FR3077896A1 - METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A MOUSE COMPRISING AT LEAST FOUR AXES - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for calibrating a mouse (1) for a computer (101), the mouse comprising a sole (2) and at least one moving part (38), the moving part (38) being movable relative to the sole (2) ) along two distinct axes, characterized in that it comprises: - a first step of recording (E1) of a reference set (R) comprising displacement measurements (ORi) of the moving part (38) relative to at the sole (2) over a given period of use of the mouse (1); a second acquisition step (E2) of a measurement of a current displacement (OP) of the mobile part (38) with respect to the soleplate (2); a step of determining (E3) a theoretical displacement (OF) of the movable portion (38) with respect to the soleplate (2) from said reference assembly (R) and from the measurement of said current displacement ( OP).

Description

Method for configuring a mouse comprising at least four axes

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for configuring a mouse comprising at least four axes or "degrees of freedom" and making it possible to control a computer application such as three-dimensional software or a video game.

State of the art

To use certain three-dimensional software, such as computer-aided design software or to play certain video games, we know the use of an advanced mouse comprising at least four degrees of freedom (in other words four axes), see even six degrees of freedom. Such a mouse comprises a sole carrying a housing to constitute a unit movable in translation in a plane along two perpendicular horizontal axes, like the standard so-called two-dimensional mice. The housing of such a mouse is movable relative to the sole, so as to be able to tilt by turning around a horizontal longitudinal axis, and by turning around a horizontal transverse axis, which constitutes two additional axes. As a variant or in addition, the mouse may comprise a protruding lever on one side of the mouse and able to be actuated by a thumb of a user, which constitutes two additional axes. The mouse can emit at least as many information signals as it has degrees of freedom, which offers possibilities for controlling particularly advanced software or video games.

Such a mouse is advantageous in that it allows more varied uses than a simple traditional two-dimensional mouse. However, some users find it difficult to exploit all the freedom of movement offered by the mouse. In addition, the manufacturing tolerances of the mouse can lead to a certain inaccuracy during its use.

Subject of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a method for configuring a mouse comprising at least four degrees of freedom overcoming the above drawbacks and improving the mice and the methods for configuring such mice known from the prior art.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for calibrating a computer mouse, the mouse comprising a sole and at least one movable part, the movable part being movable relative to the sole according to two distinct axes, characterized in what he understands:

- a first step of recording a reference set comprising measurements of displacements of the mobile part relative to the sole over a given period of use of the mouse;

- a second step of acquiring a measurement of a current displacement of the movable part relative to the sole;

- A step of determining a theoretical displacement of the movable part relative to the sole from said reference assembly and from the measurement of said current displacement.

The determination step may include a first sub-step of determining the orientation of said current displacement.

The determination step may include a second sub-step of determining a subset of the reference set, the subset comprising all of the displacement measurements whose orientation differs from the orientation of said current displacement d 'A value strictly less than a given angle, in particular whose orientation differs from the orientation of said current displacement by a value strictly less than 15 °.

The determination step may include a third sub-step for scheduling the measurements of the displacements of said subset according to an increasing value of their amplitude of displacement according to the orientation of said current displacement.

The determination step may include a fourth sub-step of identification of two reference displacement measurements of said subset such as:

the amplitude of displacement along the orientation of said current displacement of a first reference displacement is less than or equal to the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement, the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation of said current displacement of a second displacement of reference is greater than or equal to the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement, there is no measurement of displacement of said subset whose amplitude of displacement according to the orientation of said current displacement is both strictly greater than the displacement amplitude according to the orientation of said current displacement of the first reference displacement and strictly less than the displacement amplitude according to the orientation of said current displacement of the second reference displacement.

The determination step may include a fifth sub-step for calculating a parameter X such as:

OP. Ü = XOEj. Ü + (1 - X) OE _{J + 1} . Ü

ÔP.Ü designating the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement (ÔP),

ÔEj.ü designating the displacement amplitude according to the orientation (Ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) of the first reference displacement (ÔEj),

OE _{J +} (.ü designating the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (Ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) of the second reference displacement (OE _{J +} ().

The determination step may comprise a sixth sub-step for calculating said theoretical displacement (ÔF), the orientation of said theoretical displacement (ÔF) being identical to the orientation of the current displacement (ÔP) and / or the amplitude of the displacement theoretical being obtained by the formula:

ÔF.u = (j + lX) / nn designating the number of displacement measurements (ÔË \) in said subset (E), j designating a serial number of the measurement of the first reference displacement (ÔEj) when the measurements displacements (ÔË \) of said subset (E) are classified in ascending order of their amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (Ü) of said current displacement (ÔP), and j being an integer between 0 and n-1.

The invention also relates to a computer system comprising a computer, a screen and a mouse comprising a sole and a movable part, the movable part being movable relative to the sole according to two distinct axes, characterized in that it implements a calibration process as described above.

The invention also relates to a mouse comprising a sole and a movable part, the movable part being movable relative to the sole along two distinct axes, characterized in that it comprises hardware and software means which implement a method of calibration as described above.

The mobile part can be an upper housing of the mouse connected to the sole by a connecting device allowing the upper housing to tilt relative to the sole according to two distinct axes, or the mobile part can be a lever projecting from a side of the mouse and able to tilt relative to the sole along two distinct axes.

The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the calibration method described above.

The invention also relates to a computer-readable recording medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, lead the latter to implement the calibration method described above.

Finally, the invention relates to a method of using a computer mouse, the mouse comprising a sole and at least one movable part, the movable part preferably being movable relative to the sole according to two distinct axes, characterized in what it implements a first phase of mouse calibration according to a calibration method described above, making it possible to memorize at least one mouse control rule, and a second phase of using the mouse during which a command transmitted by the mouse following a request from a user is corrected via the at least one command rule obtained by the first phase

Brief description of the drawings

These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail in the following description of a particular embodiment made without limitation in relation to the attached figures, among which:

Figure 1 is a symbolic view of a computer system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view from above of a six-axis mouse used by the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional view from below of the mouse used by the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the steps of a method for calibrating a mouse according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 represents a set of references obtained over a certain period of use of a mouse in a method for calibrating the mouse according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 6 to 9 represent steps of the method for calibrating a mouse according to the embodiment of the invention.

Description of an embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates a computer system 100 comprising a computer 101, a mouse 1 and a screen 102, the screen and the mouse being connected to the computer 101. By “connected”, it is understood that these elements are connected to each other by so that we can exchange information. Although represented by link lines 103 in FIG. 1, these links can be wireless links. The computer 101 comprises a memory 104 and a microprocessor 105, in particular capable of processing information signals emitted by the mouse 1. The screen is capable of projecting an image comprising a pointer (in other words, a cursor) that the you can move on the screen by operating the mouse.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the mouse 1 has a sole 2 carrying an upper housing 3 which has a generally convex shape favoring the grip by the user. The sole 2 has a flat lower face 4 by which it is supported on a substantially horizontal plane, such as a table or a mouse pad, identified by the two perpendicular horizontal axes x and y. Mouse 1 is therefore mobile in translation on this horizontal plane along the two perpendicular horizontal axes x and y. It is also movable in rotation about an axis normal to this plane, namely the yaw axis z. The upper housing can be tilted in a rolling movement relative to the sole by pivoting about the horizontal transverse axis x, and it can be tilted in a pitching movement by pivoting around the horizontal longitudinal axis y .

The upper housing 3 of the mouse 1 is linked to the sole 2 by a connecting element (not shown) which may be a solid piece of rubber or the like having a general external shape called diabolo or else biconical. This connecting element or diabolo extends in the vertical direction z and comprises a lower end by which it is rigidly fixed to the sole 2, and an upper end by which it is rigidly fixed to the upper housing 3. This connecting element can allow the upper housing 3 to pivot relative to the sole 2 around the two axes x and y. In the representation given in the figures, the axes x y and z form the axes of an indirect orthogonal coordinate system each passing through the center of symmetry C of the diabolo. It should be noted that the connection between the sole and the upper housing prohibits a displacement of the upper housing vertically relative to the sole, as well as a displacement in rotation around the z axis of the upper housing relative to the sole. The rotation of the upper housing 3 relative to the sole 2 about the z axis is prohibited in particular by the fact that the sole 2 and the upper housing 3 have shapes which partially fit into each other when the the assembly is mounted, with a certain clearance along the x and y axes, which allows the upper housing to tilt while preventing it from pivoting with respect to the soleplate around the z axis.

In general, the upper housing 3 comprises a housing body 5 supporting a set of actuators and a so-called upper printed circuit, which is rigidly secured to this housing body. The housing body 5 comprises a left lateral flank 7, on which rests the thumb of a user grasping the mouse. This left lateral flank 7 comprises a lever 8, located in the front part and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis x, so as to be manipulated by the thumb of the user. The handle 8 is movable in rotation around the vertical axis z and around the transverse axis y. The housing body 5 also includes a domed upper face 11, which together with the left lateral flank 7 delimits a blunt edge 12 carrying two push buttons 13 and 14 located substantially in the middle of the left lateral flank 7, and which can also be actuated by the user's thumb. The upper front part of the housing body carries on the one hand a rotary wheel 16 which can be manipulated by the middle finger or the index finger of the user having the mouse in hand, as well as an additional push button 17 located above the wheel 16 , and that the user can also activate with his middle finger or index finger. Alternatively, the mouse could include more or less buttons or actuators and / or these buttons could be positioned differently on the mouse. For example, a mouse similar to the one we are describing could be obtained by symmetry so that it is suitable for left-handers.

The curved upper face 11 of the housing body 5 is covered by an additional curved and flexible plate 18, the front part of which has two arms 19 and 21 located on either side of the knob 16 and of the push button 17. These two branches 19 and 21 respectively constitute a so-called left click key and a so-called right click key respectively operable by the index and the middle finger of a right-handed user having the mouse in hand. As visible in FIG. 2, the two branches 19 and 21 are spaced from the front end of the housing body 5, which is here materialized in particular by a front edge 23 having a curved shape oriented transversely. The edge 23 is thus separated longitudinally from each of these keys 21 and 22 respectively by two support zones marked by 24 and 26 these support zones forming an integral part of the front of the housing body 5. The fact that the keys left and right clicks are separated from the front end of the upper housing by two support zones 24 and 26 allows the user to tilt the upper housing in roll by exerting forces directly on these support zones 24 and 26, that is to say without risk of clicking unexpectedly. As regards the sole 2, it also comprises a sole body 25 supporting a so-called lower printed circuit as well as various components. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, the lower face 4 of this sole body is equipped with a set of pads 27 facilitating its sliding. It is also equipped with a laser type displacement sensor, identified by 28, and by which the translational movements along the x and y axes relative to the support are measured. Furthermore, this sole 2 comprises at its front part a connector 29 of the mini-USB type, by means of which the mouse can be connected to a computer so as to transmit its information, and / or to recharge a battery integrated in this mouse to allow it to exchange information with the computer over a wireless link.

The so-called lower printed circuit is rigidly secured to the sole and itself carries different components including an accelerometer called lower rigidly secured to this printed circuit. This lower printed circuit also carries components specific to the mini-USB connector, to the laser sensor 28, and to other components. Similarly, the so-called upper printed circuit is rigidly attached to the housing body 5. This upper printed circuit carries an accelerometer called upper, also rigidly attached to the printed circuit that carries it, as well as a set of components specific to the thumbwheel 16, the lever 8 and the pushbuttons 13, 14, 17. These two printed circuits are electrically connected to each other by a connector, so that the information coming from the upper printed circuit, such as the depressed state of one or other of the left and right clicks, the position of the wheel 16 or even the position of the lever 8 are transmitted to the lower printed circuit. Note, the position (in other words the inclination) of the lever 8 can be determined by a means of measuring an inclination known per se.

The two accelerometers are used jointly by a computing unit, such as a microcontroller, equipping for example the lower printed circuit, to determine the inclination of the upper housing 3 relative to the sole 2.

The two accelerometers are advantageously identical electronic components so as to simplify the processing of the signals which they deliver. They are advantageously accelerometers in the form of MEMS electronic components of the LIS331DLH type sold under the brand ST®. Each accelerometer supplies signals representative of the accelerations which it undergoes along three orthogonal axes which are specific to it, and these signals are sent to the microcontroller equipping the lower printed circuit. The signals from the accelerometers are processed by the microcontroller to determine the inclination of the upper housing 3 relative to the sole 2, on the one hand around the x axis, and on the other hand around the y axis. To this end, the microcontroller retrieves at all times the signals representative of the acceleration undergone by the upper accelerometer and by the lower accelerometer along the x axis. It is therefore understood that the accelerometers associated with the microcontroller of the mouse constitute a means of measuring the inclination of the upper housing 3 relative to the sole 2.

Finally, the mouse is able to transmit six information signals to the computer 101, each corresponding to a degree of freedom of the mouse to which are added binary information signals for each of the buttons of the mouse and for the wheel. . A first information signal includes information relating to the translational movement of the mouse parallel to the transverse axis x. A second information signal includes information relating to the translational movement of the mouse parallel to the longitudinal axis y. A third information signal includes information relating to the rotation of the upper housing around the transverse axis x. A fourth information signal includes information relating to the rotation of the upper housing around the longitudinal axis y. A fifth information signal includes information relating to the rotation of the lever 8 around the vertical axis z. A sixth information signal includes information relating to the rotation of the lever 8 around the longitudinal axis y.

The computer includes mouse configuration software (in other words, configuration software) that acts as a filter between information signals transmitted by the mouse and information received by other software or applications on the computer. The configuration software converts the information signals from the mouse into signals that can be used directly by the various software. The configuration software is stored in the memory 104 of the computer, or even of the mouse, and can be executed by its microprocessor 105. It stores in an electronic memory of the mouse one or more rules allowing it to determine the signals that it must send out, to a computer, from the requests it receives from a user.

For example, the mouse can be used to control software for representing a three-dimensional object such as, for example, computer-aided design software. The rotation of the upper housing 3 of the mouse relative to the sole 2 can be associated with a control of rotation of the three-dimensional object displayed on the screen. Thus, the user can rotate this object along two perpendicular axes to observe it from all angles. The rotation of the lever 8 can for example be associated with a command for translational movement of the three-dimensional object displayed on the screen. Thus, the user can move this object in the plane of the screen by manipulating the joystick 8 with his thumb. Finally, moving the pointer on the screen can be associated with moving the mouse on a plane, as is the case when using a conventional mouse. Thus, the user can also use the mouse to access various options and commands of the software. Thus, thanks to the mouse and the dedicated configuration software, the user can use three-dimensional software using exclusively or almost exclusively the mouse, whereas previously it was necessary to combine the use of the mouse with one hand and the use of a keyboard with the other hand. As a result, the use of such software is more accessible: it can be used with computer systems without a keyboard. Access to this software also becomes possible for people with disabilities with one arm or one hand and who only have the other hand to work or play. Or, the user can use his other hand to generate other commands, which makes it possible to use a computer with greater efficiency. Of course, other mouse settings than the one we have just presented are conceivable for manipulating the three-dimensional object.

In the rest of the document, the generic term "mobile part" 38 will be used to designate both the upper housing 3 and the lever 8, it being understood that both are mobile relative to the sole 2. A movement of the mobile part 38 relative to the sole can be either a movement in translation or a movement in rotation. According to the construction described above, the upper housing 3 and the lever 8 are both tiltable, in other words movable in rotation relative to the sole 2, along two distinct axes. The invention could however be transposed to a mouse equipped with a mobile part in translation along two distinct axes relative to the sole 2. The invention could even be transposed to a mouse equipped with a mobile part in a more complex movement (combining translation and rotation) relative to the sole 2.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the steps of a method for calibrating the mouse 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The calibration process includes a first step E1, a second step E2 and a third step E3 which we will detail.

Prior to the calibration procedure, a reference position O of the mobile part 38 of the mouse can be defined as the natural position of the mobile part 38 in the absence of user request. This reference position can for example be determined by measuring the position of the movable part relative to the sole when the mouse is positioned on a horizontal plane and in the absence of user stress.

In the first step E1, a set of references R is recorded comprising displacement measurements ÔR _t of the mobile part 38 relative to the sole 2 over a given period of use of the mouse 1. For this, samples of the displacement of the movable part relative to the soleplate obtained by the measurement means integrated in the mouse are sampled at a given frequency. For example, when the mobile part corresponds to the upper housing 3, the inclination of the upper housing 3 is measured by means of the accelerometers of the mouse. The period of use of the mouse, which could also be called the learning period , is a period long enough to be representative of the average use of the mouse. Advantageously, the period can cover the use of several computer software. The determination of the duration of this period and of the sampling frequency results from a compromise between the memory allocated to record all the measurements, the computation capacity of the computer and the speed of execution of the calibration process.

At the end of the first step E1, the reference set R is obtained comprising the set of displacement measurements ÔR _t over the period considered. This set R can be represented on a two-dimensional graph as it appears in FIG. 5. The two dimensions of the graph correspond to the two axes along which the movable part 38 can move relative to the base 2. The graph comprises several tens of crosses each corresponding to a measurement of a displacement âR _t . In practice, the reference set R could contain several hundred, even several thousand, or even many more measurement of displacements. Each movement is characterized by an amplitude and an orientation. According to a vector definition, the amplitude of a displacement OAj. may be designated by the symbol || WHERE _t || , the orientation of a displacement can be expressed by a unit vector whose formula is

IIORJI

A first envelope CR can be defined as an outline of the set of displacement measurements OAj. This envelope CR includes all the displacement measurements and goes through certain displacement measurements whose amplitude is maximum in a given orientation. There is no OAj displacement measurement outside the CR envelope. As a note, it is possible to define this envelope more or less finely by choosing a more or less significant number of measurements to make this envelope.

A second envelope CF represents the theoretical maximum amplitude of movement of the movable part in all directions. As the shape of the second envelope CF is circular and centered on the reference position O, the movable part can theoretically be inclined by the same value in all directions. The radius of this second envelope is defined as being equal to 1.

By observing the shape of the CR envelope, we can interpret the use that was made of the mouse during the learning period. Following the example of FIG. 5 and considering that the mobile part designates the upper housing 3 of the mouse, it can be seen that the housing has been more easily biased to the left than to the right. However, the user has never reached the theoretical maximum amplitude regardless of the direction in which the upper housing 3 has been tilted. This finding can be explained on the one hand by the fact that the user does not have the dexterity or sufficient mobility of his joints to exploit the range of movement offered by the mobile part of the mouse. On the other hand, this observation can also be explained by the manufacturing tolerances of the mouse: the different measurement means integrated into the mouse do not indicate the theoretical maximum amplitude, while the mobile part is well moved in abutment in a given direction.

In the second step E2, a measurement of a current displacement ÔP of the movable part 38 is carried out relative to the sole 2. For example, the current inclination of the upper housing 3 is measured relative to the sole 2. This current displacement is indicated by a large cross in FIG. 6. In the present case, the current displacement ÔP is an inclination forwards and to the left of the upper housing 3 according to an average amplitude relative to the theoretical maximum amplitude. This amplitude is nevertheless relatively close to the maximum amplitudes reached by the user following this orientation during the learning period.

In the third step E3, a theoretical displacement ÔF of the movable part 38 relative to the sole 2 is determined from said reference assembly R and from the measurement of said current displacement ÔP. This third step E3 comprises six successive substeps E31, E32, E33, E34, E35, E36 which we will now detail.

In a first substep E31, the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP is determined. This orientation Ü can be obtained by the

OP following formula: = r. In other words the orientation u is obtained in l | OP || dividing the vector ÔP by its module, u therefore designates a unit vector.

In a second substep E32, a subset E of the reference set R is determined as the set of displacement measurements whose orientation differs from the orientation of said current displacement ÔP by a value strictly less than an angle of 15 °. This angular value could nevertheless be chosen differently, in particular as a function of the number of measurements present in the reference set R. This subset E is notably identified in FIG. 6 by a bold outline: it is a portion angular of the reference assembly R, the angle of this angular portion A being logically equal to 30 °.

In a third substep E33, the measurements of the displacements Ô £ \ of said subset E are ordered according to an increasing value of their amplitude of displacement according to the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP. This amounts to calculating for each measure of the subset E the scalar product defined by ^ Ë [.Ü and ordering the result of this calculation in ascending order. The results of the dot products can be represented on an axis as it appears on figure 7. One assigns to each measurement a sequence number. The measurement of the subset E having the smallest dot product obtains the order number "1". The measurement of the subset E having the largest scalar product obtains the order number "n", "n >> designating the number of displacement measurements Ô £ \ in said subset E.

In a fourth sub-step E34, two measurements of reference displacements are identified (Ô £), OE _{J +} Î of said subset E such that: the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation Ü of said current displacement ÔP of a first displacement Ô £) is less than or equal to the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement ÔP, the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation Ü of said current displacement ÔP of a second reference displacement OE _{J +} Î is greater than or equal to l amplitude of displacement of said current displacement ÔP, there is no measurement of displacement Ô £ \ of said subset E whose amplitude of displacement along the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP is both strictly greater than the amplitude displacement along the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP of the first reference displacement Ô £) and strictly less than the amplitude of displacement along the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP of the second reference displacement OE _{J +} Î.

In other words, the first reference displacement measurement ÔP) is the displacement measurement having the largest scalar product with the vector Ü among the set of displacement measurements of the subset E whose scalar product with u is less than or equal to the module of the current displacement || ÔP ||. The second reference displacement measurement OE _{J +} Î is the displacement measurement having the smallest scalar product with the vector Ü among the set of displacement measurements of the subset E whose scalar product with Ü is greater than or equal to the module of the current displacement || ÔP ||. These two reference displacement measurements OEj and OE _{J + 1} are shown in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 8, representing in detail the detail D1 in FIG. 7.

Note, if || ÔP || <0E ₁ .u then we set EO = O, which corresponds to the center of the graph, and we continue the iteration with j = 0 and j + 1 = 1. If || ÔP || > 0E _n .u (i.e. if the amplitude of the current displacement ÔP is strictly greater than the scalar product of any of the displacement measurements of the subset E with the vector u), then the point P is added to the reference set R and the theoretical displacement returned by the mouse will be of value 1.

In a fifth sub-step E35, a parameter X is calculated such that: OP. Ü = XOEj. Ü + (1 - X) OE _{J + 1} . Ü

ÔP.Ü designating the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement ÔP, OEj.u designating the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP of the first reference displacement ÔP), OEj ₊ Î.Ü designating the amplitude of displacement along the orientation u of said current displacement ÔP of the second reference displacement OE _{J +} Î. In other words, X is a barycenter coefficient allowing to position ÔP.u with respect to ÔP). u and compared to OE _{J +} Î.u.

In a sixth sub-step E36, said theoretical displacement ÔP is calculated. the orientation of said theoretical displacement ÔP is identical to the orientation of the current displacement ÔP. The amplitude of the theoretical displacement is obtained by the formula:

OF.u = (J + 1 - X) / n "j >> designating the sequence number of the measurement of the first reference displacement and" j >> being an integer between 0 and n-1.

For example if the current measure OP is exactly equal to OE _n , i.e. exactly equal to the displacement measurement of the subset E having the largest scalar product with ü, the two reference displacement measurements determined during the fourth substep E34 will be OE _n _î and OE _n and we have: j = n-1. The parameter X calculated during the fifth substep E35 will be equal to 0. The amplitude of the theoretical displacement calculated during the sixth substep will be equal to 1.

Thus, whatever the orientation sector of at least 30 °, there is at least one displacement measurement of the movable part 38 included inside the first envelope CR making it possible to obtain, at the end of the calibration method, a theoretical displacement equal to 1. This result is also illustrated in FIG. 9: the calibration method makes it possible to spread the displacement measurements over the entire range comprised inside the second envelope CF.

This calibration process compensates for a dexterity or mobility deficit of the user and compensates for the effects of the manufacturing tolerances of the mouse.

Advantageously, the process can be repeated over the use of the mouse by the user, so the calibration of the mouse can be refined and or modified as the user gets used to it. using the mouse. In addition, this calibration can be implemented for all moving parts of the mouse used to provide command instructions. It is advantageously implemented for a part movable in two directions. As a variant, this mobile part can be mobile in only one direction, or three directions, or any other number of directions greater than three.

The method can be recorded in the form of a program in the memory 104 of the computer 101 and be executed by its microprocessor 105. As a variant, the mouse can also include a memory and a microprocessor of its own containing instructions making it possible to execute the calibration process. Thus, the mouse could advantageously be used with different computers without having to repeat the calibration process. The results of the calibration finally include a rule (or several rules) making it possible to transform an actual movement instruction, received by a request from the mouse by a user, into a theoretical movement instruction, the latter incorporating the correction carried out by the calibration process. This rule is advantageously stored on an electronic memory of the mouse, or even as a variant of a computer. It can be operated by a local microprocessor, inside the mouse, or by a computer.

More generally, the invention relates to a method of using a mouse, which comprises a first phase of implementation of the calibration method described above, then a second phase of use as such of the mouse during from which an actual command of a user is changed to a theoretical command by the result of the calibration process, so as to distribute the instructions of the user over a maximum command range adapted to his personal handling of the mouse.

The mouse advantageously comprises software and hardware means which allow the implementation of the method described above. In particular, the mouse comprises a computer program which modifies a request transmitted by a user into an output corrected command, taking into account at least one control rule stored in its electronic memory, this at least one rule having been established. by a prior calibration process.

Claims (13)

claims 1. Method for calibrating a computer mouse (1) (101), the mouse comprising a sole (2) and at least one movable part (38), the movable part (38) being movable relative to the sole (2), preferably along at least two distinct axes, characterized in that it comprises: - a first recording step (E1) of a reference assembly (R) comprising displacement measurements (Ôr [) of the movable part (38) relative to the sole (2) over a period of use of the given mouse (1); - a second acquisition step (E2) of a measurement of a current displacement (ÔP) of the movable part (38) relative to the sole (2); a step of determining (E3) a theoretical displacement (ÔF) of the movable part (38) relative to the sole (2) from said reference assembly (R) and from the measurement of said current displacement ( oP). 2. Calibration method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the determining step (E3) comprises a first sub-step (E31) of determining the orientation (u) of said current displacement (ÔP). 3. Calibration method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the determining step (E3) comprises a second substep (E32) of determining a subset (E) of the assembly reference (R), the subset (E) comprising the set of displacement measurements (ÔË \) whose orientation differs from the orientation of said current displacement (ÔP) by a value strictly less than a given angle , in particular whose orientation differs from the orientation of said current displacement (ÔP) by a value strictly less than 15 °. 4. Calibration method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the determination step (E3) comprises a third sub-step (E33) of scheduling the displacement measurements (ÔË \) of said subset (E) according to an increasing value of their amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (ït) of said current displacement (ÔP). 5. A calibration method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the determination step (E3) comprises a fourth sub-step (E34) of identification of two reference displacement measurements (ÔE _} , OE _{J +} () of said subset (E) such as: the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (ït) of said current displacement (ÔP) of a first reference displacement (ÔEj) is less than or equal to the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement (ÔP), the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (u) of said current displacement (ÔP) of a second reference displacement (OE _{J +} () is greater than or equal to the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement (ÔP), - there is no measurement of displacement (ÔË \) of said subset (E) whose amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (Ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) is both strictly greater than the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) of the first reference displacement (ÔEj) and strictly less than the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) of the second reference displacement (OE _{J +} (). 6. Calibration method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the determination step (E3) comprises a fifth sub-step (E35) of calculation of a parameter X such as: OP. Ü = XOEj. Ü + (1 - X) OE _{J + 1} . Ü ÔP.u designating the amplitude of displacement of said current displacement (ÔP), ÔEj.u designating the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) of the first reference displacement (ÔE _} ), OEj ₊ j.Ü designating the amplitude of displacement according to the orientation (Ü) of said current displacement (ÔP) of the second reference displacement (OE _{J +} (). 7. Calibration method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the determining step (E3) comprises a sixth sub-step (E36) for calculating said theoretical displacement (ÔF), the orientation of said theoretical displacement (ÔF) being identical to the orientation of the current displacement (ÔP) and / or the amplitude of the theoretical displacement being obtained by the formula: ÔF.ü = (j + lX) / nn designating the number of displacement measurements (ÔËJ in said subset (E), j designating a serial number of the measurement of the first reference displacement (ÔEj) when the measurements displacements (ÔËJ of said subset (E) are classified in ascending order of their amplitude of displacement according to the Orientation (ït) of said current displacement (ÔP), and j being an integer between 0 and n-1. 8. Computer system (100) comprising a computer (101), a screen (102) and a mouse (1) comprising a sole (2) and a movable part (38), the movable part (38) being movable relative to the sole (2) along two distinct axes, characterized in that it implements a calibration method according to one of the preceding claims. 9. Computer system (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mobile part (38) is an upper housing (3) of the mouse connected to the sole (2) by a connecting device authorizing the upper housing (3 ) to incline relative to the sole (2) along two distinct axes, or in that the movable part (38) is a lever (8) projecting from a flank (7) of the mouse (1) and suitable for tilt relative to the sole (2) along two distinct axes. 10. Mouse (1) comprising a sole and a movable part, the movable part being movable relative to the sole according to two distinct axes, characterized in that it comprises hardware and software means which implement a calibration process according to one of claims 1 to 7. 11. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer (101), lead the latter to implement the calibration method according to one of claims 1 to 7. 12. Computer-readable recording medium (101) or mouse (1) comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer (101) or a mouse (1), lead the latter to be put implementing the calibration method according to one of claims 1 to 7. 13. Method of using a computer mouse (1) (101), the mouse comprising a sole (2) and at least one movable part (38), the movable part (38) being movable relative to the sole (2), characterized in that it implements a first mouse calibration phase according to a calibration method according to one of claims 1 to 7, making it possible to store in an electronic memory of the mouse (1 ) at least one mouse control rule, and a second phase of using the mouse during which a stress transmitted by a user to the mouse is corrected by means of the at least one control rule obtained by the first calibration phase.