Electronic pointing apparatus and method
US5825350A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2203/0333
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Pointing apparatus and method provide for control of cursor movement and selection of elements on a computer screen. Gyroscopic elements within the pointing apparatus indicate yaw and pitch movements in free space, and a mouse ball and mouse ball encoders indicate movement on a surface. Data indicative of the distance and direction the cursor is to be moved is generated from outputs of the gyroscopic elements and the mouse ball encoders. Certain amounts of movement are deemed unintentional, and, if necessary, the pointing apparatus adjusts the data so as not to indicate movement of such amounts. By doing so, the pointing apparatus minimizes unintentional cursor movement caused by instability of the gyroscopes and the inability of a person to hold the pointing apparatus absolutely motionless.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.