Pointing device with a controller used for monitoring a protocol selector signal derived from a computer to select one of a compatibility function and an additional function

• US 7,003,600 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Fujikawa, Reiji
• Primary Examiner(s): ELAMIN, ABDELMONIEM I
• Application Number:
  US10/669,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 710/73, 710/129, 345/169, 345/173, 345/163
• US Class Current: 710/73
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A pointing device has a controllable selector for sending a version compatible signal and a newer functionality signal to a computer terminal. The pointing device has an operating unit which produces a signal which can be passed directly to the computer terminal, or can be modified with a new functionality, and then passed to the computer terminal. A controller in the pointing device monitors a protocol signal line to determine whether a version compatible signal or a new functionality signal is called for. The controller can activate a new functionality circuit and the selector to send the appropriate signal to the computer terminal. The controller can also monitor the protocol signal line in a power-on state, and execute a procedure to determine the functionality requested by the protocol signal line.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a pointing device connected to a computer main body, the method comprising:

producing an operation signal every time said pointing device is operated;

producing a compatibility function signal for said pointing device in response to the operation signal;

changing said operation signal into an additional function signal;

monitoring a protocol selector signal derived from said computer main body; and

supplying at least one of said compatibility function signal and said additional function signal to said computer main body, said additional function signal being supplied to said computer main body when said protocol selector signal identifies that said additional function signal is to be supplied.

2. The method for controlling a point device according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing said operation signal into said additional function signal includes receiving a command-data signal from said computer main body and analyzing said command-data signal for a command and data within said received command-data signal.

3. The method for controlling a pointing device according to claim 2, wherein said command-data signal contains data defining the amount of movement of said pointing device, a change in sensitivity of said pointing device and a stop of an information supply.

4. The method for controlling a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said pointing device is a mouse and said additional function signal contains a mouse data signal, a mouse clock signal, and a CPU data signal.

5. The method for controlling a pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said protocol selector signal is monitored immediately after a power supply of said computer main body is turned on.