Optical pointing device
First Claim
1. An optical pointing device for use within a prescribed space and adapted to be interconnected into a display device having a display screen, a cursor movably displayed on said display screen and a cursor control circuit which controls the position of said cursor on said display screen, said optical pointing device comprising:
- a) a first unit including a single light source and computer means for controlling operation of said light source, said first unit being fixedly located in adjacency to said display device with said computer means connected to said cursor control circuit;
b) a second unit moveably contained within said space, said space including a region defined by a substantially conical shape having an angle of diversion of at least 20°
, said region extending a finite distance from said display screen along an axis substantially perpendicular to said display screen, said second unit comprising light detector means for detecting light emitted from said light source and, responsive thereto, for generating currents related to the angular rotative and/or translational relationship between said light source and said light detector means, said light detector means including a light sensitive surface and an alignment axis substantially perpendicular to said light sensitive surface;
c) transmission means for transmitting signals related to said currents to said computer means, said computer means receiving said signals and, responsive thereto, activating said cursor control circuit to move said cursor substantially in alignment with said alignment axis;
d) said device being operable to move said cursor to substantially any location on said display screen responsive to translational and/or rotational movements of said light detector means anywhere within said region.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an optical pointing device which preferably uses infrared light as a source and a camera as a detector. Movements of the camera with respect to the light source which remains fixed are sensed in the detector portion of the camera to determine the direction in which the camera is pointing with respect to, for example, a display screen adjacent the light source. The electronics included in the present invention are designed to act, responsive to sensing of the position of the camera with respect to the light source to cause corresponding movements of a cursor on the display screen. Other modes of operation of the present invention are also disclosed.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An optical pointing device for use within a prescribed space and adapted to be interconnected into a display device having a display screen, a cursor movably displayed on said display screen and a cursor control circuit which controls the position of said cursor on said display screen, said optical pointing device comprising:
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a) a first unit including a single light source and computer means for controlling operation of said light source, said first unit being fixedly located in adjacency to said display device with said computer means connected to said cursor control circuit; b) a second unit moveably contained within said space, said space including a region defined by a substantially conical shape having an angle of diversion of at least 20°
, said region extending a finite distance from said display screen along an axis substantially perpendicular to said display screen, said second unit comprising light detector means for detecting light emitted from said light source and, responsive thereto, for generating currents related to the angular rotative and/or translational relationship between said light source and said light detector means, said light detector means including a light sensitive surface and an alignment axis substantially perpendicular to said light sensitive surface;c) transmission means for transmitting signals related to said currents to said computer means, said computer means receiving said signals and, responsive thereto, activating said cursor control circuit to move said cursor substantially in alignment with said alignment axis; d) said device being operable to move said cursor to substantially any location on said display screen responsive to translational and/or rotational movements of said light detector means anywhere within said region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification