Positioning device reporting X, Y and yaw motion
First Claim
1. A pointing device, comprising:
- a first motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a first Y direction and generates a first Y signal indicative thereof,a second motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a second Y direction and a first X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generates a second Y signal and an X signal indicative thereof; and
a controller coupled to said first and second motion indicators which receives said signals from said first and second motion indicators and determines whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received, wherein said controller includes;
a timer comprised in said controller which begins counting a predetermined time when said controller determines that at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received;
wherein said controller uses said timer to determine if the other of said first and second Y signals has been received within said predetermined time after said at least one of said first and second Y signals was received, and uses one or more of said first and second Y signals to generate yaw information depending on whether said first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pointing device or mouse which monitors motion in both the X and Y directions as well as in the yaw or rotational direction. The pointing device hence monitors three degrees of freedom and thus provides a more accurate indication of the position of the device. One embodiment comprises a pointing device which includes two motion indicators or mouse balls integrated into the bottom of the device which detect change of motion or position in one X and two Y directions. Separate Y measurements are made for each of the respective balls because yaw or rotation of the device causes the line movements for the two balls to differ. The two balls are preferably a distance L apart, and the rotation and translation of the respective balls are measured by the change in position with reference to a center point between the two balls. The two mouse balls generate signals indicating positive or negative motion in the respective directions. A method is included which interprets these signals and generates translation and rotation vectors for use by position and orientation tracking software. This method includes a small filter which groups together pseudo-simultaneous signals in the two Y directions that differ only by a small period of time.
78 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A pointing device, comprising:
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a first motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a first Y direction and generates a first Y signal indicative thereof, a second motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a second Y direction and a first X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generates a second Y signal and an X signal indicative thereof; and a controller coupled to said first and second motion indicators which receives said signals from said first and second motion indicators and determines whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received, wherein said controller includes; a timer comprised in said controller which begins counting a predetermined time when said controller determines that at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received; wherein said controller uses said timer to determine if the other of said first and second Y signals has been received within said predetermined time after said at least one of said first and second Y signals was received, and uses one or more of said first and second Y signals to generate yaw information depending on whether said first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer system comprising:
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a video monitor including a video screen; a system unit coupled to said video monitor including logic which manipulates a cursor on said video screen; and a pointing device coupled to said system unit which generates information regarding change of position of said pointing device in X, Y, and yaw directions, wherein said pointing device comprises; a first motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a first Y direction and generates a first Y signal indicative thereof, a second motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a second Y direction and a first X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generates a second Y signal and an X signal indicative thereof, and a controller coupled to said first and second motion indicators which receives said signals from said first and second motion indicators and generates information regarding change of position of said pointing device in X, Y, and yaw directions, wherein said controller comprises; means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received; a timer coupled to said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received, wherein said timer begins counting a predetermined time when said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received determines that at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received; second Y signal determining means coupled to said timer for determining if the other of said first and second Y signals has been received within said predetermined time after said at least one of said first and second Y signals was received; and means for generating yaw information using one or more of said first and second Y signals depending on whether said first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other; wherein said system unit receives said change of position information from said pointing device and uses said information to change the position of the cursor on said video screen. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A pointing device, comprising:
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a first mouse ball; a first odometer wheel contacting said first mouse ball capable of detecting changes in motion of said mouse ball in a first Y direction and generating a first Y signal indicative thereof, a second mouse ball; a second odometer wheel contacting said second mouse ball capable of detecting change in motion of said second mouse ball in a second Y direction and generating a second Y signal indicative thereof, a third odometer wheel contacting said second mouse ball capable of detecting change in motion of said second mouse ball in an X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generating an X signal indicative thereof, and a controller coupled to said first and second motion indicators which receives said signals from said first and second motion indicators and generates information regarding change of position of said pointing device in X, Y, and yaw directions, wherein said controller comprises; means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received; a timer coupled to said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received, wherein said timer begins counting a predetermined time when said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received determines that at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received; second Y signal determining means coupled to said timer for determining if the other of said first and second Y signals has been received within said predetermined time after said at least one of said first and second Y signals was received; and means for generating yaw information using one or more of said first and second Y signals depending on whether said first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other; wherein said system unit receives said change of position information from said pointing device and uses said information to change the position of the cursor on said video screen.
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25. A method of determining changes in yaw direction in a pointing device comprising a first motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a first Y direction and generates a signal indicative thereof and a second motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a second Y direction and a first X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generates signals indicative thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving one or more of the first and second Y signals; determining if a Y signal has been received; initiating a timer if said Y signal has been received, wherein said timer counts a predetermined time; determining if the other Y signal has been received within said predetermined time after said Y signal was received; and generating yaw information using one or more of the first and second Y signals depending on whether the first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification