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US5920306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for a broadcast pointer system
Assignee: PDACO Ltd
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Filing: 1995-08-31
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Granted: 1999-07-06
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Expires: 2015-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A general-purpose computer has a compartment for storing a pointer device, such as a mouse or a trackball, such that the pointer may be removed from the compartment and deployed for use. The pointer may be a mouse, a trackball, or other type, and may communicate with the host computer by a cable, an infra-red system, ar by an inductively coupled system. In one embodiment the pointer is a trackball device, in another a mouse device, and in another a combination device that may be used as either a mouse or a trackball. Other embodiments provide a polar input pointer device and a broadcast pointer device.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Kikinis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1684; G06F1/169; G06F1/1698; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213; G06F3/03541; G06F3/03545; G06F3/03549; G06F3/0362; H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42314; H04M3/42323; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00519; H04N1/00538
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A broadcast pointer system comprising: a first and second broadcast antenna in a computer housing configured to broadcast a first and second waveform at the same frequency, and at a phase difference; a rectifier circuit in a pointer device comprising two antenna connected through a diode; a receiving antenna in the computer housing configured to receive an echo of the summed waveforms broadcast by the first and second broadcast antennas; and circuitry in the computer housing connected to the receiving antenna and configured for analyzing the received waveform and determining the position of the pointer from waveform characteristics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A broadcast pointer system comprising: a first and second broadcast antenna in a computer housing configured to broadcast a first and second waveform at the same frequency, and at a phase difference; a rectifier circuit in a pointer device comprising two antenna connected through a diode; a receiving antenna in the computer housing configured to receive an echo of the summed waveforms broadcast by the first and second broadcast antennas; and circuitry in the computer housing connected to the receiving antenna and configured for analyzing the received waveform and determining the position of the pointer from waveform characteristics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A broadcast pointer system as in claim 1 wherein the pointer device is a stylus with the rectifier circuit positioned in a nose region of the stylus.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for locating a moving pointer device for directing positional input to a computer system, comprising steps of: (a) broadcasting a first constant-frequency waveform from a first broadcast antenna in a computer housing; (b) broadcasting a second waveform having the frequency of the first waveform and at a pre-programmed phase angle from the first waveform from a second broadcast antenna in the computer housing; (c) receiving the broadcast waveforms at a first receiving antenna located in a movable pointer device separate from the computer housing, and summing the waveforms to form a third waveform; (d) driving a third broadcast antenna with the first receiving antenna through a diode, forming a fourth waveform broadcast from the pointer device; (e) receiving the fourth waveform at a second receiving antenna located in the computer housing; (f) analyzing the fourth waveform with circuitry connected to the second receiving antenna and determining the position of the pointer device from characteristics of the fourth waveform; and (g) transferring the positional information to the computer system.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for locating a moving pointer device for directing positional input to a computer system, comprising steps of: (a) broadcasting a first constant-frequency waveform from a first broadcast antenna in a computer housing; (b) broadcasting a second waveform having the frequency of the first waveform and at a pre-programmed phase angle from the first waveform from a second broadcast antenna in the computer housing; (c) receiving the broadcast waveforms at a first receiving antenna located in a movable pointer device separate from the computer housing, and summing the waveforms to form a third waveform; (d) driving a third broadcast antenna with the first receiving antenna through a diode, forming a fourth waveform broadcast from the pointer device; (e) receiving the fourth waveform at a second receiving antenna located in the computer housing; (f) analyzing the fourth waveform with circuitry connected to the second receiving antenna and determining the position of the pointer device from characteristics of the fourth waveform; and (g) transferring the positional information to the computer system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a computer system having a housing and a separate pointer device, a pointer location system comprising: a broadcast apparatus located in the computer housing having first and second broadcast antennas in the computer housing configured to broadcast a first and second waveform at the same frequency but at a phase difference; a broadcast echo apparatus located in the separate pointer device; and an echo receiver and signal analyzer located in the computer housing; the hroadcasr echo apparatus in the pointer device receives and echoes a form of the signals, and the echo receiver and signal analyzer receives the echoed signals and determines the pointer device position from the echoed signals relative to the computer housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a computer system having a housing and a separate pointer device, a pointer location system comprising: a broadcast apparatus located in the computer housing having first and second broadcast antennas in the computer housing configured to broadcast a first and second waveform at the same frequency but at a phase difference; a broadcast echo apparatus located in the separate pointer device; and an echo receiver and signal analyzer located in the computer housing; the hroadcasr echo apparatus in the pointer device receives and echoes a form of the signals, and the echo receiver and signal analyzer receives the echoed signals and determines the pointer device position from the echoed signals relative to the computer housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pointer location system as in claim 4 wherein the echo apparatus comprises two antennas connected through a diode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The pointer location system as in claim 4 wherein the echo receiver and signal analyzer comprises an antenna and a circuitry configured for analyzing the received waveform signal and determining the position of the pointer device from the waveform characteristics.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for locating a moving pointer device by a computer system, comprising steps of: (a) broadcasting a first constant-frequency waveform from a first broadcast antenna in a computer housing, and a second waveform having the frequency of the first waveform and at a pre-programmed phase angle from the first waveform from a second broadcast antenna in the computer housing; (b) receiving the broadcast signals and echoing a form of the signals by an echoing device located in a movable pointer separate from the computer housing; and (c) receiving and analyzing the echoed signals in the computer housing and determining the pointer device position from the echoed signals relative to the computer housing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for locating a moving pointer device by a computer system, comprising steps of: (a) broadcasting a first constant-frequency waveform from a first broadcast antenna in a computer housing, and a second waveform having the frequency of the first waveform and at a pre-programmed phase angle from the first waveform from a second broadcast antenna in the computer housing; (b) receiving the broadcast signals and echoing a form of the signals by an echoing device located in a movable pointer separate from the computer housing; and (c) receiving and analyzing the echoed signals in the computer housing and determining the pointer device position from the echoed signals relative to the computer housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method as in claim 7 wherein the step of receiving the broadcast signals includes receiving the broadcast waveforms at a first receiving antenna located in a movable pointer device separate from the computer housing and summing the waveforms to form a third waveform, and wherein the step of echoing a form of signal includes driving a third broadcast antenna with the first receiving antenna through a diode, forming a fourth waveform broadcast from the movable pointer device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as in claim 7 wherein the step of receiving and analyzing the echoed signals includes steps for receiving a waveform broadcast from the movable pointer device at a second receiving antenna located in the computer housing, analyzing the received waveform with circuitry connected to the second receiving antenna, determining the position of the movable pointer device from characteristics of the received waveform, and transferring the positional information to the computer system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-05 | 2003-01-04 | 2003-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-05 | 2007-01-04 | 2007-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-05 | 2011-01-04 | 2011-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |