Pushbutton optical screen pointing device

• US 20020167489A1
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 6,809,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen includes a pushbutton for selecting an item displayed on the display screen. The pushbutton includes an imaging surface against which a portion of the tip of a human digit may be placed. A light source illuminates that portion of the tip of the digit that is placed against the imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes a motion transducer. A lens receives the reflected images and directs the reflected images onto the motion transducer. The motion transducer generates digital representations of the reflected images. The motion transducer generates a first set of movement data based on the digital representations of the reflected images. The first set of movement data is indicative of motion of the tip of the digit across the imaging surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen, the apparatus comprising:

a pushbutton for selecting an item displayed on the display screen, the pushbutton including an imaging surface against which a portion of the tip of a human digit may be placed;

a light source for illuminating that portion of the tip of the digit that is placed against the imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images;

a motion transducer; and

a lens for receiving the reflected images and directing the reflected images onto the motion transducer, the motion transducer generating digital representations of the reflected images, the motion transducer generating a first set of movement data based on the digital representations of the reflected images, the first set of movement data indicative of motion of the tip of the digit across the imaging surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pushbutton is configured to emit visible light.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pushbutton is configured to emit visible light when touched.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pushbutton is configured to emit visible light to provide a notification to the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pushbutton is configured to emit visible light in short bursts, thereby appearing to blink.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pushbutton is configured to emit visible light in multiple colors.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each color of visible light emitted by the pushbutton corresponds to a type of notification.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising an indicator device substantially surrounding the pushbutton for providing a notification.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the indicator device is configured to emit visible light.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator device is configured to emit visible light in short bursts, thereby appearing to blink.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the indicator device is configured to emit visible light in multiple colors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each color of visible light emitted by the indicator device corresponds to a type of notification.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

emitting visible light from the pushbutton.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising:

emitting visible light from the pushbutton when the pushbutton is touched.

16. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

providing an indicator device substantially surrounding the pushbutton for providing a notification.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

emitting visible light from the indicator device.

18. The method of claim 13, and further comprising:

generating a second set of motion data indicative of motion in orthogonal axes across the pushbutton by the appendage; and

displaying information on the display screen corresponding to the second set of motion data.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the information displayed on the display screen corresponding to the second set of motion data is an alphanumeric character.

13. A method of controlling the position of a screen pointer for an electronic device having a display screen, the method comprising:

providing a pushbutton for selecting an item displayed on the display screen;

placing a portion of an appendage of the human hand against the pushbutton;

illuminating a portion of the appendage that is against the pushbutton;

focusing images reflected from the portion of the appendage onto an array of photo detectors;

digitizing output values of the photo detectors, thereby generating digital representations of the reflected images;

correlating at least one version of a first one of the digital representations with at least one version of a second one of the digital representations to generate a first set of motion data indicative of motion in orthogonal axes across the pushbutton by the appendage; and

adjusting the position of the screen pointer in accordance with the first set of motion data.

20. A portable electronic device comprising:

a display screen for displaying a plurality of selectable items and a pointer movable by a user to identify particular ones of the selectable items;

a motion sensing pushbutton for sensing movement across the pushbutton by an imaging surface, the pushbutton configured to generate a first set of movement data indicating a first movement of the imaging surface across the pushbutton, and configured to generate a selection signal when pushed by a user; and

a controller configured to move the pointer based on the first set of movement data to identify a first selectable item, the controller configured to select the first menu item based on the selection signal generated by the pushbutton.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the motion sensing pushbutton includes an optical motion sensor.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the pushbutton is configured to emit visible light.

23. The device of claim 20, and further comprising an indicator device substantially surrounding the pushbutton for providing a notification.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the indicator device is configured to emit visible light.