Computer pointing device employing a magnetic field source and magnetic field sensors
First Claim
1. A pointing device for a computer comprising:
- a body;
a magnetic field source for generating a magnetic field having a direction relative to a measurement location and a magnitude proportional to a distance between the magnetic field source and the measurement location;
a magnetic field sensor for measuring the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source at a measurement location, and outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the measurement location;
a flexible member for allowing and controlling a relative movement of the magnetic field source and the magnetic field sensor, a first end of the flexible member being connected to the body and a second end of the flexible member capable of swinging freely, the flexible member and magnetic field source forming a critically dampened system such that when a force is applied to an end of the flexible member the relative position of the magnetic field sensor with respect to the magnetic field source is changed in a direction of the force by a distance proportional to the force;
a processor for receiving the electrical signals output by the magnetic field sensor, and generating a corresponding location signal of the pointing device; and
a transmission system for conveying the location signal from the processor to the computer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pointing device for a computer includes a magnetic field source, a magnetic field sensor, and a flexible member that connects the magnetic field source and the magnetic field sensor. When a user accelerates the pointing device the position of magnetic field source with respect to the magnetic field sensor changes and this positional change is measured by the magnetic field sensor, which outputs corresponding electrical signals. The pointing device further includes a processor that receives the electrical signals output by the magnetic field sensor, generates a corresponding standard location signal of the pointing device, and outputs the location signal to a computer via a transmission system.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A pointing device for a computer comprising:
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a body; a magnetic field source for generating a magnetic field having a direction relative to a measurement location and a magnitude proportional to a distance between the magnetic field source and the measurement location; a magnetic field sensor for measuring the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source at a measurement location, and outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the measurement location; a flexible member for allowing and controlling a relative movement of the magnetic field source and the magnetic field sensor, a first end of the flexible member being connected to the body and a second end of the flexible member capable of swinging freely, the flexible member and magnetic field source forming a critically dampened system such that when a force is applied to an end of the flexible member the relative position of the magnetic field sensor with respect to the magnetic field source is changed in a direction of the force by a distance proportional to the force; a processor for receiving the electrical signals output by the magnetic field sensor, and generating a corresponding location signal of the pointing device; and a transmission system for conveying the location signal from the processor to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification