Mobile device with on-screen optical navigation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mobile device, comprising:
- a main body;
a processor and associated memory housed within the main body;
a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor;
a color enabled high resolution camera fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing color image signals representative of the captured images to the processor; and
a navigation module associated with the processor for converting the color image signals into lower resolution black-and-white image signals and determining, based on the black-and-white image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement.
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Abstract
A mobile computing device, including a main body, a processor and associated memory housed within the main body, a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor, an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor, and a navigation module associated with the processor for determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A mobile device, comprising:
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a main body;
a processor and associated memory housed within the main body;
a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor;
a color enabled high resolution camera fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing color image signals representative of the captured images to the processor; and
a navigation module associated with the processor for converting the color image signals into lower resolution black-and-white image signals and determining, based on the black-and-white image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An on-screen navigation method for a mobile computing device having a display screen, the method including steps of:
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(a) fixing a high resolution color enabled camera for movement with the display screen;
(b) displaying an on-screen pointer on the display screen;
(c) capturing successive images of a reference surface through the camera;
(d) converting the successive images into lower resolution grey scale images;
(e) comparing successive grey scale images to determine a relative movement between the camera and the reference surface; and
(f) moving the on-screen pointer on the display screen based on the determined movement. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mobile device, comprising:
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a main body;
a processor and associated memory housed within the main body;
a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor;
an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor;
a backlight fixed to the main body adjacent the optical sensor;
a navigation module associated with the processor for receiving the image signals and determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement; and
a lens movable relative to the optical sensor between a first position in which the lens is located in a line of sight of the optical sensor and a second position in which the lens is not located in the line of sight of the optical sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mobile device, comprising:
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a main body;
a processor and associated memory housed within the main body;
a display screen housed within the main body and responsive to signals from the processor;
an optical sensor fixed to the main body for capturing successive images and providing image signals representative of the captured images to the processor;
a camera module associated with the processor for displaying the captured images on the display screen;
a navigation module associated with the processor for receiving the image signals and determining, based on the image signals, a relative movement between the main body and a reference surface and moving a pointer on the display screen based on the determined relative movement; and
a select mode module associated with the processor for selecting between a camera mode and a navigation mode, wherein in said camera module is active in said camera mode and said navigation module is active in said navigation mode. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An on-screen navigation method for a mobile computing device having a display screen, the method including steps of:
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(a) fixing a camera for movement with the display screen;
(b) displaying an on-screen pointer on the display screen;
(c) capturing successive images of a reference surface through the camera;
(d) automatically selecting between a navigation mode and a camera mode;
(e) in said navigation mode, comparing successive images to determine a relative movement between the camera and the reference surface; and
(f) in said navigation mode, moving the on-screen pointer on the display screen based on the determined movement. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification