggle between a first position to activate the pointing component and a second position to activate the scanning component.

34. A computer mouse as recited in claim 33, further comprising:

one or more multi-functional switches supported by the housing;

the switches being operably associated with the pointing component when the function switch is toggled to the first position; and

the switches being operably associated with the scanning component when the function switch is toggled to the second position.

35. A computer mouse as recited in claim 33, wherein the computer mouse is configured to activate scanning software in a computing device when the second position of the function switch is selected to activate the scanning component.

36. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, further comprising an infrared transmitter mounted in the housing to communicatively link the computer mouse with a computing device.

37. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, further comprising an ultraviolet transmitter mounted in the housing to communicatively link the computer mouse with a computing device.

38. A computer mouse as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

a first scanning optical system supported by the housing and being configured to scan an image in a first direction relative to a document page; and

a second scanning optical system supported by the housing and being configured to scan an image in a second direction relative to the document page, the second direction being different than the first direction.

39. A computer mouse as recited in claim 38, further comprising an optical sensor supported by the housing to sense a direction of movement of the computer mouse, wherein the scanning optical systems are configured to be activated when the optical sensor senses a movement of the computer mouse.

40. A computer mouse as recited in claim 38, further comprising:

a switch supported by the housing and configured to activate the first scanning optical system when scanning with the computer mouse in the first direction; and

a second switch configured to activate the second scanning optical system when scanning with the computer mouse in the second direction.

27. A method, comprising:

providing a housing;

supporting a first device with the housing, the first device being configured to emulate a computer keyboard input to a computer; and

supporting a second device with the housing, the second device being configured to scan an image.

28. A computer mouse, comprising:

a housing;

a pointing component supported by the housing and configured to emulate a computer keyboard input to a computer; and

a scanning component supported by the housing and configured to scan an image.