WO2002093342A2

WO2002093342A2 - A computer control device with optical detection means and such device with a microphone and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2002093342A2
Application number: PCT/DK2002/000323
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steen Grüner HANSON; René Skov HANSEN
Original assignee: Kanitech International A/S
Priority date: 2001-05-16
Filing date: 2002-05-16
Publication date: 2002-11-21
Also published as: WO2002093342A3; AU2002342801A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer control device for cursor control on a computer screen, said device comprising a housing with rotary means capable of being moved relative to a substrate, and optical detection means comprising a substantially coherent light source for detecting the movement of the rotary means, wherein the coherent light source is in a position close to the surface of the rotary means and directly illuminates a part of this surface. Hereby, a computer control device is provided with optical detection means that are simpler and more cost-effective in production, just as the quality of the detection is improved. The invention also concerns the computer input device of the pen-like type comprising a microphone with associated activation means that communicates with a voice recognition system for controlling a computer system. By incorporating a voice recognition system in a computer control device, it is possible to provide data input to a computer for controlling activities in a software application by audio signals. The user of the computer data input pen may use the input device in a natural manner, by holding the pen close to the mouth and give commands to the computer.

Description

A COMPUTER CONTROL DEVICE WITH OPTICAL DETECTION MEANS AND USE THEREOF

The present invention relates to a control device for a computer, such as cursor control on a computer screen, said device comprising a pen-like shaped housing with a rotary means comprising at least one ball which is capable of being rolled relative to a substrate, and optical detection means comprising a substantially coherent light source for detecting the movement of the rotary means.

A computer control device, such as a computer mouse, having optical detection means is known in the art, e.g. from WO-A-94/22071 or US-A-5,288,993. Computer control devices having elongated housings in the shape of a computer pen are also known from i.e. EP-A 0 413 606. The idea behind the computer pen is to simulate the use of a normal writing pen. However the drawbacks of these known pen structures are numerous. They are bulky in their design and the minimum allowed diameter of the rotary means, which in the usual set-up is a ball, is unacceptably large so that the intended use pattern cannot be achieved.

In relation to present progressive and innovative developments in the computer pen design, there is currently being developed a new and improved optical detection method, paving the way for a very small size of the ball. This technology is known from WO-A-98/36347. This results in a slim pen housing making it possible to use the computer pen in a use pattern similar to a normal writing utensil, where the computer data input device is supported by the hand of the operator rather than by the table, as it is the case by traditional computer mice.

The movement of the ball is detected by optical detection means by detecting the change in surface structure of the ball. The optical detection means illuminates a spot on the surface on the top of the ball by diverging substantially coherent light through a lens. The light is then reflected from the surface and is detected by a set of detectors. In the optical detection system of a computer input device described in WO-A- 98/36347, the lens is placed between the light source and the surface. The lens refracts the light and focuses the light on the surface creating a tiny, concentrated spot of illumination on the surface. This ensures a predetermined reflection and ensures that the reflected light is properly directed towards the detectors.

However, the optical detection system known in the art is extremely sensitive to inaccuracies in the alignment of the components, i.e. if the lens is slightly off-set, the light is directed towards a different place on the ball surface, and the intensity of the light reflected from the illuminated spot may be inadequate for obtaining a reliable signal in the detectors.

Even slight inaccuracies in the alignment result in a loss of quality in the detection of the movement of the ball which leads to errors in the cursor control movements and it is therefore of utmost importance to align the components of the optical system very carefully in the computer input device. The requirement for accuracy makes the optical detection system extremely difficult to assemble and in turn makes a computer pen of WO-A-98/36347 expensive to manufacture.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in the optical detection system in a computer input device for cursor control movement reducing the drawbacks of the computer input devices known in the art. Another object of the invention is to provide a computer input device that may expand the range of use of computer input devices in the control of cursor movements or other data input to a computer.

The object is achieved by a computer control device of the initially mentioned kind, wherein the substantially coherent light source being in a position close to the surface of the ball and directly illuminating at least a part of this surface, which is a natural surface of said ball. By illuminating the surface of the ball directly by a diverging illuminating beam, the inaccuracies deriving from the refraction of the substantially coherent light caused as the light penetrates the lens is removed by removing the lens. In order to make up for the loss of focusing the illuminating beam, the light source is positioned sufficiently close to the surface so that the reflected light may be detected with sufficient degree of quality in order to obtain a detection signal that represents the movement of the rotary member. Moreover, by illuminating the surface directly, a slight inaccuracy is not enhanced, as would be the case if the light would pass through a lens. This means that the tolerances in the position of the light source may be increased. This, in addition to the fact that there are fewer parts in the optical detection means in a computer control device according to the invention, results in a simple manufacture and assembly process and results in a considerable reduction in the production costs of the computer control device.

Furthermore, having a lens in front of the output from the VCSEL will certainly introduce intensity variations at the object position, which will discriminate the system. Eliminating this lens, as is the case according to the present invention, will result in a more even distribution of light across the object and consequently bring about a more reliable detection process.

The application of a diverging illumination beam will magnify the speckles in the detector plane, which will increase the modulated part of the detector signal, the modulation of the detector signal carrying the information on the pen movement. Besides, a diverging beam will improve the sensitivity by increasing the speckle velocity for a given computer pen movement.

The optical detection means in a computer control device according to the invention may be more compact in design thus making it possible to design a slimmer computer data input pen with pencil-like dimensions, in particular at the ball-point end. By closing in on the surface, the size of the detectors may be reduced, which in turn reduces the costs of manufacture. Hereby, a reduced diameter of the printed circuit board (PCB) is achieved; just as the chip detector size may be reduced. This results in a more compact design of the computer control pen.

The distance between the illuminating point source and the surface of the rotary means is larger than the diameter of the rotary member. Preferably, the distance between the light source and the rotary surface is 3 to 8 mm (0.12 to 0.38 inches), most preferably 5 mm (0.2 inches). Hereby, a particularly compact and reliable computer control device for cursor control is obtained. By this embodiment, a compact computer control device may be provided with adequately sized optical components, ensuring a simple and reliable manual assembly of the components while still being designed in small pencil-like dimensions.

Preferably, the light source includes a VCSEL (VCSEL: Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) without an externally mounted lens. Hereby, a compact optical system can be produced.

In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the light point source is a single mode VCSEL. By using a - preferably oxidised - VCSEL, a low power consumption is achieved. Moreover, an improved optical quality and a more even distribution of the illuminating intensity are achieved by this type of semiconductor laser. Alternatively, an embodiment with a multimode VCSEL is feasible with minor drawbacks.

In a first embodiment, the detectors are configured in two pairs of two, said pairs being substantially perpendicular in orientation, whereby a detection of the direction and velocity of the movement of the rotary surface in two peφendicular directions are possible.

In a second preferred embodiment, the detectors are configured in two sets of three, said sets being substantially peφendicular in orientation. Hereby, an improved detection of the movements of the rotary surface may be achieved and a more reliable representation of the movements is obtained, just as an electronic high-pass filter is no longer required. In particular by an initial movement of the rotary surface, the embodiment of three detectors is advantageous, since the detected signals from the three detectors may be manipulated to compensate for the short time delay in the establishment of the DC level in signal processing means and increasing the accuracy. Each of the detectors is elongated in shape with a length/width ratio of at least 5:1 in order to achieve a satisfactory detection signal that is unambiguous in relation to the detection of the rotary movement of the ball.

In the first preferred embodiment, a ball is used as the rotary means. In an alternative to this embodiment, the rotary means comprises a ball with a first and a second cylinder which are arranged peφendicular to each other and both in rotary contact with the ball for the detection of movements of the ball in any two directions, and that the detection means are associated with each of the cylinders.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer control device for the input of control data to a computer, such as cursor control on a computer screen, said device comprising a pen-like shaped housing with rotary means being capable of being moved relative to a substrate, said rotary means being situated at the end of the housing, and optical detection means comprising a substantially coherent light source for detecting the movement of the rotary means, wherein the computer input device further comprising a microphone with associated activation means that communicates with a voice recognition system for controlling a computer system. The data input is forwarded to the computer by a cordless or a cable transmission.

By incoφorating a voice recognition system in a computer control device, it is possible to provide data input to a computer for controlling a wide range of data input activities in a software application by audio signals. By a computer control device according to this aspect of the invention, the range of applications of computer mice may be expanded and offers new possibilities of controlling a computer system.

The user of the computer data input pen may use the input device in a natural manner, by holding the pen close to the mouth and speaking simple commands to the computer. The expressed commands are received by the microphone and transmitted to the computer.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a loudspeaker is provided in the computer input device. This makes it possible to return pre-programmed audio signals to the user of the computer pen, such as voice information about e.g. identification of the user, audio signals confirming the execution of a command, etc. The voice recognition system may be a sound recognition chip that can sense and generate audio signals of a complex nature, i.e. speech recognition.

The voice recognition system is preferably positioned in the computer input device. Hereby, the audio command signal is received and processed into simple computer control data to the computer before the signal is transmitted to the computer. This means that the size of the transmitted data is limited compared to the size of the raw audio signal.

Alternatively, the voice recognition system is positioned in the computer system to be controlled. Hereby, the voice commands may be received by the microphone and transmitted directly to the computer in which the voice recognition system is installed. This allows for a more complex and space consuming voice recognition system, which may be capable of processing more advanced voice commands.

In an embodiment of the invention, the computer control device is provided with data storage means in the device for storing control data, voice messages or the like. Hereby, the range of use may be increased and the control and utility of a computer may be facilitated and expanded. In a particular utility, the device may in this configuration be used as a dictating machine.

By the invention, it is realised that the device may advantageously be used as a communication device for voice communication. By using the computer pen not only for controlling the computer but also as a communication device, the amount of peripheral equipment in a computer package may be reduced. The use of the device could advantageously be as a web communication device by connecting the control device to a computer in an internet environment for voice- based communication via the internet. This means that a user is not only able to control the computer, e.g. for logging on to an internet connection, but also for voice communication via the internet or similar computer network based environments. In another application of the device according to the invention, the computer control device may be used as a cellular telephone by connecting the control device to transmitter and receiver means.

The invention is described in further detail under reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 perspective view of a computer input device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and fig. 2 is a detailed schematic side view of the optical detection means of the computer input device, fig. 3 is a detailed schematic view of a first embodiment of the optical detection means, fig. 4 is a second embodiment of the same, fig. 5 is a processing scheme for the generation of detection signals for the determination of the rotation, and figs. 6 and 7 are schematic views of further embodiments of another aspect of a computer input device according to the invention.

In figure 1 a computer input device is shown. The device is shaped like a pen or similar writing utensil. It comprises an elongated housing 1 with rotary means 2 in one end of this housing 1. As can be view in detail in figure 2, the rotary means 2 cooperate with the optical detection means 3 for the detection of the movement of the computer pen in relation to a substrate, such as a mouse pad or a table, a writing desk or the like. The housing 1 is provided with click-buttons 6 arranged on the side of the housing for operating the computer input device. The detection means 3 according to the invention is adapted to detect the angular rotations of a ball 2 without the need for any well-defined or otherwise repetitive markings deposited on its surface. The optical detection means 3 comprises a laser point source 4 that directs a substantially coherent electromagnetic radiation, i.e. a laser-type light, directly onto the surface of the ball 2 and the light reflected from the surface is detected by the detectors 5. The substantially coherent light is a diverging field that is reflected by the surface of the ball 2. The incident field is reflected and diverted from the rotating surface producing a complex intensity pattern usually named speckles by constructive and destructive interference between scattered specular and diffuse reflections. The method of measuring angular rotation in general is described in WO-A-98/36347 and EP-B-0 671 007, which are incoφorated by reference. It is of course important that the pen is not rotated about its axis during use. In order to prevent this, the housing should preferably comprise a non- symmetrical cross section design.

As shown in figure 2, the laser point source 4 emits a diverging field of light directly onto the surface. The laser point source 4 is positioned at a close distance L to the surface.

The laser point source 4 and the detectors 5 of the optical detection means 3 are placed on the same printed circuit board, PCB. This means that only a single component must be aligned relative to the ball 2 in order to obtain a satisfactory quality in the angular rotation measurement scheme.

Since no light collection means, i.e. a collimating lens, is present, the emitted beam has a larger beam divergence. However, since the distance between the light source 4 and the surface of the ball 2 is reduced, the light is sufficiently intensive to produce a reflected specular pattern that can be detected by the detectors 5. The intensity of the emitted beam may be more even across the beam since no manipulation of the light is performed. In figure 3, a schematic drawing of the arrangement of the optical detection means 4, 5 on a PCB according to a first embodiment is shown. The PCB is placed above the rotary surface, which in the preferred embodiment is the surface of a ball 2 (see fig. 2). The light source 4 is preferably centrally arranged with respect to the crossing of the two axes of the detector pairs in a semiconductor component 41. The detectors 5 are radially displaced with a mutually peφendicular orientation for detection of surface movement in the two orthogonal directions. Each detector 5 consists of a first detector 51 and a second detector 52. Detecting a reflected specular pattern in the first detector 51 and the second detector 52 and comparing the two detected signals register the amount of ball rotation in a particular direction. The amount of ball rotation may be inferred by counting the number of "zero crossings" for the high- pass filtered signals from the detectors 51, 52. The direction of rotation is deduced from the order in which the substantially identical signals are received in detectors 51 and 52 closely spaced.

In fig. 4 another solution is shown. The PCB is provided with two sets of three detectors 51, 52, and 53 for the determination of the ball movement. The three detectors subsequently register signals of the reflected specular pattern from the emitted beam from the light source 4. As shown in fig. 5, the signals are processed in amplifiers 54 and 55 for the generation of a first and second detector signal s_\ and s₂. These signals

and s₂ represent the difference between the signals detected by the first and the second detector, respectively the second and the third detector signals. The processed signals S_! and s₂ are then processed for the determination of the amount of ball rotation. Since the processed signals are the differences between detector signals, a high-pass filter is no longer required.

When a movement of the ball is initiated it takes a few milliseconds before the DC level may be determined. This means that a difference in the two detection solutions may be experienced. Therefore, it is advantageous to use the three-detector solution, reducing the delay in movement detection, since the comparison of the three detected signals and the generation of two subtracted signals eliminates this initial delay. Furthermore, this set-up will increase the number of zero-crossings for a given rotation of the ball, and thus increase the overall accuracy of the system.

Figs. 6 and 7 show two embodiments of a computer pen with a voice recognition system incoφorated. In the housing a microphone 21, a loudspeaker 23 and an activation button 24 are provided. These components are connected to an integrated circuit, which includes a voice recognition system 22. The voice recognition system 22 may be provided in the pen, as shown in fig. 6 or in the computer 25 as shown in fig. 7.

The voice recognition system communicates with receiving means (not indicated) in the computer 25. This communication is preferably cordless in order to provide an easy handling of the computer pen. The microphone 21, the loudspeaker 23 and the activation button 24 are arranged in the top part of the pen housing 2 opposite the ballpoint end. This facilities the use of the voice system for giving audio commands to the computer 25. The microphone 21 could also be situated in the opposite part of the housing, whereby the pen may be for suitable for use as a cordless phone.

The voice recognition system 22 may also be provided with a memory 26 to store recorded voice signals, whereby the field of use of a computer input pen device according to this aspect of the invention may be expanded.

By the invention it is realised that the computer control device is suitable for many other applications than cursor control, such as control applications of internet or television or other telecommunication applications, e.g. for programme selection and other interactive communication actions. In particular, it is realised that a computer pen of the invention may be used as a mobile telephone or in connection with such for registering hand-written telephone numbers or computer control commands. The control device may also be used for other applications, such as computer game control or as a control device for web television. Thus, a computer control device according to the invention is not limited to the description above and various alterations and combinations may be performed without departing from the scope of the invention, such as described in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A control device for a computer, such as cursor control on a computer screen, said device comprising a pen-like shaped housing with a rotary means comprising at least one ball which is capable of being rolled relative to a substrate, and optical detection means comprising a substantially coherent light source for detecting the movement of the rotary means, c h ar a c t e r i s e d b y the substantially coherent light source being in a position close to the surface of the ball and directly illuminating at least a part of this surface, which is a natural surface of said ball.

2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the light source and the rotary surface is 3 to 7 mm (0.12 to 0.28 inches).

3. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means registers a random pattern on the rotating surface by use of a light source that diverges substantially coherent electromagnetic radiation onto the moving surface, and detectors that receive the scattered field of the surface.

4. A control device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source is integrated in a component that includes a VCSEL-type laser point source and a chip/die component without light collection means.

5. A control device according to claim 4, wherein the light point source is a single mode VCSEL laser.

6. A control device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detectors are configured in two pairs of two, said pairs being substantially peφendicular in orientation.

7. A control device according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the detectors are configured in two sets of three, said sets being substantially peφendicular in_. orientation.

8. A control device according to claim 6 or 1, wherein each detector is elongated in shape with a length width ratio of at least 5:1.

9. A control device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rotary means comprises a ball with a first and a second cylinder which are arranged peφendicular to each other and both in rotary contact with the ball for the detection of movements of the ball in any two directions, and that the detection means are associated with each of the cylinders.

10. A control device for the input of control or communication data to a computer, e.g. for cursor control on a computer screen, said device comprising a pen-like shaped housing with rotary means comprising at least one ball which is capable of being moved relative to a substrate, said ball being situated at the end of the housing, and optical detection means comprising a substantially coherent light source for detecting the movement of the rotary means, c h ar a c t e r i s e d b y the computer control device further comprising a microphone with associated activation means that communicates with a voice recognition system for controlling a computer system.

11. A computer control device according to claim 10, wherein a loudspeaker is provided in the computer control device.

12. A computer control device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the voice recognition system is positioned in the computer control device.

13. A computer control device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the voice recognition system is positioned in the computer system to be controlled.

14. A computer control device according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein data storage means is provided in the device for storing control data, voice messages or the like.

15. Use of a computer control device according claim 11 as a communication device for voice communication.

16. Use of a computer control device according to claim 15 as a web communication device by connecting the control device to a computer in a computer network based environment for voice-based communication via the internet or the like.

17. Use of a computer control device according to claim 15 as a cellular telephone.

18. Use of a computer control device according to claim 14 as a voice recorder, such as a dictating machine.