Pointing device with solid-state roller
First Claim
1. A pointing device comprising:
- a housing;
a pointing sensor disposed in the housing, for detecting a physical displacement of the pointing device;
a stationary scrolling sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the stationary scrolling sensor comprises;
a plurality of discrete electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode; and
a capacitive sensing circuit; and
a processor coupled to the capacitive sensing circuit, wherein the processor is operable to;
detect a first contact between a user'"'"'s finger and the first electrode;
detect a second contact between the user'"'"'s finger and the second electrode;
wherein detecting the first contact or detecting the second contact further comprises detecting that a time to discharge a capacitance is longer than a reference time value;
determine that a delay between the first contact and the second contact is less than a predetermined time period; and
provide a scrolling command; and
a transmitter disposed in the housing, configured to transmit the physical displacement and the scrolling command from the pointing device to a host device.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A pointing device comprising:
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a housing; a pointing sensor disposed in the housing, for detecting a physical displacement of the pointing device; a stationary scrolling sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the stationary scrolling sensor comprises; a plurality of discrete electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode; and a capacitive sensing circuit; and a processor coupled to the capacitive sensing circuit, wherein the processor is operable to; detect a first contact between a user'"'"'s finger and the first electrode; detect a second contact between the user'"'"'s finger and the second electrode; wherein detecting the first contact or detecting the second contact further comprises detecting that a time to discharge a capacitance is longer than a reference time value; determine that a delay between the first contact and the second contact is less than a predetermined time period; and provide a scrolling command; and a transmitter disposed in the housing, configured to transmit the physical displacement and the scrolling command from the pointing device to a host device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A pointing device comprising:
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a housing; a pointing sensor disposed in the housing, for detecting a physical displacement of the pointing device; a stationary scrolling sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the stationary scrolling sensor comprises; a plurality of discrete electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode; and a capacitive sensing circuit, wherein the capacitive sensing circuit further comprises a comparator; an AC power supply characterized by an AC frequency, wherein capacitance charging or discharging is faster than the AC frequency; and a processor coupled to the capacitive sensing circuit, wherein the processor is operable to; detect a first contact between a user'"'"'s finger and the first electrode; detect a second contact between the user'"'"'s finger and the second electrode; determine that a delay between the first contact and the second contact is less than a predetermined time period; and provide a scrolling command; and a transmitter disposed in the housing, configured to transmit the physical displacement and the scrolling command from the pointing device to a host device. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A system comprising:
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an electronic device comprising a first processor and a housing; a pointing device sending data to the electronic device; the pointing device comprising a pointing sensor and a stationary scrolling sensor, the stationary scrolling sensor comprising; a plurality of discrete electrodes including a first electrode and a second electrode; and a capacitive sensing circuit; and a second processor coupled to the capacitive sensing circuit, wherein the second processor is operable to; detect a first contact between a user'"'"'s finger and the first electrode; detect a second contact between the user'"'"'s finger and the second electrode; wherein detecting the first contact or detecting the second contact further comprises detecting that a time to discharge a capacitance is longer than a reference time value; determine that a delay between the first contact and the second contact is less than a predetermined time period; and provide a scrolling command. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification