Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-09
2001-01-09
Allen, Stephone B. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C345S156000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172354
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an input device for a computer system. More specifically, the present invention relates to an input device for providing position information to the computer system based on movement of the input device.
A traditional computer input device, such as a mouse, includes a housing, with a ball mounted in the housing. The ball is either configured in a traditional manner in which, in the normal work position, the ball engages a work surface and rotates based on the user's movement of the mouse across the work surface. The ball may also be provided as a track ball, which is rotated by digital manipulation from the user. In either case, position encoders are used to detect rotation of the ball in the mouse, and to provide position information indicative of that rotation to the computer. In many instances, the position information is used to control movement of a visual image (such as a mouse cursor) on the display screen of the computer.
Also, in one prior device, a mouse is configured with the track ball arrangement described above. The track ball is preprinted with a predetermined image. A charge coupled device is used to detect the image on the track ball and detect movement of the image. Movement of the predefined image is used to provide position information to the computer.
However, the prior computer mouse which uses the charge coupled device configuration has a number of significant disadvantages. First, the reaction time of charge coupled devices is quite slow. In addition, processing an image signal from a charge coupled device is computationally intensive and takes a relatively large, and expensive processor. Also, charge coupled devices are highly sensitive to saturation. In other words, if the ambient light conditions are variable, charge coupled devices do not perform well. In addition, if an extraneous light source, such as a flashlight, is directed toward the image producing surface, the charge coupled devices can easily become saturated and their performance then quickly degrades.
Further, another prior computer mouse commercially available from Mouse Systems of CA included a mouse with an LED which was used in conjunction with a mouse pad having a predetermined pattern thereon. The pattern was formed by a grid of blue and red lines. The emissions from the LED was reflected off of the mouse pad to a detector which provided an analog output signal. The signal was in the form of a waveshape with peaks corresponding to the different colored grid lines. From this waveform, the lines were counted and interpolated to obtain position information. Such a mouse system requires a special mouse pad with a special pattern implemented thereon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An operator input device is configured to provide position information based on relative movement of the operator input device and surface. The operator input device includes a pattern detector which is configured to detect a pattern on the surface and provide a pattern image signal corresponding to the pattern detected. The surface has no predefined pattern thereon. A controller is coupled to the pattern detector and is configured to receive the image signal and provide the position information based on a position of the pattern relative to the pattern detector.
In one preferred embodiment, the controller is coupled to the pattern detector and is configured to receive a primary image signal at an initial time and receive a secondary image a variable time later. The controller computes and provides the position information based on a determination of the motion changes observed from the primary image to the secondary image.
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Adan Manolito E.
Aoyagi Tetsuji
Holmdahl Todd E.
Lipscomb Terry M.
Miura Takeshi
Allen Stephone B.
Microsoft Corporation
Westman Champlin & Kelly P.A.
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