Optical alignment method for pointing devices
US5949402A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1997 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0325
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
This invention provides an optical pointing device, such as those used to control devices such as televisions, VCRs, video games and computers, which have improved accuracy and lower sensitivity to detrimental effects, such as noise and user hand unsteadiness, than prior art devices. Such pointing devices emit light beams, such as infrared light, which when received by a receiver are used to position cursors or other symbolic shapes, such as sliding volume controls. An advantage of the pointing device of the invention is that light emitting diodes of conventional manufacture, known to have poor optical precision and hence variable angular emission profiles, may nevertheless be used in the pointing device of the invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.