METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN INPUT DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for identifying an off-surface movement of an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:
- monitoring at least one indicia from an input device, said indicia obtained from an accelerometer, and having a first characteristic when said input device moves along a supporting surface and a second characteristic when said input device moves in the absence of a supporting surface;
identifying off-surface movement of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that the indicia exhibits said second characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an improved input device for a processing system, such as, for example a computer system; and an improved method for operating that input device. The system monitors at least one indicia, such as an operating parameter of the input device, where the operating parameter has a first characteristic when the input device is in one operating position or state, but where are the operating parameter has a second characteristic when the input device is in another position or state. In one example, the operating parameter includes generally vertical movement of the input device. In other embodiments, other operating parameters may be relied upon.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for identifying an off-surface movement of an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:
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monitoring at least one indicia from an input device, said indicia obtained from an accelerometer, and having a first characteristic when said input device moves along a supporting surface and a second characteristic when said input device moves in the absence of a supporting surface; identifying off-surface movement of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that the indicia exhibits said second characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An input device for a processing system, comprising:
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a sensor configured to provide an output signal in response to sensed vibration in response to movement of the device along a supporting surface; and a processing assembly configured to determine at least one of device velocity and device acceleration at least partially in response to said output signal;
said processing assembly further configured to identify movement of said input device that is not along a supporting surface at least partially in response to said output signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:
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monitoring a first signal based on an output from a sensor in said input device, said first signal having a first characteristic indicative that said input device is possibly in contact with a supporting surface and a second characteristic indicating that said input device is possibly not in contact with a supporting surface; monitoring a second signal based on an output from a sensor in said input device, said second signal having a third characteristic indicative that said input device is in possibly contact with a supporting surface and a fourth characteristic indicative that said input device is possibly not in contact with a supporting surface; changing an operational condition of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that said first signal exhibits said second characteristic and said second signal exhibits said fourth characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating an input device configured to provide positioning information to a computer system, and having a force sensor and an acceleration sensor, comprising the acts of:
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monitoring the signal from the acceleration sensor to provide a first indicator of whether the input device may be in motion along a surface; obtaining a velocity measurement from the acceleration sensor signal to provide a second indicator of whether the input device may be in contact with a surface; in response to the first and second indicators, determining that the input device is not in contact with a surface; and changing an operating parameter of the input device in response to determining that the input device is not in contact with the surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A computer system, comprising:
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one or more processors; a display; at least one machine-readable storage medium; and an input device, comprising, a z-axis accelerometer configured to provide an output signal is response to movement of the input device along a supporting surface; and a processing assembly configured to determine at least one of device velocity and device acceleration at least partially in response to said output signal; and
further configured to identify movement of said input device that is not along a supporting surface at least partially is response to said output signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. At least one machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising,
monitoring a first indicator from an input device, said first indicator having a first characteristic when said input device moves in contact with a supporting surface and a second characteristic when said input device moves in the absence of a supporting surface; -
monitoring a second indicator from an input device, said second indicator identifying when the input device moves in a manner not typically representative of a positioning movement; in response to the first and second indicators, determining that apparent movement of an input device is not likely to be intended to be a positioning movement; and changing an operating condition of the input device in response to the determination that the apparent movement of an input device is not likely to be intended to be a positioning movement.
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Specification