Powerless signal generation for use in conjunction with a powerless position determination device
View Patent ↗A reflector and a powerless signal generator mechanism are incorporated into a single powerless pointing device. A light source generates a light signal, and the reflector incorporated within the powerless pointing device reflects the light signal back to a image collection system of a computer. Image data is generated, and is used to generate position data relating to the position of the reflector. The position is correlated to a position on a graphical user interface. A user action activates the powerless signal generator mechanism, generating a signal. The signal can be, for example, in the form of a sound pulse having one or more predetermined frequencies or an RF signal generated by a piezo-electric transducer.
1. A system for generating position information related to a pointing device, the system comprising:
the pointing device comprising;
a reflector; and
a powerless signal generator mechanism configured to generate a signal in response to a user action, wherein the signal triggers a function in a computing system;
an image collection system configured to generate a first set of image data and a second set of image data, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data;
a processor configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information related to the reflector, wherein the processor is configured to take the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data wherein taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises taking the difference between corresponding data points of the first and second sets of image data such that most of the corresponding data points from the first and second sets of image data cancel each other out except for data points that correspond to the reflector; and
a receiver configured to detect the signal from the powerless signal generator mechanism.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the powerless signal generator mechanism is a pulse generator that generates a sound pulse in response to the user action.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the pulse generator comprises a sonic resonator and a hammer configured to engage the sonic resonator.
4. The system of claim 2 wherein the sound pulse includes a sound pulse in the 20 kHz to 100 kHz range.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the pointing device further comprises a second powerless signal generator mechanism configured to generate a second signal in response to a user action.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the powerless signal generator mechanisms are configured such that the first and second signals have a distinguishable attribute.
7. A system for generating position information related to a pointing device, the system comprising:
a computing system that utilizes a graphical user interface (GUI);
the pointing device for use with the GUI, the pointing device comprising;
a reflector; and
a powerless signal generator mechanism configured to mechanically generate a signal in response to a user action, wherein the signal is generated to trigger a first function of the GUI;
an image collection system configured to generate a first set of image data and a second set of image data, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data;
a processor configured to use the first set of image data and the second set of image data to generate position information related to the reflector for use in navigating within the GUI, wherein the processor is configured to take the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data wherein taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises taking the difference between corresponding data points of the first and second sets of image data such that most of the corresponding data points from the first and second sets of image data cancel each other out except for data points that correspond to the reflector; and
a receiver configured to detect the signal from the powerless signal generator mechanism and to provide the detected signal to the computing system to trigger the first function of the GUI.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the powerless signal generator mechanism is a pulse generator that generates a sound pulse in response to the user action.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the pointing device further comprises a second powerless signal generator mechanism configured to generate a second signal in response to a user action, wherein the second signal is generated to trigger a second function of the GUI.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the powerless signal generator mechanisms are configured such that the first and second signals have a distinguishable attribute.
11. A method for generating position information related to a pointing device, the method comprising:
illuminating a reflector that is incorporated into the pointing device;
generating a first set of image data and a second set of image data, wherein the first set of image data includes a stronger indication of the reflector than the second set of image data;
generating position information related to the reflector using the first and second sets of image data by taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data, wherein taking the difference between the first set of image data and the second set of image data comprises taking the difference between corresponding data points of the first and second sets of image data such that most of the corresponding data points from the first and second sets of image data cancel each other out except for data points that correspond to the reflector;
generating a signal from the pointing device using energy provided from a user action;
detecting the signal; and
initiating a function in response to detection of the signal.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein generating the signal comprises impacting a resonator in response to the user action.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
generating a second signal from the pointing device using energy provided from a user action, wherein the first and second signals have different attributes;
detecting the second signal; and
initiating a second function in response to detection of the sound signal.