Hybrid pen mouse user input device

• US 20080165163A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,791,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads

Abstract

A novel hybrid pointing device combines elements of both a digital pen and a mouse, to collect the advantages of both types of devices in a single user input device. The hybrid input pointing device includes both a digital pen and a cradle. The cradle has a docking bay in which the digital pen can be docked, with an unobstructed path between the electromagnetic tracking signal receptor and a tracking surface on which the cradle is disposed. The electromagnetic signal receptor is enabled to receive tracking signals reflected off the tracking surface from an electromagnetic signal emitter. Information based on the reflected signal may be communicated to a computing device. A user can thereby use the digital pen in a pen-like user scenario, or dock the digital pen in the mouse-like cradle and use the combined device in a mouse-like user scenario.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a digital pen, comprising an electromagnetic signal receptor;

a cradle, enabled to be moved across a tracking surface on which it is disposed;

an electromagnetic signal emitter, comprised in either the digital pen or the cradle, and configured such that the electromagnetic signal receptor is enabled to receive tracking signals reflected off the tracking surface from the electromagnetic signal emitter; and

a communication component, comprised in either the digital pen or the cradle, and enabled to communicate information from the electromagnetic signal receptor to a computing device;

wherein the cradle includes a docking bay in which the digital pen is enabled to be receivingly docked such that the digital pen is oriented toward the tracking surface and has an unobstructed path between the electromagnetic tracking signal receptor and an intended position of the tracking surface.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication component is comprised in the digital pen, and the digital pen becomes communicatively connected with the cradle when it is docked in the cradle.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cradle comprises a button, and the digital pen is configured to receive signals from the button comprised in the cradle.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the cradle comprises a scroll wheel, and the digital pen is configured to receive signals from the scroll wheel comprised in the cradle.

5. The device of claim 1, further configured to enable energy transfer between the digital pen and the cradle when the digital pen is docked in the cradle.

6. The device of claim 5, further configured to enable the energy transfer between the digital pen and the cradle by inductive charging.

7. The device of claim 5, further configured to enable the energy transfer between the digital pen and the cradle through electrical contacts.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a user input element comprised in the digital pen performs a different function based on whether or not the digital pen is docked in the cradle.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the digital pen comprises a tracking engine enabled to track relative motion of the tracking signal.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the tracking engine is enabled to distinguish between a reflection of the tracking signal from the tracking surface at a contact distance, and a reflection of the tracking signal from the tracking surface at a hovering distance.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the contact distance is consistent within normal tolerances with the digital pen being either in contact with the tracking surface, or being receivingly docked in the cradle while the cradle is in contact with the tracking surface.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the hovering distance is between the docked distance and a maximum hovering height.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the maximum hovering height is in the range of ten to one hundred millimeters above the tracking surface, plus or minus a margin consistent with ordinary manufacturing tolerances.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the tracking engine controls positioning of a pointer on a computing system display according to the relative positioning of the digital pen at the docked distance or at the hovering distance, and without regard to an angle at which the digital pen is positioned.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the tracking engine uses different tracking parameters based on whether or not the digital pen is docked in the cradle.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal receptor is configured to alternately image a reflection of a coherent electromagnetic beam from the tracking surface, and a visible light signal from a portion of a user output display.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the cradle comprises a second electromagnetic tracking signal receptor, and the digital pen and the cradle are both enabled to provide information received from their electromagnetic tracking signal receptors to the computing system when the digital pen is not receivingly docked in the cradle.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal emitter is further configured to project a virtual display image, and the device is configured to receive inputs with reference to the virtual display image.

19. A computing input system comprising:

an electromagnetic signal emitter;

a handheld device comprising an electromagnetic signal sensor;

a communication component, enabled to communicate information from the handheld device to a separate component of a computing environment;

a cradle, configured to engagingly receive the handheld device and to be manually translated on a surface;

wherein the electromagnetic signal emitter is comprised in either the handheld device or the cradle and is positioned to emit a signal toward the surface, and the handheld device is positioned in the cradle to receive a reflection of the signal from the surface.

20. A device comprising:

a digital pen, comprising a laser emitter;

a light sensor positioned to receive a reflection from the laser emitter off a proximate surface; and

a wireless interface configured for transmitting information from the sensing array to a computing device;

a substantially mouse-shaped docking cradle, comprising a reduced friction bottom surface, an upper surface comprising one or more buttons, and a docking bay configured to receivingly engage the digital pen, such that the digital pen is positioned for the light sensor to receive the reflection from the laser emitter off a proximate surface on which the docking cradle is disposed.