This application claims the benefit of priority based on Taiwan Patent Application No. 096109227, filed on Mar. 16, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer cursor control apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a computer cursor control apparatus and method for wirelessly controlling the movement of a computer cursor.
2. Descriptions of the Related Art
Although mouse pens are currently used as digital pens, they fail to have the same writing sensitivity as that provided by a brush or a paintbrush. In addition, its handwriting trace cannot vary in thickness depending on the contact pressure exerted by the user. In view of these problems, the present inventors propose an improved technical solution.
This invention is intended to provide a computer cursor control apparatus and a method for sensing the pressure exerted during writing to vary the moving trace of the computer cursor control apparatus as a function of sensing pressure.
One objective of this invention is to provide a computer cursor control apparatus which comprises a main body, a contact portion, a pressure sensing unit, a cursor-moving module, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The main body has a cap, while the contact portion is disposed in the cap and exposed out of the main body. The pressure sensing unit, the cursor-moving module, and the wireless transmission module are all disposed in the main body. The pressure sensing unit is also used for contacting with the contact portion. The sensing pressure actuated from the contact portion generates a pressuring signal that is transmitted to the control module. The cursor-moving module is used for providing a cursor optical image signal to the control module. The control module is used for processing the cursor optical image signal into a cursor-moving signal. The switch signal controls the wireless transmission module to wirelessly transmit one of the cursor-moving signal and the signal packaging both the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a computer cursor control apparatus comprising a main body, a ball, a pressure sensing unit, a light-emitting unit, a light-sensing unit, a control module, and a wireless transmission module. The main body has a cap and a light hole. The ball is disposed in the cap and exposed out of the main body. The pressure sensing unit, the light-emitting unit, the light-sensing unit, the control module, and the wireless transmission unit are all disposed in the main body. The pressure sensing unit is also used for contacting with the ball to sense the pressure actuated from the ball to output a pressuring signal to the control module. The light-emitting unit is used for emitting the light to the light hole. The light-sensing unit is used for receiving the light reflection signal from the light hole to generate a cursor optical image signal for transmission to the control module. The control module is used for processing the cursor optical image signal into a cursor-moving signal. The switch signal controls the wireless transmission module to wirelessly transmit one of the cursor-moving signal and the signal packaging both the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a computer cursor control method for a computer cursor control apparatus to wirelessly transmit a signal to the host. The computer cursor control method comprises the following steps: detecting the displacement of the computer cursor control apparatus to generate a cursor-moving signal; sensing the pressure actuated from the computer cursor control apparatus to generate a pressuring signal; determining that a switch signal of the computer cursor control apparatus is enabled; packaging and wirelessly transmitting the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal from the computer cursor control apparatus to the host; translating the cursor-moving signal into a moving trace through a drive software; and displaying the moving trace on a monitor after the host receives the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal, wherein the moving trace has a thickness which varies according to the pressuring signal.
In accordance with the computer cursor control apparatus and the method of this invention, a cursor-moving module and a pressure sensing unit are disposed within the main body, wherein the cursor-moving module is used for detecting the moving trace of the computer cursor control apparatus. The pressure sensing unit is used for sensing the pressure actuated from the computer cursor control apparatus while the apparatus is moving. In this way, the moving trace of the computer cursor control apparatus displayed on a monitor will vary in thickness as a function of sensing pressure.
The detailed technology and preferred embodiments implemented for the subject invention are described in the following paragraphs accompanying the appended drawings for people skilled in this field to well appreciate the features of the claimed invention.
The computer cursor control apparatus 1 comprises a control module 10, a cursor moving module 12, a pressure sensing unit 14, an input interface 16, and a wireless transmission module 18. The control module 10 is electrically connected with the cursor-moving module 12, the pressure sensing unit 14, the input interface 16, and the wireless transmission module 18 for controlling.
The cursor-moving module 12 is used for detecting the displacement of the computer cursor control apparatus 1 then to generate a cursor optical image signal to be outputted to the control module 10. Upon receiving the cursor optical image signal, the control module 10 processes it into a cursor-moving signal for outputting.
The pressure sensing unit 14 is used for synchronously sensing the pressure actuated from the computer cursor control apparatus 1 during the movement of the computer cursor control apparatus 1 to output the pressuring signal to the control module 10. The pressuring signal mainly functions to make a moving trace of the computer cursor control apparatus 1 vary in thickness when the computer cursor control apparatus 1 is operating in the paintbrush mode.
The input interface 16 has a mouse function interface and a function switching interface. The mouse function interface may incorporate basic functions such as the left mouse button, the right mouse button, and the mouse wheel functions, and is used for inputting an operational signal to the control module 10. The input interface 16 may also incorporate additional functional buttons as desired. The function switching interface is used for switching the operation of the computer cursor control apparatus 1 between the mouse function and non-mouse function. The non-mouse function of this invention allows the computer cursor control apparatus 1 to operate in a paintbrush mode or a character recognition mode. During the operation, the function switching interface provides a switch signal to the control module 10 for the control module 10 to decide the function in which the computer cursor control apparatus 1 shall operate.
In this invention, when receiving the switch signal, the control module 10 controls the computer cursor control apparatus 1 to operate in the non-mouse function. Otherwise, when no switch signal is received, the control module 10 controls the computer cursor control apparatus 1 to operate in the mouse function.
Accordingly, when the computer cursor control apparatus 1 is operating in the mouse function, the control module 10 outputs a cursor-moving signal to the wireless transmission module 18, and controls the wireless transmission module 18 to transmit the cursor-moving signal to the host 62. Upon receiving the cursor-moving signal via the wireless signal receiving unit 61, the host 62 processes the cursor-moving signal to derive a cursor-moving direction for display on the monitor 63.
Alternatively, when the computer cursor control apparatus 1 is operating in the non-mouse function, the control module 10 packets the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal then outputs the signals to the wireless transmission module 18. The control module 10 also controls the wireless transmission module 18 to wirelessly transmit the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal to the host 62. Upon receiving the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal via the wireless signal receiving unit 61, the host 62 decides the functional mode according to the selected drive software, and processes the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal to derive a result for display on a monitor 63. Here, the selected drive software is used for executing either the paintbrush mode or the character recognition mode.
Hereinafter, the embodiments of the computer cursor control apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to the block diagram thereof depicted in
The pressure sensing unit 14 is disposed immediately adjacent to the contact portion 15 to sense the pressure actuated from the contact portion 15 and generate a pressuring signal. The pressure sensing unit 14 may be implemented by a pressure sensor 141, a flexible portion 142, and a fixed portion 143. The pressure sensor 141 is disposed immediately adjacent to one side of the contact portion 15 and is connected with the fixed portion 143 through the flexible portion 142, so that the pressure sensing unit 14 may experience a flexible deformation in response to the pressure exerted on the contact portion 15. As a result, when operated by a user, the computer cursor control apparatus 1 may yield a handwriting effect like a paintbrush or a brush. In an alternative design, those skilled in the art may readily swap the locations of the pressure sensor 141 and the fixed portion 143, in which case the pressure sensing unit 14 will also experience a flexible deformation in response to pressure.
The cursor-moving module 12 disposed in the main body 11 comprises a light-emitting unit 121 and a light-sensing unit 122. The light-emitting unit 121 is used for emitting the light through the cap 19. The emitted light is transmitted through the pressure sensing unit 14 and the contact portion 15 to the working surface 5. The light-emitting unit 121 may emit an infrared light, a laser, or a visible light. The light-sensing unit 122 is used for receiving a light reflection signal to the working surface 5 which incorporates an image variation, then outputs a cursor optical image signal to the control module 10. Consequently, as the main body 11 moves, the light reflection signals received by the light-sensing unit 122 constitute a series of light spot images, which are in turn processed by the light-sensing unit 122 to generate a cursor optical image signal. Then the control module 10 calculates the cursor-moving signal according to this cursor optical image signal.
Disposed on the outer surface of the main body 11 is an input interface 16 comprising a switch 161, a plurality of mouse buttons 162, and a mouse wheel (not shown) to facilitate the user's operation. The mouse buttons 162 serve as a left and a right mouse button, while the switch 161 is used for outputting the switch signal to the control module 10.
Functions of the control module 10 have already been described in detail with reference to
If the obtained result in step S601 is to disable, then the control module 10 controls the computer cursor control apparatus 1 to operate in the mouse function. As the computer cursor control apparatus 1 moves, the light-emitting unit 121 emits light onto the working surface 5 (step S603), and the light-sensing unit 122 receives a light reflection signal from the working surface 5 (step S605). Consequently, as a result of the movement of the computer cursor control apparatus 1, a series of light spot images are formed on the light-sensing unit 122 (step S607). These light spot images are then processed by the light-sensing unit 122 into a cursor optical image signal, which is in turn processed by the control module 10 into a cursor-moving signal (step S609). Subsequently, the cursor-moving signal is wirelessly transmitted via the wireless transmission module 18 to the host 62 (step S611), so that after receiving the cursor-moving signal, the host 62 translates it into the relative movement of the cursor on the monitor 63 (step S613).
On the other hand, if the answer obtained in step S601 is to enable, the control module 10 controls the computer cursor control apparatus 1 to operate in the non-mouse function. In this case, the computer cursor control apparatus 1 moves and is contacted with the working surface 5. The light-emitting unit 121 emits light onto the working surface 5 (step S619), and the light-sensing unit 122 receives a light reflection signal from the working surface 5 (step S621). Consequently, as a result of the movement of the computer cursor control apparatus 1, a series of light spot images are formed on the light-sensing unit 122 (step S623). During the execution of the steps S619 S623, a pressure is actuated from the contact portion 15 which contacts the working surface 5 (step S615), and the pressure actuated from the contact portion 15 is converted by the pressure sensing unit 14 into a pressuring signal (step S617).
Subsequent to the steps S617 and S623, these light spot images are processed by the light-sensing unit 122 into a cursor optical image signal, which is in turn processed by the control module 10 into a cursor-moving signal. At this point, the control module 10 also receives the pressuring signal (step S625). Next, the control module 10 packages the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal into a signal. The signal comprises both the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal is then transmitted via the wireless transmission module 18 to the host 62 (step S627). After receiving the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal, the host 62 processes the signals using the selected drive software (step S629).
In step S629, the drive software may be selected by a user. The user may select the drive software of the paintbrush mode, in which case the cursor-moving signal is displayed on the monitor 63 as a moving trace. Meanwhile, the pressuring signal accompanied with the cursor-moving signal will cause a variation in the thickness of the moving trace, hence the computer cursor control apparatus 1 can then be used by the user as a paintbrush or a brush.
Alternatively, in step S629, the user may also select the drive software of the character recognition mode. In this case, the cursor-moving signal is displayed on the monitor 63 as a moving trace, which is recognized as the corresponding characters for outputting, so the computer cursor control apparatus 1 can be used by the user as a handwriting recognizing apparatus.
In reference to
Primarily, the computer cursor control apparatus 4 of
If the result obtained in step S801 is to disable, then the control module 10 controls the computer cursor control apparatus 4 to operate in the mouse function. As the computer cursor control apparatus 4 moves, the light-emitting unit 121 emits light through the light hole 20 onto the working surface 5 (step S803), and the light-sensing unit 122 receives a light reflection signal from the working surface 5 through the light hole 20. Consequently, as a result of movement of the computer cursor control apparatus 4, a series of light spot images are formed on the light-sensing unit 122 (step S805). These light spot images are then processed by the light-sensing unit 122 into a cursor optical image signal, which is in turn processed by the control module 10 into a cursor-moving signal (step S807). Subsequently, the cursor-moving signal is wirelessly transmitted via the wireless transmission module 18 to the host 62 (step S809), so that after receiving the cursor-moving signal, the host 62 translates it into a relative movement of the cursor on the monitor 63 (step S811).
On the other hand, if the result obtained in step S801 is to enable, the control module 10 controls the computer cursor control apparatus 4 to operate in the non-mouse function. In this case, the ball 17 of the computer cursor control apparatus 4 moves in contact with the working surface 5. The light-emitting unit 121 emits light through the light hole 20 onto the working surface 5 (step S817), and the light-sensing unit 122 receives a light reflection signal from the working surface 5. Consequently, as a result of movement of the computer cursor control apparatus 4, a series of light spot images are formed on the light-sensing unit 122 (step S819). During the execution of steps S817 and S819, the pressure is exerted on the ball 15 which comes into the contact with working surface 5 (step S813), and the pressure actuated from the ball 15 is converted by the pressure sensing unit 14 into a pressuring signal (step S815).
Subsequent to the steps S815 and S819, these light spot images are processed by the light-sensing unit 122 into a cursor optical image signal, which is in turn processed by the control module 10 into a cursor-moving signal. At this point, the control module 10 also receives the pressuring signal (step S821). Next, the control module 10 packages the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal into a signal. The signal, which comprises both the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal is then transmitted via the wireless transmission module 18 to the host 62 (step S823), so that after receiving the cursor-moving signal and the pressuring signal, the host 62 processes them using the selected drive software (step S825).
Likewise, the user may select the drive software of the paintbrush mode, in which case the cursor-moving signal is displayed on the monitor 63 as a moving trace. Meanwhile, the pressuring signal, accompanied by a cursor-moving signal, will cause variation in the thickness of the moving trace, so that the computer cursor control apparatus 4 may be used by the user as a paintbrush or a brush. Alternatively, the user may also select the drive software of the character recognition mode. In this case, the cursor-moving signal is displayed on the monitor 63 as a moving trace and is recognized as the corresponding characters for outputting, so that the computer cursor control apparatus 4 can be used by the user as a handwriting recognizing apparatus.
In summary, the computer cursor control apparatus and the method thereof disclosed in this invention are characterized by the following features:
The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. Nevertheless, although such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above descriptions, they have substantially been covered in the following claims as appended.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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96109227 | Mar 2007 | TW | national |