Device for input of 3-dimensional co-ordinates and movements for computers

摘要

The invention concerns an input device with which three-dimensional co-ordinates and movements can be input to computers. Externally, it resembles a "mouse", but differs from it in that it can not only be moved in the plane, but also raised and moved in space. Absolute spatial co-ordinates are thus transmitted to the host computer. The way the spatial co-ordinates are determined is that the distances of the input device from at least three fixed reference points is determined using a high-precision ultra-sound measuring system, and the spatial co-ordinates are calculated from them. The way the ultra-sound measuring system works is that, from a specified calibration point of known co-ordinates, the full phase shifts of the continuously transmitting input part are counted in relation to the received signals, and the phase shift is measured.