Pointing device utilizing a photodetector array and controlled by a human finger contacting a prism

• US 5,578,817 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech, Inc. (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Bidiville, Marc, O'Keeffe, Denis, Raeber, Eric, Buczek, Harthmuth, Van Shaik, Floris A., Arreguit, Javier, Bauduin, Fran.cedilla.ois
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Application Number:
  US08/485,315
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/229, 250/222.1, 356/375, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/162, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 345/167, 345/168, 345/169, 345/170, 345/171, 345/172, 345/173, 345/175 , 345/176
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A cursor control device for personal computers and workstations includes various embodiments, some of which include a patterned ball and some of which rely on other patterned surfaces, which recognizes changes in the position of the pattern relative to a sensor having an array of photosensitive elements. Circuitry associated with the sensor determines movement of the pattern across the array, and translates that movement into conventional cursor control signals supplied to a host system.

Claims

1. A pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a visual display comprising

a prism having first and second sides and a face,

source means for illuminating, at least intermittently, a first side of the prism at an angle sufficient to cause total internal reflection off the face and out through the second side of the prism, said prism being responsive to the presence of a human finger on the face of the prism to prevent the occurrence of total internal reflection for at least a portion of the area in which the finger touches the face,

sensor means positioned relative to the second side of the prism for receiving the reflected illumination from the source means and for causing an output in response thereto, and

processing means at least intermittently responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein

the sensor means includes a plurality of pixels, each capable of generating an output signal related to the amount of light reaching that pixel,

and wherein the processing means at least intermittently samples the output signals of the pixels in accordance with a predetermined sequence to determine movement of the finger over the face of the prism.