Pointing device using proximity sensing
First Claim
1. A pointing device, comprising:
- a housing;
a movement sensor arranged in the housing to generate a first data sequence relating to sensed movement of the pointing device relative to a surface on which the pointing device is placed;
a proximity sensor arranged in the housing to generate a second data sequence relating to sensed movement of one or more objects in proximity to the surface on which the pointing device is placed relative to the pointing device, the proximity sensor further arranged to detect a multi-touch gesture, detecting the multi-touch gesture comprising detecting at least one user-manipulated object;
a tag sensor arranged to read a barcode or RFID tag associated with the one or more objects;
a processor located within the housing and configured to determine a control input from the first data sequence and the second data sequence; and
the sensors being arranged such that a user can provide the first and second data sequences simultaneously using one hand.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pointing device using proximity sensing is described. In an embodiment, a pointing device comprises a movement sensor and a proximity sensor. The movement sensor generates a first data sequence relating to sensed movement of the pointing device relative to a surface. The proximity sensor generates a second data sequence relating to sensed movement relative to the pointing device of one or more objects in proximity to the pointing device. In embodiments, data from the movement sensor of the pointing device is read and the movement of the pointing device relative to the surface is determined. Data from the proximity sensor is also read, and a sequence of sensor images of one or more objects in proximity to the pointing device are generated. The sensor images are analyzed to determine the movement of the one or more objects relative to the pointing device.
65 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pointing device, comprising:
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a housing; a movement sensor arranged in the housing to generate a first data sequence relating to sensed movement of the pointing device relative to a surface on which the pointing device is placed; a proximity sensor arranged in the housing to generate a second data sequence relating to sensed movement of one or more objects in proximity to the surface on which the pointing device is placed relative to the pointing device, the proximity sensor further arranged to detect a multi-touch gesture, detecting the multi-touch gesture comprising detecting at least one user-manipulated object; a tag sensor arranged to read a barcode or RFID tag associated with the one or more objects; a processor located within the housing and configured to determine a control input from the first data sequence and the second data sequence; and the sensors being arranged such that a user can provide the first and second data sequences simultaneously using one hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. One or more tangible device-readable media, the tangible device-readable media being hardware, with device-executable instructions comprising:
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device-executable instructions to read data from a movement sensor of a pointing device and determine a movement of the pointing device relative to a surface on which the pointing device rests, the pointing device comprising at least one of; a pointing device comprising a movement sensor, a proximity sensor, and a tag sensor arranged such that a user can provide a data sequence generated by the movement sensor and a data sequence generated by the proximity sensor simultaneously with one hand;
ora computer mouse comprising an electrostatic proximity sensor arranged to detect a signal generated by the computer mouse traveling through at least a hand of the user and being emitted from one or more fingers of the user; device-executable instructions to read data from a first proximity sensor of the pointing device and generate a sequence of first proximity sensor images of one or more objects in proximity to the surface on which the pointing device rests, wherein the one or more images are captured by the first proximity sensor; device-executable instructions to analyze the first proximity sensor images to determine a movement of the one or more objects relative to the pointing device; device-executable instructions to read data from at least one second proximity sensor, the at least one second proximity sensor located on the underside of the pointing device, and analyzing the data from the at least one second proximity sensor to determine at least a tilt of the pointing device; and device-executable instructions to control a position of a cursor in a user interface such that movement of the pointing device relative to the surface on which the pointing device rests causes a different displacement of the cursor than a corresponding movement of the one or more objects relative to the pointing device, the movement of the pointing device relative to the surface on which the pointing device rests and the corresponding movement having a same distance and a same direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer mouse, comprising:
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a housing; a movement sensor arranged with the housing to generate a first data sequence relating to sensed movement of the computer mouse relative to a supporting surface on which the computer mouse operates; an electrostatic proximity sensor arranged with the housing to generate a second data sequence relating to sensed movement relative to the computer mouse of one or more fingers of a user in proximity to the supporting surface on which the computer mouse operates, the sensed movement of the one or more fingers being determined by the proximity sensor detecting a signal generated by the mouse, traveling through at least a hand of the user, and being emitted from the one or more fingers; and a processor located within the housing and configured to determine a control input from the first data sequence and the second data sequence.
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Specification