Pointing device having rotational sensing mechanisms
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorDavid D. Bohn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer mouse has a plurality of motion sensors. The motion sensors generate data corresponding to their movement relative to a surface and transmit the data to a processor for analysis. The processor determines the rotational motion of the computer mouse and causes an image displayed on an associated video monitor to rotate proportionally to the relative movement of the computer mouse. The motion sensors may be two-dimensional photosensor arrays that generate image data of distinct features in the surface. As the computer mouse is moved relative to the surface, the locations of the distinct features move relative to the photosensor arrays. By analyzing this relative movement, the processor determines the rotational motion of the computer mouse.
Claims46
A pointing device for directing movement of an image displayed on a display device, said pointing device comprising:
- a chassis adapted to be moved relative to an object;
- and
- a first photo sensor device movably attached to said chassis, said first photo sensor device being adapted to output data corresponding to image of said object;
- a first light path extending from a plane to said first two-dimensional photo sensor array, said plane being located exterior to said chassis.
A pointing device for directing movement of an image displayed on a display device, said pointing device comprising:
- a chassis adapted to be moved relative to an object;
- a first photosensor device attached to said chassis, said first photosensor device being adapted to generate image data representative of a first portion of said object;
- a first light path extending between a first plane and said first photosensor device;
- and
- a first lens located in said first light path, said first lens being movable relative to said first photosensor device.
A pointing device for directing movement of an image displayed on a display device, said pointing device having a first operative mode and a second operative mode, said pointing device comprising:
- a chassis adapted to be moved relative to an object;
- a first photosensor device attached to said chassis, said first photosensor device being adapted to output data corresponding to images of said object;
- wherein said image displayed on said display device is movable proportional to movement of said first photosensor device relative to said object when said pointing device is in said first operative mode;
- and
- wherein said image displayed on said display device is rotatable proportional to rotational movement of said photosensor device relative to said object when said pointing device is in said second operative mode.
A computer comprising:
- a pointing device, said pointing device comprising:
- a chassis adapted to be moved relative to an object;
- and
- a first photosensor device and a second photosensor device attached to said chassis, said first photosensor device and said second photosensor device being adapted to output data corresponding to images of said object;
- a display device electrically connected to said pointing device;
- wherein an image is displayable on said display device, said image being rotatable proportional to the rotational movement of said pointing device relative to said object.
A pointing device for directing movement of an image displayed on a display device, said pointing device comprising:
- a chassis;
- a photosensor device attached to said chassis;
- a first light path extending between a first plane and said photosensor device;
- a second light path extending between a second plane and said photosensor device;
- a first optical component located in said first light path;
- a second optical component located in said second light path;
- a first light source associated with said first plane;
- a third light path extending between said first light source and said first plane;
- a second light source associated with said second plane;
- and
- a fourth light path extending between said second light source and said second plane.
A method of manipulating an image displayed on a display device, said method comprising:
- rotating a pointing device relative to an object;
- generating image data representative of images of said object using at least one photosensor device attached to said pointing device;
- analyzing said image data to determine the rotational movement of said pointing device relative to said object;
- and
- rotating said image displayed on said display device based on said rotational movement of said pointing device relative to said object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.