US 6,611,921 B2Granted

Input device with two input signal generating means having a power state where one input means is powered down and the other input means is cycled between a powered up state and a powered down state

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsMark W. Casebolt, Gary Rensberger, Steven N. Bathiche, Sean Gorman

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Abstract

Power management is provided in a user operated data input device utilizing proximity sensing and switching between three or more power states. Capacitive proximity sensing may be carried out by detecting a relative change in the capacitance of a “scoop” capacitor formed by a conductor and a surrounding ground plane, wherein charge is transferred between the “scoop” capacitor and a relatively large “bucket” capacitor, a voltage of the bucket capacitor is applied to an input threshold switch, and a number of cycles of charge transfer required to reach the state transition is determined. Switching between the power states occurs based upon the presence or absence of input activity, and an operation instrumentality (e.g., a hand) in close proximity to or contact with the device. In an optical surface tracking cursor control device embodiment, switching to and from a BEACON state, which provides a reduced flash rate of a surface illuminating light source, is carried out based upon a detected presence or absence of a trackable surface.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A user operated data input device comprising:

first and second data input signal generating means for generating respective first and second data input signals;
a power supply for selectively supplying electrical power to said first and second input signal generating means;
a sensing system for sensing the presence of an operation instrumentality in contact with or close proximity to said input device and generating a signal indicative of an ON state wherein said operation instrumentality is in contact with or close proximity to said input device, and an OFF state wherein said operation instrumentality is not in contact with or close proximity to said input device;
a power management system for controlling the supply of power to said first and second input signal generating means, said power management system providing switching between at least three power states, wherein:
in a first of said power states each of said first and second input signal generating means is powered-up to a normal operation level and sampled for input activity;
in a second of said power states each of said first and second input signal generating means are cycled between a powered-up state wherein sampling for input activity is carried out, and a powered down state;
in a third of said power states said first signal generating means remains powered down while said second signal generating means is cycled between a powered-up state wherein sampling for input activity is carried out, and a powered down state;
a transition from said first power state to said third power state occurs upon a transition of said sensing system from said ON state to said OFF state;
a transition from said third power state to one of said first and second power states occurs upon a transition of said sensing system from said OFF state to said ON state;
and
a transition from said second power state to said first power state occurs upon a detection of input activity during said sampling of said first and second input signal generating means.

8 more elements

In a user operated data input device comprising first and second data input signal generating means for generating respective first and second data input signals, and a power supply for selectively supplying electrical power to said first and second input signal generating means, a method of power management comprising:

sensing the presence of an operation instrumentality in contact with or close proximity to said input device and generating a signal indicative of an ON state wherein said operation instrumentality is in contact with or close proximity to said input device, and an OFF state wherein said operation instrumentality is not in contact with or close proximity to said input device;
controlling the supply of power to said first and second input signal generating means by providing switching between at least three power states, wherein:
in a first of said power states each of said first and second input signal generating means is powered-up to a normal operation level and sampled for input activity;
in a second of said power states each of said first and second input signal generating means are cycled between a powered-up state wherein sampling for input activity is carried out, and a powered down state;
in a third of said power states said first signal generating means remains powered down while said second signal generating means is cycled between a powered-up state wherein sampling for input activity is carried out, and a powered down state;
a transition from said first power state to said third power state occurs upon a transition of said sensing system from said ON state to said OFF state;
a transition from said third power state to one of said first and second power states occurs upon a transition of said sensing system from said OFF state to said ON state;
and
a transition from said second power state to said first power state occurs upon a detection of input activity during said sampling of said first and second input signal generating means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/991,656Filed 26 Nov 2001 · division
Priority: 7 Sep 2001
Published: US 2003/0061524 A127 Mar 2003
Granted: 26 Aug 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 1/3203
Means for saving power: power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
G06F 1/3231
Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality: monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
G06F 1/3259
Power saving in peripheral device: power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
G06F 1/3271
Power saving in peripheral device: power saving in keyboard

Family

Application09/948,099Parent of this division · filed 7 Sep 2001
US 2003/0061524 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Mar 2003
US 2002/0035701 A1Published application
US 6,661,410 B2Related patent
US 6,611,921 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.