Compact pointing device

• US 20050110755A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP Singapore Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harley, Jonah, Matta, Farid, Hoen, Storrs Townsend
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,976 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/160
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04714 with orthogonal axes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane

Abstract

The pointing device has a moveable puck that moves over a surface in a puck field of motion. A position detector measures the puck position in the puck field of motion. In one embodiment, the puck includes a user sensor that detects an interaction between a user and the puck. A controller causes a cursor to move on a display in response to the puck moving in the puck field of motion when the user sensor senses the interaction between the user and the puck. The magnitude and direction of motion of the cursor is determined by the magnitude and direction of motion of the puck in the puck field of motion. In another embodiment, a restoring mechanism is provided that returns the puck to a predetermined area in the puck field of motion when the user releases the puck.

Claims

1. A pointing device, comprising:

a surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon;

a moveable puck comprising a user sensor that detects an interaction between a user and said puck, said puck being confined to move within said puck field of motion, and

a position detector that measures the position of said puck in said puck field of motion.

2. The pointing device of claim 1 further comprising a restoring mechanism that returns said puck to a predetermined area in said puck field of motion.

3. The pointing device of claim 2 wherein said restoring mechanism comprises a spring connected to said puck.

4. The pointing device of claim 2 wherein said restoring mechanism comprises a first magnet on said puck and a second magnet in said puck field of motion.

5. The pointing device of claim 3 wherein said spring comprises an arcuate spring.

6. The pointing device of claim 5 wherein said arcuate spring comprises a planar spiral spring.

7. The pointing device of claim 2 wherein said restoring mechanism also applies a force that dampens oscillations in said puck position when said puck returns to said predetermined area in said puck field of motion.

8. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein said user sensor detects a change in capacitance associated with an electrode on said puck.

9. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein said user sensor comprises a force sensor that generates a first signal indicative of a first predetermined force applied to said puck by said user.

10. The pointing device of claim 9 wherein said force sensor further generates a second signal indicating that is greater than a second predetermined force level is being applied to said puck by said user.

11. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein said user sensor generates a signal indicative of the magnitude of a force applied to said puck by said user.

12. The pointing device of claim 1 further comprising a controller for causing a cursor to move on a display in response to said puck moving in said puck field of motion when said sensor senses said interaction between said user and said puck, the magnitude and direction of motion of said cursor being determined by the magnitude and direction of motion of said puck in said puck field of motion.

13. The pointing device of claim 12 wherein said controller does not cause said cursor to move in response to said puck moving when said sensor does not sense said interaction between said user and said puck.

14. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein said position detector comprises surface electrodes on said surface and a puck electrode that moves with said puck.

15. The pointing device of claim 14 wherein said position detector measures the capacitance between selected ones of said electrodes.

16. The pointing device of claim 14 wherein said position detector measures current flowing between selected ones of said electrodes.

18. The pointing device of claim 2 wherein said restoring mechanism comprises a spring connected to said puck.

20. The pointing device of claim 18 wherein said spring comprises an arcuate spring.

21. The pointing device of claim 20 wherein said arcuate spring comprises a planar spiral spring.

23. The pointing device of claim 15 wherein said selected ones of said electrodes do not include said puck electrode.

17. A pointing device comprising:

a surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon;

a moveable puck confined to move within said puck field of motion;

a position detector that measures the position of said puck in said puck field of motion; and

a restoring mechanism that returns said puck to a predetermined area in said puck field of motion.

19. The pointing device of claim 17 wherein said restoring mechanism comprises a first magnet on said puck and a second magnet that is fixed with respect to said puck field of motion.

22. The pointing device of claim 17 wherein said restoring mechanism also applies a force that dampens oscillations in said puck position when said puck returns to said predetermined area in said puck field of motion.

24. A pointing device comprising:

a surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon and a plurality of surface electrodes;

moveable puck confined to move within said puck field of motion, said puck comprising a puck electrode that moves over said surface electrodes, and

a position detector that measures the position of said puck in said puck in said field of motion, said measurement including measuring a capacitance between pairs of said surface electrodes.