Method of detecting contact of mouse with surface and mouse unit using this method

摘要

A mouse unit is used as input means for personal computers and work stations. The mouse unit is used and operated on a broad and plane surface. A proposal has been made that when a mouse is separated from a plane surface, the mouse can continue to output the data at a certain speed. Such a proposal requires a particular device for detecting the state of the mouse contacting the plane surface. The invention provides a mouse unit which can improve the operation of the mouse without the need of any particular device. The mouse unit outputs movement data which is received by a reception buffer. A processing portion estimates time when the speed of the moving mouse becomes zero from a characteristic value inherent in the mouse held in a characteristics holding portion the movement data from the reception buffer. When the processing portion detects that the mouse is not in contact with the plane surface, the movement data used to estimate a time when the mouse is separated from the plane surface is outputted from the processing portion to a system processing portion causing a cursor to be displayed on a display portion. The invention is characterized by that any conventional mouse can be detected with respect to its state and that the output of any function can be utilized when the mouse is not in contact with the plane surface. The invention easily applies to any one of a number of mice having various characteristics.