Pointing device having improved automatic gain control and information reporting
AssigneeSelectech, Ltd.
InventorsL. Stephen Pilcher, Donald S. Odell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved optical pointing device utilizing a moveable unit having a voltage-to-frequency converter (VFC). The VFC emits pulses with separation proportional to the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit, which pulses are applied to an LED of the moveable unit. A microcomputer in a base unit measures separation of the pulses received by a photodetector to determine the components of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit. In accordance with another aspect, automatic gain control circuitry is located in the moveable unit, thereby eliminating the need for two-way communication to achieve consistency of operation in a prescribed space.
Claims16
A pointing device for use within a prescribed space and adapted to be interconnected with a display device having a display screen, a cursor movable on said display screen and a cursor control circuit for controlling the position of the cursor on said display screen, the pointing device comprising:
- a first unit including computer means connected to said cursor control circuit;
- a second unit movably contained within said space and comprising orientation detection means for detecting angular rotative and/or translational position and generating an information signal representative of a plurality of components of said angular rotative and/or translational position, means for converting the information signal to a series of spaced component pulses which are equal in number to the plurality of components, the time spacing between any two consecutive component pulses being proportional to a particular component of the angular rotative and/or translational position.
A method for communicating the angular rotative and/or translational position of a moveable unit within a prescribed space to a receiving unit for interconnection with a display device having a display screen, a cursor movable on said display screen and a cursor control circuit for controlling the position of the cursor on said display screen, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit;
- generating an information signal which is indicative of a plurality of components of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit;
- converting the information signal into a series of spaced component pulses which are equal in number to the plurality of components, the time separation between any two consecutive component pulses being representative of a particular component of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit;
- and
- transmitting the series of component pulses from the moveable unit to the receiving unit.
A method for communicating the angular rotative and/or translational position of at least one moveable unit within a prescribed space to a receiving unit or to another moveable unit, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the angular rotative and/or translational position of the at least one moveable unit;
- generating an information signal which is indicative of a plurality of components of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the at least one moveable unit;
- converting the information signal into a series of spaced component pulses which are equal in number to the plurality of components, the time separation between any two consecutive component pulses being representative of a particular component of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the at least one moveable unit;
- and
- transmitting the series of pulses from the moveable unit to the receiving unit.
An improvement to an optical pointing device for use within a prescribed space for interconnection with a display device having a display screen, a cursor movable on said display screen and a cursor control circuit for controlling the position of the cursor on the display screen, the optical pointing device comprising a first unit including computer means connected to said cursor control circuit and being fixedly located relative to said display device;
- and a second unit movably contained within said space and comprising orientation detection means for detecting angular rotative and/or translational position and to generate an information signal representative of a plurality of components of the angular rotative and/or translational position, the improvement comprising:
- means for converting the information signal to a series of spaced component pulses which are equal in number to the plurality of components, the time spacing between any two consecutive component pulses being proportional to a particular component of the angular rotative and/or translational position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.