Sensing device having cursor and hyperlinking modes

Abstract

An optical sensing device for controlling a computer system is disclosed. The device has a nib for receiving a nib force upon the nib being pressed against a substrate and a nib switch coupled to the nib. An optical sensor images optically coded data printed on the substrate. A processor effects a mode change between a cursor control mode and a hyperlinking mode upon the nib force actuating the nib switch, generates cursor control data when the optical sensing device is in the cursor control mode, and generates interaction data when the optical sensing device is in the hyperlinking mode. The interaction data indicates a coordinate position of the optical sensing device relative to the substrate. The cursor control data or the interaction data is then communicated to the computer system, where the cursor control data initiates a cursor control response and the interaction data initiates a hyperlinking response.

1 . An optical sensing device for controlling a computer system, said optical sensing device comprising:
 a nib for receiving a nib force upon said nib being pressed against a substrate;   a nib switch coupled to said nib;   an optical sensor for imaging optically coded data printed on the substrate, said coded data being indicative of a region identity associated with the substrate and of a plurality of coordinate locations on the substrate;   a processor for effecting a mode change between a cursor control mode and a hyperlinking mode upon said nib force actuating said nib switch, for generating cursor control data using the optically imaged coded data when said optical sensing device is in said cursor control mode, and for generating interaction data using the imaged coded data when said optical sensing device is in said hyperlinking mode, said interaction data being indicative of the region identity and of at least one coordinate position of the optical sensing device relative to the substrate; and   communication means for communicating said cursor control data or said interaction data to said computer system,   
       wherein the cursor control data initiates a cursor control response in said computer system and the interaction data initiates a hyperlinking response in said computer system. 
     
     
         2 . The optical sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein actuating said nib switch indicates a pen-down state. 
     
     
         3 . The optical sensing device of  claim 2 , wherein said pen-down state effects said hyperlinking mode. 
     
     
         4 . The optical sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein said nib is biased towards a pen-up state. 
     
     
         5 . The optical sensing device of  claim 4 , wherein said pen-up state effects said cursor control mode. 
     
     
         6 . The optical sensing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor for generating relative motion data indicative of relative position changes of the optical sensing device. 
     
     
         7 . The optical sensing device of  claim 1 , wherein said optical sensor and said processor together generate motion data, and wherein said cursor control data comprises said motion data. 
     
     
         8 . The optical sensing device of  claim 7  wherein, in said cursor control mode, said processor generates relative motion data using sensed coded data, said relative motion data being indicative of relative position changes of the optical sensing device.