3-D mouse on a pedestal

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a pointer or mouse device which can provide an input for a viewpoint or a cursor on a computer display without being physically moved across a surface or through space.
The pointer is mounted on a pedestal which is fixed.
The pointer can rotate to change the direction in which it is pointing while on the pedestal.
An extended movement button on the pointer provides a control signal to the computer to cause the viewpoint or cursor on the screen to move in the direction indicated by the direction the pointer is pointed at that time.
Thus, the viewpoint or cursor can be moved without physically moving the pointer device.
Instead, the pointer is simply rotated to the direction desired for movement and the extended movement button is pressed.
A continue button may also be included to cause the viewpoint or cursor to continue rotating in the same way as when the button was pushed, without the user having to continue turning the pointer.
Additional buttons can be included to cause movement in the X Y and Z directions without the need to actually point the device.
In one embodiment, the pointer includes several microphones which receive ultrasonic signals from a stationary frame having ultrasonic transmitters.
A control circuit measures the relative timing of when the signals are sent and received at the various transmitters and microphones to determine the attitude of the pointer, giving pitch, roll and yaw information.
Alternately, the transmitters may be on the pointer and the receivers on the stationary frame.
In another embodiment, the pointer can be removed from the pedestal and used in a mode which not only produces pitch, roll and yaw, but also direction signals along the three axes.
When the pointer is docked on the pedestal, it will activate a switch on the pointer putting it into the pedestal mode, in which only pitch, roll and yaw information is provided.
Actually moving the pedestal around on the desk to move the pointer will not affect the screen display except to the extent that it alters the pitch, roll and yaw of the pointer