US5703356A — Pointing device utilizing a photodetector array

Claim 1

Independent Claim 88 words

A cursor pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display comprising: a ball having thereon a fixed irregular pattern of areas which appear light and dark when illuminated by substantially monochromatic radiation; source means for illuminating a portion of said ball with said substantially monochromatic radiation; sensor means responsive to said substantially monochromatic radiation reflected from the ball and impinging on the sensor for creating an output; and processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 88 words

A cursor pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display comprising: a ball having thereon a fixed irregular pattern of areas which appear light and dark when illuminated by substantially monochromatic radiation; source means for illuminating a portion of said ball with said substantially monochromatic radiation; sensor means responsive to said substantially monochromatic radiation reflected from the ball and impinging on the sensor for creating an output; and processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The pointing device of claim 1 wherein said substantially monochromatic radiation is infrared.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the pattern is covered by a layer which is transparent to radiation of the predetermined frequency.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The pointing device of claim 1 further comprising: optical means interposed between the ball and the sensor means for focusing an image of an illuminated portion of the ball on the sensor means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pointing device of claim 4 further comprising: aperture means for limiting the optical means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The pointing device of claim 3 wherein said layer is opaque to visible light.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor means includes a plurality of pixels, each capable of generating an output signal related to the amount of light reaching that pixel, and wherein the processing means intermittently samples the output signals of the pixels in accordance with a predetermined sequence.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The pointing device of claim 7 wherein the source means intermittently illuminates the ball in accordance with the predetermined sampling sequence.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the cursor pointing device is a trackball.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the radiation reflecting off the ball diffusely illuminates the sensor means.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises a photosensitive array having a plurality of pixels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 38 words

The pointing device of claim 11 wherein the pixels of the photosensitive array provide outputs to the processing means which permit the correlation of edges in the pattern and temporal intensity changes in the illumination of the ball.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The pointing device of claim 1, wherein said substantially monochromatic radiation is not coherent radiation.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 149 words

The pointing device of claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprises: a plurality of pixels, responsive to said radiation reflected from said ball, each of said pixels includes: a photodetector element for receiving said radiation reflected from said ball and for converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation; a first memory unit for storing a first intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a first time; a second memory unit for storing a second intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a second time; a first comparator, disposed to receive signals from said first memory unit, for comparing said first and second intensity values to identify if an edge condition occurred between said first time and said second time.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The pointing device of claim 14 wherein said first comparator determines that an edge condition occurred if a ratio of said first intensity value and said second intensity value is not within a predefined range.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 65 words

The pointing device of claim 15, wherein each of said pixels further comprises: a second comparator, disposed to receive an adjacent pixel signal from an adjacent pixel of said plurality of pixels representing an intensity of radiation received by said adjacent pixel, for comparing a signal representing one of said first and second intensity values with said adjacent pixel signal to identify an edge condition.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

The pointing device of claim 16 wherein said second comparator determines that an edge condition exist if a ratio of said first intensity value and said second intensity value is not within a predetermined range.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 100 words

A trackball pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display comprising: a ball, for manipulation by the palm or fingers, having thereon a fixed irregular pattern of areas which appear light and dark when illuminated by substantially monochromatic radiation; source means for illuminating a portion of the ball with said substantially monochromatic radiation; sensor means responsive to the radiation reflected from the ball, for receiving said reflected radiation and for creating an output in response to said received radiation, and processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 100 words

A trackball pointing device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display comprising: a ball, for manipulation by the palm or fingers, having thereon a fixed irregular pattern of areas which appear light and dark when illuminated by substantially monochromatic radiation; source means for illuminating a portion of the ball with said substantially monochromatic radiation; sensor means responsive to the radiation reflected from the ball, for receiving said reflected radiation and for creating an output in response to said received radiation, and processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The trackball of claim 18 further including a lens means for focusing an image of the ball on the sensor means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 18 wherein said pattern is covered by a layer which is transparent to radiation of the predetermined frequency.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 15 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 20 wherein said layer is opaque to visible light.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 16 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 18, wherein said substantially monochromatic radiation is not coherent radiation.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 150 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 18, wherein said sensor means comprises: a plurality of pixels, responsive to said radiation reflected from said ball, each of said pixels includes: a photodetector element for receiving said radiation reflected from said ball and for converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation; a first memory unit for storing a first intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a first time; a second memory unit for storing a second intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a second time; a first comparator, disposed to receive signals from said first memory unit, for comparing said first and second intensity values to identify if an edge condition occurred between said first time and said second time.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 23 wherein said first comparator determines that an edge condition occurred if a ratio of said first intensity value and said second intensity value is not within a predefined range.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 66 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 24, wherein each of said pixels further comprises: a second comparator, disposed to receive an adjacent pixel signal from an adjacent pixel of said plurality of pixels representing an intensity of radiation received by said adjacent pixel, for comparing a signal representing one of said first and second intensity values with said adjacent pixel signal to identify an edge condition.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 25 wherein said second comparator determines that an edge condition exist if a ratio of said first intensity value and said second intensity value is not within a predefined range.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 92 words

An electronic mouse for controlling the position of a cursor on a display comprising: a ball having thereon a fixed irregular pattern of areas which appear light and dark when illuminated by substantially monochromatic radiation; source means for illuminating a portion of the ball with said substantially monochromatic radiation; sensor means responsive to the radiation reflected from the ball, for receiving said reflected radiation and for creating an output in response to said received radiation, and processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 92 words

An electronic mouse for controlling the position of a cursor on a display comprising: a ball having thereon a fixed irregular pattern of areas which appear light and dark when illuminated by substantially monochromatic radiation; source means for illuminating a portion of the ball with said substantially monochromatic radiation; sensor means responsive to the radiation reflected from the ball, for receiving said reflected radiation and for creating an output in response to said received radiation, and processing means responsive to the output from the sensor means for generating a cursor control output.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electronic mouse of claim 27 wherein said pattern is covered by a layer which is transparent to radiation of the predetermined frequency.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 14 words

The electronic mouse of claim 28 wherein said layer is opaque to visible light.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 27, wherein said substantially monochromatic radiation is not coherent radiation.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 150 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 27, wherein said sensor means comprises: a plurality of pixels, responsive to said radiation reflected from said ball, each of said pixels includes: a photodetector element for receiving said radiation reflected from said ball and for converting said radiation into an electrical signal having an signal strength corresponding to an intensity of said received radiation; a first memory unit for storing a first intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a first time; a second memory unit for storing a second intensity value of said pixel representing the intensity of radiation received by said photodetector element at a second time; a first comparator, disposed to receive signals from said first memory unit, for comparing said first and second intensity values to identify if an edge condition occurred between said first time and said second time.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 36 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 31 wherein said first comparator determines that an edge condition occurred if a ratio of said first intensity value and said second intensity value is not within a predefined range.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 66 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 32, wherein each of said pixels further comprises: a second comparator, disposed to receive an adjacent pixel signal from an adjacent pixel of said plurality of pixels representing an intensity of radiation received by said adjacent pixel, for comparing a signal representing one of said first and second intensity values with said adjacent pixel signal to identify an edge condition.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 36 words

The trackball pointing device of claim 33 wherein said second comparator determines that an edge condition exist if a ratio of said first intensity value and said second intensity value is not within a predefined range.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-12-29	2001-06-30	2001-12-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-12-29	2005-06-30	2005-12-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-12-29	2009-06-30	2009-12-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Pointing device utilizing a photodetector array

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