Hybrid presentation controller and computer input device

• US 20060197744A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Kehlstadt, Florian Max, Edbrooke, Jan, Tiphane, Guy, Plancherel, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An input device having a housing; a pointing device coupled with the housing having a plurality of buttons; a scrolling element coupled with the housing; and a module for detecting user input for operating the input device in at least a first mode and a second mode, where in the first mode, the input device operates as a tabletop computer pointing device, and where in the second mode, the input device operates as a hand-held presentation device used to control a computer-based presentation.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A input device, comprising:

a housing;

an optical source coupled to the housing and configured to emit radiation;

an optical detector configured to detect a first rate of change of the intensity of the radiation reflected from a surface and a second rate of change of the intensity of the radiation reflected from the surface, the second rate of change being different from the first rate of change; and

a module configured to change a mode of operation of the input device between a first mode and a second mode if the first rate of change of the intensity is detected by the optical detector, and maintain the mode of operation of the input device if the second rate of change of the intensity is detected by the optical detector.

23. The input device of claim 22, wherein:

in the first mode, the input device operates as a pointing device, and

in the second mode, the input device operates as a presentation device used to control a computer-based presentation.

24. The input device of claim 23, wherein in the first mode the input device operates as a mouse.

25. The input device of claim 22, further comprising:

a plurality of buttons coupled to the housing; and

a scrolling element coupled to the housing.

26. The input device of claim 25, wherein the scrolling element is a wheel, a force-sensitive roller, a solid state roller, a trackball, a mini joystick, or a touchpad.

27. The input device of claim 25, wherein in the second mode one of the plurality of buttons is configured to move a computer-based presentation in a first direction, and another of the plurality of buttons is configured to move the computer-based presentation in a second direction.

28. The input device of claim 25, wherein an activation of the scrolling element in the second mode is configured to initiate display of a menu on a computer screen presenting menu items configured to be selected by a subsequent scrolling element input.

29. The input device of claim 28, wherein the scrolling element is a wheel, a force-sensitive roller, or a solid state roller and wherein an item from the menu items is configured to be chosen in response to a scrolling movement of the scrolling element and a selected-menu item is configured to be selected in response to a pressing motion on the scrolling element.

30. The input device of claim 28, wherein at least one of the menu items is for changing the functionality of the buttons from a first control mode to a second control mode.

31. The input device of claim 30, wherein a given one of the menu items is associated with changing the input device from the second mode to the first mode.

32. The input device of claim 31, wherein another of the menu item is associated with changing the input device from the first mode to the second mode.

33. The input device of claim 25, further comprising a laser pointing device coupled to the housing.

34. The input device of claim 33, wherein the laser pointer is actuated by one of the plurality of buttons.

35. The input device of claim 25, wherein the scrolling element is configured to be pressed once for a single ratchet scroll and configured to pressed in a substantially continuous manner for substantially continuous scrolling.

36. The input device of claim 35, wherein the scrolling element is a metallic sensor.

37. The input device of claim 22, further comprising a power source configured to power the optical source.

38. The input device of claim 37, wherein the second rate of change is associated with a changing rate of power supplied by the power source.

39. The input device of claim 22, wherein the first rate of change is greater than the second rate of change.

40. The input device of claim 22, wherein:

the module includes a three-way switch coupled to the housing,

a first activation of the switch places the input device in the first mode,

a second activation of the switch places the input device in the second mode, and

a third activation of the switch turns the input device off.

41. The input device of claim 22, wherein the input device is a wireless device.

42. The input device of claim 22, wherein the module is configured to detect a user input to configure the input device to operate in at least one of the first mode and the second mode.

43. The input device of claim 22, wherein the first rate of change is associated with lifting the input device from a surface or placing the input device on the surface.