PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A COMPUTER

Abstract

A portable computing device for controlling a computer is provided. The portable computing device includes an input device, and an optical sensing module. The optic sensing module is for capturing images which map a movement of the portable computing device. When the portable computing device is connected to the computer and is in a mouse mode, the optical sensing module is operative to serve as an input device for the computer to control a movement of a cursor thereon, and the input device is also operative to serve as an input device for the computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an application schematic diagram of a portable computing device for controlling a computer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hardware infrastructure of the portable computing device of FIG. 1 connecting with the computer;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a preferred method for enabling the portable computing device of FIG. 2 to enter a particular mode;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a preferred method for controlling a menu displayed on the portable computing device of FIG. 2 in a device mode;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a preferred method for controlling the computer by utilizing the portable computing device of FIG. 2 in a mouse mode; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a preferred method for generating a move operation for either FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

Claims

1. A portable computing device for controlling a computer comprising: a screen;an interface configured for communicating with the computer;an optical sensing module, for capturing images that map a movement of the portable computing device; anda microcontroller electrically connected to the screen, the interface and the optical sensing module;wherein the microcontroller displays a menu including a mouse mode item on the screen, when the microcontroller detects the interface is connected to the computer;the microcontroller controls the portable computing device to enter a mouse mode, when the microcontroller receives an operational input corresponding to the mouse mode item; andthe microcontroller, during the mouse mode, controls the optical sensing module to serve as an input device for the computer to control a movement of a cursor of the computer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microcontroller, during the mouse mode, generates a signal according to the images captured from the optical sensing module, and transmits the signal to the computer through the interface for controlling the movement of the cursor of the computer.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensing module comprises a lighting unit, an optical lens, and an optical sensor, the lighting unit is for emitting light to illuminate a surface upon which the portable computing device rests, the optical lens is for focusing reflected light generated on the surface and projecting the reflected light on the optical sensor, and the optical sensor is for periodically capturing images of the reflected light and transmitting information of the images captured to the microcontroller.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the microcontroller compares the information of a current image with that of a previous image to obtain a displacement of the movement of the portable computing device.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the microcontroller generates the signal according to the displacement of the movement of the portable computing device to control the cursor of the computer to move a corresponding displacement.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising an input device and a memory, the input device being structured and arranged for receiving an operational input and generating a control signal corresponding to the operational input, and the memory being structured and arranged for storing input mappings for the operational input.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the microcontroller, during the mouse mode, translates the control signal into a control instruction according to the input mappings and transmits the control instruction to the computer for performing a corresponding operation through the interface.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the menu displayed further comprises a device mode item, the microcontroller controls the portable computing device to enter a device mode when the microcontroller detects an operational input corresponding to the device mode or no operational input corresponding to the items of the menu in a predetermined time period.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the microcontroller, during the device mode, rotates a menu displayed on the screen according to the displacement of the movement of the portable computing device.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the microcontroller, during the device mode, performs a corresponding operation on the portable computing device in response to the control signal from the input device.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the portable computing device is a pocket-sized media player.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the menu is a list of media items.