Device for controlling a computer system
AssigneeGerard Popineau
InventorGerard Popineau
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AssigneeGerard Popineau
InventorGerard Popineau
Estimating the term…
The invention concerns a computer system (1), preferably of the personal microcomputer type, controlled by a group of users by means of several mouse-type pointing devices (3) without wired connection with the system (1). Each pointing device communicates by infrared with a console (38) connected to the system (1) through a communication port (50). A multifrequency transmission technique and a frequency hopping coding are used. The graphic interface of the system is projected (47, 48) on a large screen (49) for collective visual display. The console (38) comprises a detachable receiver horn (41) which enhances the range, and a set of switches (40) for selecting the mouse or mice controlling one or several cursors (54) of different shape and/or colour. The inventive device is particularly designed for collective initiation to microcomputing and collective training in using software.
1) Device for controlling a computer system (1), preferentially of the personal microcomputer type, provided with a graphic interface (2) and at least a communication port (5), by a user group by means of several pointing devices (3) without wired connection with said system, preferentially of the wireless mouse type, each one of said pointing devices (3) being handled by each one of said users and transmitting by means of a communication channel sequences of binary data representative of displacements and states of pointing devices (3) to an interface electronic box (4) connected to said port (5), characterized in that said channel comprises a plurality of secondary communication channels (C1, C2), transmitting with a standard modulation rate (R) said sequences, formed by a common infrared carrier and a set of subcarriers (P1, P2) modulated in amplitude by the binary digits of said sequences, with different frequencies for each one of said pointing devices (3), without common harmonic, and distributed between a lower frequency (F1) and a higher frequency (F2), with intervals at least equal to the double of the value of the said modulation rate (R) increased by a guard band (B).
10) Device for controlling a computer system (I) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said case (4) comprises a distinct part (41) including said block of reception (17), provided with a collecting horn (43) of said beams, and linked by a shielded cable (42) to the principal part (38) collected to said port (5).
11) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic box (4) comprises a principal part (38) in form of console provided with switches (40) making it possible to select one or more of said pointing devices (3) and to make inoperative the others.
12) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said binary digits transmit moreover periodically sequences of binary data for signaling said pointing devices and in that an alarm is set off when any of said sequences of binary data for signaling is not received any more by said electronic box (4) after a predetermined amount of time.
13) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said binary digits transmit moreover sequences of binary data characteristic of the integrity of each one of said pointing devices (3), preferentially of the presence of the ball in the wireless mouse type.
14) Device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said pointing devices (3) comprises moreover push-buttons in a number at least equal to 2, preferentially 7, whose sequences of binary data representative of their states are included in said binary digits.
15) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said information processing system (1) comprises:
18) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said computer system (1), said pointing devices (3), and said electronic box (4) are placed on a trolley held at the disposal of users, trainers, presenters or teachers, to be taken along and used in buildings without special electric wiring.
19) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that computer system (1) comprises moreover keyboard simulation software making it possible to simulate a keystroke by pointing the simulated image of said key by means of one of said pointing devices.
20) Use of the device for controlling a computer system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said communication program includes sequences of identification binary data in said binary digits for identifying said pointing devices (3) which are transmitting, and in that said computer system (1) comprises moreover software for allotting a cursor (54) of different form and/or color to each one of said pointing device (3), according to said sequences of identification binary data received.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.