Pointing device and cursor for use in intelligent computing environments

Abstract

A system and process for directing a laser beam within a space is presented. The system includes a pointing device which periodically outputs orientation data indicative of the direction it is pointing and a cursor device which projects a laser beam. The orientation data is used to compute the direction the pointing device is pointing in terms of yaw and pitch angles. The laser beam is directed to locations in the space relative to the amount of movement of the pointing device. In an absolute mode, the pointed device and the laser beam of the cursor device are pointed at the same location in the space, whereas in a relative mode, the pointing device does not point at the same location as the laser beam. The position of the laser can be used to select a variety of hardware devices known to be in a room for future control actions.

1 . A system for directing a laser beam within a space to act as a cursor, comprising: 
 a pointing device which periodically outputs orientation data indicative of the direction it is pointing;    a cursor device which projects a laser beam at a location in the space determined by the direction the pointing device is pointing; and    a computing device which receives the orientation data output by the pointing device and which is in communication with the cursor device to control where the laser beam is projected, and which computes the direction the pointing device is pointing from the received orientation data and uses this orientation data to direct the laser beam to a particular location in the space.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a user by manipulating the pointing device can shine the laser beam on any location desired in the space that is within line of sight of the cursor device.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cursor device comprises: 
 a platform;    a laser which when activated projects a laser beam into the space; and    a pair of servos connected between the platform and the laser, wherein a first of the servos is configured so as to move the laser in a manner that controls the yaw direction of the laser beam and the other of the servos is configured so as to move the laser in a manner that controls the pitch direction of the laser beam.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the pointing device is a hand-held unit resembling a wand and said orientation data represent the orientation of the wand, and wherein the computing device uses the orientation data to direct the laser beam to a particular location in the space by computing pitch and yaw angles that the laser is to be moved to in view of the wand orientation and providing these angle to the cursor device.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the pitch and yaw angles are provided as angle data to the cursor device which converts the data to motor commands which are applied to the servos to move the laser to the pitch and yaw angle specified in the angle data.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the computing device converts the pitch and yaw angles to motor commands and provides these commands to the cursor device which applies them to the servos to move the laser to the pitch and yaw angle specified.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the cursor device is mounted in a location within the space, and the servos have ranges of motion, which allows shining the laser beam on a plurality of locations of interest without interference.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the space is a room, and the cursor device is mounted on a ceiling of the room.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is in communication with the cursor device via a wired connection.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is in communication with the cursor device via a wireless connection.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device further directs the laser beam to a prescribed home location whenever there has been no change in the orientation data received for a pre-established period of time.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device further directs the laser beam to move in prescribed pattern whenever receiving changed orientation data after a prescribed period of time in which there had been no change in the orientation data received, wherein said pattern is designed to attract a user's attention to the location of the laser beam.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device further accesses a model of the location of objects within the space and directs the laser beam to move to shine on a modeled object in response to a user-input command to point the laser beam at that object.