Computer input device with angular displacement detection capabilities
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An input device intended to be moved relative to a supporting surface, the input device comprising:
- a housing that forms at least a portion of an exterior of the input device, the housing having a support portion for supporting the input device on the supporting surface;
a sensor system located at least partially within the housing, the sensor system being operable in a translational mode to detect translational displacement of the input device relative to the support surface and while the input device is in contact with the supporting surface, and the sensor system being operable in an angular mode to detect angular displacement of the input device relative to the support surface and while the input device is in contact with the supporting surface, the sensor system comparing a first image of the supporting surface with a second image of the supporting surface to determine (a) a translational displacement between the first image and the second image when in the translational mode and (b) an angular displacement between the first image and the second image when in the angular mode; and
an actuator that selectively converts operation of the sensor system between the translational mode and the angular mode.
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Abstract
A computer input device, such as a mouse, is disclosed that includes one or more sensor systems for detecting translational displacement and angular displacement of the input device relative to a support surface. The input device transmits a signal to a computing device in response to detecting the translational displacement and angular displacement, and the computing device moves an image on a display screen in a linear manner in response to the signal. The sensor system within the input device may be an optical sensor system, for example.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An input device intended to be moved relative to a supporting surface, the input device comprising:
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a housing that forms at least a portion of an exterior of the input device, the housing having a support portion for supporting the input device on the supporting surface; a sensor system located at least partially within the housing, the sensor system being operable in a translational mode to detect translational displacement of the input device relative to the support surface and while the input device is in contact with the supporting surface, and the sensor system being operable in an angular mode to detect angular displacement of the input device relative to the support surface and while the input device is in contact with the supporting surface, the sensor system comparing a first image of the supporting surface with a second image of the supporting surface to determine (a) a translational displacement between the first image and the second image when in the translational mode and (b) an angular displacement between the first image and the second image when in the angular mode; and an actuator that selectively converts operation of the sensor system between the translational mode and the angular mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An input device intended to be moved relative to a supporting surface, the input device comprising:
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a housing that forms at least a portion of an exterior of the input device, the housing having a support portion for supporting the input device on the supporting surface, and the housing defining an aperture in the exterior of the input device and adjacent the supporting surface; an optical sensor system located at least partially within the housing to detect both translational displacement and angular displacement of the input device relative to the support surface by comparing images of the support surface obtained through only the aperture; and a controller located at least partially within the housing and operatively connected to the optical sensor system, wherein the controller is configured to transmit a first signal relating to translational movement of an image on a display screen in response to the translational displacement of the input device relative to the support surface, and the controller is configured to transmit a second signal also relating to translational movement of to image on the display screen in response to the angular displacement of the input device relative to support surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of moving an image relative to a display screen, the method comprising steps of:
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detecting translational displacement of an input device relative to a support surface on which the input device rests by comparing a first image of the supporting surface with a second image of the supporting surface to determine a translational displacement between the first image and the second image; transmitting a first signal to a computing device based on the detected translational displacement; detecting angular displacement of the input device relative to the support surface on which the input device rests by comparing a third image of the supporting surface with a fourth image of the supporting surface to determine an angular displacement between the third image and the fourth image; and transmitting a second signal to the computing device based on the detected angular displacement. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of moving an image relative to a display screen, the method comprising steps of:
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obtaining a first picture of a support surface with an optical sensor system; obtaining a second picture of the support surface with the optical sensor system; comparing the second picture to the first picture to detect angular displacement of the second picture with respect to the first picture; and directing translation of the image in response to the angular displacement of the second picture with respect to the first picture. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification