US4390873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic mouse
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-05-18
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Granted: 1983-06-28
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Expires: 2001-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A position control system employing a movable detector means which communicates energy to and from a pattern of passive, position-related indicia or marks on a surface. In the preferred embodiment the movable detector means includes a light source and a four-quadrant detector, with the surface having a high contrast checkerboard square pattern. The four-quadrant detector will report different states as the detector means is moved across different squares. The states are decoded in a lookup table and electrical signals are generated for controlling X and Y registers of a cursor control or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven T. Kirsch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/0304; G06F3/0317
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A position control system for a cursor or the like comprising, a surface having a repetitive pattern of passive, position-related contrasting indicia extending over the surface, the indicia defining position states in two directions at the same locations, detector means comprising a four-quadrant detector movable over the surface for sensing said passive indicia and generating an electrical signal representing position states in response thereto, and electrical memory means connected to the detector means for noting changes in said electrical signal and converting said changes to digital signals in position registers for a cursor or the like.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A position control system for a cursor or the like comprising, a surface having a repetitive pattern of passive, position-related contrasting indicia extending over the surface, the indicia defining position states in two directions at the same locations, detector means comprising a four-quadrant detector movable over the surface for sensing said passive indicia and generating an electrical signal representing position states in response thereto, and electrical memory means connected to the detector means for noting changes in said electrical signal and converting said changes to digital signals in position registers for a cursor or the like.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said detector means further comprises a second four-quadrant detector movable over said surface and fixed relative to the first four-quadrant detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia forms a regular grid pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said grid pattern is a checkerboard pattern of squares.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein an edge dimension of said squares is less than one centimeter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical memory means comprises a read only memory device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said electrical memory means comprises a read only memory device containing a present position state table addressed by said electrical signal for obtaining a present position state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said read only memory device is connected to an auxiliary memory unit means for storing a prior position state whereby the prior and present position states can be compared.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A position control system for a cursor or the like comprising, a repetitive pattern of optically contrasting, position-related indicia extending over an area, the indicia defining position states in two directions at the same locations, a four-quadrant photosensitive detector means movable over the indicia area for optically sensing the indicia on the surface and generating an electrical signal in response thereto, and a read only memory device connected to the detector means, said electrical signal addressing a position state table in the memory device, said position state table, containing old position state and current position state digital detector signals, yielding digital state information suitable for driving X, Y counters and computer means for summing said position states.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
A position control system for a cursor or the like comprising, a repetitive pattern of optically contrasting, position-related indicia extending over an area, the indicia defining position states in two directions at the same locations, a four-quadrant photosensitive detector means movable over the indicia area for optically sensing the indicia on the surface and generating an electrical signal in response thereto, and a read only memory device connected to the detector means, said electrical signal addressing a position state table in the memory device, said position state table, containing old position state and current position state digital detector signals, yielding digital state information suitable for driving X, Y counters and computer means for summing said position states.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said memory device further comprises a delay line for circulating a prior state from the position state table for comparison with a present state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said indicia forms a regular grid pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said grid pattern comprises a checkerboard pattern of squares.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein an edge dimension of said squares is less than one centimeter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said detector means comprises a second four-quadrant detector movable over said surface and fixed relative to the first four-quadrant detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said detector means comprises a four-quadrant detector and said indicia forms a checkerboard square pattern, the detector having a sensing aperture smaller than a square of the checkerboard square pattern.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of position control for a cursor or the like comprising, disposing a repetitive pattern of position-state, optically contrasting indicia over two directions of a surface, optically scanning said pattern of position-related indicia by detecting four quadrants of the indicia, generating an electrical signal corresponding to the scanned, position-related indicia, correlating said electrical signal with said old and current state data in said state table to form position vectors, and deriving a digital output signal for cursor control from the position vectors.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of position control for a cursor or the like comprising, disposing a repetitive pattern of position-state, optically contrasting indicia over two directions of a surface, optically scanning said pattern of position-related indicia by detecting four quadrants of the indicia, generating an electrical signal corresponding to the scanned, position-related indicia, correlating said electrical signal with said old and current state data in said state table to form position vectors, and deriving a digital output signal for cursor control from the position vectors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said pattern is a checkerboard square.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
A position control system for a cursor or the like comprising, a surface having a checkerboard square pattern extending over the surface, detector means comprising a four-quadrant detector movable over the surface for optically sensing contrast differences in said checkerboard square pattern and generating an electrical signal in response thereto, and logic means connected to the detector means for noting changes in said electrical signal and converting said changes to digital signals in position registers for a cursor or the like.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
81 words
A position control system for a cursor or the like comprising, a surface having a checkerboard square pattern extending over the surface, detector means comprising a four-quadrant detector movable over the surface for optically sensing contrast differences in said checkerboard square pattern and generating an electrical signal in response thereto, and logic means connected to the detector means for noting changes in said electrical signal and converting said changes to digital signals in position registers for a cursor or the like.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logic means comprises a read only memory device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-27 | 1986-12-27 | 1987-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-27 | 1990-12-27 | 1991-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-27 | 1994-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |