Computer input device providing absolute and relative positional information

• US 7,046,229 B1
• Filed: 04/20/1999
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Drake, Victor P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US09/295,171
• Time in Patent Office: 2,583 Days
• Field of Search: 345/187, 345/157, 345/162, 345/163, 345/156, 345/161, 345/166, 341/9, 341/21, 382/313, 178/18.01, 463/38
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04737 with six degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A computer input device includes a base, a movable member that is displaceable relative to the base, and a sensor that is operably coupled to the movable member. The sensor provides an output signal to circuitry indicative of position of the movable member relative to the base. The circuitry defines movements of the movable member relative to the base as within an absolute motion region and a relative motion region.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of a position of the movable member relative to the base; and

circuitry operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and define movements of the movable member relative to the base as within an absolute motion region and a relative motion region and provide positional information as a function of the regions, wherein in the relative motion region, the movable member has a displacement relative to a home position, wherein the circuitry is operably coupled to a computer readable medium to execute instructions, and wherein the circuitry detects a return stroke of the movable member to a selected position and inhibits providing positional information during at least part of the return stroke.

2. The computer input device of claim 1 and further comprising a computer readable medium storing instructions, and wherein the circuitry comprises a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions when executed define the position of the movable member relative to the base as within the absolute motion region and the relative motion region, the processor processing the output signal to provide positional information as a function of one of the defined regions.

3. The computer input device of claim 2 wherein the computer input device is connected to a host computer, and wherein the computer readable medium is located in the host computer and the processor is located in the host computer.

4. The computer input device of claim 3 wherein the movable member includes a portion cooperative with the base to provide a tactile indication of entry of the movable member into the relative motion region.

5. The computer input device of claim 4 wherein the instructions include a portion that when executed by the processor processes the output signal to detect the tactile indication.

6. The computer input device of claim 5 wherein the computer readable medium stores information related to the tactile indication, and the processor compares a parameter of the output signal to the information to detect the tactile indication.

7. The computer input device of claim 1 a switch positioned beneath the movable member and connected to the circuitry.

8. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a rigid support having a non-planar support surface, and wherein the movable member is compliant conforming to the support surface.

9. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of a position of the movable member relative to the base;

circuitry operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and define movements of the movable member relative to the base as within an absolute motion region and a relative motion region and provide positional information as a function of the regions, wherein in the relative motion region, the movable member has a displacement relative to a home position; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions, wherein the circuitry comprises a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions when executed define the position of the movable member relative to the base as within the absolute motion region and the relative motion region, the processor processing the output signal to provide positional information as a function of one of the defined regions, wherein the computer input device is connected to a host computer, wherein the computer readable medium is located in the host computer and the processor is located in the host computer, and wherein the circuitry includes memory for storing parameters indicative of characteristics of one of the regions.

10. The computer input device of claim 9 wherein the relative motion region comprises a fine relative motion region and a coarse relative motion region.

11. The computer input device of claim 10 wherein the relative motion region is disposed radially from and about the absolute motion region.

12. The computer input device of claim 11 wherein the coarse relative motion region is disposed radially from and about the fine relative motion region.

13. The computer input device of claim 12 wherein the instructions when executed define a dead zone where movements of the movable member within the dead zone do not change the positional information.

14. The computer input device of claim 13 wherein the dead zone is disposed between the fine relative motion region and the coarse relative motion region.

15. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of a position of the movable member relative to the base;

circuitry operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and define movements of the movable member relative to the base as within an absolute motion region and a relative motion region and provide positional information as a function of the regions, wherein in the relative motion region, the movable member has a displacement relative to a home position;

a computer readable medium storing instructions, and wherein the circuitry comprises a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions, wherein the instructions when executed define the position of the movable member relative to the base as within the absolute motion region and the relative motion region, the processor processing the output signal to provide positional information as a function of one of the defined regions, wherein the computer input device is connected to a host computer, wherein the computer readable medium is located in the host computer and the processor is located in the host computer, wherein the movable member includes a portion cooperative with the base to provide a tactile indication of entry of the movable member into the relative motion region, wherein the instructions include a portion that when executed by the processor processes the output signal to detect the tactile indication, wherein the computer readable medium stores information related to the tactile indication, and the processor compares a parameter of the output signal to the information to detect the tactile indication, and wherein the parameter of the output signal comprises a derivative of the output signal.

16. The computer input device of claim 15 wherein the parameter of the output signal comprises a second-order derivative of the output signal.

17. The computer input device of claim 16 and further comprising a spring coupling joining the movable member and the base to return the movable member to substantially a selected position relative to the base for movements from the selected position.

18. The computer input device of claim 17 wherein the computer instructions include a portion to detect a return stroke of the movable member to the selected position as a function of an initial movable member position and spring coupling and inhibit update positional information during at least part of the return stroke.

19. The computer input device of claim 18 wherein update positional information is inhibited during a portion of the return stroke in the relative motion region.

20. The computer input device of claim 17 wherein the portion of the computer instructions calculate at least one of a speed and acceleration of the movable member.

21. The computer input device of claim 20 wherein the selected position is disposed in the absolute motion region.

22. The computer input device of claim 21 wherein the relative motion region comprises a fine relative motion region and a coarse relative motion region, and wherein the fine relative motion region is disposed radially from and about the absolute motion region, and the coarse relative motion region is disposed radially from and about the fine relative motion region.

23. The computer input device of claim 22 wherein the instructions when executed define a dead zone where movements of the movable member within the dead zone do not change the positional information.

24. The computer input device of claim 23 wherein the dead zone is disposed between the fine relative motion region and the coarse relative motion region.

25. The computer input device of claim 24 wherein the movable member includes a portion cooperative with the base to provide a tactile indication of entry of the movable member into the coarse relative motion region.

26. The computer input device of claim 24 wherein the spring coupling is insufficient to return the movable from the dead zone without operator intervention.

27. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base;

a spring coupling joining the movable member and the base to return the movable member to substantially a selected position relative to the base during a return stroke;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of movements of the movable member relative to the base during the return stroke;

a computer readable medium storing instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions, wherein the processor detects the return stroke of the movable member to the selected position as a function of the spring coupling, the processor processing the output signal to provide positional information and where positional information is inhibited during at least part of the return stroke.

28. The computer input device of claim 27 wherein the instructions calculate at least one of a speed and acceleration of the movable member.

29. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base;

a spring coupling joining the movable member and the base to return the movable member to substantially a selected position relative to the base during a return stroke;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of movements of the movable member relative to the base during the return stroke;

a computer readable medium storing instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions, wherein the processor detects the return stroke of the movable member to the selected position as a function of the spring coupling, the processor processing the output signal to provide positional information and where positional information is inhibited during at least part of the return stroke, wherein the instructions include a portion to calculate a derivative of the output signal.

30. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base;

a spring coupling joining the movable member and the base to return the movable member to substantially a selected position relative to the base during a return stroke;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of movements of the movable member relative to the base during the return stroke;

a computer readable medium storing instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions, wherein the processor detects the return stroke of the movable member to the selected position as a function of the spring coupling, the processor processing the output signal to provide positional information and where positional information is inhibited during at least part of the return stroke, wherein the instructions include a portion to calculate a second-order derivative of the output signal.

31. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base and including a tactile indicator cooperative with the base to indicate when the movable member has reached a boundary between a plurality of regions of the movable member relative to the base;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of movements of the movable member relative to the base;

a computer readable medium storing instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions to detect that the movable member has reached the boundary between the plurality of regions of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein each of the regions is associated with different characteristics in the output signal, wherein in one of the regions, the movable member has a displacement relative to a home position, and wherein the processor further executes the instructions to detect a return stroke of the movable member from the one of the regions to the home position and at least partially inhibits positional information during the return stroke.

32. The computer input device of claim 31 wherein the instructions calculate at least one of a speed and acceleration of the movable member.

33. A computer input device comprising:

a base;

a movable member displaceable relative to the base and including a tactile indicator cooperative with the base to indicate when the movable member has reached a boundary between a plurality of regions of the movable member relative to the base;

a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, the sensor providing an output signal indicative of movements of the movable member relative to the base;

a computer readable medium storing instructions; and

a processor operably coupled to the sensor to receive the output signal and operably coupled to the computer readable medium to execute the instructions to detect that the movable member has reached the boundary between the plurality of regions of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein each of the regions is associated with different characteristics in the output signal and wherein in one of the regions, the movable member has a displacement relative to a home position, wherein the instructions include a portion to calculate a second-order derivative of the output signal.

34. A method of providing positional information to a computer, the method comprising:

defining movements of a movable member relative to a base member in an absolute motion region and a relative motion region of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein in the relative motion region the movable member is displaced relative to a home position;

measuring movements of the movable member relative to the base member and during a return stroke of the movable member to the home position; and

processing the movements to provide positional information as a function of one of the regions of the movable member relative to the base member and at least partially inhibiting positional information during the return stroke.

35. A method of providing positional information to a computer, the method comprising:

defining movements of a movable member relative to a base member in an absolute motion region and a relative motion region of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein in the relative motion region the movable member is displaced relative to a home position;

measuring movements of the movable member relative to the base member and during a return stroke of the movable member to the home position;

processing the movements to provide positional information as a function of one of the regions of the movable member relative to the base member, and further comprising generating a tactile indication of entry of the movable member into the relative motion region and at least partially inhibiting positional information during the return stroke.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the step of measuring comprises providing an output signal from a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, and wherein the method further comprises processing the output signal to detect the tactile indication.

37. The method of claim 36 and further comprising storing information related to the tactile indication, and wherein the step of processing includes comparing a parameter of the output signal to the information to detect the tactile indication.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the parameter of the output signal comprises a derivative of the output signal.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the parameter of the output signal comprises a second-order derivative of the output signal.

40. A method of providing positional information to a computer, the method comprising:

defining movements of a movable member relative to a base member in an absolute motion region and a relative motion region of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein in the relative motion region the movable member is displaced relative to a home position;

measuring movements of the movable member relative to the base member;

releasing the movable member from a position remote from a selected position to return the movable member to substantially the selected position; and

processing the movements to provide positional information as a function of one of the regions of the movable member relative to the base member, and at least partially inhibiting positional information when the movable member is released to return to substantially the selected position.

41. The method of claim 40 and further comprising detecting a return stroke of the movable member to the selected position and inhibiting update positional information during at least part of the return stroke.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein update positional information is inhibited during a portion of the return stroke in the relative motion region.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the step of measuring comprises providing an output signal from a sensor operably coupled to the movable member, and wherein the step of detecting comprises processing the output signal to detect at least one of a speed and acceleration of the movable member.

44. A method of providing positional information to a computer, the method comprising:

displacing a movable member to a displaced position relative to a base member;

releasing the movable member so that the movable member returns in a return stroke to a selected position relative to the base member;

sensing movements of the movable member relative to the base member and generating a changing output signal as a function of said movements;

processing the movements to provide positional information for selected movements of the movable member relative to the base member; and

detecting when the movable member has been released and inhibit providing positional information for at least part of the return stroke to the selected position of the movable member relative to the base member.

45. A method of providing positional information to a computer, the method comprising:

displacing a movable member to a displaced position relative to a base member;

releasing the movable member so that the movable member returns in a return stroke to a selected position relative to the base member;

sensing movements of the movable member relative to the base member and generating a changing output signal as a function of said movements;

processing the movements to provide positional information for selected movements of the movable member relative to the base member; and

detecting when the movable member has been released and inhibiting providing positional information for at least part of the return stroke to the selected position of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein the step of detecting includes calculating at least one of a speed and acceleration of the movable member.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of calculating includes calculating a derivative of the output signal.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the step of calculating includes calculating a second-order derivative of the output signal.

48. A method of providing positional information to a computer, the method comprising:

sensing movements of a movable member relative to a base member into a plurality of regions, the movements including return strokes to a selected position of the movable member relative to the base, and generating a changing output signal as a function of said movements;

processing the movements to provide positional information for movements of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein the positional information is at least partially inhibited during return strokes;

generating a tactile indication when the movable member has reached a boundary between the plurality of regions of the movable member relative to the base member, wherein the positional information of each region has different characteristics in the output signal; and

detecting return strokes and when the movable member has reached the boundary between the plurality of regions of the movable member relative to the base member as a function of the characteristics of the output signal.

49. A method of processing displacement data from an input device having a member movable through a range of motion relative to a base in order to update information displayed on a display device of a computer system, the method comprising:

receiving, from a sensor, information regarding displacement of the member relative to the base and release of the movable member to return in a return stroke the movable member to a selected position of the movable member relative to the base;

mapping, by either the input device or the computer, the displacement information into at least one of an absolute motion region and a relative motion region for movements of the movable member relative to the base, each region having associated characteristics that influence the update of the information on the display device; and

determining how the displacement information on the display device should be updated based on the characteristics associated with the at least one mapped region, wherein determining comprises at least partially inhibiting update of the displacement information during the return stroke to a selected position of the movable member relative to the base.