Mouse having an optically-based scrolling feature

• US 20040046741A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Low, Wing Kong, Berkeley, Brian H., Lyon, Benjamin Bendix
• Granted Patent: US 7,358,963 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A peripheral input device for controlling movements on a display screen. The peripheral input device includes a housing and an optical touch pad carried by the housing. The optical touch pad is configured to translate finger motion into movements on the display screen.

Claims

1. A peripheral input device for controlling movements on a display screen, the peripheral input device comprising:

a housing; and

an optical touch pad carried by the housing, the optical touch pad being configured to translate finger motion into movements on the display screen.

2. The peripheral device as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing is gripped by a user during manipulation of the peripheral input device

3. The peripheral device as recited in claim 1 wherein the optical touch pad includes an optically operable window and an optical sensor configured to work through the optically operable window so as to detect movements of a finger in close proximity to and moving across the optically operable window.

4. The peripheral device as recited in claim 3 wherein the optically operable window is a portion of the housing, and wherein the optical sensor is located within the housing.

5. The peripheral device as recited in claim 4 wherein the optically operable window makes up a substantial portion of the housing.

6. The peripheral device as recited in claim 5 wherein housing is formed from an optically transmissive material.

7. The peripheral device as recited in claim 6 wherein the housing is formed from a translucent material.

8. The peripheral device as recited in claim 3 wherein the optical sensor is an image acquisition sensor capable of capturing images of the finger as its moved across the optically operable window.

9. The peripheral device as recited in claim 8 wherein the image acquisition sensor is a CMOS image sensor

10. The peripheral device as recited in claim 3 wherein the optical sensor is a light detector capable of measuring the intensity of light reflecting off the finger as the finger is moved across the optically operable window.

11. The peripheral device as recited in claim 3 wherein the optical sensor is coupled to a controller that interprets the data collected by the optical sensor, and that reports this information to a host system.

12. The peripheral device as recited in claim 3 wherein the optical touch pad includes a light source that cooperates with the optical sensor, the light source being configured to generate light.

13. The peripheral device as recited in claim 12 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

14. The peripheral device as recited in claim 12 wherein the optical touch pad includes one or more optical components that help direct the light between the light source and the optical sensor.

15. The peripheral device as recited in claim 1 further including one or more buttons configured to provide a clicking action for performing actions on the display screen.

16. The peripheral device as recited in claim 15 wherein the one or more buttons correspond to a mechanical button that works through the housing or a unified button/housing that incorporates the functionality of the button directly into the housing.

17. The peripheral device as recited in claim 1 further including a position detection mechanism carried by the housing, the position detection mechanism being configured to perform additional movements on the display screen.

18. The peripheral device as recited in claim 17 wherein the position detection mechanism is configured to translate finger motion or housing motion into movements on the display screen.

19. The peripheral device as recited in claim 17 wherein the movements controlled by the optical touch pad are different than the movements controlled by the position detection mechanism.

20. The peripheral device as recited in claim 19 wherein the movements controlled by the optical touch pad correspond to scrolling movements and wherein the movements controlled by the position detection mechanism correspond to cursor movements.

21. A mouse having a finger actuated scrolling region that is integrated into a housing of the mouse, the scrolling region representing the working area of an optical system disposed inside the housing, the optical system being configured to detect finger movement across the scrolling region.

22. A mouse for use in a computer system having a display screen, the mouse comprising:

a first position detection mechanism configured to track the position of a finger moving across an outer surface of the mouse and to generate signals for controlling movements on the display screen; and

a second position detection mechanism configured to track the position of the mouse moving across a surface and to generate signals for controlling movements on the display screen.

23. The mouse as recited in claim 22 wherein the first position detection mechanism generates signals for controlling a first movement on the display screen, and wherein the second position detection mechanism generates signals for controlling a second movement, the first movement being different than the second movement.

24. The mouse as recited in claim 23 wherein the first movement corresponds to a scrolling movement, and wherein the second movement corresponds to a cursor movement.

25. The mouse as recited in claim 22 wherein each of the position detection mechanisms includes an optical sensor.

26. The mouse as recited in claim 25 wherein the position detection mechanisms share a light source, the light source cooperating with each of the optical sensors.

27. The mouse as recited in claim 22 wherein each of the position detection mechanism includes a microcontroller.

28. The mouse as recited in claim 22 further including a processor operatively coupled to each of the position detection mechanisms.

29. The mouse as recited in claim 22 further including a housing that includes a base for moveably supporting the mouse on a surface and a body carried by the base for allowing the mouse to be held by the user.

30. The mouse as recited in claim 29 wherein the first position detection mechanism includes an optical sensor and wherein the body is formed from a translucent material thereby allowing the first position detection mechanism to work therethrough.

31. The mouse as recited in claim 29 wherein the body is movably coupled to the base so as to provide one or more clicking actions for performing actions on the display screen.

32. The mouse as recited in claim 29 wherein the mouse includes a mechanical button that is disposed in the body, the mechanical button providing one or more clicking actions for performing actions on the display screen