Acoustic mouse system
First Claim
1. An acoustic mouse system for controlling indications on an X-Y surface of the face of a display, the system comprising:
- support means for holding at least three acoustic receivers in an x-y plane;
hand movable, acoustic transmitter means movable in said x-y plane and in a z direction perpendicular to said x-y plane, for generating a periodic acoustic oscillations in the direction of said support means;
detector means, responsive to outputs from said acoustic receivers, for providing signals indicative of the absolute position of said transmitter means in said x-y plane and in said z direction; and
processor means responsive to said signals from said detector means for providing position signals to said display, whereby said display responds to signals indicative of the absolute position of said transmitter means in said x-y plane by moving a displayed indication to a corresponding position on the X-Y surface of said display face, said display further responding to a z position signal from said processor means by altering an indication on said display.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An acoustic mouse system is described that controls indications on an X-Y surface of the face of a display. The system comprises a support for holding at least three acoustic receivers in an x-y plane, and a hand movable acoustic transmitter that is movable both parallel to the x-y plane and in a z direction perpendicular to the x-y plane. The transmitter generates periodic acoustic oscillations in the direction of the support and its receivers. Detection circuitry, responsive to signals from the acoustic receivers, provides signals indicative of the absolute position of the acoustic transmitter in the x-y plane. A processor is responsive to the signals from the detection circuitry to provide absolute position signals to the display, whereby the display responds by moving an indication to a corresponding position on the X-Y surface of the display face. The detector circuitry is further enabled to provide z position signals to the display, whereby the display may modify a display function in accordance with the z position signals.
96 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An acoustic mouse system for controlling indications on an X-Y surface of the face of a display, the system comprising:
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support means for holding at least three acoustic receivers in an x-y plane; hand movable, acoustic transmitter means movable in said x-y plane and in a z direction perpendicular to said x-y plane, for generating a periodic acoustic oscillations in the direction of said support means; detector means, responsive to outputs from said acoustic receivers, for providing signals indicative of the absolute position of said transmitter means in said x-y plane and in said z direction; and processor means responsive to said signals from said detector means for providing position signals to said display, whereby said display responds to signals indicative of the absolute position of said transmitter means in said x-y plane by moving a displayed indication to a corresponding position on the X-Y surface of said display face, said display further responding to a z position signal from said processor means by altering an indication on said display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A finger mountable acoustic transmitter comprising:
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a point source acoustic transmitter; a housing for said transmitter, said housing exhibiting a concave section that mates with a user'"'"'s finger; and switch means mounted on said housing for actuating the generation of a control signal from said mouse, said switch means positioned for finger actuation. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An acoustic mouse system for controlling indications on a X-Y surface of the face of a display, the system comprising:
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support means for holding at least three acoustic transmitters in an x-y plane; hand-movable, acoustic receiving means movable in said x-y plane and in a z direction perpendicular to said x-y plane, for receiving periodic acoustic oscillations from said acoustic transmitters; detector means responsive to signals received by said acoustic receiver for providing signals indicative of the absolute position of said acoustic receiving means in said x-y plane; and processor means responsive to said signals from said detector means for providing absolute position signals to said display, whereby said display responds by moving an indication to a corresponding position on the X-Y surface of said face. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An acoustic mouse system comprising:
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support means for holding at least three acoustic receivers in an x-y plane; acoustic transmitter means, including at least three acoustic transmitters, movable in said x-y plane and in a z direction perpendicular to said x-y plane, for generating a periodic acoustic oscillation from each said transmitter in the direction of said support means; detector means, responsive to outputs from said acoustic receivers, for providing signals indicative of the absolute x, y and z positions of each said acoustic transmitter; and processor means responsive to said signals from said detector means for determining roll, pitch and yaw positions of said transmitter means. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An acoustic mouse system comprising:
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support means for holding at least three acoustic receivers in an x-z plane; acoustic transmitter means, including at least three acoustic transmitters, slidably movable on a support surface in an x-y plane perpendicular to said x-z plane and hand removable from said x-y support plane to move in said x-z plane, for generating a periodic acoustic oscillation from each said transmitter in the direction of said support means; detector means, responsive to outputs from said acoustic receivers, for providing signals indicative of the absolute x, y and z positions of each said acoustic transmitter; and processor means responsive to said signals from said detector means for determining roll, pitch and yaw positions of said transmitter means. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification