Isometric pointing device with integrated click and method therefor

• US 6,084,572 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Yaniger, Stuart I., Findlater, Stewart M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US08/853,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 345/159, 345/161, 345/156, 345/162, 345/168, 345/160, 341/20
• US Class Current: 345/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type

Abstract

A computer input device that has the click function incorporated into a pointing device, rather than as a separate switch. The pointing device implements the operations of pointing, clicking and dragging based solely upon an evaluation of the pressure applied thereto. An array of sensors is monitored. The cursor direction is determined by the difference or ratio of applied force between the arrayed sensors. Cursor velocity is determined by the magnitude of the applied force. When a click is desired, the pointing device is pressed downward. The transient nature of the top or its nearly vertical force nature causes the output of the pointing device to readly distinguish between pointing and clicking operations.

Claims

1. A computer input device for moving a cursor on a computer display and implementing clicking functions on areas highlighted by the cursor in response to force applied to the device, comprising:

an array of sensors, the sensors each having an output terminal for producing a signal;

a controller coupled to the array of sensors for deriving from the signals the amount of force applied to each sensor;

wherein said controller is operative to determine whether at least three of the sensors are experiencing an applied force exceeding a first threshold, and to implement a click function in response to at least three of the sensors experiencing an applied force exceeding the first threshold; and

wherein said controller is further operative to determine whether at least one of the sensors is experiencing an applied force exceeding a second threshold during a predetermined window of time, and operative to implement a click function in response to one of the sensors exceeding the second threshold during the window of time.

2. The computer input device of claim 1, wherein said controller is further operative to ascertain whether force applied to the sensors translates to pointing functions, and further to disable movement of the cursor during implementation of a click function until a timeout period has passed.

3. An isometric pointing device, comprising:

means for applying a force to at least one sensor in an array of sensors;

means, coupled to the sensor array, for deriving the magnitude of the force applied to each sensor;

direction means, coupled to the measuring means, for determining cursor direction by a ratio of the applied force between the arrayed sensors;

velocity means, coupled to the measuring means, for determining cursor velocity by the magnitude of the applied force;

means, coupled to the measuring means, for detecting when click and drag functions are implemented according to the value of force applied to each sensor and to the number of sensors having force applied thereto, wherein the detecting means further comprises;

first implementing means for determining whether at least three of the sensors are experiencing an applied force exceeding a first threshold, the click and drag functions being implemented in response to at least three of the sensors experiencing an applied force exceeding the first threshold; and

second implementing means for determining whether at least one of the sensors is experiencing an applied force exceeding a second threshold during a predetermined window of time, the click and drag functions being implemented in response to one of the sensors experiencing an applied force exceeding the second threshold during the window of time.

4. A computer input device for performing on-screen operations in response to force applied to the device, comprising:

an array of force sensors;

a force applicator coupled to the force sensors, for applying forces to the force sensors;

means, coupled to the sensors, for ascertaining whether force applied to the sensors translates to point and clicking functions;

movement means, coupled to the ascertaining means for moving the cursor in response to the applied force translating to pointing functions; and

selecting means, coupled to the ascertaining means, for selecting the highlighted area in response to the applied force translating to clicking functions, wherein the ascertaining means further comprises;

first implementing means for determining whether at least three of the sensors are experiencing an applied force exceeding a first threshold, a click function being implementing in response to at least three of the sensors experiencing an applied force exceeding the first threshold; and

second implementing means for determining whether at least one of the sensors is experiencing an applied force exceeding a second threshold during a predetermined window of time, a click function being implemented in response to one of the sensors experiencing an applied force exceeding the second threshold during the window of time.

5. A method of performing click functions for a computer input device comprising the steps of:

clearing a first register for storing a first value representing the number of sensors in an array generating output signals indicative of an applied force which exceeds a first threshold;

clearing a second register for storing a second value representing the number of sensors in an array generating output signals indicative of an applied force which exceeds a second threshold;

determining the first value and storing the value in the first register;

determining the second value and storing the value in the second register;

determining whether the first value is greater than or equal to three;

implementing a click function in response to the first value being greater than or equal to three;

determining whether the second value is maintained during a predetermined window of time; and

implementing a click function in response to the second value being maintained during the predetermined window of time.

6. The method of performing click functions for a computer input device of claim 5 further comprising the steps of:

ascertaining whether cursor movement should be implemented; and

delaying movement of the cursor during implementation of the click function and until a timeout period elapsed.

7. A method of performing click functions for an isometric pointing device comprising the steps of:

measuring the output signal of each sensor in an array of sensors;

determining whether at least three of the sensor output signals is indicative of an applied force exceeding a first threshold;

implementing a click function in response to at least three of the sensor signals being indicative of an applied force exceeding the first threshold;

determining whether at least one of the sensor output signals is indicative of an applied force exceeding a second threshold during a predetermined window of time; and

implementing a click function in response to one of the sensors exceeding the second threshold during the window of time.

8. The method of performing click functions for an isometric pointing device of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

ascertaining whether force applied to the sensors translates to pointing functions; and

disabling the movement of the cursor during implementation of a click function and until a timeout period has passed.