Pointing device for use in air with improved cursor control and battery life

• US 7,696,980 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Arrigo, Simone, Vanrell, David Tarongi, Ramond, Nicolas, Gattoni, Lucas, Egloff, Olivier, Piot, Julien
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPAR, ILANA L
• Application Number:
  US11/455,230
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-160
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is an apparatus and method for improved cursor control in a device which can operate both on a work surface and in air. Cursor resolution is reduced as the user engages with the device for clicking, leading to more precise movement closer to the target, as well as reduced parasitic and other unintentional motion of the cursor during clicking. Moreover, one aspect of the present invention is an apparatus and method for improved battery life in an in-air pointing device. In another aspect, the present invention is a method a system for improved user interface interaction, for UI controls such as sliders, pop-up boxes, menus, lists and button groups.

Claims

1. A method for improved cursor control using a pointing device for controlling a cursor on a display associated with a host, the pointing device including at least one button, the method comprising:

calculating a change in displacement of the pointing device;

determining whether a user'"'"'s finger is placed on the button;

responsive to the determination that the user'"'"'s finger is placed on the button, scaling the change in displacement of the pointing device;

transmitting the scaled change in displacement of the pointing device to the host;

wherein the step of scaling comprises;

measuring the pressure exerted by the user'"'"'s finger on the button;

responsive to the pressure being less than a first threshold, using a first scaling factor; and

responsive to the pressure being greater than the first threshold and less than a second threshold, using a scaling factor monotonically decreasing with an increasing measured pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting comprises:

including the scaled displacement in a transmission packet;

wirelessly transmitting the transmission packet to a receiver communicatively coupled to the host.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to pressure being greater than a second threshold, using a second scaling factor;

wherein the first threshold is less than the second threshold, and the first scaling factor is greater than the second factor.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the cursor is frozen above said second threshold.