Pointing device and cursor for use in intelligent computing environments

• US 20060109245A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Andrew, Pham, Hubert
• Application Number:
  US11/323,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109245A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits

Abstract

A system and process for directing a laser beam within a space is presented. The system includes a pointing device which periodically outputs orientation data indicative of the direction it is pointing and a cursor device which projects a laser beam. The orientation data is used to compute the direction the pointing device is pointing in terms of yaw and pitch angles. The laser beam is directed to locations in the space relative to the amount of movement of the pointing device. In an absolute mode, the pointed device and the laser beam of the cursor device are pointed at the same location in the space, whereas in a relative mode, the pointing device does not point at the same location as the laser beam. The position of the laser can be used to select a variety of hardware devices known to be in a room for future control actions.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A computer-implemented process for selecting an object within a space by a user causing a laser beam to be shone on the object, comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions:

directing a laser beam generated by a cursor device comprising a laser which is capable of projecting a laser beam into the space to shine on said object;

determining whether the laser beam is being shone on the object; and

whenever the laser beam is being shone on the object, selecting that object for future control actions.

15-56. -56. (canceled)

58. A system for selecting an object within a space by a user causing a laser beam to be shone on the object, comprising:

a cursor device comprising a laser which projects a laser beam into the space;

a general purpose computing device which is in communication with the cursor device; and

a computer program comprising program modules executable by the computing device, wherein the computing device is directed by the program modules of the computer program to,

direct the laser beam to shine on the object;

determine whether the laser beam is being shone on the object; and

whenever the laser beam is being shone on the object, selecting that object for future control actions.

59. A computer-implemented process for selecting an object within a space by a user causing a laser beam to be shone on the object, comprising:

a directing means for directing a laser beam generated by a cursor device comprising a laser which is capable of projecting a laser beam into the space to shine on said object;

a determining means for determining whether the laser beam is being shone on the object; and

whenever the laser beam is being shone on the object, employing a selecting means for selecting that object for future control actions.