The present invention relates in general to providing input to a computer system and, in one exemplary embodiment, to an input device for a computer system that utilizes ambient light to control generation of an input signal.
The mouse, in addition to the traditional keyboard, is one of the most widely deployed peripheral devices for providing input to a computer system. A mouse is specifically suited to facilitating user navigation of a user interface that is presented by an application executing on the relevant computer system, and is typically utilized to control movement of a cursor over a presented user interface.
From a mechanical viewpoint, a mouse typically includes some mechanism for detecting movement of the mouse over a surface. For example, such a mechanism may be a ball that is rotatably mounted to an undersurface of the mouse, or an optical arrangement that is able to detect movement of the mouse over a surface. In addition to the movement detecting mechanism, a mouse also typically includes a processor that translates detected movement into one or more control signals, which are recognized by a communication protocol (e.g., RS 232) of a port of the computer system to which the mouse is coupled.
A mouse may furthermore include a user-selection mechanism (e.g., a button) that is sensitive to a user input action (e.g., a depression of the button) to generate a further control signal (e.g., a selection signal) to the computer system.
To enable a mouse to interact with a computer system, the computer system typically also executes control software, in the form of a driver, that provides application software with information concerning the state and status of a mouse (e.g., movement and user-selection information), so as to enable the application software to carry out actions responsive to these inputs.
A mouse is typically operated by a user moving the mouse over a surface, or moving a component (e.g., a ball rotatably mounted within the mouse). It will be appreciated that such movement of a mouse or a component of the mouse typically requires a hand movement by a user. However, in certain circumstances, it may be impractical, inconvenient or impossible for a user to directly and physically move the mouse, or a component thereof.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device to provide input to a computer system. The input device includes body defining a fluid channel. A movable element is located to be movable responsive to a fluid flow through the fluid channel. A light sensor is located such that movement of the movable element varies an intensity of light with which the light sensor is illuminated, the light sensor being to generate an input signal in accordance with the intensity of the light with which the light sensor is illuminated.
The body may define a plurality of fluid channels, and the input device may further include a plurality of movable elements, each of the plurality of movable elements being associated with a respective one of the plurality of fluid channels and being movable responsive to a fluid flow through the respective one of the plurality of channels. The input device may also include a plurality of light sensors, each of the plurality of light sensor being associated with a respective one of the plurality of movable elements such that movement of the respective movable element varies an intensity of light with which the light sensor is illuminated, each of the plurality of light sensors being able to generate one of a plurality of input signals in accordance with the intensity of light with which the respective light sensor is illuminated, each of the plurality of input signals operationally providing a differentiated input to a computer system.
In one embodiment, the movable element is located within the fluid channel so as to be movable responsive to the fluid flow therethrough.
The movable element may be secured to the body at a fixed end thereof so as to be pivotably movable within the fluid channel.
The body may also define an inlet opening and an exhaust opening for the fluid channel.
In one embodiment, the body defines an opening through which the light sensor is operationally illuminated with ambient light, and the light sensor is located such that the movement of the movable element varies an intensity of ambient light with which the light sensor is illuminated.
A light channel may operationally channel the ambient light through the opening to illuminate the light sensor. A light channel may include a light-conductive material, such as a fiber optic thread.
In one embodiment, a window is located in the opening through which the light sensor is operational exposed to the ambient light.
One embodiment of the input device may also include an artificial light source operationally to supplement the ambient light.
An ambient light sensor may operationally sense an intensity of the ambient light, and the input device may include a controller to activate the artificial light sensor when the intensity of the ambient light, as sensed by the ambient light sensor, is below a predetermined minimum. The artificial light source may, in one embodiment, operationally supplement the ambient light in accordance with a measured intensity of the ambient light. The artificial light source may operationally also supplement the ambient light so as to illuminate the light sensor with a combined intensity above a predetermined minimum intensity.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device to provide input to a computer system. The input device includes plurality of light sensors, each to generate a discrete output, and arranged operationally to be illuminated by ambient light. A controller, coupled to each of the plurality of light sensors, operationally generates an input to a computer system based on at least one discrete output received from the plurality of light sensors.
The device includes, in one embodiment, a body to which each of the plurality of light sensors is attached. Each of the plurality of light sensors may be accommodated within the body. The body may furthermore define at least one opening through which at least one of the plurality of light sensors is operationally illuminated by the ambient light.
A light channel may be provided through which the ambient light is operationally channelled, through the at least one opening, to illuminate the at least one of the plurality of light sensors. The light channel may a light-conductive material, such as fiber optic thread.
Each of the plurality of light sensors may, in one exemplary embodiment, be housed within a respective chamber defined within the body, and each of the chambers may be provided with an opening through which a respective one of the plurality of light sensors is operationally illuminated by the ambient light.
According to further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an input device according to any one of the preceding claims.
According to a yet further aspect of the present invention, there is provided kit including an input device according to any one of the preceding claims, and a computer system.
Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
An input device, for a computer system, that utilizes ambient light to generate input signals to the computer system, and a method of manufacturing the same are described. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The exemplary input device 10 illustrated in
Turning specifically to
While the fluid flow illustrated in
In one embodiment of the present invention, movable elements 28 are located within each of the four fluid channels 26 defined in the body 12, these movable elements 28 being movable responsive to a fluid flow through a respective fluid channel 26. The exemplary embodiment also proposes locating light sensors within each of the fluid channels 26 such that movement of a movable element within a respective fluid channel 26 causes a variance in an amount (or an intensity) of light with which the light sensor is illuminated. This variation in the illumination of the light sensor is then converted by the relevant sensor to a signal that is provided to a controller, which in turn may utilize the signal in the generation of an input signal to a computer system.
An opening, in the exemplary form of the window 36, is also shown to enable ambient light from outside the body 12 to enter a fluid channel 26. Also shown to be located within the fluid channel 26 is a light sensor 38 that is illuminated by ambient light received into the fluid channel 26 via the window 36 when the movable element 28 is in the first position 39, indicated in solid line, in
One or more contacts, as fully described in a co-pending U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 10/402,729, filed Mar. 28, 2003, may also be incorporated into the input device 10. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the movement of the movable element 28 towards a third position 41, also illustrated in broken line in
b show perspective views providing further details regarding the location of light sensors 38 within the four fluid channels 26 defined within the body 12 of the exemplary input device 10. Specifically,
The fiber optic thread 52, in a further embodiment, may be bifurcated as illustrated in
In another embodiment, a separate ambient light sensor 60 need not be provided, and the controller 58 may be coupled to receive a signal indicative of the intensity of the ambient light 54 directly from the light sensor 38, or a collection of light sensors 38. In this embodiment, a closed-loop control circuit is effectively established to ensure that the light sensor 38 is sufficiently illuminated.
The controller 58, in turn, includes a control signal generator 66 that receives the various intensity signals 64 from the light sensors 38, and the contact signals 65 from the contacts 42, and generates an input signal 68 to a port 70 of a computer system 72. The port 70 includes a driver 74 that interprets the received input signals 68 into a command to be communicated to an application executing on the computer system 72, for example. The control signal generator 66 may be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or some combination within the controller 58.
The control signal generator 66 may, in various embodiments, generate a wide range of input signals 68 to the computer system 72 based on the intensity and contact signals 64 and 65 that provide as input thereto. Various combinations and permutations of the various signals, as well as timing events related to changes in (or the provision of) the signal 64 and 65 may be interpreted by the control signal generator 66 to generate multiple input signals 68 to the computer system 72. Furthermore, the control signal generator 66 may, in computing and generating an input signal 68, may take into account the strength of an intensity signal 64 received from one of the light sensors 38, as well as a change in one or more of the intensity signals over a period of time. For example, a rapid decrease in an intensity signal 64 from one or more of the sensors 38 may indicate a rapid gesture or a forceful input of fluid into a fluid channel 26. This rapid change in an intensity signal 64 may be interpreted by the control signal generator 66 in a specific manner to generate a specific input signal 68 to the computer system 72.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, each of the four light sensors 38 may be associated with a particular direction of movement (e.g., up, down, left, and right) so as to allow a user, by varying the light intensity to which a relevant sensor 38 is exposed, to control the direction of movement of a cursor across a user interface. In this embodiment, the strength of the intensity signal may be inversely proportional to the speed at which the cursor is advanced in a direction associated with the sensor. For example, if the intensity signal 64 were to be detected by the control signal generator 66 to drop to a very low level, this may indicate that a forceful fluid current has been directed through an appropriate fluid channel 26. This low level of the intensity signal 64 may accordingly be interpreted by the control signal generator 66 as signaling that a cursor should be advanced in the relevant direction at a relatively high speed.
In yet a further exemplary embodiment, the rate of change in an intensity signal 64 may result in the control signal generator 66 interpreting a different type of command, depending on the rate of change. For example, a more gradual decrease in an intensity signal 64 may be interpreted to generate an input signal 68 indicating direction movement controls for a cursor. A more rapid decrease in the intensity signal 64 may be interpreted as a selection event (e.g., a “click”), resulting in the generation of an appropriate input signal 68 to the computer system 72.
While the contacts 42 are described, in one embodiment, as being activated by movement by a movable element 28, in an alternative embodiment, these contacts 42 may be activated by buttons (not shown) located on the input device 10, these buttons being directly activated by a user. Further, a receipt of a contact signal 64 may be interpreted by the control signal generator 66 as a “mode switch” signal, whereby the input device 10 can be switched between an air-based interaction mode and a gesture-based interaction mode.
The controller 58 is also shown to include an artificial light source activator 76, which may again be implemented in software, hardware, firmware or some combination thereof. The artificial light source activator 76 receives an ambient light intensity signal 78 from the ambient light sensor 60 and, based on the strength of the signal 78, activates the artificial light source 44 in the event that the intensity of the ambient light is detected to or below a predetermined minimum threshold.
In one embodiment, the artificial light source activator 76 may be coupled to receive the intensity signal 64 from each of the light sensors 38 included in the array, and performs an averaging function with respect to the intensity signals 64. In this way, the artificial light source activator 76 is provided with a less biased reading of the intensity of the ambient light than is provided by a single light sensor 38. In one embodiment, the artificial light activator 76 may perform a cyclic sampling of the intensity signal 64 in order to calculate the average intensity of the ambient light.
Various embodiments of the present invention that had been discussed may be capable of fluid-based or gesture-based interaction, or may include the capability to be reactive to both fluid-based and gesture-based interactions by users.
The input device 10 may also include a communication circuitry (not shown) so as to enable the input device 10 to provide the input signal 68 wirelessly to the computer system 72. In one embodiment, the communication circuitry may comprise Bluetooth circuitry so as to enable communication of the input signal 68 to a Bluetooth receiver incorporated within a computer system 72.
The exemplary computer system 100 includes a processor 102 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) a graphics processing unit (GPU) or both), a main memory 104 and a static memory 106, which communicate with each other via a bus 108. The computer system 100 may further include a video display unit 110 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 100 also includes an alphanumeric input device 112 (e.g., a keyboard), a user interface (UI) navigation device 114 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 116, a signal generation device 118 (e.g., a speaker) and a network interface device 120.
The disk drive unit 116 includes a machine-readable medium 122 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 124) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. The software 124 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 104 and/or within the processor 102 during execution thereof by the computer system 100, the main memory 104 and the processor 102 also constituting machine-readable media.
The software 124 may further be transmitted or received over a network 126 via the network interface device 120.
While the machine-readable medium 192 is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic media, and carrier wave signals.
Thus, an input device for a computer system, the input device utilizing ambient light to generate input signals to a computer system, and their method of manufacturing the same have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
The various embodiments of the input device 10 described above are advantageous in that they allow a user to provide input to a computer system without requiring that the user physically and directly manipulate the input device 10 itself, or any component thereof. This may be particularly advantageous where it is inconvenient for the user to perform such a physical manipulation (e.g., where the user's hands are unavailable to perform such manipulation).
The present invention also extends to a method of manufacturing an input device 10, for example according to any one of the various exemplary embodiments discussed above. Specifically, a method of manufacturing includes a forming the body 12, defining a plurality of fluid channels 26 in the body 12, locating a respective light sensor 38 within each of the fluid channels 26, and locating a movable element 28 within each of the fluid channels 26 so that the movable element is movable between a first position in which an associated light sensor 38 is illuminated by light (either ambient or internally generated) of a first intensity and a second position in which the associated light sensor 38 is illuminated by light of a second intensity. Optionally, an artificial light source 24 may also be located within a fluid channel 26 associated with each light sensor 38 to supplement ambient light with which the light sensitive 38 may be illuminated. A number of openings (e.g., windows) are also defined within the body 12, and the light sensors 38 are located within the body 12 so as to be illuminated by ambient light received into the body 12 through the openings.
In the present invention also extends to a kit including a computer system, or a device including a computer system, and an input device 10 according to the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications Nos. 60/402,994, filed Aug. 12, 2002, and 60/435,626, filed Dec. 19, 2003 and U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 10/402,729, filed Mar. 28, 2003, each of the above applications being incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US03/25421 | 8/12/2003 | WO | 12/22/2005 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60402994 | Aug 2002 | US | |
60435626 | Dec 2002 | US | |
60368602 | Mar 2002 | US | |
60378573 | May 2002 | US | |
60402994 | Aug 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10402729 | Mar 2003 | US |
Child | 10530939 | Dec 2005 | US |