Systems and methods for providing a combined pen and mouse input device in a computing system

• US 20060250380A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Oliver, Thomas C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen

Abstract

Currently, a user may need to carry or otherwise keep track of both a mouse and electronic pen for a computer, such as a portable computing device. Carrying or otherwise keeping track of both devices can be tedious. Accordingly, systems and methods for providing a dual mode mouse pen are enabled, whereby the mouse pen may be used as both a pen, or alternatively, as a mouse. In one embodiment, the pen may include a switch to select one of two modes: pen or mouse.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing a pen, comprising:

selecting one of a first mode of operation for the pen and a second mode of operation for the pen;

whereby when the first mode is selected, the pen operates as a pen; and

whereby when the second mode is selected, the pen operates to record navigation information about movement of the pen for the purpose of transmitting mouse navigation information to the host device.

2. A method according to claim 1, whereby when the first mode is selected, the pen operates to record positional information about movement of the pen for the purpose of transmitting the positional information about the movement to a host device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein when the pen is operating in the first mode, the pen operates to record said positional information by recording the output of at least one of a non-grazing light emitting diode (LED) illumination tracking subsystem, a grazing LED illumination tracking subsystem and a speckle navigation tracking subsystem.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein when the pen is operating in the second mode, the pen operates to record said navigation information about movement of the pen by recording the output of at least one of a non-grazing light emitting diode (LED) illumination tracking subsystem, a grazing LED illumination tracking subsystem, a speckle navigation tracking subsystem and a mechanical ball mechanism.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of switching the pen from the first mode to the second mode and switching the pen from the second mode to the first mode.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

using the same tracking subsystem to record the positional information of the first mode and to record the navigation information of the second mode.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of transmitting the positional information of the first mode to the host device and transmitting the navigation information of the second mode to the host device.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the host device a command from the host device that switches the pen at least one of into and out of the second mode.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sharing a memory for said positional information and said navigation information inside the pen, wherein a subset of said memory is used in the second mode compared to the memory consumption of the first mode.

10. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable modules having computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

11. An electronic pen device including means for performing the method of claim 1.

17. An electronic stylus device according to claim 11, further comprising:

wherein the same tracking subsystem is used to record the positional information of the first mode and to record the navigation information of the second mode.

18. An electronic stylus device according to claim 11, wherein the positional information of the first mode and the navigation information of the second mode are transmitted to the host device.

12. A dual mode electronic stylus device, comprising:

first electronics corresponding to a first mode of operation for the electronic stylus device, whereby when the electronic stylus device operates in the first mode, the electronic stylus device operates to store positional information concerning movement of the electronic stylus device for the purpose of transmitting the positional information about the movement to a host device;

second electronics corresponding to a second mode of operation for the electronic stylus device, whereby when the electronic stylus device operates in the second mode, the electronic stylus device operates at least to record navigation information about movement of the electronic stylus device for the purpose of transmitting mouse navigation information to the host device;

a switch for switching between the first and second modes of operation.

13. An electronic stylus device according to claim 12, wherein when the electronic stylus device is operating in the first mode according to the first electronics, the electronic stylus device operates to record said positional information by recording the output of at least one of a non-grazing light emitting diode (LED) illumination tracking subsystem, a grazing LED illumination tracking subsystem and a speckle navigation tracking subsystem.

14. An electronic stylus device according to claim 12, wherein when the electronic stylus device is operating in the second mode according to the second electronics, the electronic stylus device operates at least to record said navigation information about movement of the electronic stylus device by recording the output of at least one of a non-grazing light emitting diode (LED) illumination tracking subsystem, a grazing LED illumination tracking subsystem, a speckle navigation tracking subsystem and a mechanical ball mechanism.

15. An electronic stylus device according to claim 12, further comprising:

at least one mouse control including at least one button for use during said second mode to indicate selections to the host computer in connection with said navigation information.

16. An electronic stylus device according to claim 12, further comprising:

a memory, wherein the memory is used to record the positional information of the first mode and to record the navigation information of the second mode.

19. An electronic stylus device, comprising:

at least one button;

electronics corresponding to a mouse mode of operation for the electronic stylus device, whereby when the electronic stylus device operates in the mouse mode, the electronic stylus device operates at least one of to record navigation information about movement of the electronic stylus device for the purpose of transmitting the navigation information to the host device and to record actuation of said at least one button and to transmit a command associated with said at least one button to said host device; and

at least one optical sensor for receiving light that determines said navigation information.

20. An electronic stylus device according to claim 19, wherein said navigation information is received by said electronics in response to light emitted by said electronics stylus device towards a pre-defined patterned surface, said light being reflected and received by said at least one optical sensor, which records the reflected light as at least one image, which at least one image is processed by said electronics, and based on a correlation of a position of the pre-defined patterned surface to the at least one image, said navigation information is determined.