Abstract:
In one embodiment of an optical pointing device, an illumination system includes a plurality of light sources. Each light source is characterized by a unique set of illumination characteristics. Illumination characteristics include impinging angle, light wavelength, light homogeneity, and the like. A sensor receives electromagnetic energy originating at the light source to scan an imaged area. The sensor measures performance indexes associated with the light sources, which depend on the illumination characteristics. Then sensor includes an imaging module, which may include passive filters, and control logic, which includes at least a DSP module and a light sensor selection module. Another embodiment includes additional signaling light sources that do not interfere with the illumination system and are for signaling to the user. A method to select the most adequate light source for any given surface is based on measured performance indices.
Abstract:
A method (300) for determining relative movement between an optical navigation device and a navigation terrain includes generating (303) two overlapping coherent optical beams (204, 206, 236a, 236b), and generating (304) a pattern of interference fringes (237) between the two overlapping optical beams. The method further includes illuminating (305) a surface portion (22, 212) of the navigation terrain with the pattern of interference fringes, imaging (306) a fringe illuminated surface portion, and generating (306-307) a pattern of signals 114 in response to the imaged fringe-illuminated surface portion.
Abstract:
Object of the invention is to provide a pointing device for computers that is operated with finger movement only. The same fingers that are used to move the cursor on the screen are also able to operate the mouse keys at the same time. This can be done by making the mouse flat (1) with buttons incorporated in the upper surface of the mouse. The mouse is moved by the fingers resting on the buttons. It is necessary that the friction between the fingers and the mouse is greater then the friction between the mouse and the surface it is resting on.
Abstract:
A writing stylus (100) having a motion sensor (204) for sensing the movement of at least one end 110 of the stylus relative to an adjacent surface is described. The stylus has an elongated housing (104) and a cap (102). The motion sensor generates signals corresponding to the relative motion of the surface to the sensor. The cap is removeably carried on at least one portion of the housing which also has the motion sensor. The cap comprises a light passage (118) adapted to allow the motion sensor to sense the translation of the surface adjacent to the cap, through the cap. In a first input mode the motion sensor is used for sensing manual hand writing motion. In a second mode, when the cap is carried on the housing and is placed over at least the motion sensor, the motion sensor senses the motion of a surface adjacent to the cap such as a users finger. In this mode, the stylus functions a multiple axis input device such as a thumbwheel.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the field of hand-held devices that are equipped wit a processor and a digital camera for capturing motion video or still images. Images captured by the camera are used to determine motion of the hand-held device. A resulting motion signal is used as input to a user interface. Displayed images can be scrolled, zoomed or rotated by moving the hand-held device. The motion signal can also be used as input for a graphical user interface to move a cursor or other object of the graphical user interface over the display. The invention relates further to a hand-held device provided with means for sensing motion, a display, a keypad with at least a first- and a second key, and a graphical user interface with objects and a cursor. The hand-held device also comprises means for transforming the sensed motion of the handheld device into a signal suitable for moving the cursor over the display.
Abstract:
An information processing system contains an arrangement for enabling printing on demand of position-coded bases. In the arrangement, a current graphical object is selected from a set of graphical objects prestored in the system, which each define graphic information and corresponds to a rule object which connects at least one processing measure to the graphic information. In the arrangement, the current graphical object is assigned position data from a position data bank. The assigned position data can then be applied, together with the graphic information, to a substrate for forming the position-coded base. The arrangement also provides allocation data in the system, which associates the assigned position data with the graphical object in such a manner that position data read from the base by means of a digital pen device can be processed in the system using the adequate rule object.
Abstract:
The X, Y axes transition of position of apparatus according to the present invention is detected by employing portion of section of image input device, information concerning said detected X, Y axes transition of position is forwarded to a computer, and thus the apparatus of the present invention can be operated by a mouse. Also, image detected together with the information concerning X, Y axes transition of position of the apparatus is delivered to a computer or other device so that the apparatus of the present invention can be operated as a scanner, and the shaking of image can be adjusted or compensated. Accordingly, an apparatus for implementing mouse function and scanner function alternatively is provided.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to enhancing a user's interaction with a physical document, such as a page of a book, by supplying the user with additional information related to the physical document in a simple, easy to use fashion. Exemplary embodiments provide this additional information as digital content that is displayed as an overlay upon the document. The overlay can be in the form of a flat digital display that can be moved about a surface of the physical document. The absolute position of the movable display is tracked, so that digital content presented on the display is related to a particular position of the display over the document. This capability can be exploited to, for example, provide an-the-fly translation of a particular document, with the translation being provided as the movable display is scanned over the words printed on a document to be translated.
Abstract:
There is described a sensing device for an optical pointing device comprising a plurality of pixels (4000 A-D), each one of the pixels comprising a phtosensitive element for generating a pixel output signal in response to radiation reflected from an illuminated portion of a surface, the sensing device further comprising processing means for determining, based on said pixel output signals, a measurment of relative motion between the sensing device and the illuminated surface and for generating cursor control signals based on this measurement. The sensing device further comprises circuit means (700) for summing the pixel output signals of subsets of pixels including at least two pixels and for generating, for each of the subsets of pixels, a summed output signal (Sout, sum), the processing means determining the measurement of relative motion based on the summed output signals.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a handheld peripheral system for inputting data into a computer device, comprising a peripheral device (18), especially a computer mouse, with a housing (27), a navigation device which is located in said housing (27), for acquiring the navigation data of a relative movement of the housing (27) on a support (17), a data transmission device for transferring navigation data to the computer device, a receiving device (28) for receiving a card device (19) and a reading device (36); and comprising a card device (19) with a chip device (23). Said reading device (36) is used to read-in the data that is stored in the chip device (23). The navigation device has an optical sensor device comprising a light emission device (38) and a detector device (39). The housing (27) is provided with at least one housing floor (26) which is optically transparent in a first transparent area (34, 35), and the receiving device (28) is arranged between the detector device (39) and the housing floor (26) in such a way that the card device (18) is located with a second transparent area (43) in the optical beam path (44, 45) between the light emission device (38) and the detector device (39). The invention also relates to a card device (19) for use in a handheld peripheral system.