Device for controlling a computer system

• US 20030165342A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gerard Popineau
• Original Assignee: Gerard Popineau
• Inventors: Popineau, Gerard
• Granted Patent: US 7,053,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/127
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

The invention concerns a computer system (1), preferably of the personal microcomputer type, controlled by a group of users by means of several mouse-type pointing devices (3) without wired connection with the system (1). Each pointing device communicates by infrared with a console (38) connected to the system (1) through a communication port (50). A multifrequency transmission technique and a frequency hopping coding are used. The graphic interface of the system is projected (47, 48) on a large screen (49) for collective visual display. The console (38) comprises a detachable receiver horn (41) which enhances the range, and a set of switches (40) for selecting the mouse or mice controlling one or several cursors (54) of different shape and/or colour. The inventive device is particularly designed for collective initiation to microcomputing and collective training in using software.

Claims

1. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1), preferentially of the personal microcomputer type, provided with a graphic interface (2) and at least a communication port (5), by a user group by means of several pointing devices (3) without wired connection with said system, preferentially of the wireless mouse type, each one of said pointing devices (3) being handled by each one of said users and transmitting by means of a communication channel sequences of binary data representative of displacements and states of pointing devices (3) to an interface electronic box (4) connected to said port (5), characterized in that said channel comprises a plurality of secondary communication channels (C1, C2), transmitting with a standard modulation rate (R) said sequences, formed by a common infrared carrier and a set of subcarriers (P1, P2) modulated in amplitude by the binary digits of said sequences, with different frequencies for each one of said pointing devices (3), without common harmonic, and distributed between a lower frequency (F1) and a higher frequency (F2), with intervals at least equal to the double of the value of the said modulation rate (R) increased by a guard band (B).

2. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequencies of said subcarriers (P1, P2) are equal to prime numbers multiplied by a constant coefficient.

3. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that only one subcarrier (P1) is assigned to each one of said pointing devices (3).

4. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that two subcarriers modulated (P1, P2) in opposition of phase by said binary digits are assigned to each one of said pointing devices (3).

5. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that each one of said pointing devices (3) comprises:

a) a block of digital processing (13) of the signals including preferentially a microcontroller (10) working out said binary digits,

b) a block of emission (17) including;

an oscillator (6), preferentially with interchangeable ceramic resonator (7), tuned on harmonic N of the frequency of the subcarrier (P1) assigned to said pointing device (3),

a frequency divider (8) by N producing the subcarrier (P1) starting from its harmonic,

a modulator (9) of the subcarrier (P1) by said binary digits producing of the modulated signals,

a band pass filter (14) with a center frequency equal to that of said subcarrier (PI) and a bandwidth equal to said interval decreased of said guard band, generating filtered signals starting from said modulated signals,

an amplifier (15) feeding one or more diodes (16) emitting an infrared beam of light starting from said filtered signals,

c) a power supply unit (18) including;

a solar cell (19),

a battery (20),

a regulator (21) of the load of the battery (20) by the solar cell (19),

a DC/DC converter (22).

6. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that each one of said pointing devices (3) comprises:

a) a block of digital processing (13) of the signals preferentially including a microcontroller (10) provided with;

a first program working out said binary digits,

a second program constituting a digital oscillator working out the samples of said modulated subcarriers

b) a block of emission (17) including;

a digital/analog converter (36) for converting said samples,

a band pass filter (14) with a center frequency equal to that of said subcarrier (P1, P2) and of bandwidth equal to the said interval decreased of said guard band, generating filtered signals from said modulated signals,

an amplifier (15) feeding one or more diodes (16) emitting an infrared beam of light starting from said filtered signals,

c) a power supply unit (18) including;

a solar cell (19),

a battery (20),

a regulator (21) of the load of the battery (20) by the solar cell (19),

a converter DC/DC (22).

7. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said electronic box (4) comprises:

a) a block of reception (23) of the infrared light signals and of detection of said subcarriers,

b) a block of frequential demultiplexing (29) of the detected signals including a number of analog band pass fillers (30) equal to the number of said pointing devices (3),

c) a block of digital processing (31) of the signals preferentially including a microprocessor (32) provided with a communication program working out said binary digits starting from the demultiplexed signals and transmitting them to the communication port (5) by means of a line amplifier (35).

8. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said electronic box (4) comprises:

a) a block of reception (23) of the infrared light signals and of detection of said subcarriers (P1, P2),

b) a block of digital processing (31) of the signals including;

an analog/digital converter (37) of the detected signals,

a microprocessor (32) or similar provided with a Discrete Fourier Transform algorithm for extracting the spectral information of said detected signals, preferentially a two poles digital filter with infinite impulse response of Goertzel type, and a communication program working out said binary digits starting from said information and transmitting them to said port (5) by means of a line amplifier (35).

9. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said line amplifier (35) is bidirectional and transmits to said microprocessor (32) or similar sequences of binary data representative of displacements of an additional pointing device (51).

10. ) Device for controlling a computer system (I) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said case (4) comprises a distinct part (41) including said block of reception (17), provided with a collecting horn (43) of said beams, and linked by a shielded cable (42) to the principal part (38) collected to said port (5).

11. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic box (4) comprises a principal part (38) in form of console provided with switches (40) making it possible to select one or more of said pointing devices (3) and to make inoperative the others.

12. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said binary digits transmit moreover periodically sequences of binary data for signaling said pointing devices and in that an alarm is set off when any of said sequences of binary data for signaling is not received any more by said electronic box (4) after a predetermined amount of time.

13. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said binary digits transmit moreover sequences of binary data characteristic of the integrity of each one of said pointing devices (3), preferentially of the presence of the ball in the wireless mouse type.

14. ) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said pointing devices (3) comprises moreover push-buttons in a number at least equal to 2, preferentially 7, whose sequences of binary data representative of their states are included in said binary digits.

15. ) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said information processing system (1) comprises:

a central processing unit preferentially of the portable computer (1) type,

a peripheral display preferentially of the LCD tablet type (47) adaptable to an overhead projector (48), or a portable video-projector,

an application software set of the office automation or communication type, or specific of a function or a trade, and in that said use is preferentially collective initiation with microprocessing and collective training to the use of said software.

16. ) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any preceding claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said information processing system (I) comprises:

a central processing unit preferentially of the portable computer (1) type.

a peripheral display preferentially of the LCD tablet (47) type adaptable to an overhead projector (48), or a portable video-projector,

an application software set of the computer-assisted presentation type, and in that said use is preferentially commercial presentation making it possible to an individual of a group of customers to choose a product or service by the means of said pointing devices (3), and to visualize information about said product or said service.

17. ) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any preceding claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said information processing system (1) comprises:

a central processing unit preferentially of the portable computer (1) type,

a peripheral display preferentially of LCD tablet (47) type adaptable to an overhead projector (48), or a portable video-projector,

an application software set of the computer-assisted learning type,

and in that said use is preferentially the collective taking of multiple-choice examinations the answers of which are selected by the means of said push-buttons of said pointing devices (3).

18. ) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said computer system (1), said pointing devices (3), and said electronic box (4) are placed on a trolley held at the disposal of users, trainers, presenters or teachers, to be taken along and used in buildings without special electric wiring.

19. ) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that computer system (1) comprises moreover keyboard simulation software making it possible to simulate a keystroke by pointing the simulated image of said key by means of one of said pointing devices.

20. ) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication program includes sequences of identification binary data in said binary digits for identifying said pointing devices (3) which are transmitting, and in that said computer system (1) comprises moreover software for allotting a cursor (54) of different form and/or color to each one of said pointing device (3), according to said sequences of identification binary data received.