Multi-mouse actions stylus

• US 6,894,683 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Clapper, Edward O., Andersen, David B., Watters, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US10/193,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1901- 1904, 178/18.01
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A stylus includes one or more stylus tips to initiate different mouse actions. The different mouse actions may be initiated by causing the stylus tip to generate disturbance signals on a touch sensitive device. The different mouse actions may also be initiated by using stylus tips of different characteristics with each characteristic associated with a mouse action.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

causing a stylus tip of a mechanical stylus to make one or more contacts with a touch sensitive surface, the one or more contacts resulting from the stylus tip oscillating relative to a stylus housing;

determining a signature associated with disturbance signals generated by the stylus tip; and

based on the signature, identifying an associated mouse action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the determined signature with one or more predetermined signatures, each of the one or more predetermined signatures associating with a mouse action.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein if the determined signature resembles a first predetermined signature, an action associated with pressing a left mouse button is performed.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein if the determined signature resembles a second predetermined signature, an action associated with pressing a right mouse button is performed.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein if the determined signature resembles a third predetermined signature, an action associated with hovering is performed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the signature associated with the disturbance signals generated by the stylus tip comprises:

determining coordinates of a location on a touch sensitive device, the location associated with an originating point of the disturbance signal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprises:

determining an oscillation interval associated with the disturbance signals caused by the mechanical stylus at the location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the oscillation interval occurs between a time the touch sensitive device has a first deformation and a time the touch sensitive device has a second deformation.

9. A device, comprising:

a stylus tip; and

a first mechanical control mechanism coupled to the stylus tip, the first mechanical control mechanism to cause the stylus tip to oscillate on a surface of a touch sensitive device for a first oscillation interval, wherein the first oscillation interval is associated with a first mouse action.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first oscillation interval is associated with a first signature, the first signature including a unique sequence of effects caused by the stylus tip on the touch sensitive device during the first oscillation interval.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the unique sequence of effects includes a unique sequence of pressures caused by the stylus tip on the touch sensitive device.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising a second mechanical control mechanism coupled to the stylus tip, the second mechanical control mechanism to cause the stylus tip to oscillate on the surface of the touch sensitive device for a second oscillation interval, wherein the second oscillation interval is associated with a second mouse action.

13. A stylus, comprising:

a housing;

a stylus tip coupled to the housing and affixed to a flexing element; and

one or more mechanical mechanisms coupled to the housing and to the flexing element, the one or more mechanical mechanisms to direct oscillations of the stylus tip using the flexing element, wherein the oscillations of the stylus tip generate different disturbance signals on a touch sensitive device, the different disturbance signals associated with different mouse actions.

14. The stylus of claim 13, wherein the flexing element is a spring.

15. The stylus of claim 13, wherein the one or more mechanical mechanisms includes a first mechanical mechanism to direct oscillations of the stylus tip to generate a first signature, the first signature associated with pressing of a left mouse button.

16. The stylus of claim 13, wherein the one or more mechanisms includes a second mechanical mechanism to direct oscillations of the stylus tip to generate a second signature, the second signature associated with pressing of a right mouse button.