Pointing device and associated method of operating

• US 20060238509A1
• Filed: 04/05/2006
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Adler, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

The pointing device is used in connection with a computer system, and has a sensor for sensing data representing a displacement information in at least two spatial coordinates. The device is capable of toggling between a first and a second mode of operation, and also adjusting the displacement information referring to a first of the two spatial coordinates (i.e. first displacement information) in view of a second of the two spatial coordinates (i.e. second displacement information) when the second mode of operation is activated.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A computer system pointing device comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing data representing displacement information in at least two spatial coordinates;

a mode selector to toggle between a first and a second mode of operation; and

an adjuster to adjust the displacement information based upon a first of the at least two spatial coordinates defined as first displacement information in view of a second of the at least two spatial coordinates defined as second displacement information, when the second mode of operation is selected.

10. The computer system pointing device of claim 9, wherein the pointing device is an optical mouse or a wireless optical mouse.

11. The computer system pointing device of claim 9, wherein the adjuster comprises:

a comparator to compare the first and second displacement information; and

a resetting unit to reset one of the first and second displacement information based upon size.

12. The computer system pointing device of claim 9, wherein the adjuster compares the first and second displacement information and adjusts the value of the first displacement information to the value of the second displacement information when the value of the first displacement information does not exceed the second displacement information by more than a threshold.

13. The computer system pointing device of claim 12, wherein the threshold is a multiplicative threshold in the range of 0.5 to 2.0.

14. A computer system pointing device comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing data representing displacement information in at least two spatial coordinates;

a mode selector to toggle between a first and a second mode of operation; and

an adjuster to adjust the displacement information to reflect at least one of diagonal and orthogonal movements based upon a comparison of the displacement information in the at least two spatial coordinates when the second mode of operation is selected.

15. The computer system pointing device of claim 14, wherein the adjuster compares first displacement information defined by a first of the at least two spatial coordinates in view of second displacement information defined by a second of the at least two spatial coordinates.

16. The computer system pointing device of claim 15, wherein the adjuster comprises:

a comparator to compare the first and second displacement information; and

a resetting unit to reset one of the first and second displacement information based upon size.

17. The computer system pointing device of claim 15, wherein the adjuster compares the first and second displacement information and adjusts the value of the first displacement information to the value of the second displacement information when the value of the first displacement information does not exceed the second displacement information by more than a threshold.

18. The computer system pointing device of claim 17, wherein the threshold is a multiplicative threshold in the range of 0.5 to 2.0.

19. A method of operating a computer system pointing device having at least one sensor for sensing data representing displacement information in at least two spatial coordinates, and a mode selector to toggle between a first and a second mode of operation, the method comprising:

verifying when the second mode of operation is selected; and

adjusting the displacement information based upon a first of the at least two spatial coordinates, defined as first displacement information, in view of a second of the at least two spatial coordinates, defined as second displacement information, when the second mode of operation is selected.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the displacement information comprises:

comparing the first and second displacement information; and

resetting one of the first and second displacement information based upon size.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the displacement information comprises:

comparing the first and second displacement information; and

adjusting a value of the first displacement information to a value of the second displacement information when the value of the first displacement information does not exceed the second displacement information by more than a threshold.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the threshold is a multiplicative threshold in the range of 0.5 to 2.0.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the pointing device is an optical mouse or a wireless optical mouse.