Manual pointing device for a computer system with inertial click event detection and corresponding click event detection method
First Claim
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1. A manual pointing device for a computer system and operable on a sliding surface, comprising:
- at least one first key manually actuatable by a user; and
a click-event detection circuit coupled to the first key and structured to detect actuation of the first key, the click-event detection circuit including an inertial-sensor circuit structured to detect mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the first key, the inertial-sensor circuit having a first detection axis and a second detection axis perpendicular to one another and structured to be parallel to the surface of sliding of the manual pointing device at least in one operative configuration, and a third detection axis perpendicular to the first and second detection axes;
the inertial-sensor circuit structured to supply a first detection signal, a second detection signal, and a third detection signal in response to mechanical stresses acting along the first detection axis, the second detection axis, and the third detection axis, respectively;
a casing; and
a board elastically coupled to the casing and structured to carry the inertial-sensor circuit in a manner that enables the inertial-sensor circuit to oscillate and to rotate about the second detection axis.
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Abstract
A manual pointing device for a computer system, the device having at least one key that can be actuated manually by a user, a click-event detection module coupled to the key to detect actuation thereof on first, second, and third detection axes via an inertial sensing circuit elastically coupled to a casing with a board, the inertial-sensor circuit structured to be carried on the board so as to oscillate and to rotate about the second detection axis.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A manual pointing device for a computer system and operable on a sliding surface, comprising:
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at least one first key manually actuatable by a user; and a click-event detection circuit coupled to the first key and structured to detect actuation of the first key, the click-event detection circuit including an inertial-sensor circuit structured to detect mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the first key, the inertial-sensor circuit having a first detection axis and a second detection axis perpendicular to one another and structured to be parallel to the surface of sliding of the manual pointing device at least in one operative configuration, and a third detection axis perpendicular to the first and second detection axes;
the inertial-sensor circuit structured to supply a first detection signal, a second detection signal, and a third detection signal in response to mechanical stresses acting along the first detection axis, the second detection axis, and the third detection axis, respectively;a casing; and a board elastically coupled to the casing and structured to carry the inertial-sensor circuit in a manner that enables the inertial-sensor circuit to oscillate and to rotate about the second detection axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method, comprising:
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providing an inertial-sensor circuit having a first detection axis on a board elastically coupled to a casing, the board coupled to a first key in such a way that the board will be inclined, rotating with respect to a second detection axis that is perpendicular to the first detection axis and parallel to a surface of sliding of the manual pointing device at least in one operative configuration, the board rotating when the first key is actuated so as to be oscillatable about the second detection axis; and structuring the inertial-sensor circuit to detect a click event associated with actuation of the first key by detecting mechanical stresses generated by actuation of the first key using the inertial-sensor circuit and supplying a first detection signal, a second detection signal, and a third detection signal in response to the mechanical stresses that act on the first detection axis, the second detection axis, and the third detection axis, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A user input device for a computer system, comprising:
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a movable casing having at least two keys mounted thereon and structured to transmit vibrations generated by the keys when the keys are manually depressed; a sensor mounted on the casing and structured to detect the vibrations and to generate a detection signal associated with the vibrations generated from each key, the sensor having an accelerometer device that includes a first detection axis and a second detection axis perpendicular to one another and parallel to a surface of sliding of the casing, and a third detection axis perpendicular to the first and second detection axes, the sensor structured to supply a first detection signal, a second detection signal, and a third detection signal in response to mechanical stresses acting along the first detection axis, the second detection axis, and the third axis, respectively; a base rotatably mounted in the casing, the accelerometer device mounted on the base and configured to rotate with the base about the second detection axis; and a circuit coupled to the sensor and configured to generate displacement signals responsive to the respective detection signals. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A manual input device, comprising:
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a casing; a plurality of keys mounted on the casing, each key configured to generate a mechanical stress when manually actuated; a detector device configured to detect mechanical stress generated from actuation of each key and to generate a respective detection signal; a board mounted on the casing and on which the detector device is mounted, the board structured to move about an axis of rotation when subjected to mechanical stress from the keys, and the detector device having accelerometers to detect movement of the board about at least two axes and a processing circuit coupled to the detector device and configured to receive the detection signals and to generate in response thereto respective displacement signals that are correlated to the plurality of keys. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification