AUTOMATIC MODE DETERMINATION FOR AN INPUT DEVICE

• US 20080030470A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Obie, Gene Robert, Ball, Vincent, Rensberger, Gary, Franks, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,614,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

Automatic mode determination for an input device is disclosed. Depending on conditions of the input device, the input device can transition from a first mode to a transition mode and/or a second mode.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a first plurality of keys enabled when the input device is in a first mode;

a sensor enabled in the first mode and adapted to sense movement of the input device;

a second plurality keys enabled when the input device is in a second mode; and

mode transition logic adapted to detect conditions for transition from the first mode to the second mode and to initiate a transition mode in which the first plurality of keys are disabled and the sensor remains enabled.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein the mode transition logic detects conditions to determine if the input device is on a surface.

3. The input device of claim 1 wherein the transition mode includes an associated time period such that the mode transition logic will transition the input device to the second mode after the time period as a function of detected conditions.

4. The input device of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an optical sensor adapted to detect whether the input device is positioned on a surface as a function of light detected by the optical sensor.

5. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first mode is a mouse mode and the second mode is a presenter mode and wherein the first plurality of keys are disabled in the presenter mode.

6. The input device of claim 1 wherein the first plurality of keys are positioned on a first surface of the input device and the second plurality of keys are positioned on a second surface of the input device, opposite the first surface.

7. The input device of claim 1 and further comprising a laser operably coupled to one of the second plurality of keys to such that a laser beam is generated when said one of the second plurality of keys is pressed.

8. An input device, comprising:

at least one mouse key enabled when the input device is in a mouse mode wherein the input device is positioned on a surface;

a sensor operable in the mouse mode and adapted to sense movement of the input device;

a plurality of presenter keys enabled when the input device is in a presenter mode and used to navigate through a slide presentation when the input device is not on the surface; and

mode transition logic adapted to detect conditions for transition from the mouse mode to the presenter mode and to initiate a transition mode in which the at least one mouse key is disabled and the sensor remains enabled.

9. The input device of claim 8 wherein the plurality of presenter keys form a keypad that is operably coupled to a matrix including a switch for each key in the plurality of presenter keys such that when one of the plurality of presenter keys is pressed, the corresponding switch is activated to provide a signal indicative thereof.

10. The input device of claim 9 wherein the input device includes a recess to accommodate the keypad.

11. The input device of claim 9 wherein the second plurality of keys include a next slide key, a previous slide key and a laser key operably coupled to a laser.

12. The input device of claim 8 and further comprising:

a wireless transceiver adapted to transmit wireless signals to a computer as a function of actuation of the first set of keys and the second set of keys.

13. The input device of claim 8 wherein the mode transition logic is adapted to transition from the mouse mode to the presenter mode when one of the plurality of presenter keys is pressed.

14. The input device of claim 8 wherein the at least one mouse key is positioned on a top surface of the input device and the plurality of presenter keys are positioned on a bottom surface of the input device, opposite the top surface.

15. A method of operating an input device, comprising:

operating the input device in a first mode wherein at least a first key and a sensor are enabled;

detecting a first condition of the input device;

transitioning the input device to a transition mode from the first mode upon detecting the first condition wherein the first key is disabled and the sensor is enabled;

detecting a second condition of the input device; and

transitioning the input device to a second mode upon detecting the second condition wherein the first key and the sensor are disabled and a second key is enabled.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

positioning the first key on a first surface of the input device; and

positioning the second key on a second surface of the input device opposite the first surface.

17. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

providing a plurality of mouse keys enabled in the first mode and disabled in the second mode; and

providing a plurality of presenter keys enabled in the second mode.

18. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

detecting whether the input device is positioned on a surface;

operating the input device in the first mode if the input device is positioned on the surface; and

operating the input device in the second mode if the input device is not positioned on the surface.

19. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

providing a laser on the input device.

20. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

providing a power switch for the input device.