Cursor pointing device utilizing a photodetector array with target ball having randomly distributed speckles

• US 5,288,993 A
• Filed: 10/05/1992
• Issued: 02/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech, Inc. (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Bussien, Aldo, Van Shaik, Floris A., Steenis, Bernard, Droz-Dit-Busset, Fabien, Bidiville, Marc, Buczek, Harthmuth, Arreguit, Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Application Number:
  US07/956,907
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 250/231.13, 250/221, 250/229, 250/231.12, 250/237 G, 250/231.18, 356/375, 340/710
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A cursor control device for personal computers and workstations includes a randomly speckled ball illuminated with diffuse lighting. An image of at least a portion of the illuminated area of the speckled ball is focused by an optical element such as a diffractive optical element onto a photosensitive array. Logic associated with the photosensitive array determines movement of the ball across the array, and translates that movement into conventional cursor control signals supplied to a host system.

Claims

1. The A cursor pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display for a personal computer or workstation comprising

a ball of a first color having speckles thereon of a color contrasting to the first color and which are randomly distributed on the ball,

light source means for flooding a portion of the ball with diffuse light,

sensor means responsive to diffuse light reflected from the speckled ball and impinging thereon for creating an output,

optical means for creating an image of an illuminated portion of the ball on the sensor means,

processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.