WO2006111196A1 - Manual input device memory - Google Patents

Manual input device memory Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006111196A1
WO2006111196A1 PCT/EP2005/011522 EP2005011522W WO2006111196A1 WO 2006111196 A1 WO2006111196 A1 WO 2006111196A1 EP 2005011522 W EP2005011522 W EP 2005011522W WO 2006111196 A1 WO2006111196 A1 WO 2006111196A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
input device
manual input
memory
stored
computer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2005/011522
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ziva Nissan
Shah Pratish
Original Assignee
3Dconnexion Holding S.A.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 3Dconnexion Holding S.A. filed Critical 3Dconnexion Holding S.A.
Publication of WO2006111196A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006111196A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/038—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
    • G06F3/0383—Signal control means within the pointing device
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
    • G06F3/0338—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a manual input device that provides an user interface for a computing or computer-related environment. More particularly, the invention relates to a user interface device with which a user may manually input control signals in a computing or a computer-related environment.
  • the present invention has particular application as a hand-operated device that serves as a control signal input interface for a user in the manipulation and processing of digital information, such as digital images, and it will be convenient to describe the invention in this exemplary context. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to this application, but may for example also find application in the control of a wide range of robotic and automated machinery.
  • the product range of the company 3dconnexion GmbH, Germany includes a diverse range of user interface accessory devices for Computing applications, including the SpaceBallTM, the SpaceMouseTM and the CadManTM.
  • the present invention targets at an enhancement of the flexibility of use of a manual input device for electric or electronic devices.
  • a manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices wherein the input device comprises a non-volatile memory.
  • a manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices comprises an addressable memory .
  • the memory can be a non-volatile memory.
  • the memory can be at least partially read/writeable .
  • the memory can be at least partially hard-locked such that a user can not change or erase the hard-locked part of the memory.
  • the manual input device can comprise a manipulation member which can be displaced relative to a base part in order to generate the control signals.
  • the manual input device ca be a force/torque sensor having at least three rotational and three translational degrees-of-freedom. • Such force/torque sensors have a neutral position starting from which they can be displaced against a defined force/torque.
  • the memory can be readable by a processor of the manual input device, a connected computer-controlled device or by a user.
  • a driver software for the manual input device can be stored in the memory.
  • the drive software can be stored such that it is automatically installed (upon first connection) on a connected computer-controlled device.
  • User configuration data can be stored in the memory.
  • Configuration data of the manufacturer can be stored in the memory .
  • the manufacturer's configuration data can be stored such that it can not be changed by a user.
  • Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for configuring a manual input device, the method comprising the step of storing configuration data in a non-volatile memory integrated in the manual input device .
  • a still further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing errors occurred during the use of a manual input device, the method comprising the step of reading diagnose data from a non-volatile memory integrated in the manual input device.
  • the invention also relates to a manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein driver software program is pre-stored in the manual input device.
  • a manual input device 1 having a manipulation member 2 which, starting from a home position, can be displaced relative to a base part 3 against a feedback force and torque.
  • the displacements can be, for example, in the form of rotational and/or translational movements relative to the base part 3.
  • the input device can present at least three rotational and three translational degrees-of-freedom. Other one or two- dimensional can be provided by wheels, joysticks, buttons, touch screen, scroll hat etc.
  • the additional interfaces are referenced in the figure with numerals 4, 5.
  • the base part 3 can be geometrically arranged to rest on a support surface (desk etc.) or can be integrated or integral part of another device (control panel etc.) .
  • a control unit such as e.g. a ASIC or a microcomputer (processor) 6 is designed to detect the manual manipulation (e.g. the displacements of the manipulation member 2 relative to the base part 3) and to output control signals over a communication channel 10 to a functionally connected computer-controlled device 11 such as, for example, the shown computer or other electric or electronic devices (robots, automated machinery etc.).
  • a functionally connected computer-controlled device 11 such as, for example, the shown computer or other electric or electronic devices (robots, automated machinery etc.).
  • the communication channel 10 can be unidirectional (communication only from the manual input device 1 to the computer controlled device 11) or bi-directional.
  • the manual input device 1 can be provided with a display device such as for example an LCD display 9.
  • a memory for firmware 7 can be provided, which memory 7 can be accessed by the processor 6.
  • the firmware can also be implemented via hard logic (ASIC etc . ) .
  • the writable and readable memory 8 is provided which can also be accessed by the processor 6.
  • the memory 8 is preferably non-volatile memory that can be automatically be configured to load, install and run driver software without any user intervention in order to implement a plug and play method.
  • the memory 8 can also improve the support in case build- in-diagnostics can give support personal a quick way to detect hardware or software problems in case these problems are stored as error data in the memory 8.
  • the memory 8 also allows for this customisation to customise the manual input device 1 for region, customer or any other detectable environment.
  • a non-volatile addressable memory 8 is embedded or incorporated in the manual input device 1.
  • the memory can be readable by the input device itself (processor 6), by a connected computer-controlled 11 or by the actual end user.
  • the memory 8 is accessible by the processor 6 for localisation information, diagnostic test, license information etc.
  • the memory 8 can be accessible by the computer-controlled device 11 in order to function as a removable drive in order to have the computer-controlled has access to custom drivers and other software items.
  • a user can access a memory 8 as a removable drive for portable configuration storage and other files.
  • the memory 8 in the input device 1 can be factory stored with up-to-date driver software. This gives a user a plug- and play-like-feel for custom devices with the latest driver software.
  • the latest driver software can always be present within the memory 8 of the input device 1 giving a user a quick way to bring input devices to other systems without the necessity to seek a driver CD or constantly downloading driver software from the Internet when changing from one system to another system while using the same input device 1.
  • the on-board memory 8 can also be used by the user to conveniently store data for easy transportation between different computer-controlled devices 11.
  • specific user defined configurations can be stored in the memory 8 of input device 1, ensuring that whenever the user takes the manual input device 1, the defined user configurations are immediately available and used. This reduces the necessity for a user to export configurations settings, put on some media or e-mail and re-install those configuration settings on the new system.
  • the on-board memory 8 can provide access to other tools, such as for example training tools, diagnostic tools or support tools. These tools are then readily accessible to do details self-generated diagnostics to identify problems for support personal etc .
  • the on-board memory provides the manufacturer the ability to build customised products for specific regions, for specific applications/uses of a defined time frames (e.g. one year lease) .
  • the memory 8 can contain information that cannot be read or not be changed by the user in order to give a manufacturer the full flexibility for the product.
  • the build-in memory 8 can be burned at the manufacturing process in the factory to specifically work with certain application programs, thus giving the manufacturer a flexibility vis-a-vis pricing and selling the product in a controlled manner.
  • the local memory 8 can be used to pre-store large scale information to improve the performance.
  • input devices 1 with LCD displays (reference numeral 9 in the figure) used to display textural and numeric information can have text bit map information locally stored on an input device, which can be quickly addressed from the computer- controlled device 11 without needs for transfer bit map information for each event, improving the end-user performance .
  • the memory 8 can be at least partially readable and writable or partially hard-locked.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Abstract

A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein the input device comprises a non-volatile memory.

Description

Manual Input Device with memory
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a manual input device that provides an user interface for a computing or computer-related environment. More particularly, the invention relates to a user interface device with which a user may manually input control signals in a computing or a computer-related environment.
The present invention has particular application as a hand-operated device that serves as a control signal input interface for a user in the manipulation and processing of digital information, such as digital images, and it will be convenient to describe the invention in this exemplary context. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to this application, but may for example also find application in the control of a wide range of robotic and automated machinery.
Background of the invention
A broad and ever increasing range of hand-operated devices for user input of control signals in computing or digital applications are currently available in the market-place. The more well-known of these devices include the conventional mouse in its various forms, the joystick and the track-ball.
A relatively recent development, described in US patent publication no. 2003/0103217, relates to a sensor arrangement for the detection of relative movements or the relative position of two objects, and to the incorporation of such a sensor arrangement in a user interface device for inputting control Signals in a Computing environment.
Furthermore, the product range of the company 3dconnexion GmbH, Germany, includes a diverse range of user interface accessory devices for Computing applications, including the SpaceBall™, the SpaceMouse™ and the CadMan™.
The present invention targets at an enhancement of the flexibility of use of a manual input device for electric or electronic devices.
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention a manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein the input device comprises a non-volatile memory. According to another aspect of the present invention a manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices comprises an addressable memory .
The memory can be a non-volatile memory.
The memory can be at least partially read/writeable .
The memory can be at least partially hard-locked such that a user can not change or erase the hard-locked part of the memory.
The manual input device can comprise a manipulation member which can be displaced relative to a base part in order to generate the control signals.
The manual input device ca be a force/torque sensor having at least three rotational and three translational degrees-of-freedom. • Such force/torque sensors have a neutral position starting from which they can be displaced against a defined force/torque.
The memory can be readable by a processor of the manual input device, a connected computer-controlled device or by a user.
A driver software for the manual input device can be stored in the memory. The drive software can be stored such that it is automatically installed (upon first connection) on a connected computer-controlled device.
User configuration data can be stored in the memory.
Configuration data of the manufacturer can be stored in the memory . The manufacturer's configuration data can be stored such that it can not be changed by a user.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for configuring a manual input device, the method comprising the step of storing configuration data in a non-volatile memory integrated in the manual input device .
A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for diagnosing errors occurred during the use of a manual input device, the method comprising the step of reading diagnose data from a non-volatile memory integrated in the manual input device.
The invention also relates to a manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein driver software program is pre-stored in the manual input device.
Brief description of the drawings
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which the only figure is a schematic view of the relevant elements of the user interface device (manual input device) .
Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
In the only figure a manual input device 1 is shown having a manipulation member 2 which, starting from a home position, can be displaced relative to a base part 3 against a feedback force and torque. The displacements can be, for example, in the form of rotational and/or translational movements relative to the base part 3. The input device can present at least three rotational and three translational degrees-of-freedom. Other one or two- dimensional can be provided by wheels, joysticks, buttons, touch screen, scroll hat etc. The additional interfaces are referenced in the figure with numerals 4, 5.
The base part 3 can be geometrically arranged to rest on a support surface (desk etc.) or can be integrated or integral part of another device (control panel etc.) .
A control unit such as e.g. a ASIC or a microcomputer (processor) 6 is designed to detect the manual manipulation ( e.g. the displacements of the manipulation member 2 relative to the base part 3) and to output control signals over a communication channel 10 to a functionally connected computer-controlled device 11 such as, for example, the shown computer or other electric or electronic devices (robots, automated machinery etc.).
The communication channel 10 can be unidirectional (communication only from the manual input device 1 to the computer controlled device 11) or bi-directional.
The manual input device 1 can be provided with a display device such as for example an LCD display 9.
In the manual input device 1 a memory for firmware 7 can be provided, which memory 7 can be accessed by the processor 6. Note that the firmware can also be implemented via hard logic (ASIC etc . ) .
According to the invention the writable and readable memory 8 is provided which can also be accessed by the processor 6. The memory 8 is preferably non-volatile memory that can be automatically be configured to load, install and run driver software without any user intervention in order to implement a plug and play method.
The memory 8 can also improve the support in case build- in-diagnostics can give support personal a quick way to detect hardware or software problems in case these problems are stored as error data in the memory 8.
Finally, the memory 8 also allows for this customisation to customise the manual input device 1 for region, customer or any other detectable environment.
According to the present invention, a non-volatile addressable memory 8 is embedded or incorporated in the manual input device 1. The memory can be readable by the input device itself (processor 6), by a connected computer-controlled 11 or by the actual end user. The memory 8 is accessible by the processor 6 for localisation information, diagnostic test, license information etc.
The memory 8 can be accessible by the computer-controlled device 11 in order to function as a removable drive in order to have the computer-controlled has access to custom drivers and other software items.
A user can access a memory 8 as a removable drive for portable configuration storage and other files.
Several functionalities enabled by the non-volatile readable and writable memory 8 can now be explained.
Plug and play with up-to-date driver software:
The memory 8 in the input device 1 can be factory stored with up-to-date driver software. This gives a user a plug- and play-like-feel for custom devices with the latest driver software. The latest driver software can always be present within the memory 8 of the input device 1 giving a user a quick way to bring input devices to other systems without the necessity to seek a driver CD or constantly downloading driver software from the Internet when changing from one system to another system while using the same input device 1.
Data and configuration information ,,goes" to the and input device all the time:
The on-board memory 8 can also be used by the user to conveniently store data for easy transportation between different computer-controlled devices 11.
For example, specific user defined configurations can be stored in the memory 8 of input device 1, ensuring that whenever the user takes the manual input device 1, the defined user configurations are immediately available and used. This reduces the necessity for a user to export configurations settings, put on some media or e-mail and re-install those configuration settings on the new system.
Improvement of a customer support experience: The on-board memory 8 can provide access to other tools, such as for example training tools, diagnostic tools or support tools. These tools are then readily accessible to do details self-generated diagnostics to identify problems for support personal etc .
Customisation of the manual input device 1: The on-board memory provides the manufacturer the ability to build customised products for specific regions, for specific applications/uses of a defined time frames (e.g. one year lease) . The memory 8 can contain information that cannot be read or not be changed by the user in order to give a manufacturer the full flexibility for the product. For example, the build-in memory 8 can be burned at the manufacturing process in the factory to specifically work with certain application programs, thus giving the manufacturer a flexibility vis-a-vis pricing and selling the product in a controlled manner.
Quick large scale controlled deployments:
Large enterprise IT organisations get greater control of mass delivery and set up of devices, ensuring that each user gets the preferred software and configuration via simple plugging in of the manual input device and automatically configuring the system according to the company's IT needs. Large IT organisation can get manual input devices with specific pre-program driver software and configuration settings stored in the memory 8.
Improved performance:
For certain classes of input devices, where well defined data has to be exchanged between system, host and the manual input device, the local memory 8 can be used to pre-store large scale information to improve the performance. For example input devices 1 with LCD displays (reference numeral 9 in the figure) used to display textural and numeric information can have text bit map information locally stored on an input device, which can be quickly addressed from the computer- controlled device 11 without needs for transfer bit map information for each event, improving the end-user performance .
As set forth above, the memory 8 can be at least partially readable and writable or partially hard-locked.

Claims

Claims ;
1. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein the input device comprises a non-volatile memory.
2. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein the input device comprises an addressable memory.
3. The manual input device according to claim 2, wherein the memory is a non-volatile memory.
4. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the memory is at least partially read/writeable .
5. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the memory is at least partially hard-locked.
6. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the manual input device comprises a manipulation member which can be moved relative to a base part in order to generate the control signals.
7. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the memory is readable by a processor of the manual input device, a connected computer-controlled device or a user.
8. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a driver software is stored in the memory.
9. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein user configuration data is stored in the memory.
10. The manual input device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein manufacturer's configuration data is stored in the memory .
11. The manual input device according to claim 8, wherein the manufacturer's configuration data is stored such that it can not be changed by a user.
12. A method for configuring a manual input device, the method comprising the step of storing configuration data in a non-volatile memory integrated in the manual input device.
13. A method for diagnosing errors occurred during the use of a manual input device, the method comprising the step of reading diagnose data from a non-volatile memory integrated in the manual input device .
14. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein a driver software program is pre-stored in the manual input device.
15. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein diagnostic software is pre-stored in the manual input device.
16. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein licensing software is pre-stored in the manual input device.
17. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, wherein customisation software is pre-stored in the manual input device.
18. A manual input device for generating control signals for computer-controlled devices, the input device having a display, wherein bitmap data for the display is pre-stored in the manual input device.
PCT/EP2005/011522 2005-04-22 2005-10-27 Manual input device memory WO2006111196A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US67376205P 2005-04-22 2005-04-22
US60/673,762 2005-04-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006111196A1 true WO2006111196A1 (en) 2006-10-26

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0566265A2 (en) * 1992-04-13 1993-10-20 International Business Machines Corporation Computer pointing device with cleaning alarm
US5990866A (en) * 1997-08-01 1999-11-23 Guy D. Yollin Pointing device with integrated physiological response detection facilities
EP1168235A2 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-02 International Business Machines Corporation A personal smart pointing device
EP1359496A1 (en) * 2001-02-09 2003-11-05 Sony Corporation Input device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0566265A2 (en) * 1992-04-13 1993-10-20 International Business Machines Corporation Computer pointing device with cleaning alarm
US5990866A (en) * 1997-08-01 1999-11-23 Guy D. Yollin Pointing device with integrated physiological response detection facilities
EP1168235A2 (en) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-02 International Business Machines Corporation A personal smart pointing device
EP1359496A1 (en) * 2001-02-09 2003-11-05 Sony Corporation Input device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"INTELLIGENT MOUSE", IBM TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE BULLETIN, IBM CORP. NEW YORK, US, vol. 38, no. 2, 1 February 1995 (1995-02-01), pages 463, XP000502542, ISSN: 0018-8689 *

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