3D Cursor Maneuvering via Tinted Reference Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical mice are two-dimensional devices that cannot directly interact with three-dimensional displaying devices, leading to difficulties in professional applications such as AUTOCAD and medical image utilities, as they lack a point-to-point relationship between the mouse data and the 3D display data.
Innovation Solution
A 3D cursor maneuvering system is developed, utilizing a tinted reference surface with color-coded positions to provide high sensitivity and high resolution 3D motion vectors, where the mobile cursor maneuvering device moves over the surface, capturing light reflections to generate 3D positional data using a photoreceptor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional optical mouse is used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot provide three-dimensional cursor movement for 3D displaying devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D optical mouse operation to 3D cursor control by introducing a color-coded reference surface that encodes spatial information in the spectral domain. The photoreceptor detects color variations (wavelength dimension) to determine Z-axis position, converting a 2D surface interaction into a 3D control capability without adding mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference surface is divided into regions with different color codes (wavelengths). As the optical mouse moves across the surface, the photoreceptor detects changes in reflected light wavelength, which correspond to changes in the third spatial dimension (Z-axis). This allows color information to serve as a positional encoder for 3D cursor maneuvering.
2Measurement precision
If a tinted reference surface with color-coded positions is introduced, then high resolution and high sensitivity 3D motion detection is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The color-coded reference surface acts as an intermediary that translates physical position into optical wavelength information. Instead of modifying the mouse to detect 3D position directly, the reference surface pre-encodes spatial information in a form that the existing photoreceptor can detect through wavelength analysis, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses wavelength (color) as an additional parameter to encode spatial information. By mapping different Z-axis positions to different wavelength ranges through the color-coded surface, the system achieves 3D measurement precision by analyzing spectral parameter changes rather than requiring complex mechanical or optical 3D sensing hardware.
3Loss of information
If the reference surface is divided into multiple regions with different color codes, then absolute position determination is enabled, but the manufacturing complexity of the reference surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference surface is segmented into multiple distinct regions, each assigned a unique color code corresponding to a specific Z-axis position range. This segmentation allows the surface to encode absolute position information through spatially distributed color markers, which can be manufactured using standard multi-color printing or coating techniques applied to different zones of the surface.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables precise and sensitive 3D cursor movement, immune to human body vibrations and stray electromagnetic interference, providing unprecedented reliability and precision for applications like mechanical sketching and medical image manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
capturing light reflections to generate 3D positional data using a photoreceptor
Data Source
AI summary
A three dimensional (3D) cursor maneuvering system for use by a computer or electro-mechanical system requiring 3D control, includes a tinted 2D planar or locally planar reference surface and a color sensitive mobile device that moves along the tinted reference surface and generates high sensitivity and high resolution absolute positional and motional data by accurately determining variations in the tint. Color index data (e.g. CIE 1931 RGB, etc.) on the tinted reference plane varies from place to place and methods are disclosed for imprinting the reference plane with that data in the form of dyes and pigments that may be reflective, refractive or emissive. When the mobile device moves on or over the reference surface, it captures a series of images whose data (e.g. CIE 1931 RGB) varies in correspondence with the movement of the device. The color index data measured by the mobile device can be mathematically converted into 3D positional and motional data. Hence, the color index data provides an ideal method for generating 3D positional and motional data as compared with the 2D data provided by the conventional optical mouse and mouse pad system.