Input device for providing multi-dimensional position coordinate signals to a computer

• US 5,694,153 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Miura, Takeshi, Suzuki, Toru, Suzuki, Hajime, Sanchez, Russell I., Svancarek, Mark K., Aoyagi, Tetsuji, Paull, Mike M.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/509,082
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/161, 74/471 XY, 74/471 R, 273/148 B, 273/438, 341/20, 341/21, 250/22
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

A user input system for inputting computer signals, such as a joystick, has an elongated member or handle that is movably received by a housing. The handle is capable of moving in at least three perpendicular directions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axes, and is capable of being rotated about at least one of the three axes. In a first embodiment, a pair of light emitting diodes ("LEDs") are mounted at an end of the handle and oriented toward the interior of the housing. The LEDs are strobed to alternately project light downward into the housing. A light detecting element, such as a two-dimensional position sensing device ("PSD"), two one-dimension PSDs, or a four quadrant photodiode, is positioned opposite the LEDs, and mounted to the housing to receive the light from the LEDs to produce signals. The signals are converted from analog to digital and input to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, employing trigonometric methods, calculates the position and orientation (i.e., rotation) of the handle and outputs the coordinates to a host computer. The joystick preferably includes switches that produce signals and a slidable member that produces a variable signal, all of which are also output to the computer. In a second embodiment, the LEDs are mounted to the housing to project the light upward and the light detecting unit is mounted at the end of the handle.

Claims

1. A computer input apparatus for providing signals to a computer, comprising:

a housing having an interior;

an elongated member retained by the housing and movable along at least two of three perpendicular axes and rotatable about at least one of the three axes, the elongated member having a first end portion movably retained by the housing and a free end portion movable by a user along the two of three axes and rotatable about the one axis;

first and second light emitting elements within the interior of the housing and retained by one of the housing and the first end portion of the elongated member;

a light detecting element within the interior of the housing and retained by the other of the housing and the first end portion of the elongated member, the first and second light emitting elements projecting light to illuminate first and second areas on a surface of the light detecting element, and the light detecting element detecting the first and second illuminated areas and producing first and second signals respectively, in response thereto, the first and second signals corresponding to positions of the first and second illuminated areas, respectively, on the surface of the light detecting element; and

processing circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second light emitting elements and the light detecting element to alternately cause the first and second light emitting elements to emit light, the processing circuitry receiving the first and second signals produced in response thereto, and producing a first position signal based on the first and second signals, the first position signal corresponding to a spatial position of the elongated member along the two of three axes and a rotational position based on rotation of the elongated member about the one axis.

2. The computer input apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a movable member retained by the housing having a first end selectively movable by a user and a free end;

a third light emitting element within the interior of the housing and coupled to the free end of the movable member, the third light emitting element projecting light to illuminate a third area on the surface of the light detecting element, the light detecting element detecting the third illuminated area and producing a third signal in response thereto, the third signal corresponding to the position of the third illuminated area on the surface of the light detecting element; and

wherein the processing circuitry alternately causes the first, second and third light emitting elements to emit light, receives the first, second and third signals produced in response thereto, and produces second position signal based on the third signal, the third signal corresponding to the spatial position of the movable member.

3. The computer input apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one switch retained by the housing and coupled to the processing circuitry, and wherein the processing circuitry provides a switch signal to the computer in response to actuation of the switch.

4. The computer input apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry produces the first position signal as a digital signal and provides the digital first position signal to the computer.

5. The computer input apparatus of claim 4 wherein the processing circuitry repeatedly produces, and provides to the computer, data packets containing the digital first position signal.

6. The computer input apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry includes a central processing unit and an analog-to-digital converter coupled between the central processing unit and the light detecting element, the analog-to-digital converter converting the first and second signals to first and second digital signals to the central processing unit, and the central processing unit producing the first position signal as a digital signal to the computer.

7. The computer input apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light detecting element is a two-dimensional position sensing device.

8. The computer input apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light detecting element is a four quadrant photodiode.

9. The computer input apparatus of claim 1, further comprising amplification circuitry coupled between the light detecting element and the processing circuitry, and wherein the light detecting element is monolithically integrated with the amplification circuitry.

10. The computer input apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light detecting element includes first and second one-dimensional position sensing devices positioned mutually perpendicular to each other.

11. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the housing is substantially closed to restrict ambient light from entering into the interior of the housing.

12. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is pivotally retained by the housing substantially at a pivot point proximate to the first end portion, whereby the first end portion has a more restricted range of movement along the two of three axes than the free end portion.

13. The computer input apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one apertured plate retained within the housing, in position between the light detecting element and the first and second light emitting elements.

14. The computer input device of claim 13 wherein a distance between the apertured plate and the light detecting element is less than a distance between the first and second light emitting elements and the light detecting element.

15. The computer input device of claim 1, further comprising a substantially planar member secured to the first end portion of the elongated member, the planar member retaining the one of the light detecting element and the first and second light emitting elements, and wherein the planar member is movable substantially parallel to a plane in the housing, the plane in the housing retaining the other of the light detecting elements and first and second light emitting elements.

16. The computer input device of claim 15 wherein the planar member is movable along the two of three axes a maximum first distance, and wherein the planar member and the plane in the housing are separated by a second distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

17. The computer input device of claim 15 wherein the first and second light emitting elements are separated by a first distance, and wherein the planar member and the plane in the housing are separated by a second distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

18. The computer input device of claim 15 wherein the elongated member is movable along the three perpendicular axes, and wherein the first position signal corresponds to a spatial position of the elongated member along the three perpendicular axes.

19. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the light detecting element directly receives the projected light illuminating the first and second illuminated areas, and wherein the first and second light emitting elements are positioned equidistantly from the light detecting element when the elongated member is in coaxial alignment with one of the three axes.

20. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the elongated member is movable along the three perpendicular axes, and wherein the first position signal corresponds to a spatial position of the elongated member along the three perpendicular axes.

21. An input apparatus for providing absolute position signals comprising:

a stationary housing;

a movable member movable in at least three degrees of freedom;

an optical transducer having a first portion that includes first and second light emitting elements and a second portion that includes at least one light detecting element, one of the first and second portions of the optical transducer being within the stationary housing and the other of the first and second portions of the optical transducer being retained by the movable member;

the first and second light emitting elements projecting light to illuminate respective first and second areas on the light detecting element, and the light detecting element detecting the first and second illuminated areas of light and producing first and second signals, respectively, in response thereto, the first and second signals uniquely corresponding to positions of the first and second illuminated areas of light, respectively, on the light detecting element;

processing circuitry electrically coupled to one of the first and second portions of the optical transducer;

driving circuitry electrically coupled to the other of the first and second portions of the optical transducer; and

the driving circuitry causing the first and second light emitting elements to emit light, and the processing circuitry receiving the first and second signals produced in response thereto, and producing a first position signal based on the first and second signals, the first position signal corresponding to an absolute position of the movable member with respect to the three degrees of freedom.

22. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the movable member retains the first portion of the optical transducer, and wherein the first and second light emitting elements are light emitting diodes.

23. The input apparatus of claim 22 wherein the movable member includes a slidable member having a third light emitting element secured thereto, the third light emitting element projecting light to illuminate a third area of light on the surface of the light detecting element, the light detecting element detecting the third illuminated area and producing a third signal in response thereto, the third signal corresponding to the position of the third illuminated area on the surface of the light detecting element;

and

wherein the driving circuitry alternately causes the first, second and third light emitting elements to emit light, and wherein the processing circuitry receives the first, second and third signals in response thereto, and produces a second position signal based on the third signal, the third position signal corresponding to the position of the spatial slidable member.

24. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the movable member has a first end portion movably retained by the stationary housing and a free end portion movable by a user, wherein the stationary housing has an interior and the one of the first and second portions of the optical transducer is positioned within the interior of the stationary housing, and wherein the other of the first and second portions of the optical transducer is retained by the first end portion of the movable member.

25. The input apparatus of claim 24 wherein the movable member is an elongated member pivotally retained by the housing substantially at a pivot point proximate to the first end portions, whereby the first end portion has a more restricted range of movement than the free end.

26. The input apparatus of claim 24 wherein the movable member includes a substantially planar member secured to the first end portion of the movable member, the planar member retaining the other of the first and second portions of the optical transducer, and wherein the planar member is movable substantially parallel to a plane of the stationary housing, the one of the first and second portions of the optical transducer being retained in the plane in the housing.

27. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the second portion of the optical transducer includes an apertured plate positioned between the light detecting element and the first and second light emitting elements, and wherein a distance between the apertured plate and the light detecting element is less than a distance between the light detecting element and the first and second light emitting elements.

28. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the movable member is movable along at least two perpendicular axes, wherein the light detecting element directly receives the projected light illuminating the first and second areas, and wherein the first and second light emitting elements are positioned equidistantly from the light detecting element when the movable member is in coaxial alignment with one of the two axes.

29. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the movable member is movable in six degrees of freedom, and wherein the first position signal corresponds to the absolute position of the movable member about the six degrees of freedom.

30. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the first and second light emitting elements are separated by a first distance, wherein the first and second light emitting elements and the light detecting element are separated by a second distance, wherein the movable member is movable in at least two of the three degrees of freedom by a maximum of a third distance, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first and the third distance.

31. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the processing circuitry produces the first position signal as a digital signal.

32. The input apparatus of claim 21 wherein the processing circuitry includes a central processing unit and an analog-to-digital converter coupled between the central processing unit and the light detecting element, the analog-to-digital converter converting the first and second signals to first and second digital signals to the central processing unit, and the central processing unit producing the first position signal as a digital signal to the computer.

33. In a computer input device having first and second light emitting elements, a light detecting element and an elongated member movable along at least two of three mutually perpendicular axes and rotatable about at least one of the three axes, a method of computing coordinates of a position of the elongated member comprising the steps of:

moving the elongated member;

projecting light from the first light emitting element to the light detecting element following movement of the elongated member;

determining a first incident direction of light from the first light emitting element to the light detecting element;

projecting light from the second light emitting element to the light detecting element;

determining a second incident direction of light from the second light emitting element to the light detecting element;

determining a spatial position of the elongated member along the two of three mutually perpendicular axes based on the determined first and second incident directions of light from the respective first and second light emitting elements;

determining a rotational position of the elongated member about the one of the three axes based on the determined first and second incident directions of light from the respective first and second light emitting elements; and

outputting the spatial and rotational positions to a computer.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein each of the steps of determining first and second incident directions of light include the steps of:

directly receiving a light spot on the light detecting element;

determining a position of the light spot on the light detecting element;

determining an incident horizontal angle of the projected light based on the position of the light spot; and

determining an incident vertical angle of the projected light based on the position of the light spot.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of determining a spatial position determines the spatial position of the elongated member along the three mutually perpendicular axes based on the determined first and second incident directions of light from the respective first and second light emitting elements.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the step of determining a rotational position determines a rotational position of the elongated member about two of the three mutually perpendicular axes.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the computer input device includes a movable member having a third light emitting element, the method further including the steps of:

projecting light from the third light emitting element to the light detecting element, following movement of the movable member, to produce a light spot on the light detecting element; and

determining a position of the movable member based on a position of the light spot on the light detecting element.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of outputting the spatial and rotational positions outputs digital signals representing the spatial and rotational position of the elongated member to the computer.