Method and apparatus for optically detecting selections made on an input device
US7446677B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 26, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/0362
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Optics are utilized in an input device such as a mouse or keyboard, for example, to detect a condition of one or more selection indicators, such as whether a key or button has been depressed or a scroll wheel has been rotated. Depressing a key, clicking a button and/or rotating a scroll wheel cause one or more optical signals to be reflected from the corresponding selection indicator onto an optical detector. The optical detector generates electrical signals in response to the light received by the optical detector. A computational device of the input device processes the electrical signals to determine whether a key or button has been depressed, whether a scroll wheel has been rotated, etc. The corresponding information is then input to a computer that is interfaced with the input device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.