Broadcast pointer device with add-on sleeve

• US 5,790,100 A
• Filed: 12/18/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PDACO LIMITED
• Original Assignee: Elonex I P Holdings Ltd.
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US08/573,627
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/179, 178/18, 178/19, 341/22, 341/32, 361/680
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03541 Mouse/trackball convertible devices, in which the same ball is used to track the 2D relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components

Abstract

A general-purpose computer has a compartment for storing a pointer, device such as a mouse or a trackball, such that the may be removed from the compartment and deployed for use. The device may be a mouse, a trackball, or other type, and may communicate with the host computer by a cable, an infra-red system, ar by an inductively coupled system. In one embodiment the computer has a broadcast pointer system, and the device includes any conventional writing instrument or stylus, fitted with an echo device encapsulated in a body having an engagement element for mounting the echo device to the conventional writing instrument or stylus.

Claims

1. An echo device for a broadcast pointer system for a computer, the echo device comprising:

a body having an engagement element for attaching to a separate instrument; and

an antenna assembly mounted to the body, wherein the antenna assembly comprises;

a first loop antenna having a first and a second end;

a second loop antenna having a third and a fourth end; and

a diode;

wherein the first and second loop antennas are joined with the first end connected directly to the third end and the second end connected to the fourth end through the diode.

2. An echo device as in claim 1 wherein the body is formed of flexible material, and the engagement element is an opening of circular cross-section adapted for mounting the echo device to an instrument having the form of a stylus, a pencil, or a pen.

3. A broadcast pointer system comprising:

a pair of broadcast antenna in a computer housing configured to broadcast a carrier waveform at a common frequency but at a known phase difference;

a receiving antenna in the computer housing configured to receive an echo of the summed waveforms broadcast by the pair of broadcast antennas;

circuitry in the computer housing connected to the receiving antenna and configured for analyzing the received waveform and determining the position of the pointer from waveform characteristics; and

a rectifier circuit comprising two antenna connected through a diode;

wherein the rectifier circuit is mounted in a body having an engagement element for mounting the body to a separate instrument.

4. A broadcast pointer system as in claim 3 wherein the body is formed of flexible material, and the engagement element is an opening of circular cross-section adapted for mounting the echo device to an instrument having the form of a stylus, a pencil, or a pen.

5. A method for adapting a stylus, pen, or pencil to be a pointer device in a broadcast pointer system for a computer adapted for tracking a pointer device by broadcasting signals and receiving echoes from the broadcast signals, the method comprising:

(a) forming an echo device for the broadcast pointer system in a body having an engagement element for mounting the echo device to the stylus, pen, or pencil, the echo device having a first loop antenna having a first and a second end;

a second loop antenna having a third and a fourth end, and a diode, wherein the first and second loop antennas are joined with the first end connected directly to the third end and the second end connected to the fourth end through the diode; and

(b) mounting the echo device to the stylus, pen, or pencil.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the body is formed of flexible material, and the engagement element is an opening of circular cross-section adapted for mounting the echo device to the stylus, pen, or pencil.