Handheld Pointing Device

• US 20130328772A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: CHENG, Han-Ping, HUANG, Chao-Chien, LIANG, Chia-Cheun
• Application Number:
  US13/771,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A handheld pointing device includes a main body, an image sensing module, an acceleration sensing module and a processing circuit. The image sensing module is disposed in the main body and configured to capture an image comprising at least one reference light source and accordingly generate an optical sensing signal. The acceleration sensing module is disposed in the main body and configured to sense an acceleration value in each one of two dimensions; wherein the acceleration sensing module outputs an acceleration sensing signal if an absolute value of the summation of the two acceleration values in two dimensions is located within a predetermined acceleration range. The processing circuit is configured to receive the optical sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal and accordingly generate an output signal.

Claims

1. A handheld pointing device, comprising:

a main body;

an image sensing module disposed in the main body and configured to capture an image comprising at least one reference light source and accordingly generate an optical sensing signal;

an acceleration sensing module disposed in the main body and configured to sense an acceleration value in each one of two dimensions, wherein the acceleration sensing module outputs an acceleration sensing signal if an absolute value of the summation of the two acceleration values in two dimensions is located within a predetermined acceleration range; and

a processing circuit configured to receive the optical sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal and accordingly generate an output signal.

2. The handheld pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensing signal indicates a ratio of the two acceleration values in the two dimensions.

3. The handheld pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined acceleration range comprises a gravitational unit.

4. A handheld pointing device, comprising:

a main body;

an image sensing module disposed in the main body and configured to capture an image comprising at least one reference light source and accordingly generate an optical sensing signal indicating a coordinate position of the reference light source(s) in the captured image;

an acceleration sensing module disposed in the main body and configured to sense a first acceleration value, a second acceleration value and a third acceleration value respectively in three dimensions of a space where the main body is, and generate, if an absolute value of the summation of the first, second and third acceleration values is located within a predetermined acceleration range, an acceleration sensing signal indicating a ratio of the first acceleration value to the second acceleration value; and

a processing circuit configured to receive the optical sensing signal and the acceleration sensing signal and accordingly generate an output signal.

5. The handheld pointing device according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined acceleration range comprises a gravitational unit.

6. A handheld pointing device, comprising:

a main body having an axis direction along which a user holds the handheld pointing device;

an image sensing module disposed in the main body and configured to sense a reference light source having a pattern and capture an image comprising the reference light source; and

a processing circuit, disposed in the main body and electrically connected to the image sensing module, configured to receive the captured image comprising the reference light source and calculate a rotation angle of the main body relative to the axis direction according to a rotation angle of the pattern in the captured image.

7. The handheld pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the reference light source comprises a light emitting element configured to have the pattern on a light emission surface thereof.

8. The handheld pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the reference light source comprises a plurality of light emitting elements arranged to corporately form the pattern.

9. The handheld pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the reference light source comprises a reflective element configured to have the pattern on a reflective surface thereof.

10. The handheld pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the reflective surface is configured to reflect light within a specific wavelength band.

11. The handheld pointing device according to claim 10, wherein the reference light source comprises a plurality of reflective elements arranged to corporately form the pattern.

12. The handheld pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the reflective surfaces are configured to reflect light within a specific wavelength band.