Mouse with optical buttons

• US 20030184520A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wei, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US10/109,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A mouse device includes a motion detector for detecting motion of the mouse relative to a work surface. An optical mouse button optically detects movement of a finger positioned on the optical mouse button. A controller generates button press information based on the optically detected movement. The button press information indicates whether the optical mouse button has been actuated.

Claims

1. A mouse device comprising:

a motion detector for detecting motion of the mouse relative to a work surface;

an optical mouse button for optically detecting movement of a finger positioned on the optical mouse button; and

a controller for generating button press information based on the optically detected movement, the button press information indicating whether the optical mouse button has been actuated.

2. The mouse device of claim 1, wherein the optical mouse button optically detects movement of the finger by correlating successive digital images of the finger to determine a direction and an amount of movement.

3. The mouse device of claim 1, wherein the optical mouse button includes a first surface for placement of a finger, and an optical motion detector for detecting movement of finger placed on the first surface.

4. The mouse device of claim 3, wherein the optical motion detector is positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the first surface.

5. The mouse device of claim 3, wherein the optical motion detector is positioned parallel to and in the same plane as the first surface.

6. The mouse device of claim 1, wherein the mouse device is a mechanical mouse.

7. The mouse device of claim 1, wherein the mouse device is an optical mouse.

8. The mouse device of claim 1, wherein the optical mouse button and the controller are configured to act as a fingerprint recognition sensor.

9. A method for generating data for controlling a screen pointer with a mouse, the method comprising:

sensing motion of the mouse relative to a work surface;

generating a first set of movement data based on the sensed motion of the mouse, the first set of movement data indicative of motion of the mouse relative to the work surface;

optically sensing motion of a finger placed on the mouse;

generating a second set of movement data based on the optically sensed motion of the finger, the second set of movement data indicative of motion of the finger; and

generating button press information based on the second set of movement data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of optically sensing motion of a finger comprises:

correlating successive digital images of the finger to determine a direction and an amount of movement of the finger.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the mouse is a mechanical mouse.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the mouse is an optical mouse.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein motion of the finger is optically sensed with an optical motion sensor, the method further comprising:

capturing an image of the finger with the optical motion sensor;

comparing the captured image of the finger with stored image data; and

determining whether the captured image of the finger matches a stored image.

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

controlling operation of the mouse based on the determination of whether the captured image of the finger matches the stored image.

15. A mouse device for generating data for controlling a screen pointer, the mouse device comprising:

a motion detection mechanism for detecting movement of the mouse device relative to a work surface;

a first surface on the mouse device for placement of a finger;

an optical motion detector for generating movement data representative of movement of a finger placed on the first surface; and

a controller for generating button press data based on the generated movement data.

16. The mouse device of claim 15, wherein the optical motion detector generates movement data by correlating successive digital images of the finger to determine a direction and an amount of movement.

17. The mouse device of claim 15, wherein the optical motion detector is positioned adjacent and perpendicular to the first surface.

18. The mouse device of claim 15, wherein the optical motion detector is positioned parallel to and in the same plane as the first surface.

19. The mouse device of claim 15, wherein the mouse device is a mechanical mouse.

20. The mouse device of claim 15, wherein the mouse device is an optical mouse.

21. The mouse device of claim 15, wherein the optical motion detector and the controller are configured to act as a fingerprint recognition sensor.