User programmable computer peripheral using a peripheral action language

• US 20040263477A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony G. Davenport, John W. Hyde
• Original Assignee: Anthony G. Davenport, John W. Hyde
• Inventors: Hyde, John W., Davenport, Anthony G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,335,876 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A peripheral input device for a computer utilizes the USB (or equivalent) connectivity standard to deliver complex inputs to the computer. The input device includes an onboard microcontroller that uses the peripheral action language of the invention to generate the complex inputs in response to simple user inputs. The microcontroller is connected o) to an action table and sequence table and a library of Local Device emulation functions that are accessed in response to any user input (a local event) to determine the programmed action(s) to be generated in response to the event. The invention may be embodied in a mouse, keyboard, or other peripheral device, or in a stand-alone module connected between conventional input devices and a digital machine.

Claims

1. A peripheral device for a computer, including:

a microcontroller running a peripheral action language program, said microcontroller having;

means for receiving input events generated by a user;

action lookup means for correlating input events with output actions;

output means for transmitting said output actions to the computer.

2. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein said action lookup means includes an action lookup table that stores actions corresponding to said input events.

3. The peripheral device of claim 2, wherein said action lookup means includes a sequence table that stores a sequence of actions in correspondence to said input events.

4. The peripheral device of claim 3, wherein said action table and said sequence table are programmable by a user of the device.

5. The peripheral device of claim 4, wherein said action table and said sequence table are stored in non-volatile memory within the device, and are portable with the device.

6. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein said device includes at least one button actuatable by the user, and one of said input events comprises actuation of said button.

7. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein said device includes a movement sensor for detecting movement of the device in an XY plane, and one of said input events comprises a movement signal from said movement sensor.

8. The peripheral input device of claim 7, wherein one of said input events comprises a lift event of said device from said XY plane.

9. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein said device includes a pair of movement sensors for detecting movement of the device in an XY plane, and one of said input events comprises anti-phase rotational movement signals from said movement sensors.

10. The peripheral device of claim 9, wherein said device includes a generally circular base in which said pair of movement sensors are mounted, and a generally cylindrical sidewall extending upwardly and coaxially from said base.

11. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein one of said input events includes a real time clock signal.

12. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein one of said input events includes an action report from said computer.

13. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a computer mouse.

14. The peripheral device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a stand-alone module connected between a digital input device and a digital machine.

15. The peripheral device of claim 14, wherein said digital machine comprises a computer.

16. The peripheral device of claim 15, wherein said digital machine comprises a digital game device.

17. The peripheral device of claim 4, further including a library of peripheral emulation functions stored in said non-volatile memory and adapted to run under the peripheral action language program, whereby said output actions emulate the functions of at least one other peripheral input device.

18. The peripheral device of claim 17, wherein said library of peripheral emulation functions includes an alphanumeric keyboard emulator.

19. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein said output action comprises an 8-way scroll function.

20. The peripheral device of claim 19, wherein said input event comprises movement of said device in a predetermined direction in the XY plane, and a resulting non-movement programmed output action is transmitted to the digital machine.

21. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein said output action comprises an anti-spin function.

22. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein said input event includes analysis of said movement signal to detect velocity above an acceptable limit, and a resulting programmed output action comprises a velocity-limited signal transmitted to the computer.

23. The peripheral device of claim 21, wherein said input event includes analysis of said movement signal to detect velocity above an acceptable limit, and a resulting programmed output action comprises an about-face rotation of a game avatar.

24. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein said output action comprises an auto-strafe function for a game avatar.

25. The peripheral device of claim 24, wherein said input event includes analysis of said movement signal to detect X/Y accelerator beyond a predetermined limit, and a resulting programmed output action comprises a circle-strafe function by a game avatar.

26. The peripheral device of claim 9, wherein said output action comprises a rotate function.

27. The peripheral device of claim 26, wherein said pair of movement sensors each generate respective XY movement signals, and said input event includes analysis of said movement signals to detect opposed XY movement of said pair of sensors, and a resulting programmed output action comprises rotation of a virtual knob about an axis.

28. The peripheral device of claim 26, wherein said pair of movement sensors each generate respective XY movement signals, and said input event includes analysis of said movement signals to detect opposed XY movement of said pair of sensors, and a resulting programmed output action comprises rotation of the point of view of a game avatar.

29. The peripheral device of claim 7, wherein said output action is a programmed response to a lift event of the device from the XY plane.

30. The peripheral device of claim 29, wherein said movement sensor comprises an optical movement detector, and said input event comprises a lift event in which the optical movement detector breaks optical contact with the XY plane.

31. The peripheral device of claim 30, wherein said output action comprises a reset function in the computer.

32. A mouse for user input to a digital machine, including:

a microcontroller running a peripheral action language program, said microcontroller having;

means for receiving input events generated by a user of the mouse;

action lookup means for correlating input events with output actions;

output means for transmitting said output actions to the digital machine;

an XY movement sensor;

said input events comprising signals from said movement sensor and signals from at least one button supported on said mouse and adapted to be actuated by a user of the mouse.

33. The mouse of claim 32, wherein said action lookup means includes an action lookup table that stores actions corresponding to said input events.

34. The mouse of claim 33, wherein said action lookup means includes a sequence table that stores a sequence of actions in correspondence to said input events.

35. The mouse of claim 34, wherein said action table and said sequence table are programmable by a user of the mouse.

36. The mouse of claim 35, wherein said action table and said sequence table are stored in non-volatile memory within the device, and are portable with the mouse.

37. A stand-alone module connected between a digital input device and a digital machine for receiving simple input event signals and transmitting complex action reports to the digital machine, including:

means for receiving input events generated by the digital input device;

action lookup means for correlating input events with output actions;

output means for transmitting said output actions to the digital machine.

38. The stand-alone module of claim 37, wherein said means for receiving input events includes at least one standardized connector receptacle.

39. The stand-alone module of claim 38, further including first adaptor means for adapting an output of a digital input device to connect to said standardized connector receptacle.

40. The stand-alone module of claim 39, further including second adaptor means for adapting said output means to connect to said digital machine.

41. The stand-alone module of claim 37, wherein said action lookup means includes an action lookup table that stores actions corresponding to said input events.

42. The stand-alone module of claim 41, wherein said action lookup means includes a sequence table that stores a sequence of actions in correspondence to said input events.

43. The stand-alone module of claim 42, wherein said action table and said sequence table are programmable by a user of the module.

44. The stand-alone module of claim 43, wherein said action table and said sequence table are stored in non-volatile memory within the module, and are portable with the module.

45. A mouse for user input to a digital machine, including:

a base panel adapted to translate on a supporting surface;

a pair of XY movement sensors supported in said base panel and directed toward said supporting surface;

means for enabling a user to grasp and translate the mouse.

46. The mouse of claim 45, wherein said means for enabling a user to grasp and translate include a generally cylindrical sidewall extending upwardly from said base panel.

47. The mouse of claim 46, wherein said base panel is generally cylindrical, and said base panel and sidewall are aligned on a common vertical axis.

48. The mouse of claim 47, wherein said pair of XY movement sensors are disposed in equally spaced fashion from said common vertical axis.

49. The mouse of claim 48, further including means for receiving signals from said pair of XY movement sensors and determining rotation of said mouse about said vertical axis.

50. The mouse of claim 45, further including a microcontroller running a peripheral action language program, said microcontroller having:

means for receiving input events generated by a user of the mouse;

action lookup means for correlating input events with output actions;

output means for transmitting said output actions to the digital machine.

51. The mouse of claim 50, wherein said action lookup means includes an action lookup table that stores actions corresponding to said input events.

52. The mouse of claim 51, wherein said action lookup means includes a sequence table that stores a sequence of actions in correspondence to said input events.

53. The mouse of claim 52, wherein said action table and said sequence table are programmable by a user of the mouse.

54. The mouse of claim 53, wherein said action table and said sequence table are stored in non-volatile memory within the device, and are portable with the mouse.