Input unit arrangement

• US 6,992,655 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Original Assignee: Anoto Group AB
• Inventors: Ericson, Petter, Fahraeus, Christer
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/784,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-163, 345/173, 345179-180, 345/169, 345/177, 345/172, 178 1801- 1809, 178 1901- 2001, 382/313
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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 3/0321 by optically sensing the absolute position with respect to a regularly patterned surface forming a passive digitiser, e.g. pen optically detecting position indicative tags printed on a paper sheet constructional details of pen-shaped pointing devices G06F3/03545, G06F3/03542, G06F3/037
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

In an input unit arrangement use is made of an input unit in combination with a mouse pad, which is provided with a position-coding pattern which codes coordinates for a plurality of positions on the mouse pad. Areas on the mouse pad are provided with subsets of the position-coding pattern which are dedicated to different functions. The input unit can be caused to optically read the position-coding pattern, whereupon the input unit arrangement decodes the positions that are coded locally on the mouse pad. By placing the input unit within the various areas (110–120) on the mouse pad, a user can make the input unit arrangement carry out various functions, such as automatically switching from a mouse function, in which a cursor is controlled on a display on the basis of the decoded position, to an input function, in which information via the input unit is inputted into an electronic device, such as a computer, telephone, PDA etc. A method for controlling the input unit arrangement is also described, as is also use of an absolute position-coding pattern.

Claims

1. An input unit arrangement for controlling an electronic device, comprising:

a base;

a position-coding pattern provided on said base and coding a first and second sets of absolute positions on spatially separate areas of said base;

said first and second sets of absolute positions being mutually exclusive and coded by spatially separate first and second subsets of said position-coding pattern;

a handheld image-recording device for recording images of said position-coding pattern; and

a signal-processing device for deriving at least one position from the position coding pattern in the recorded image, said signal-processing device providing an instruction to the electronic device to perform a first function when said at least one absolute position belongs to the first set, and a second function when said at least one absolute position belongs to the second set.

2. The input unit arrangement of claim 1, wherein said signal-processing device, in said first function and based on said at least one absolute position, generates signals for positioning a cursor on a display unit of the electronic device.

3. The input unit arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first function operates on a display control function of the electronic device.

4. The input unit arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to map said first set of absolute positions to corresponding absolute positions on a display unit of the electronic device.

5. The input unit arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to map said first set of absolute positions to corresponding relative positions on a display unit of the electronic device.

6. The input unit arrangement of claim 3, wherein the first function operates on a display control function to effect scrolling.

7. The input unit arrangement of claim 1, wherein said second function is an input function of the input unit arrangement.

8. The input unit arrangement of claim 7, wherein said input function is selected from the group consisting of:

a scanner function for inputting an image and/or text, a photographing function for inputting a photograph, and a handwriting recording function for inputting handwriting.

9. The input unit arrangement of claim 8, wherein said signal-processing device, in said handwriting recording function, records a handwriting stroke as a sequence of absolute positions derived from said images.

10. The input unit arrangement of claim 9, wherein said sequence of absolute positions belongs to the second set.

11. The input unit arrangement of claim 1, wherein said second function is an control function for generating a controlling command for the electronic device.

12. The input unit arrangement of claim 11, wherein said controlling command is a command for executing software on the electronic device.

13. A pad for use in an input arrangement having an input sensor reading a position-coding pattern and providing a signal to an electronic device to provide instruction thereto, comprising:

a base;

a position-coding pattern provided on said base and coding a first and second sets of absolute positions on spatially separate areas of said base;

said first and second sets of absolute positions being mutually exclusive and coded by spatially separate first and second subsets of said position-coding pattern;

said first and second subsets of absolute positions being associated with first and second functions of said electronic device, respectively, and, when read by the input sensor, allowing the input sensor to instruct said electronic device to perform the function selected by use of the input sensor.

14. The pad according to claim 13, further comprising a visual indication provided on said base in association with each of said first and second subsets, said visual indication illustrating the first and second functions, respectively.

15. The pad according to claim 13, wherein said second function is a control function generating a command for controlling the electronic device.

16. The pad according to claim 15, wherein the controlling command is a command for executing software on the electronic device.

17. The pad of claim 13, wherein the first function operates on a display control function of the electronic device.

18. The pad of claim 17, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to map said first set of absolute positions to corresponding absolute positions on a display unit of the electronic device.

19. The pad of claim 17, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to map said first set of absolute positions to corresponding relative positions on a display unit of the electronic device.

20. The pad of claim 13, wherein said second function is an input function of the input unit arrangement.

21. The pad of claim 20, wherein said input function is selected from the group consisting of:

a scanner function for inputting an image and/or text, a photographing function for inputting a photograph, and a handwriting recording function for inputting handwriting.

22. A method for controlling an electronic device between a first and a second function, using a handheld image recording device interacting with a position-code pattern comprising:

operating the handheld image-recording device for recording images of the position-coding pattern provided on a base, the position coding pattern coding a first and second sets of absolute positions on spatially separate areas of the base;

said first and second sets of absolute positions being mutually exclusive and coded by spatially separate first and second subsets of said position-coding pattern, and

operating a signal-processing device for processing the images to derive at least one position from the position coding pattern in the recorded image, providing an instruction to the electronic device to perform a first function when said at least one absolute position belongs to the first set, and a second function when said at least one absolute position belongs to the second set.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

operating said signal-processing device to control said electronic device to effect at least one of the first and second functions based on said images.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

operating, in said first function and based on said at least one absolute position, said signal-processing device to generate signals for positioning a cursor on a display unit of the electronic device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the first function operates on a display control function of the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to map said first set of absolute positions to corresponding absolute positions on a display unit of the electronic device.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to map said first set of absolute positions to corresponding relative positions on a display unit of the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the first function operates on the display control function to effect scrolling.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein said second function is an input function of the input unit arrangement.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said input function is selected from the group consisting of:

a scanner function for inputting an image and/or text, a photographing function for inputting a photograph, and a handwriting recording function for inputting handwriting.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said signal-processing device, in said handwriting recording function, records a handwriting stroke as a sequence of absolute positions derived from said images.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said sequence of absolute positions belongs to the second set.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said second function is a control function for generating a controlling command for the electronic device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said controlling command is a command for executing software on the electronic device.