ROTATABLE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20100039381A1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cretella, Michael Andrew JR., Amm, David Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/190,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039381A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03544 having dual sensing arrangement, e.g. two balls or two coils used to track rotation of the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

In an example embodiment, a computer mouse is provided. This computer mouse includes a surface tracking sensor that detects movement of the computer mouse along the support surface. Additionally included are one or more orientation sensors that detect a movement of the computer mouse relative to a pivot point. The computer mouse also includes a controller that is configured to translate the movement along the support surface into a two-dimensional coordinate and to translate the movement relative to the pivot point into a magnitude of rotation.

Claims

1. A computer mouse adapted for operation on a support surface, the computer mouse comprising:

a surface tracking sensor configured to detect a first movement of the computer mouse along the support surface;

at least one orientation sensor configured to detect a second movement of the computer mouse relative to a pivot point; and

a controller in communication with the surface tracking sensor and the at least one orientation sensor, the controller being configured to translate the first movement into a two-dimensional coordinate and to translate the second movement into a magnitude of rotation.

2. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to translate the magnitude of rotation into a scroll event and to transmit the two-dimensional coordinate and the scroll event to a processing system in communication with the computer mouse.

3. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to translate the magnitude of rotation into a yaw event and to transmit the two-dimensional coordinate and the yaw event to a processing system in communication with the computer mouse.

4. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the second movement is at least one of a yaw, a pitch or a roll of the computer mouse relative to the support surface.

5. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor comprises a gyroscope.

6. The computer mouse of claim 1, wherein the orientation sensor comprises an accelerometer.

7. A computer mouse adapted for operation on a support surface, the computer mouse comprising:

an optical sensor configured to detect features of the support surface;

at least one gyroscope configured to detect a roll of the computer mouse; and

a controller in communication with the optical sensor and the at least one gyroscope, the controller configured to identify movement of the computer mouse along the support surface based on the features and to identify a magnitude of the roll of the computer mouse.

8. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to calibrate the at least one gyroscope in reference to at least one of the features of the support surface.

9. The computer mouse of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to identify a quality of the support surface from the at least one of the features and to calibrate the at least one gyroscope in reference to the quality of the support surface.

10. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the optical sensor comprises a light-emitting diode.

11. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a control signal to a processing system identifying the magnitude of the roll.

12. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the at least one gyroscope is configured to detect a pitch of the computer mouse.

13. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the at least one gyroscope is configured to detect a yaw of the computer mouse.

14. The computer mouse of claim 7, further comprising an accelerometer in communication with the controller, the accelerometer configured to detect a direction of gravity, and wherein the controller is further configured to calibrate the at least one gyroscope in reference to the direction of the gravity.

15. The computer mouse of claim 14, wherein the accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration of the computer mouse along a direction parallel to the support surface, and wherein the controller is further configured to calibrate the at least one gyroscope in reference to the detected acceleration.

16. The computer mouse of claim 7, wherein the computer mouse comprises a bottom surface having a convex shape, the bottom surface configured to contact the support surface.

17. A method of processing input signals in a computer mouse comprising a surface tracking sensor configured to detect a movement of the computer mouse along a support surface and at least one orientation sensor configured to detect a rotational movement relative to the support surface, the method comprising the acts of:

detecting the movement of the computer mouse along the support surface through use of the surface tracking sensor;

detecting the rotational movement of the computer mouse though use of the at least one orientation sensor;

translating the rotational movement into a magnitude of rotation; and

transmitting the movement of the computer mouse along the support surface and the magnitude of rotation to a processing system in communication with the computer mouse.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the rotational movement is a roll, the method further comprising the acts of:

translating the roll into a scroll event along a horizontal direction based on the magnitude of rotation; and

transmitting the scroll event along the horizontal direction to the processing system.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the rotational movement is a pitch, the method further comprising the acts of:

translating the pitch into a scroll event along a vertical direction based on the magnitude of rotation; and

transmitting the scroll event along the vertical direction to the processing system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the rotational movement is a yaw, the method further comprising the acts of:

translating the yaw into a yaw event based on the magnitude of rotation; and

transmitting the yaw event to the processing system.

21. A machine-readable medium that stores instructions, which when performed by a computer mouse having a surface tracking sensor configured to detect a movement of the computer mouse along a support surface and at least one orientation sensor configured to detect a roll of the computer mouse relative to the support surface, cause the computer mouse to perform operations comprising:

detecting the movement of the computer mouse along the support surface through use of the surface tracking sensor;

detecting the roll of the computer mouse through use of the at least one orientation sensor;

translating the roll into a scroll event along a horizontal direction; and

transmitting the movement of the computer mouse along the support surface and the scroll event to a processing system in communication with the computer mouse.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the at least one orientation sensor is further configured to detect a pitch of the computer mouse relative to the support surface and wherein the instructions, when performed by the computer mouse, cause the computer mouse to perform operations further comprising:

detecting the pitch of the computer mouse through use of the at least one orientation sensor;

translating the pitch into a scroll event along a vertical direction; and

transmitting the scroll event along the vertical direction to the processing system.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the at least one orientation sensor is further configured to detect a yaw of the computer mouse relative to the support surface and wherein the instructions, when performed by the computer mouse, cause the computer mouse to perform operations further comprising:

detecting the yaw of the computer mouse through use of the at least one orientation sensor;

translating the yaw into a yaw event; and

transmitting the yaw event to the processing system.

24. A method of moving displayed content with a computer mouse, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a control signal from the computer mouse that identifies a movement of the computer mouse relative to a pivot point; and

translating the movement of the computer mouse into a scroll event, the scroll event configured to scroll the displayed content.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the control signal further identifies a further movement of the computer mouse relative to a pivot point, the method further comprising translating the further movement of the computer mouse into a yaw event, the yaw event configured to rotate the displayed content.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the movement is a roll and the scroll event is configured to scroll the displayed content along a horizontal direction.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the movement is a pitch and the scroll event is configured to scroll the displayed content along a vertical direction.