Image sensing operator input device

• US 6,303,924 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Adan, Manolito E., Lipscomb, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PYO, KEVIN K
• Application Number:
  US09/217,403
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/208.1, 250/206.1, 345/156, 345/157, 345/162, 345/163, 345/166
• US Class Current: 250/221
• 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
• 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: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads

Abstract

A computer input device detects images on a surface. The computer input device generates input information indicative of a change event when the device switches from reading one predetermined pattern to reading another predetermined pattern. The present invention can also be directed to a method of using the input device or printable medium with the predetermined patterns disposed thereon.

Claims

1. A computer input system for providing input information to a computer, comprising:

a computer input device configured to provide position information based on a position of the computer input device relative to a surface, the computer input device comprising a pattern detector configured to detect a pattern on the surface and a controller coupled to the pattern detector; and

a pattern disposed on the surface, the pattern having at least first and second predetermined pattern portions thereon, the controller generating a change event based on the pattern detector switching between detecting the first predetermined pattern portion and detecting the second predetermined pattern portion;

wherein the controller is configured to provide relative position information indicative of relative movement of the computer input device relative to the pattern when the pattern detector is detecting the first predetermined pattern portion and absolute position information indicative of an absolute position of the computer input device with respect to the pattern when the pattern detector is detecting the second predetermined pattern portion.

2. The computer input system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to change the position information provided for a given distance of relative movement of the computer input device with respect to the pattern, based on whether the pattern detector is then detecting the first predetermined pattern portion or a third predetermined pattern portion.

3. The computer input system of claim 2 wherein the first predetermined pattern portion comprises a first plurality of predetermined images spaced a first distance apart and wherein the third predetermined pattern portion comprises a second plurality of predetermined patterns spaced a second distance apart.

4. The computer input system of claim 3 wherein the first plurality of predetermined images comprises a first plurality of grid lines spaced the first distance apart and wherein the second plurality of predetermined images comprises a second plurality of grid lines spaced the second distance apart.

5. The computer input system of claim 2 wherein the first predetermined pattern portion comprises a first plurality of predetermined images spaced from one another by a distance which varies across the pattern.

6. The computer input system of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined pattern portion comprises a plurality of unique predetermined images spaced from one another on the surface.

13. The computer input system of claim 1 wherein the first and second predetermined pattern portions are learned patterns which are learned by the controller in response to initiation of a learn mode of operation.

14. The computer input system of claim 1 wherein the controller is housed within the computer.

34. The computer input system of claim 1 wherein the surface comprises:

a first surface portion on a first side of a substrate and having the first predetermined pattern portion disposed thereon; and

a second surface portion on a second side of the substrate and having the second predetermined pattern portion disposed thereon.

7. A computer input device providing input information to a computer, comprising:

a position transducer configured to provide position information based on movement of the computer input device relative to a surface, the position information for use in positioning a display element on computer screen;

a pattern detector configured to detect a predetermined image of an optical pattern on the surface; and

a controller coupled to the pattern detector and the position transducer, the controller being configured to generate a message to the computer indicative of the position information to position the display element and indicative of an operating mode change based on the predetermined image of an optical pattern detected.

8. The computer input system of claim 7 wherein the controller provides mode change information based on the pattern detector switching between detecting a first predetermined pattern portion and a second predetermined pattern portion.

10. The computer input system of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured to generate mode change information indicative of command information for issuing a command to an application running on the computer, the controller generating the command information based on the pattern detector detecting at least one of the first and second predetermined pattern portions.

11. The computer input system of claim 10 wherein the application comprises a logon application and wherein the command information is indicative of a logon command and user authentication information, the logon application controlling access provided to a user based on the logon command and the user authentication information.

12. The computer input system of claim 11 wherein the surface comprises a portion of a user identification badge.

35. The computer input device of claim 7 wherein the operating mode change comprises changing a font size based on the predetermined image of an optical pattern then being detected.

9. The computer input system of 8 wherein the first predetermined pattern portion comprises at least one predetermined image indicative of a first computer operating mode and wherein the second predetermined pattern portion comprises a second predetermined image indicative of a second computer operating mode.

15. A method of providing a user input to a computer, the method comprising:

placing a user input device over a first portion of a surface having a first predetermined pattern disposed thereon;

detecting a first image indicative of the first predetermined pattern;

providing first pattern information to the computer indicative of detection of the first image;

placing the user input device over a second portion of the surface having a second predetermined pattern disposed thereon;

detecting a second image indicative of the second predetermined pattern;

providing second pattern information to the computer indicative of detection of the second image; and

providing position information to the computer indicative of movement of the user input device relative to the surface, the position information being used to position a display element on a computer screen.

16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising:

controlling the computer based on the first and second pattern information.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein controlling comprises:

changing one of an operating parameter of the user input device, and an operational mode of the computer, based on a change from detecting the first image to detecting the second image.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the controlling step comprises:

changing a mode of operation of the computer based on a change from detecting the first image to detecting the second image.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of detecting a first image comprises:

capturing the first image with an image detector; and

matching information indicative of the first image to information indicative of a first stored image stored in an image store.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of changing a mode of operation, comprises:

providing a mode value associated with the first stored image, the mode value being indicative of a first mode of operation of the computer.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of detecting a second image comprises:

capturing the second image with an image detector; and

matching information indicative of the second image to information indicative of a second stored image stored in an image store.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of changing a mode of operation, comprises:

providing a mode value associated with the second stored image, the mode value being indicative of a second mode of operation of the computer.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the controlling step comprises:

changing an operating parameter of the user input device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the user input comprises position information, and wherein the controlling step comprises:

changing the position information from relative position information indicative of movement of the user input device relative to the surface to absolute position information indicative of an absolute position of the user input device with respect to the surface, based on whether the user input device is detecting the first image or the second image.

25. A method of controlling a computer, comprising:

providing a computer input device moveable relative to a surface;

detecting a predetermined image of an optical pattern on the surface with the computer input device; and

configuring the computer to operate according to an operational mode based on the optical pattern detected on the surface, and providing position information to the computer based on movement of the computer input device relative to the surface to position a display element on a computer screen.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the step of providing position information comprises:

detecting a substantially random image on the surface;

moving the user input device relative to the surface; and

detecting a change in relative position of the substantially random image relative to the user input device.

27. A method of controlling a computer based on input information provided by a user input device, comprising;

placing the user input device over a surface;

generating position information based on movement of the user input device relative to the surface;

positioning a display item on a computer screen based on the position information generated from the input device;

detecting a predefined image of an optical pattern on the surface; and

issuing a command to an application program running on the computer based on the predefined optical pattern detected on the surface.

28. A method of controlling a computer based on input information provided by a user input device useable for generating position information based on movement of the user input device relative to a surface and positioning a display item on a computer screen based on the position information generated from the input device, the method comprising:

detecting a predefined image of an optical pattern on a surface; and

controlling a procedure to log on to the computer based on the predefined image of the optical pattern detected.

29. A computer input device for providing input information to a computer, comprising:

a position transducer configured to provide position information based on a position of the computer input device relative to a surface, the position information being used to position a display element on a computer screen;

a pattern detector configured to detect first and second predefined images of optical patterns on the surface; and

a controller coupled to the pattern detector and being configured to generate pattern information for transmission to the computer to control an operating mode of the computer, the pattern information being indicative of whether the pattern detector is detecting the first predefined image of an optical pattern or the second predefined image of an optical pattern.

30. The computer input device of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to generate a first information packet including a pattern portion containing first pattern information indicative of the pattern detector detecting the first predefined image of an optical pattern.

31. The computer input device of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to generate a second information packet including a pattern portion containing second pattern information indicative of the pattern detector detecting the second predefined image of an optical pattern.

32. The computer input device of claim 31 wherein the controller is configured to generate the first information packet with the first pattern information being indicative of a first plurality of predetermined optical images spaced a first distance apart and wherein the controller is configured to generate the second information packet with the second pattern information being indicative of a second plurality of predetermined optical images spaced a second distance apart.

33. The computer input device of claim 31 wherein the controller is configured to generate the first information packet with the first pattern information being indicative of a first plurality of optical images spaced from one another by a distance which varies across the first optical pattern.

36. A computer input device providing input information to a computer, comprising:

a position transducer configured to provide position information based on movement of the computer input device relative to a surface, the position information for use in positioning a display element on a computer screen, the position transducer including a pattern detector configured to detect substantially random image patterns on the surface and predetermined image patterns on the surface; and

a controller coupled to the pattern detector, the controller being configured to generate a message to the computer indicative of the position information based on the substantially random image pattern when the pattern detector is detecting the substantially random image pattern and to switch to providing the position information based on the predetermined image pattern when the pattern detector is detecting the predetermined image pattern.