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Universal remote TV mouse

  • US 6,753,849 B1
  • Filed: 10/27/1999
  • Issued: 06/22/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring an orientation of a positioning controller relative to an external infrared light source, comprising:

  • a first photodiode for receiving a first portion of infrared light from the external infrared light source, wherein the first photodiode has a portion thereof masked to limit detection of light beyond a certain angle of orientation of the positioning controller measured from a perpendicular axis;

    a second photodiode for receiving a second portion of infrared light from the external infrared light source, wherein the upper half of the second photodiode is masked to limit reception of light on a first side of a first plane bisecting the second photodiode, and to promote reception of light on a second side of the first plane;

    a third photodiode for receiving a third portion of infrared light from the external infrared source, wherein the third photodiode has a portion thereof masked to limit reception of light on a first side of a second plane bisecting the third photodiode, and to promote reception of light on a second side of the second plane;

    a wide angle sensor having an output which is lower than the first photodiode output within a selected range of angles and higher than the-first photodiode output outside said range; and

    circuitry for determining an orientation of the positioning controller, specifically, the pitch and yaw of the controller, using the first, second and third portions of received infrared light and the wide angle sensor output and for thereby determining the orientation of the positioning controller relative to the external infrared light source.

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