Cursor motion control of a pointing device

A method for controlling the motion of a cursor on a display, comprising:

• imaging a user's digit;
• generating pixel counts at a predetermined frame rate indicative of motion in predetermined axes of the user's digit across an imaging surface;
• and
• generating navigation output signals based on the pixel counts that represent averages over predetermined time intervals selected to smooth the motion of a cursor on a display of an electronic apparatus, wherein:
• a first average pixel count of a first frame is multiplied by a first acceleration factor, wherein the first acceleration factor is equal to or greater than one;
• a second average pixel count of a second frame is multiplied by a second acceleration factor, wherein the second average pixel count is greater than the first average pixel count, wherein the second acceleration factor is greater than the first acceleration factor;
• a third average pixel count of a third frame is multiplied by a third acceleration factor, wherein the third average pixel count is greater than the second average pixel count, wherein the third acceleration factor is greater than the second acceleration factor;
• and
• the multiplying by each acceleration factor that is greater than one causes the cursor on the display to move a greater distance than the average pixel count based on an increased rate of motion of the user's digit across the imaging surface.

A system for controlling the motion of a cursor on a display, comprising:

• a pointing device that images a user's digit and generates pixel counts at a predetermined frame rate indicative of motion in X and Y axes of the user's digit across an imaging surface;
• and
• a cursor motion controller configured to:
• receive the pixel counts and generates navigation output signals representing averages over predetermined time intervals selected to smooth the motion of a cursor on a display of a hand held electronic apparatus;
• multiply a first average pixel count of a first frame by a first acceleration factor, wherein the first acceleration factor is equal to or greater than one;
• multiply a second average pixel count of a second frame by a second acceleration factor, wherein the second average pixel count is greater than the first average pixel count, wherein the second acceleration factor is greater than the first acceleration factor;
• multiply a third average pixel count of a third frame by a third acceleration factor, wherein the third average pixel count is greater than the second average pixel count, wherein the third acceleration factor is greater than the second acceleration factor,
• wherein the multiplying by each acceleration factor that is greater than one causes the cursor on the display to move a greater distance based on an increased rate of motion of the user's digit across the imaging surface;
• and
• suspend the generation of navigation output signals upon receipt of an interrupt signal from the hand held electronic apparatus that is generated when the cursor is juxtaposed over a selection item on the display.

A system for controlling the motion of a cursor on a display, comprising:

• a pointing device that images a user's digit and generates pixel counts at a predetermined frame rate indicative of motion in predetermined axes of the user's digit across an imaging surface;
• and
• a cursor motion controller configured to:
• multiply a first average pixel count of a first frame by a first acceleration factor, wherein the first acceleration factor is equal to or greater than one;
• multiply a second average pixel count of a second frame by a second acceleration factor, wherein the second average pixel count is greater than the first average pixel count, wherein the second acceleration factor is greater than the first acceleration factor;
• and
• multiply a third average pixel count of a third frame by a third acceleration factor, wherein the third average pixel count is greater than the second average pixel count, wherein the third acceleration factor is greater than the second acceleration factor,
• wherein the multiplying by each acceleration factor that is greater than one causes the cursor on the display of an electronic apparatus to move a greater distance based on an increased rate of motion of the user's digit across the imaging surface.

A system for controlling the motion of a cursor on a display of an electronic apparatus, the system comprising:

• a pointing device to image a user's digit and to generate pixel counts at a predetermined frame rate, wherein each pixel count is indicative of motion in predetermined axes of the user's digit across an imaging surface;
• and
• a cursor motion controller to:
• receive the pixel counts generated by the point device, to access an acceleration factor from a look-up table which stores a plurality of acceleration factors and associated motion distances per frame;
• multiply a first pixel count of a first frame by a first accessed acceleration factor, wherein the first accessed acceleration factor is equal to or greater than one;
• multiply a second pixel count of a second frame by a second accessed acceleration factor, wherein the second pixel count is greater than the first pixel count, wherein the second accessed acceleration factor is greater than the first accessed acceleration factor;
• and
• multiply a third pixel count of a third frame by a third accessed acceleration factor, wherein the third pixel count is greater than the second pixel count, wherein the third accessed acceleration factor is greater than the second accessed acceleration factor,
• wherein the multiplying by each acceleration factor that is greater than one causes the cursor on the display to move a distance corresponding to the pixel count multiplied by the accessed acceleration factor.