Integrated cursor control and scanner device

• US 6,513,717 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Hannigan, Brett T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US09/733,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.45, 235/472, 235/380
• US Class Current: 235/462.45
• 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

Abstract

An integrated optical cursor control—image capture device and related applications. An integrated optical cursor control and scanner device includes an image sensor used to capture instances of image data from which direction of movement of the device can be derived for controlling position of a cursor. In addition, the image sensor captures instances of image data from which a composite image comprised of image samples from the instances of image data can be constructed for image scanning applications.

Claims

1. An integrated optical scanner and cursor control device comprising:

an image sensor used to capture instances of image data from which direction of movement of the device can be derived for controlling position of a cursor, and from which a composite image comprised of image samples from the instances of image data can be constructed;

wherein the image sensor is operable to mechanically extend from within an enclosure for use as a video camera.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the image sensor is a two dimensional image array.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the image sensor is enclosed within a mouse-shaped enclosure, and is positioned to capture images of an object as the mouse shaped enclosure is passed over the surface of the object.

4. The device of claim 1 including a light source for illuminating a surface below the device.

5. The device of claim 1 in communication with a processor for analyzing the instances of image data to determine movement of the device for cursor control and for concatenating image samples from the instances of image data to create the composite image.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the processor is operable to perform correlation between instances of the image data to determine direction of movement of the device for positioning a cursor.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the processor is operable to perform correlation between instances of the image data to determine relative position of sets of image data and is operable to use the relative position to concatenate the instances of image data to create the composite image.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the processor is operable to perform correlation between instances of the image data to determine direction of movement of the device for positioning a cursor.

12. The device of claim 1 further including:

a processor programmed to read a digital watermark from the composite image of an object that has been embedded in the object by spreading a message with a pseudo-random number to form an intermediate signal, combining the intermediate signal with a host image and applying the host image to the object.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is operable to decode a watermark at a first spatial resolution when the image sensor is positioned for use as a video camera, and is operable to decode a watermark at a second spatial resolution when the image sensor is positioned for use as a hand held scanner.

14. The device of claim 13 herein the processor is operable to decode a watermark at a first spatial resolution when the image sensor is positioned for use as a video camera, and is operable to decode a watermark at a second spatial resolution when the image sensor is positioned for use as a hand held scanner.

9. An integrated optical scanner and cursor control device comprising:

a linear image array for capturing an image of an object as the device is moved over the object;

one or more image sensors for detecting x-y position of the device, where at least one of the image sensors is used to determine positioning of a cursor for a graphical user interface;

a light source for illuminating a surface below the device; and

a processor programmed to read a digital watermark from the image of the object that has been embedded in the object by spreading a message with a pseudo-random number to form an intermediate signal, combining the intermediate signal with a host image and applying the host image to the object.

10. The device of the claim 9 wherein the linear image array, one more image sensors and light source are enclosed in a mouse shaped enclosure.

11. The device of claim 9 in communication with a processor for forming a two dimensional image by combining image data from the linear image array and using the one or more image sensors for detecting x-y position to determine relative position of the image data for stitching the image data together into a two dimensional image scan.