Computer Cursor Control Method and Apparatus

• US 20080224998A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer (USA) Corporation (Behavior Tech Computer Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuo, Wen Sheng, Lo, Chih Lung
• Application Number:
  US12/048,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20080224998A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

A computer cursor control apparatus operating in either the mouse mode or the non-mouse mode is determined by the switch signal. When the computer cursor control apparatus is operating in the mouse mode, the cursor-moving module calculates the cursor-moving signal and outputs it on the monitor of a host for display. On the other hand, when the computer cursor control apparatus is operating in the non-mouse mode, the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal, generated by the cursor-moving module and pressure sensing unit respectively, are packaged together and outputted to the host. In response to the cursor-moving signal, the host displays a moving trace on the monitor, with the thickness of the moving trace varying based on the pressuring signal.

Claims

1. A computer cursor control apparatus, comprising:

a main body having a cap;

a contact portion disposed in the cap and exposed out of the main body;

a pressure sensing unit, disposed in the main body and being contact with the contact portion, for sensing pressure actuated from the contact portion to generate a pressuring signal;

a cursor-moving module, disposed in the main body, for providing a cursor optical image signal;

a control module, disposed in the main body and electrically connected with the pressure sensing unit and the cursor-moving module, for processing the cursor optical image signal to generate a cursor-moving signal; and

a wireless transmission module disposed in the main body and electrically connected with the control module;

wherein the control module is adapted to control the wireless transmission module to wirelessly transmit one of the cursor-moving signal, and a packet which packaging the cursor-moving signal with the pressuring signal according to a switch signal.

2. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main body is a hollow penholder.

3. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cursor-moving module comprises:

a light-emitting unit for emitting a light through the cap on a working surface; and

a light-sensing unit for receiving a light reflection signal from the working surface to provide the cursor optical image signal.

4. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 3, wherein the light emitted from the light-emitting unit is one of an infrared, a laser, and visible light.

5. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lens disposed in the main body and located on one of light paths of the light-emitting unit.

6. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing unit comprises a pressure sensor, a fixed portion, and a flexible portion, the flexible portion is disposed between the fixed portion and the pressure sensor.

7. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing unit deposed in the main body is replaceable.

8. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input interface, electrically connected with the control module, for generating an operation signal and the switch signal.

9. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 8, wherein the input interface comprises a switch for generating the switch signal.

10. A computer cursor control apparatus, comprising:

a main body having a cap and a light hole;

a ball disposed in the cap and exposed out of the main body;

a pressure sensing unit, disposed in the main body and contacted with the ball, for sensing pressure actuated from the ball to generate a pressuring signal;

a light-emitting unit, disposed in the main body, for emitting a light to the light hole;

a light-sensing unit, disposed in the main body, for receiving a light reflection signal from the light hole to generate a cursor optical image signal;

a control module, disposed in the main body and electrically connected with the pressure sensing unit, the light-firing unit and the light-sensing unit, for processing the cursor optical image signal to generate a cursor-moving signal; and

a wireless transmission module disposed in the main body and electrically connected with the control module;

wherein the control module is adapted to control the wireless transmission module to wirelessly transmit one of the cursor-moving signal, and a packet which packaging the cursor-moving signal with the pressuring signal according to a switch signal.

11. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the main body is a hollow penholder.

12. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the light emitted from the light-emitting unit is one of an infrared, a laser, and visible light.

13. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a lens disposed in the main body and located on one of light paths of the light-emitting unit.

14. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensing unit comprises a pressure sensor, a fixed portion, and a flexible portion, the flexible portion is disposed between the fixed portion and the pressure sensor.

15. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pressure sensing unit deposed in the main body is replaced.

16. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an input interface, electrically connected with the control module, for generating an operation signal and the switch signal.

17. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 16, wherein the input interface comprises one of a mouse button and a mouse wheel.

18. The computer cursor control apparatus of claim 16, wherein the input interface comprises a switch for generating the switch signal.

19. A computer cursor control method for a computer cursor control apparatus to wirelessly transmit a signal to a host, the computer cursor control method comprising the following steps of:

detecting displacement of the computer cursor control apparatus to generate a cursor-moving signal;

sensing pressure actuated from the computer cursor control apparatus to generate a pressuring signal;

determining that a switch signal of the computer cursor control apparatus is enabled;

packaging and wirelessly transmitting the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal from the computer cursor control apparatus to the host; and

translating the cursor-moving signal into a moving trace through a drive software and displaying the moving trace on a monitor after the host receives the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal, wherein the moving trace has a thickness being variable according to the pressuring signal.

20. The computer cursor control method of claim 19, wherein the step of detecting the displacement of the computer cursor control apparatus further comprises the following steps of:

emitting a light from inside of the computer cursor control apparatus to a working surface exposed out of the computer cursor control apparatus; and

generating the cursor-moving signal by calculating a reflection light reflected from the working surface.

21. The computer cursor control method of claim 19, wherein the pressuring signal is generated by a pressure sensing unit sensing the pressure actuated from a contact portion of the computer cursor control apparatus.

22. The computer cursor control method of claim 19, wherein the drive software is operated in a brush mode for connecting the moving trace with the pressing signal, and the thickness of the moving trace is variable according to the pressuring signal.

23. The computer cursor control method of claim 19, wherein the drive software is operated in a character mode for recognizing the moving trace as a character.

24. The computer cursor control method of claim 19, further comprising the following steps of:

determining that the switch signal of the computer cursor control apparatus is disabled; and

wirelessly transmitting the cursor-moving signal to the host.

25. The computer cursor control method of claim 19, further comprising a step of:

translating the cursor-moving signal into a cursor-moving trace after the host receives the cursor-moving signal.