Positioning device reporting X, Y and yaw motion

A computer system comprising:

• a video monitor including a video screen;
• a system unit coupled to said video monitor including logic which manipulates a cursor on said video screen;
• and
• a pointing device coupled to said system unit which generates information regarding change of position of said pointing device in X, Y, and yaw directions, wherein said pointing device comprises:
• a first motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a first Y direction and generates a first Y signal indicative thereof,
• a second motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a second Y direction and a first X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generates a second Y signal and an X signal indicative thereof, and
• a controller coupled to said first and second motion indicators which receives said signals from said first and second motion indicators and generates information regarding change of position of said pointing device in X, Y, and yaw directions, wherein said controller comprises:
• means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received;
• a timer coupled to said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received, wherein said timer begins counting a predetermined time when said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received determines that at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received;
• second Y signal determining means coupled to said timer for determining if the other of said first and second Y signals has been received within said predetermined time after said at least one of said first and second Y signals was received;
• and
• means for generating yaw information using one or more of said first and second Y signals depending on whether said first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other;
• wherein said system unit receives said change of position information from said pointing device and uses said information to change the position of the cursor on said video screen.

A pointing device, comprising:

• a first mouse ball;
• a first odometer wheel contacting said first mouse ball capable of detecting changes in motion of said mouse ball in a first Y direction and generating a first Y signal indicative thereof,
• a second mouse ball;
• a second odometer wheel contacting said second mouse ball capable of detecting change in motion of said second mouse ball in a second Y direction and generating a second Y signal indicative thereof,
• a third odometer wheel contacting said second mouse ball capable of detecting change in motion of said second mouse ball in an X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generating an X signal indicative thereof, and
• a controller coupled to said first and second motion indicators which receives said signals from said first and second motion indicators and generates information regarding change of position of said pointing device in X, Y, and yaw directions, wherein said controller comprises:
• means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received;
• a timer coupled to said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received, wherein said timer begins counting a predetermined time when said means for determining whether at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received determines that at least one of said first and second Y signals has been received;
• second Y signal determining means coupled to said timer for determining if the other of said first and second Y signals has been received within said predetermined time after said at least one of said first and second Y signals was received;
• and
• means for generating yaw information using one or more of said first and second Y signals depending on whether said first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other:
• wherein said system unit receives said change of position information from said pointing device and uses said information to change the position of the cursor on said video screen.

A method of determining changes in yaw direction in a pointing device comprising a first motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a first Y direction and generates a signal indicative thereof and a second motion indicator which detects changes in motion of said pointing device in a second Y direction and a first X direction perpendicular to said second Y direction and generates signals indicative thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving one or more of the first and second Y signals;
• determining if a Y signal has been received;
• initiating a timer if said Y signal has been received, wherein said timer counts a predetermined time;
• determining if the other Y signal has been received within said predetermined time after said Y signal was received;
• and
• generating yaw information using one or more of the first and second Y signals depending on whether the first and second Y signals were generated within said predetermined time of each other.