Image sensing operator input device
First Claim
Patent Images
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.
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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.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A computer input system for providing input information to a computer, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 34)
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.
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7. A computer input device providing input information to a computer, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11, 12, 35)
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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.
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15. A method of providing a user input to a computer, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
controlling the computer based on the first and second pattern information.
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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.
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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.
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19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of detecting a first image comprises:
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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.
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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.
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21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of detecting a second image comprises:
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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.
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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.
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23. The method of claim 16 wherein the controlling step comprises:
changing an operating parameter of the user input device.
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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.
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25. A method of controlling a computer, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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.
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27. A method of controlling a computer based on input information provided by a user input device, comprising;
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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.
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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:
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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.
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29. A computer input device for providing input information to a computer, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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36. A computer input device providing input information to a computer, comprising:
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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.
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Specification