Pointing devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch pad pointing device comprising:
- a mousing surface defining a closed path for a user pointer;
a first optical mouse sensor having an imaging region through which the closed path passes that is oriented in a first direction, the first optical mouse sensor configured to detect presence and motion of the user pointer at the imaging region in the first direction and generate a first motion signal indicative of the detected motion;
a second optical mouse sensor having an imaging region through which the closed path passes that is oriented in a second, different, direction, the second optical mouse sensor configured to detect presence and motion of the user pointer at the imaging region in the second direction and generate a second motion signal indicative of the detected motion; and
a detector provided to detect direction of motion of a user pointer along the closed path and to detect speed of motion along the closed path on the basis of relative timing of the first and second motion signals output from the first optical mouse sensor oriented in the first direction and the second optical mouse sensor oriented in the second direction.
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Abstract
A touch pad uses a plurality of optical mouse type sensors. The sensors are optimized for detection of motion along the predominant direction of a user'"'"'s finger as the finger is moved around the touch pad. A first one of the sensors functions to optically sense motion in a first direction, while a second one of the sensors functions to optically sense motion in a second, different, direction. The first and second directions are oriented a closed, for example, circular, path.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A touch pad pointing device comprising:
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a mousing surface defining a closed path for a user pointer; a first optical mouse sensor having an imaging region through which the closed path passes that is oriented in a first direction, the first optical mouse sensor configured to detect presence and motion of the user pointer at the imaging region in the first direction and generate a first motion signal indicative of the detected motion; a second optical mouse sensor having an imaging region through which the closed path passes that is oriented in a second, different, direction, the second optical mouse sensor configured to detect presence and motion of the user pointer at the imaging region in the second direction and generate a second motion signal indicative of the detected motion; and a detector provided to detect direction of motion of a user pointer along the closed path and to detect speed of motion along the closed path on the basis of relative timing of the first and second motion signals output from the first optical mouse sensor oriented in the first direction and the second optical mouse sensor oriented in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of sensing motion of a user pointer on a touch pad pointing device comprising:
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optically sensing motion in a first direction at a first point along a closed path; optically sensing motion in a second, different, direction at a second, different, point along the closed path; wherein the closed path is defined by a mousing surface of the touch pad pointing device; detecting a direction of motion of a user pointer along the closed path on the basis of a motion detection signal output from an optical mouse sensor located at each of the first and second points; and detecting a speed of motion of the user pointer along the closed path on the basis of the relative timing of the motion detection signals output from said optical mouse sensors located at the first and second points. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A touch pad pointing device, comprising:
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a mousing surface defining a closed curved path for a user pointer; a first optical frustrated total internal reflection sensor configured to make a detection of user pointer movement in a movement detection direction oriented in a first direction tangential to the closed curved path, said first optical frustrated total internal reflection sensor positioned at a first location along the closed path and further configured to output a first signal indicative of movement detection; a second optical frustrated total internal reflection sensor configured to make a detection of user pointer movement in a movement detection direction oriented in a second direction tangential to the closed path, said first optical frustrated total internal reflection sensor positioned at a second, different, location along the closed curved path and further configured to output a second signal indicative of movement detection; and a processing circuit coupled to receive the first and second signals and configured to detect movement of the user pointer and speed of movement of the user pointer along the closed curved path in response to relative timing of the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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Specification