Method and apparatus for surface sensing input device
First Claim
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1. A method for identifying an off-surface movement of an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:
- using a lateral force sensor to detect first movement of the input device along a supporting surface;
using a vibration sensor to detect second movement of said input device relative to the supporting surface;
using an accelerometer to detect third movement of said input device toward or away from the supporting surface; and
identifying off-surface movement of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that the first, second, and third movements indicate that the input device is not in contact with the supporting surface.
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Abstract
An improved input device, such as a mouse, for a processing system, such as, a computer system; and a method for operating that input device. The system monitors at least one indicia of movement, such as an operating parameter of the input device, where the operating parameter has a first characteristic when the input device is in one operating position or state and a second characteristic when the input device is in another position or state. In one example, the operating parameter includes generally vertical movement of the input device.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for identifying an off-surface movement of an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:
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using a lateral force sensor to detect first movement of the input device along a supporting surface; using a vibration sensor to detect second movement of said input device relative to the supporting surface; using an accelerometer to detect third movement of said input device toward or away from the supporting surface; and identifying off-surface movement of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that the first, second, and third movements indicate that the input device is not in contact with the supporting surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An input device for a processing system, comprising:
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a sensor associated with said input device and configured to provide a first output reflective of a vibration resulting from movement of the input device along a supporting surface; a lateral force sensor associated with said input device and configured to determine direction of said movement; an accelerometer associated with said input device to determine acceleration of said input device toward or away from said supporting surface; a processing assembly configured to determine an input device z-axis velocity based at least in part on said accelerometer determination; and said processing assembly further configured to determine whether said input device is not in contact with the supporting surface based at least in part on said first output in combination with said direction of movement and the determined input device z-axis velocity. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for operating an input device for a processing system, comprising the acts of:
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using a lateral motion sensor associated with said input device, to provide a first signal indicative of direction of movement of the input device along a supporting surface; using a vibration sensor to provide a second signal indicating movement of said input device relative to the supporting surface; using an accelerometer to provide a third signal indicating movement toward or away from the supporting surface; and changing an operational condition of the input device at least partially in response to a determination that said first, second, and third signals indicate that the input device is not in contact with the supporting surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system, comprising:
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one or more processors; a display; at least one machine-readable storage medium; and an input device, comprising, a lateral force sensor to provide a first output indicative of a first movement of the input device along a supporting surface; a vibration sensor to provide a second output indicative of a second movement of said input device relative to the supporting surface; a z-axis accelerometer configured to provide a third output reflective of a third movement of the input device along a supporting surface perpendicular to the z-axis; and a processing assembly configured to determine an input device z-axis velocity based at least in part on said second and third outputs; and
further configured to determine whether said input device is not in contact with the supporting surface based at least in part on said first output in combination with the determined input device z-axis velocity. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. At least one non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when implemented by one or more processors, perform operations comprising,
monitoring a first parameter from an input device indicative of a direction of movement of the input device along a supporting surface; -
monitoring a second parameter from the input device indicative of movement of said input device respect to the supporting surface; monitoring a third parameter from the input device indicative of the acceleration of the input device toward or away from the supporting surface; determining that the input device is not in contact with the supporting surface if the first parameter and the second parameter and the third parameter indicate that the input device is not in contact with the supporting surface; and changing an operating condition of the input device in response to the determination that the input device is not in contact with the supporting surface.
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Specification