Pointing device with solid-state roller

• US 7,170,488 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2001
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Kehlstadt, Florian Max, Plancherel, Laurent, Bidiville, Marc, Piot, Julien, Merminod, Baptiste, Joss, Berni, Dupraz, Jean-Luc, Marini, Maxime, Yu, Chiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck; Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US10/025,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/173, 345/157
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A solid-state roller on a pointing device with enhanced features. The solid-state design described herein allows the sensor to be placed on any shape of surface, such as one that has curvature in two directions. In one embodiment, a trench or downward curve contains sensors for detecting finger movement. The user'"'"'s finger can thus bend about a knuckle in a curved motion to activate the sensor, requiring little or no movement of the finger up and down. The solid-state sensors can be of one of a number of designs. In one embodiment, multiple electrodes are contacted by a finger as it moves. Each electrode is coupled to a capacitive detection circuit, for detecting the change in capacitance as the electrode is contacted by the finger.

Claims

1. A pointing device comprising:

a housing for supporting a user'"'"'s hand;

a pointing sensor, mounted in said housing, for providing a pointing signal;

a contour on said housing for receiving a finger of said user, said contour having curvature in at least one directions;

a solid-state touch sensor in said contour for detecting movement of said finger along said contour;

wherein said contour comprises a trench shaped to match a curve traced by a fingertip of said finger during a bending of said finger about a knuckle of said finger.

2. A pointing device comprising:

a housing for supporting a user'"'"'s hand;

a pointing sensor, mounted in said housing, for providing a pointing signal;

a contour on said housing for receiving a finger of said user, said contour having curvature in at least one directions;

a solid-state touch sensor in said contour for detecting movement of said finger along said contour;

wherein said touch sensor includes at least two electrodes, and further comprising;

a circuit for detecting a contact with said electrode, including

a first, capacitive element;

a second element connected to said capacitive element;

a comparison circuit, having an input node connected to said capacitive and second elements, for comparing a voltage at said input node to a threshold voltage;

a clamp-high circuit, connected to said node, for clamping said node high in response to a clamp-high control signal;

a clamp-low circuit, connected to said input node, for clamping said node low in response to a clamp-low control signal; and

a controller, connected to an output of said comparison circuit, to said clamp-high circuit and to said clamp low circuit, for providing said clamp-high and clamp-low control signals and generating an output signal in response to measuring an amount of time between transitions of said output of said comparison circuit.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the second element is a current source.

4. The pointing device of claim 2 wherein said second element is a resistive element.

5. A pointing device comprising:

a housing for supporting a user'"'"'s hand;

a pointing sensor, mounted in said housing, for providing a pointing signal;

a contour on said housing for receiving a finger of said user, said contour having curvature in at least one directions;

a solid-state touch sensor in said contour for detecting movement of said finger along said contour;

a sensory feedback element for providing feedback to a user corresponding to an amount of movement of said finger in said contour;

wherein said sensory feedback element comprises a plurality of tactile formations on a surface of said contour.

6. A pointing device comprising:

a housing;

a pointing sensor, mounted in said housing, for providing a pointing signal;

at least one electrode mounted on said housing;

a circuit for detecting a contact with said electrode, including

a first, capacitive element;

a second element connected to said first, capacitive element;

a comparison circuit, having an input node connected to said first and second elements, for comparing a voltage at said input node to a threshold voltage;

a clamp-high circuit, connected to said node, for clamping said node high in response to a clamp-high control signal;

a clamp-low circuit, connected to said input node, for clamping said node low in response to a clamp-low control signal;

a controller, connected to an output of said comparison circuit, to said clamp-high circuit and to said clamp low circuit, for providing said clamp-high and clamp-low control signals and generating an output signal in response to measuring an amount of time between transitions of said output of said comparison circuit.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the second element is a current source.

8. A method of capacitively detecting movement of a finger across a plurality of electrodes on a pointing device, comprising:

detecting, for each electrode, a first amount of time for a capacitance connected to said electrode to charge up from a low voltage to a first threshold;

detecting, for each electrode, a second amount of time for said capacitance to discharge from a high voltage to a second threshold; and

comparing said amounts of time to a calibration value corresponding to the absence of a finger on said electrodes; and

providing a pointing signal in response to said comparing.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

charging and discharging said capacitance faster than an AC frequency of an AC power supply;

detecting said first and second amounts of time at least twice during a period of said AC frequency to produce at least two measurement sets;

averaging said two measurement sets.