Input device off table switch
US6831628B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 19, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0421
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
According to one aspect of the invention, a movable cursor control device is provided for controlling a cursor on a display screen of a digital processing system. One exemplary cursor control device comprises a housing, an electromagnetic emitting device coupled to the housing, and an electromagnetic detector coupled to the housing. The electromagnetic detector detects reflections of signals emitted from the electromagnetic emitting device and determines when the housing has been lifted from a surface. In another aspect of the invention, an exemplary method is provided for controlling a cursor on a display screen of a digital processing system. The exemplary method includes holding the cursor relative to an object on the display screen using a cursor control device activated by a user, detecting that the user no longer activates the cursor control device, and detecting that the user has lifted the cursor control device from a surface when the cursor control device is no longer activated by the user. Further, the method allows for continuing to hold the cursor relative to the object after detecting that the user no longer activates the cursor control device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.