Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; 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
  • G06F3/0362—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Definitions

• a pointing device In computer systems, a pointing device generally functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface.
• the pointing device may include various user features, such as “wheels” or buttons, which permit a user of the device to perform system-dependent operations.
• the motion of the pointing device typically translates into the motion of a pointer on a display, which allows for fine control of a Graphical User Interface (GUI).
• GUI Graphical User Interface
• Typical pointing devices utilize a “point and click” sequence of operations where a cursor, once moved to a desired position, performs a click operation responsive to user depression of a button.
• the computer mouse is one example of such a pointing device.
• Other known examples can include a trackball, a joystick, or a touchpad.
• aspects and embodiments discussed herein are directed to a pointing device system that is controllable by a user without requiring unnecessary actions and movements.
• various embodiments facilitate the avoidance of harmful movements that may cause injuries or strains to the user.
• aspects and embodiments of the pointing device systems discussed herein improve the stability, structural integrity, and alignment and precision of pointing device.
• aspects and embodiments discussed herein are directed to an improved ergonomic roller mouse pointing device system which is shortened in length, has improved position accuracy, and improved functionality.
• aspects and embodiments are directed to a multiple sensor measurement system including multiple optical sensors that can be disposed along any surface (internal or external) of an elongated base member (holder).
• aspects and embodiments discussed herein are directed to an ergonomic roller mouse pointing device system having multiple (at least two) optical sensors placed along a surface of the housing (central holder) that are used to detect motion of the outer sleeve moving along and over the optical sensors.
• aspects and embodiments provided herein provide an ergonomic roller mouse with multiple optical sensors that results in a holder and an outer sleeve that can be shorter in length, so that the roller mouse device can be smaller, while also providing the roller mouse device that has improved measurement precision and functionality.
• the pointing device system comprises an elongate base member, a sleeve disposed to fit over a portion of the elongate base member, the sleeve configured to rotate about the elongate base member in a first direction and slide about the elongate base member in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the sleeve includes a pattern on an inner surface thereof, and multiple optical sensors disposed along a surface of the elongate base member, or within the elongate base member, and positioned to detect at least one of a rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the sensor and an axial movement of the sleeve relative to the sensor based at least in part on a variation of the pattern within a field of view of the multiple optical sensors.
• the pointing device system comprises an elongate base member, a sleeve disposed to fit over a portion of the elongate base member, and at least two optical sensors.
• the sleeve is configured to rotate about the elongate base member in a first (Y) direction and slide about the elongate base member in a second (X) direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction.
• the at least two optical sensors are disposed along a surface of the elongate base member and positioned to detect a position reading of the sleeve from at least one of a rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the multiple optical sensors and an axial movement of the sleeve relative to the at least two optical sensors, based at least in part on a variation of at least one signal received by the at least one of the at least two optical sensors signals from an inner surface of the sleeve within a field of view of at least one sensor of the at least two optical sensors.
• the position reading is based on a signal received by only one of the optical sensors.
• the position reading is based on a signal received from an optical sensor covered by the sleeve and the reading from an optical sensor not covered by the sleeve is ignored.
• the at least two optical sensors comprises two optical sensors and the position reading is based on signals received from the two optical sensors. In one example, the position reading is based on an average of the signals from the two optical sensors.
• the position reading is selected from a higher quality of the signals from the two optical sensors. In one example, the position reading is selected from the sensor that is more likely to be covered based on a determined direction of movement of the sleeve based on signals from the two optical sensors.
• the position reading is selected from a left sensor based on a determination that the sleeve is moving to the left based on signals from the two optical sensors.
• the position reading is selected from a right sensor based on a determination that the sleeve is moving to the right based on signals from the two optical sensors.
• the surface of the elongate base member is an inner surface
• the two sensors are disposed along the inner surface and each sensor receives a signal from the inner surface of the sleeve through a respective aperture in the elongate base member.
• the length of the sleeve is at least 2mm greater than a distance between an end to end spacing between the two optical sensors.
• the length of the sleeve is 10cm and the distance between the sensors is 7 cm.
• the positioning device is an improved roller mouse pointing device.
• the improved pointing device has at least twice the X-range of a single optical sensor roller mouse pointing device.
• the improved pointing device has improved positioning accuracy relative to a single optical sensor roller mouse pointing device.
• the improved pointing device is smaller than a single optical sensor roller mouse pointing device.
• the improved positioning device further comprises a circuit in communication with the multiple optical sensors that is configured to transmit the detected position reading based on at least one of the rotational movement and the axial movement of the sleeve to a host computer.
• the circuit in communication with the multiple optical sensors communicates with a processor that is configured to effect motion of a pointer in a visual display relative to the detected position reading of at least one of the rotational movement and the axial movement of the sleeve.
• an improved positioning method comprises moving a sleeve disposed over a portion of the elongate base member, the sleeve configured to rotate about the elongate base member in a first (Y) direction and slide about the elongate base member in a second (X) direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, and receiving an optical signal from at least one optical sensor of at least two optical sensors disposed along a surface of the elongate base member from at least one of a rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the at least two optical sensors and axial movement of the sleeve relative to the at least two optical sensors, based at least in part on a variation of the optical signal received by the at least at least one of the at least two optical sensors signals from an inner surface of the sleeve within a field of view of at least one optical sensor of the at least two optical sensors to provide a position reading.
• the position reading is based on a signal received by only one of the at least two optical sensors.
• the position reading is based on a signal received from an optical sensor covered by the sleeve and the reading from an optical sensor not covered by the sleeve is ignored.
• the position reading is based on signals received from two of the at least two optical sensors. In one example, the position reading is based on an average of the signals received from the two optical sensors. In one example, the position reading is selected from a higher quality of the signals from the two optical sensors. In one example, the position reading is selected from a sensor that is more likely to be covered based on a determined direction of movement of the sleeve based on signals from the two optical sensors.
• the position reading is selected from a left sensor based on a determination that the sleeve is moving to the left based on signals from the two optical sensors.
• the position reading is selected from a right sensor based on a determination that the sleeve is moving to the right based on readings from the two optical sensors.
• the position reading is processed to provide an improved roller mouse pointing device.
• the method further comprises transmitting the position reading to a host computer to effect motion of a pointer in a visual display relative to the position reading of at least one of the rotational movement and the axial movement of the sleeve.
• FIG. 1 is an example of a pointing device system according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIG. 2 illustrates one example of the elongate base member and the sleeve of the pointing device system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the sleeve of the pointing device system illustrated in FIG. 1, according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIG. 4 is one example of a pattern that may be applied to the inside surface of a sleeve, according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate one embodiment of a multiple sensor system including multiples optical sensors disposed along the length of an elongated holder and different positions of the outer sleeve with respect to the multiple optical sensors;
• FIG 6. Illustrates an example of a process for determining any handover between readings from the multiple optical sensors.
• FIG. 7 is an enhanced view of an inner-sensor, according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIG. 8 illustrates another example of a pointing device system according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIG. 9 illustrates a further example of a pointing device system according to aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 10 illustrates a transparent view of an example pointing device system according to aspects of the present disclosure
• FIG. 11 illustrates a transparent view of another example pointing device system according to aspects of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 12 illustrates a transparent view of a further example of a pointing device system according to aspects of the present invention.
• Conventional pointing devices suffer from a variety of deficiencies, such as ergonomic problems. Often, operation of a conventional pointing device requires an unnecessary amount of open space. Moreover, extended use of certain conventional pointing devices has been known to result in injuries or strains to a user. Accordingly, aspects and embodiments discussed herein reduce the amount of space necessary to operate a pointing device, while also minimizing the strain on the arm, back, shoulders, neck, hands, or wrists, of the user. Various aspects and embodiments of an improved ergonomic roller mouse pointing device discussed herein have therefore been developed as a replacement for a conventional computer mouse.
• the pointing device system may include a sleeve which is rotatable and slidable along an elongate base member (also referred to as a “central housing or holder”).
• the pointing device system includes multiple optical sensors which are positioned to detect the rotation and/or axial movement of the sleeve, and that are configured to communicate with a processor to effect movement of a pointer within a visual display.
• a user of the pointing device system may control the x and y coordinates of a pointer location in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of a computer system to which the pointing device system is connected.
• GUI Graphical User Interface
• the elongate base member may be depressible by the user, permitting the user to perform actions corresponding to conventional mouse clicks.
• the pointing device system may also include, either individually or in any combination, a support assembly, a patterned inner sleeve, a Piezoelectric device, and/or a click pressure adjuster, each of which improve the functionality of the pointing device system, as well as the usability.
• aspects and embodiments discussed herein are directed to an improved ergonomic roller mouse pointing device system which is smaller, has improved position accuracy, and improved functionality when compared to other ergonomic pointing device systems.
• aspects and embodiments are directed to a multiple sensor measurement system including multiple optical sensors that can be disposed along any surface (internal or external) of the elongated base member (holder).
• aspects and embodiments discussed herein are directed to an ergonomic roller mouse pointing device system having multiple (at least two) optical sensors placed along a surface of the housing (central holder) that are used to detect motion of the outer sleeve moving in the X-Y directions along and over the optical sensors.
• the outer sleeve disposed around the holder can be shorter in length
• the central housing (holder) can be shortened in length
• the overall roller mouse device can be smaller
• Another advantage of the multiple sensor measurement system is that is enables a miniature version of the roller mouse device with a small central holder and a small outer sleeve.
• Another aspect of the multiple sensor technology system is software and/or firmware functionality that handles any handover between the multiple optical sensors.
• Another aspect of the multiple sensor technology system is that can be used for any device or application that has a sliding surface of limited range, and it is not just limited to pointing devices.
• Another aspect of the multiple sensor technology system is that it can be used with any roller mouse system that has inner optical sensors (internal to the holder) or outer optical sensors (external to the holder).
• Another aspect of the multiple sensor technology system is that provides for more accurate reconstruction of the absolute position of the outer sleeve along its X -Y range which can be translated to the pointer in a display.
• Another aspect of the multiple sensor technology system is that the more optical sensors that are used, the more accurate the positioning measurement can be.
• Another aspect of the multiple sensor technology system and the improved ergonomic roller mouse pointing device system is that with a shorter sleeve, the range of motion of the pointing device in the X-direction can be doubled as compared to a single optical sensor system, which enables, for example: left to right movement between multiple monitors (i.e. dual monitor applications) without being limited by end detection of the sleeve in the X-direction along the holder; in a single monitor environment enables double X to Y movement of the pointing device so that a user rarely or never hits the end of the X movement range of the pointing device, which minimizes the need for and/or simplifies the end detection needed.
• references to “or” may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using “or” may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms. Any references to front and back, left and right, top and bottom, upper and lower, and vertical and horizontal are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present systems and methods or their components to any one positional or spatial orientation.
• the pointing device system 100 can include a device case 102.
• the device case 102 secures and protects additional parts and components of the pointing device system 100.
• FIG. 1 illustrates the pointing device system 100 as having a device case 102 including a removable wrist rest 104.
• the wrist rest 104 may have one or more cushions 106 to improve wrist positioning of a user of the pointing device 100.
• the pointing device system also includes an elongate base member 108 and a sleeve 110.
• the pointing device system 100 includes an elongate base member 108 (“base member” or “central housing” or “holder”) and a sleeve 110.
• the sleeve is be disposed to fit over a portion of the base member 108, which in certain instances may include a hollow tube.
• the base member 108 may extend coaxially through a center of the sleeve 110 such that the sleeve 110 may rotate about the base member 108 in a first (Y) direction (illustrated as direction A), and translate (e.g., slide) along the base member 108 in a substantially orthogonal second (X) direction (illustrated as direction B).
• arrow indicator A represents the first (Y) direction about which the sleeve 110 is configured to rotate
• arrow indicator B represents the second (X) direction about which the sleeve 110 is configured to slide.
• the device case 102 partially exposes the sleeve 110 and elongate base member 108 so as to make them accessible to a user of the pointing device system 100.
• the sleeve 110 can include a tactile material disposed on an outside surface of the sleeve 110, such as a grip 204.
• the sleeve 110 may also be flexible and composed of one of plastic, cloth, paper, rubber, or other material.
• the sleeve 110 may be composed of a rigid material, and in particular, may take the shape of the elongate base member 108 (e.g., shown as a substantially cylindrical shape). However, in certain other examples the sleeve 110 may have a shape that is substantially different from a shape of the elongate base member 108. In certain embodiments, the sleeve may be flexible and loosely fit over the central housing so that it need not take the shape of the elongate base member.
• the system 100 includes an optical sensor system that includes multiple optical sensors that can be either disposed internal to the holder or external to the holder.
• the multiple optical sensors are disposed within the elongate base member 108 to detect at least one of the rotational movement and the axial movement of the sleeve 110.
• one or more switches are included within the case 102 of the pointing device system 100 and are positioned to detect a depression of the sleeve 110 (and/or the elongate base member 108) and initiate an action referred to herein as a “click operation” or “mouse click”.
• the system 100 may include a click trigger switch positioned so as to activate responsive to an application of downward pressure to the sleeve 110.
• the device case 102 also includes a cover which surrounds portions of the inner components of the device case 102, such as the click trigger switch, and protects the components from dust, dirt, moisture, and etc.
• the sleeve 110 may also include indicia printed on an outside surface thereof, and may be replaceable with a second sleeve by the user. As illustrated, in various embodiments, the sleeve 110 is supported on the elongate base member 108 by one or more bushings 202a, 202b that allow fluid rotation and sliding about the base member 108. Although the base member 108 and sleeve 110 are shown as including a generally tubular shape, in various additional embodiments, the base member 108 and sleeve 110 could include shapes having a generally non-circular cross-section, a cross-section having at least one flat surface and at least one curved surface, or a cross section having at least three rounded corners.
• the base member 108 may be composed of any durable material, such as aluminum.
• the base member 108 is chosen to have a low coefficient of static friction between the base member 108 and sleeve 110 to provide fluid movement of the sleeve 110 about the base member 108.
• FIG. 3 illustrates a cut-away 302 of the sleeve 110 in which an inside (i.e., interior) surface of the sleeve 110 is viewable.
• the sleeve 110 includes a pattern 304 on the inside surface thereof.
• the pattern 304 may be printed, adhered, or otherwise formed on the inside surface of the sleeve 110.
• the pattern 304 may include a color pattern, a texture pattern, and/or any regular or irregular design on the inside surface.
• the pattern 304 may be positioned within a field of view of multiple optical sensors of the pointing device system 100 such that the multiple optical sensors may detect at least one of a rotational movement and an axial movement of the sleeve 110, relative to each optical sensor (and to the elongate base member 108), based on a variation in the pattern 304 within the field of view.
• a variation in the pattern 304 may include movement of the pattern 304 relative to the optical sensors.
• FIG. 4 illustrated is one example of a pattern 402 that may be applied to the inside surface of the sleeve 110 shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 illustrates one example of an alternating color pattern.
• the pattern extends along a length of the sleeve 110 (e.g., in the second direction B) and includes a plurality of alternating black cylindrical sections. While in the example of FIG. 4 the pattern 402 is shown as including alternating black cylindrical sections, other colors and shapes may be used in various other implementations.
• the pattern 402 may be divided into a plurality of zones, each zone corresponding to a function to be performed by a processor in communication with the multiple optical sensors.
• the zones may correspond to and be used for any or all of increase or decrease of speed of movement of the pointer, proximity of an end of the sleeve to an end of the holder (end detection of the sleeve).
• the system can provide for end detection begins when the sleeve 110 reaches an end of the elongate base member 108. Once detected, the system 100 prompts the processor to automatically move a location of the pointer in the visual display in a corresponding direction continuously until the sleeve 110 is removed from the end of the elongate base member 108.
• detection of a certain zone by the optical sensors may alternatively prompt the processor to enter a “scroll” mode of operation.
• the pointing device system 100 may also provide functionality for any or all of cursor end avoidance, or cursor auto centering.
• the pointing device system 100 may include one or more additional sensors to detect the movement of the sleeve 110.
• the system 100 may include one or more linear Hall effect sensors which are positioned to monitor the momentary position of the sleeve 110 relative to the end of the elongate base member 108.
• the system 100 may include a first linear Hall effect sensor positioned at a first end of the elongate base member 108 and a second linear Hall effect sensor positioned at a distal second end of the elongate base member. Each linear Hall effect sensor may interact with a corresponding magnet to determine the proximity of the sleeve to the corresponding end of the sleeve.
• the processor may be prompted to enter a “scroll” mode and/or perform one or more end detection operations, as further discussed herein.
• the elongate base member includes multiple optical sensors disposed on a surface of the elongate base member.
• the multiple optical sensors 512, 514 are disposed within the elongate base member 508 (i.e. are inner-optical sensors).
• the optical sensors 512, 514 may be positioned to detect the rotational movement and/or axial movement of the sleeve 510 through a respective aperture in the elongate base member 508.
• the optical sensor that is detecting the motion has to be covered at all times by the inner surface of the sleeve 510 that it is detecting light from.
• the sleeve 510 of the improved roller mouse device has to at least always be covering a respective aperture of at least one optical sensor 512, 514.
• the optimal position of the single optical sensor is at the center of the elongate holder and the sleeve typically has a length of at least half (typically slightly more) of the length of the elongate holder.
• a problem with such an arrangement is that the range of motion of the sleeve and thus of the pointing device is limited to half the size of the elongate holder of the roller mouse device.
• the optical sensors 512, 514 and their respective apertures are spaced apart along the length of the elongate holder 508 and the sleeve has a length that is long enough to cover both sensor 512, 514 as shown in FIG. 5C, but need not cover both sensors 512, 514 at all times, such as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B.
• the sensors 512, 514 and the respective apertures may be equally spaced apart at approximately 1/3 and 2/3 of the length of the elongate holder.
• the sleeve 510 has a length having a minimum overlap over the sensors 512, 514 having a lower bound value that is determined by a maximum speed of physical motion that the roller mouse system is designed to accommodate and also a maximum sampling rate of the system.
• the sensors 512, 514 and respective apertures are placed 7cm apart along the length of the holder and the sleeve length is 10 cm. This arrangement is designed for a sampling rate to be as little as 1ms. With such an arrangement, the resulting minimum overlap of the sleeve is at least a minimum of a few millimeters.
• the sleeve with a length By making the sleeve with a length to have an overlap of in a range of at least a few millimeters up to 3cm, there is provided an improved roller mouse system that allows for a reasonable margin to account for loss of tracking of the sleeve and other potential issues.
• One advantage of such an arrangement according to aspects of this disclosure is that the size of at least the sleeve 510 as well as the size of the elongate holder 508 can be reduced can be reduced.
• the multiple sensors 512, 514 need not be limited to two optical sensors, it could be more than two optical sensors, and also that the respective apertures need not be position at 1/3 and 2/3 of the length of the elongate holder.
• the length of the sleeve 510 and the position of the multiple optical sensors 512, 514 and respective apertures can be positioned along the central holder so that, at any point in time, at least one of the optical sensors 512, 514 and respective apertures will be covered by the sleeve 510.
• the sleeve need only be slightly longer than a maximum distance between two contiguous optical sensors of multiple optical sensors to allow seamless hand-over between the two optical sensors.
• inner-optical sensors may further detect proximity of the sleeve 510 to one or more ends of the elongate base member 108.
• the pointing device system 500 may include multiple optical sensors that detect all movements of the sleeve 510 (e.g., rotational, axial, and end detection).
• the sleeve need only be longer than a greater of the two of a maximum distance between two contiguous optical sensors of multiple optical sensors along the length of the holder and the distance between an optical sensors along the length of the holder and an optical sensor the end of the holder used for end of the end of range of motion detection.
• FIG. 6 there is illustrated a flowchart of the multiple sensor handover functionality according to aspects and embodiments of this disclosure.
• the functionality can be implemented, for example, in software and/or firmware.
• the system periodically monitors the motion of the sleeve as detected by the multiple sensors and the coverage state of the multiple sensors, and uses the information to accurately determine the X-Y motion of the sleeve and translate it to motion of a cursor.
• each optical sensor is determined at a snapshot in time to have a logical state that is considered either “covered” or “not covered”.
• the logical state is covered, then the sensor is considered active and information is collected from that. If the sensor is considered “not covered”, the information from that sensor is ignored. If more than one sensor is covered, the detected X motion resulting from the sensor readings is a combination of all the readings according to multiple strategies. According to aspects and embodiments, the information from the multiple sensors can be used according to a plurality of possible strategies:
• the sleeve Based on the direction of motion the sleeve as determined by the sensor readings, select the reading from the sensor that is most likely to be covered (less likely to be uncovered). In particular, the information from the left sensor is used when the motion is above a certain speed in the direction toward the left sensor. In the region of the sleeve where both the sensors are considered covered by the sleeve, the information from the right sensor is used if the motion of the sleeve is determined to be toward the right. To determine which direction the sleeve is moving and which sensor information to pick, an average of the two sensors motion is determined. For example, looking at FIG.
• the process for determining any handover between readings from the multiple optical sensors begins at 602. A preselected time interval is allowed to pass at 604 before readings are taken at the multiple sensors. After the time interval, measurements are taken at both sensors 606 and from these measurements it is determined whether each sensor is considered covered or uncovered. If the right sensor is determined to be uncovered 608, then the reading from the left sensor is used 610 to determine X- Y position. If the left sensor is determined to be uncovered 612, then the reading from the right sensor is used 614 to determine X-Y position. If both sensors are considered to be covered 616, then the reading from both sensors are used 618 according to the any of the multiple strategies disclosed herein 620.
• the ultimate reading is then sent to the host computer 622 to be translated into X-Y pointer movement.
• the process then repeats 624.
• Another aspect to the seamless handover between the sensors is the ability to correlate the simultaneity of readings. Since there is no shared time base between sensors, a time division approach is used. In particular, readings in the same time slot are considered to refer to the same sample snapshot in time of the motion of the sleeve.
• each optical sensor 512, 514 is a laser sensor that emits and detects light through a respective aperture in the elongated holder 508.
• FIG. 7 shows an enhanced cross-sectional view of one example of an inner-optical sensor 702 that can be used for the multiple optical sensors 512, 514 (See FIG. 5) and positioned within an elongate base member 708.
• the inner-optical sensor 702 may be mounted to a sensor housing 704, which is attached to a sensor circuit board 706 within the elongate base member 710 or on a surface of the elongate base member 710.
• the inner-optical sensor 702 includes a laser sensor, in other examples any suitable type of sensor may be used, such as any other suitable optical sensor.
• the inner-optical sensor 702 provides light to, and detects light reflected from, the inside surface of the sleeve (e.g., sleeve 510 of FIG. 5). Movement of the sleeve varies the pattern in the field of view of the inner-optical sensor 702, and the characteristics of light reflected from the inside surface of the sleeve.
• a sensor support 710 secures the sensor circuit board 706, and the inner-optical sensor 702, within the elongate base member 708.
• the elongate base member 708 has a respective aperture through which the optical sensor 702 is in optical contact with the inside surface of the sleeve. Movements detected by the optical sensors 512, 514 (See FIG. 5) are communicated to other system components (e.g., a processor in communication with the pointing device system) through at least the sensor circuit board 706. While in one example the pattern on the inside surface of the sleeve may facilitate end proximity detection, in certain other examples, the corresponding pointing device system 600 may also (or alternatively) include one or more end-detection sensors, such as additional optical sensors, hall effect sensors, and contact switches as have been disclosed herein.
• end-detection sensors such as additional optical sensors, hall effect sensors, and contact switches as have been disclosed herein.
• the arrangement allows a more accurate reconstruction of the absolute position of the sleeve along its range. The more sensors that are used the more accurate it is. Thus, it may not even be necessary to provide for end detection, thereby further simplifying the pointing device. So another aspect and advantage of this arrangement is to provide an absolute position reconstruction of the outer sleeve based entirely on the motion sensors available. This is relevant not only for end detection but also for using the device in applications where it’s desired to map the absolute X position of the sleeve to some controlled element on the host.
• FIG. 5 shows the system 500 also includes one or more buttons 516 having corresponding switches (not illustrated), and a scroll wheel 518.
• Activation of any one of the one or more buttons 516, and scroll wheel 518 permits the user to perform a function generally performed by a conventional mouse.
• each button 516 may have a corresponding switch, which when pressed may represent an action, such as Copy, Paste, Right click, Left click, or Double click. Depression of a corresponding button may activate the corresponding switch and generate a signal to perform the given action.
• Each button 516 may additionally provide audio feedback (e.g., a click sound) to indicate to the user that the corresponding action has occurred.
• buttons may be independently programmable and may be assigned an action based on user preference. It is also to be understood that while described as each button may be individually configured to perform Copy, Paste, Right click, Left click, or Double click functions, in various further embodiments, the plurality of buttons 516 may also be configurable by the user to perform a user defined function.
• various embodiments of the pointing device system 500 may be configured to communicate with a computer system, or similar device, and translate the motion of the sleeve 510 relative to the elongate base member 508 into motion of a pointer on the visual display of the computer system.
• communication may include communication through the wired connection (not illustrated), which may include a cable, for example.
• the pointing device system 500 is characterized by the absence of a wired connection to the corresponding computer system. That is, the wired connection may be replaced with a wireless connection.
• the replacement of wires connecting the pointing device system 500 and computer system with a wireless transmitter/receiver further improves the ergonomics of the pointing device system 500 and removes obstructions from the workspace of the user.
• a circuit board (not illustrated) can also be disposed within the sensor housing.
• the circuit board may be coupled and in communication with multiple optical sensors (e.g., via the sensor circuit board), one or more switches, a click trigger, and one or more other components of the pointing device system.
• the circuit board may be configured to transmit and receive data with the processor of a computer system responsive to detected movement of a sleeve about the elongate base member.
• Various components of the pointing device systems discussed herein are mounted to either a single common printed circuit board, or distributed among more than one printed circuit board.
• the circuit board may be secured to the device case via one or more fasteners (e.g., screws).
• the circuit board may include a transmitter circuit including a wireless transmitter/receiver for wireless communication with a wireless transmitter/receiver at the computer system.
• the transmitter can include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, which can for example be in the form of a USB type device that can be connected to a USB port.
• RF radio frequency
• a controller is electrically connected to, or otherwise associated with, the transmitter, and causes transmission of data regarding the detected rotations and translations of the sleeve 510. Transmitted motion of the sleeve 510 is translated by computer interface circuitry to cursor control signals for the visual display.
• the transmitter encodes and transmits information including movement of the sleeve 510 about the base member 508, click operations, scroll wheel and button activation.
• the receiver is configured to accept the transmission and responsively decode the information.
• the receiver is configured to plug-in to a peripheral mouse input of the computer system.
• the transmitter and receiver of one embodiment may be configured to operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.
• BLUETOOTH® transmitter/receiver or any other wireless signal transmitter/receiver as used in the art, to communicate between the pointing device system 500 and the computer system.
• BLUETOOTH® refers to a short range ad hock network, otherwise known as piconet.
• the circuit board further includes a universal serial bus (USB) circuit configured to supply power provided by a USB cable to the power source.
• USB universal serial bus
• the pointing device system 500 may also be configured to communicate with the computer system via the USB cable.
• the pointing device system 500 may be configured to transmit information, such as detected sleeve 510 movement and click operations, to the computer system via the cable.
• the USB circuit may be in selective communication with the circuit board and various other system 500 components, such as the sensor circuit board.
• the USB cable is removable and the pointing device system 500 is configured to be free of all wired connections to the computer system.
• the pointing device 500 may also include a rechargeable power source.
• the rechargeable power source includes a rechargeable battery.
• the power source is in electrical communication with, and configured to provide electrical power to, components disposed on the circuit board and the sensor circuit board.
• the rechargeable power source of one example may include a rechargeable lithium- ion (LiOn) battery.
• the pointing device system 100, 500 may communicate with the processor of a computer system, such as a desktop computer. There are many examples of computer systems that the improved pointing device system can be used with.
• these examples include, among others, network appliances, personal computers, workstations, mainframes, networked clients, servers, media servers, application servers, database servers, and web servers.
• Other examples of computer systems may include mobile computer systems (e.g., smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants) and network equipment (e.g., load balancers, routers, and switches).
• mobile computer systems e.g., smart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants
• network equipment e.g., load balancers, routers, and switches.
• Examples of particular models of mobile computer systems include iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches running iOS operating system available from Apple, Android devices like Samsung Galaxy Series, LG Nexus, and Motorola Droid X, Blackberry devices available from Blackberry Limited, and Areas Phone devices.
• the computer system of various embodiments may include a processor, a memory, an interconnection element, an interface, and data storage element.
• the processor performs a series of instructions that result in manipulated data.
• the processor may be any type of processor, multiprocessor or controller.
• Example processors may include a commercially available processor such as an Intel Xeon, Itanium, Core, Celeron, or Pentium processor; an AMD Opteron processor; an Apple A4 or A5 processor; a Sun UltraSPARC processor; an IBM Power5+ processor; an IBM mainframe chip; or a quantum computer.
• the processor is connected to other system components, including one or more memory devices, by the interconnection element.
• the memory stores programs (e.g., sequences of instructions coded to be executable by the processor) and data during operation of the computer system.
• the memory may be a relatively high performance, volatile, random access memory such as a dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”) or static memory (“SRAM”).
• DRAM dynamic random access memory
• SRAM static memory
• the memory may include any device for storing data, such as a disk drive or other nonvolatile storage device.
• the interconnection element enables communications, including instructions and data, to be exchanged between system components of the computer system.
• the computer system also includes one or more interface devices such as input devices, output devices and combination input/output devices. Interface devices may receive input or provide output. More particularly, output devices may render information for external presentation. Input devices may accept information from external sources, such as various embodiments of the ergonomic pointing device described herein.
• the input devices may be wireless and the ergonomic pointing device system may communicate via a wireless signal, such as BLUETOOTH®, to the computer system.
• the data storage element includes a computer readable and writeable nonvolatile, or non- transitory, data storage medium in which instructions are stored that define a program or other object that is executed by the processor.
• the data storage element also may include information that is recorded, on or in, the medium, and that is processed by the processor during execution of the program.
• FIGS. 1 - 7 illustrate some examples of an improved pointing device system having a multiple optical sensors subsystem, and other components thereof, aspects of the disclosure should not be limited to those specific examples discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 - 7.
• FIGS. 8-12 each illustrate different pointing device system arrangements, in which the multiple optical sensors subsystem of this disclosure may be incorporated.
• various aspects of the pointing device system arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 8-12 may be incorporated in those examples discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 - 7.
• the pointing device system 1500 is shown as including an elongate base member 1502 and a device case 1504.
• the device case 1504 may contain additional parts, such as a circuit board, a click trigger, one or more switches, and a Piezoelectric device, among other components.
• the pointing device 1500 also includes a sleeve 1506 which fits over a portion of elongate base member 1502.
• Sleeve 1506 is rotatable about a portion of the elongate base member 1502, and is also slidable along a length of the elongate base member 1502.
• the sleeve 1506 is supported by bushings 1508a and 1508b, and may include a grip 1510 on an exterior surface. Also shown is a wrist support 1512.
• FIG. 9 illustrates a pointing device system 1600 having a similar arrangement to that of the pointing device system 1500 shown in FIG. 8.
• FIG. 9 shows an elongate base member 1602, a sleeve 1604, and a device case 1606.
• the device case 1606 surrounds portions of additional components of the pointing device system 1600, such as a circuit board, one or more switches, and a Piezoelectric device, among other hardware, and protects those components from dust, dirt, moisture and the like.
• Different covers and different layouts may be implemented and may be adjusted based on the intended location of the pointing device system 1600 (e.g., a desktop, a remote computer terminal, etc.).
• FIG. 10 one example of a pointing device system support assembly that can be issued in any of the embodiments disclosed herein is illustrated. While in certain examples (not illustrated), a pair of brackets and a support rod may hold and suspend the elongate base member 1702 and sleeve 1704, in certain other embodiments other support assemblies may be used. For instance, in FIG. 10 a pair of leaf springs 1706a and 1706b is shown. The elongate base member 1702 and sleeve 1704 are supported by the leaf springs 1706a and 1706b, which are located proximate the ends of elongate base member 1702.
• the elongate base member 1702 may be supported by a single leaf spring positioned at one end of the elongate base member 1702.
• the leaf springs 1706a, 1706b deflect allowing depression of the sleeve 1704 and elongate base member 1702.
• the downward movement may activate a click trigger, which may be used, for example, to perform a drag and drop operation with the pointing device.
• tension of each leaf spring 1706a, 1706b may be adjusted to adjust the downward pressure which activates the click trigger.
• a pointing device system 1800 that can include the multiple optical sensors subsystem and also incorporating a support assembly having a pair of solenoids 1802a, 1802b is shown.
• Each solenoid 1802a, 1802b include a respective plunger, coil, and plunger return spring.
• An elongate base member 1804 and sleeve 1806 are supported by solenoids 1802a, 1802b, which are located proximate the ends of elongate base member 1804 and are in mechanical communication with leaf springs 1808a, 1808b.
• leaf springs 1808a, 1808b When a force is applied by the user in a generally downward direction on the sleeve 1806, the solenoid plunger(s) deflect, as do leaf springs 1808a, 1808b, allowing depression of the sleeve 1806.
• the pointing device system 1900 may include many of the same components as the other example pointing device systems described herein.
• the pointing device system 1900 may include a device case including a device base 1902, an elongate base member 1904, a circuit board 1906, a sleeve 1908, multiple optical sensors, and a click trigger, among other components.
• FIG. 12 further shows another example of a support assembly which can be used to hold and suspend the elongate base member 1904 and the sleeve 1906.
• FIG. 12 shows a first support 1908a and a second support 1908b disposed at distal ends of the elongate base member 1904.
• Each support 1908a, 1908b is configured to receive the elongate base member 1904, and suspend the elongate base member 1904 and surrounding sleeve 1908 to permit depression thereof.
• the support system may also include a plurality of support rails 1910 interposed between the first and the second support 1908a, 1908b.
• the support rails 1910 are disposed substantially adjacent an outer surface of the sleeve 1908.
• the support rails 1910 can include one or more flexible hollow rods.
• the device case includes a first pivot 1912a connected to the base 1902 of the device case, and a second pivot 1912b connected to the base 1902 of the device case.
• the first pivot 1912a may be configured to receive a first angular extension 1914a from the first support 1908a
• the second pivot 1912b may be configured to receive a second angular extension 1914b from the second support 1914b.
• the first angular extension 1914a and the second angular extension 1914b are configured to pivot about the first pivot 1912a and second pivot 1912b, respectively, in response to a downward pressure being applied to the elongate base member 1904 or sleeve 1906 relative to the base 1902 of the device.
• first and the second pivot 1912a, 1912b are substantially aligned so as to substantially align rotation of the first angular extension 1914a and second angular extension 1912b along an axis of rotation. As discussed in further detail herein, such a downward pressure can be used to initiate a click operation.

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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)
• Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)

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• 2022
  • 2022-01-18 TW TW111101995A patent/TWI906457B/zh active
  • 2022-01-19 WO PCT/US2022/012890 patent/WO2022159434A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2022-01-19 AU AU2022211364A patent/AU2022211364A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2022-01-19 EP EP22704053.2A patent/EP4281845B1/en active Active
  • 2022-01-19 JP JP2023543088A patent/JP2024503103A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-01-19 US US18/262,011 patent/US12282616B2/en active Active
  • 2022-01-19 CN CN202280009699.0A patent/CN116897329A/zh active Pending

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