Computer display cursor controller

• US 5,771,037 A
• Filed: 07/24/1995
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALTRA
• Original Assignee: ALTRA
• Inventors: Jackson, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Xu-Ming
• Application Number:
  US08/505,916
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/158, 345/161, 345/166, 345/156, 345/145, 345/146
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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

Abstract

A controller for controlling a computer display cursor includes an arena having a predefined optical grid. A puck handle is configured to move a puck on the optical grid and to reflect optical signals to the grid regarding the position of the puck on optical grid. The optical grid defines the resolution of the puck movements and positions that can be ascertained. Gratings formed by undulations in transparent walls provide an optical puck position signal in response to the puck position. A processor is coupled to the optical grid and is configured to receive the puck position signal and to generate a cursor position signal. To generate the cursor position signal, the processor may perform a conversion function based on predetermined criteria. The processor transmits the cursor position signal to a computer having a predefined display size, which displays the cursor at a respective position. Moreover, the processor may maintain puck movement parameters including puck velocity to generate a continuous movement signal when the puck is moved into an edge position. The processor may also may identify if the puck is positioned in a number of macro locations that are associated with user-selectable tasks.

Claims

1. A cursor controller for controlling a computer display cursor and for use with a computer system having a central processing unit, a memory and a display, said cursor controller comprising:

a controller structure having a predefined grid size for manipulation by a user and configured to generate a controller structure position signal in response to said manipulation;

a processor coupled to said controller structure and configured to receive said controller structure position signal and to generate a cursor position signal; and

a cable coupled to said controller structure and configured to transmit said cursor position signal to said computer system having a predefined display size for displaying a cursor at a respective position; and

wherein said processor is configured;

(a) to set a display position as a controller structure position plus an offset;

(b) when the display position is greater than the controller structure position times a multiplier, to set the display position to the controller structure position times the multiplier and set the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position;

(c) when the display position is less than or equal to the controller structure position times the multiplier and the controller structure position times the multiplier minus a differential zero is greater than the display position, to set the display position to a rough position times the multiplier minus the differential zero and to set the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position; and

(d) to repeat procedures (a) to (c).

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

said controller structure includes an optical grid having a predefined optical grid size and a puck configured to move on said optical grid and to transmit optical signals to said optical grid regarding a position of said puck on said grid, and wherein said puck further has an optical signal generator and said optical grid has an optical signal receiver.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein:

said puck and said optical grid have optically transmissive material with gratings on adjacent sides, said gratings affecting light transmission based on their relative positions.

4. The controller of claim 2, wherein:

said puck and said optical grid have optically transmissive material with undulations on adjacent sides, said undulations affecting light transmission based on their relative positions.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

said display size is different from said predefined grid size.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

said predefined grid size is 316 by 316.

7. The controller of claim 5, wherein:

said predefined display size is 480 by 640.

8. The controller of claim 5, wherein:

said processor includes a multiplier to generate said cursor position signal from said controller structure position signal.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein:

said multiplier is approximately equal to the ratio of said predefined display size to said predefined grid size.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

said processor sends a sustained cursor position signal when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said predefined grid size.

11. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

said processor sends a continuous cursor position signal when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said predefined grid size.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein:

said processor stores a velocity value corresponding to a velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said predefined grid size, wherein said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal.

13. The controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch coupled to said processor and configured such that when placed in a first position said processor sends a sustained cursor position signal when said controller structure is positioned at the edge of the predefined grid size, and when placed in a second position said processor stores a velocity value corresponding to a velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is positioned at an edge said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal.

14. A controller for controlling a computer display cursor, comprising:

an arena having a predefined grid size;

a controller structure configured to move on said arena and to generate signals to said arena regarding a position of said controller structure on said grid;

wherein said arena is configured to generate a controller structure position signal in response to a controller structure position; and

a processor coupled to said arena and configured to receive said controller structure position signal, to generate a cursor position signal, and to transmit said cursor position signal to a computer having a predefined display size for displaying a cursor at a respective position;

wherein said processor employs a multiplier to generate said cursor position signal from said controller structure position signal; and

wherein said processor is configured;

(a) to set a display position as a controller structure position plus an offset;

(b) when the display position is greater than the controller structure position times a multiplier, to set the display position to the controller structure position times the multiplier and to set the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position;

(c) when the display position is less than or equal to the controller structure position times the multiplier and the controller structure position times the multiplier minus a differential zero is greater than the display position, to set the display position to a rough position times the multiplier minus the differential zero and to set the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position; and

(d) to repeat procedures (a) to (c).

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein:

said multiplier is approximately equal to the ratio of said predefined display size to said predefined grid size.

16. The controller of claim 14, wherein:

said processor stores a velocity value corresponding to a velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said predefined grid size said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal.

17. The controller of claim 14, further comprising:

a switch that when placed in a first position said processor sends a sustained cursor position signal when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena, and when placed in a second position said processor stores a velocity value corresponding to a velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal.

18. A method of controlling a cursor on a computer display, comprising the steps of:

(a) setting a display position as a controller structure position plus an offset;

(b) when the display position is greater than the controller structure position times a multiplier, setting the display position to the controller structure position times the multiplier and setting the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position;

(c) when the display position is less than or equal to the controller structure position times the multiplier and the controller structure position times the multiplier minus a differential zero is greater than the display position, setting the display position to a rough position times the multiplier minus the differential zero and setting the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position; and

(d) repeating steps (a) to (c).

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

(d) storing a velocity value of the controller structure position; and

(e) when the controller structure is manipulated at an edge, setting the display position in relation to the stored velocity value.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:

(d) when the controller structure is manipulated at an edge, setting the display position to scroll information on the display.

21. A controller for controlling a computer display cursor, comprising:

an arena having a predefined grid size;

said arena responsive to movement of a controller structure and configured to generate a controller structure position signal regarding a position of said controller structure on said arena; and

a processor coupled to said arena and configured to receive said controller structure position signal, to generate a cursor position signal, and to transmit said cursor position signal to a computer having a predefined display size for displaying a cursor at a respective position; and

wherein said processor is configured;

(a) to set a display position as a controller structure position plus an offset;

(b) when the display position is greater than the controller structure position times a multiplier;

to set the display position to the controller structure position times the multiplier and to set the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position;

(c) when the display position is less than or equal to the controller structure position times the multiplier and the controller structure position times the multiplier minus a differential zero is greater than the display position, to set the display position to a rough position times the multiplier minus the differential zero and to set the offset to the display position minus the controller structure position; and

(d) to repeat procedures (a) to (c).

22. The controller of claim 21, wherein:

said display size is different from said predefined grid size.

23. The controller of claim 21, wherein:

said predefined grid size is 316 by 316.

24. The controller of claim 22, wherein:

said predefined display size is 480 by 640.

25. The controller of claim 22, wherein:

said processor employs a multiplier to generate said cursor position signal from said controller structure position signal.

26. The controller of claim 25, wherein:

said multiplier is approximately equal to the ratio of said predefined display size to said predefined grid size.

27. The controller of claim 21, wherein:

said processor sends a sustained cursor position signal when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena.

28. The controller of claim 21, wherein:

said processor sends a continuous cursor position signal when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena.

29. The controller of claim 21, wherein:

said processor stores a velocity value corresponding to a velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal.

30. The controller of claim 21, further comprising:

a switch that when placed in a first position said processor sends a sustained cursor position signal when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena, and when placed in a second position said processor stores a velocity value corresponding to a velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is manipulated at an edge of said arena said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal. velocity of said controller structure, and when said controller structure is positioned at an edge, said processor utilizes said velocity value to generate said cursor position signal.