Sensor-based pointing device for natural input and interaction
A pointing or input device is generally cylindrical or puck-shaped, and has various sensors for sensing 2D, 3D, and high degree of freedom motion for more natural user interaction.
1. A computer mouse, comprising:
a surface movement sensor positioned to detect movement of the computer mouse across a surface upon which the computer mouse is placed;
an action button; and
a height sensor that detects a height of the computer mouse relative to the surface in response to the computer mouse being raised from the surface, wherein the height sensor is associated with zooming functionality for a display.
2. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a puck-shaped body sized to be grasped by its circumference between two fingers of a human hand.
3. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a puck-shaped body sized to be grasped by its circumference between two fingers of a human hand; and
a gyroscope that senses rotation of the computer mouse.
4. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors for determining angular orientation of the computer mouse relative to a human hand.
5. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more touch-sensitive sensors.
6. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer that senses translation of the computer mouse.
7. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising one or more touch-sensitive side surfaces for determining orientation of the computer mouse relative to a human hand.
8. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a touch-sensitive top.
9. The computer mouse as recited in claim 8 , wherein the touch-sensitive top comprises an inner touch-sensitive surface and an outer touch-sensitive surface.
10. The computer mouse as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a compass that senses geographic orientation of the computer mouse.
11. A computer mouse, comprising:
a puck-shaped body sized to be grasped by its circumference between two fingers of a human hand;
a surface movement sensor positioned to detect movement of the computer mouse across a surface upon which the computer mouse is placed;
an action button;
a height sensor that detects height of the computer mouse relative to the surface when the computer mouse is raised from the surface;
a gyroscope that senses rotation of the computer mouse; and
one or more touch-sensitive surfaces around the circumference of the puck-shaped body.
12. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , further comprising an accelerometer that senses translation of the computer mouse.
13. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a compass that senses geographic orientation of the computer mouse.
14. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , wherein the body has a touch-sensitive top that comprises an inner touch-sensitive surface and an outer touch-sensitive surface that surrounds a central touch-sensitive surface.
15. The computer mouse as recited in claim 14 , wherein the inner touch-sensitive surface is pressable to form an action button.
16. The computer mouse as recited in claim 14 , wherein the outer touch-sensitive surface is pressable to form an action button.
17. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , further comprising one or more sensors for determining angular orientation of the computer mouse relative to a human hand.
18. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , wherein the height sensor is associated with zooming functionality for a display.
19. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , wherein the height sensor is associated with switching windows on a display.
20. The computer mouse as recited in claim 11 , wherein the height sensor is associated with selecting a menu item on a display.