Multi-function pointing device

Claim 2

A multifunction pointing device connected with a portable hand-held electronic device, comprising: a pointing implement including a shaft; a holster connected with the portable hand-held electronic device and including an aperture through which the pointing implement is inserted into and removed from the holster, a portion of the shaft is positioned in the holster and is movable in a rotation about an axis and is movable in a translation along the axis; a first sensor positioned to detect the translation and the rotation of the portion of the shaft and operative to generate a first signal in response to the translation and the rotation, and wherein the portable hand-held electronic device receives the first signal and processes the first signal to initiate an action; and a second sensor including a collar with an opening therein through which the pointing implement is inserted into and removed from the holster, the collar is in contact with a sub-portion of the shaft, wherein a multi-directional motion of the pointing implement urges the sub-portion into contact with the collar with a first force, the collar is operative to induce a stress force on the second sensor in response to the first force, and the second sensor is operative to generate a second signal in response to the stress force, and wherein the electronic device receives the second signal and processes the second signal to initiate the action.

Claim 3

The multifunction pointing device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor is a component selected from the group consisting of a multi-axis strain gauge sensor and an isometric joystick.

Claim 4

The multifunction pointing device of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional motion of the pointing implement is a motion along two axes selected from the group consisting of a X-axis and a Y-axis, a X-axis and a Z-axis, and a Y-axis and a Z-axis.

Claim 5

The multifunction pointing device of claim 1 , wherein the multi-directional motion of the pointing implement is a motion along two axes consisting of a X-axis and a Y-axis and wherein a selected one or both of the translation and the rotation of the portion of the shaft comprises a Z-axis motion.

Claim 6

A multifunction pointing device connected with a portable hand-held electronic device, comprising: a pointing implement including a shaft; a holster connected with the portable hand-held electronic device and including an aperture through which the pointing implement is inserted into and removed from the holster, a portion of the shaft is positioned in the holster and is movable in a rotation about an axis and is movable in a translation along the axis; a first sensor positioned to detect the translation and the rotation of the portion of the shaft and operative to generate a first signal in response to the translation and the rotation, and wherein the portable hand-held electronic device receives the first signal and processes the first signal to initiate an action; a first port connected with the electronic device; and a peripheral component including the holster, the first sensor, the pointing implement, and a second port connected with the peripheral component and operative to electrically communicate with the first port; and wherein the peripheral component is connected with the electronic device by docking the peripheral component with the electronic device and at least the first signal is electrically communicated between first port and the second port to initiate the action in the electronic device in response to the first signal; a first alignment element connected with the electronic device; a second alignment element connected with the peripheral component, the first and second alignment elements include profiles adapted to complement each other; and wherein the first and second alignment elements are operative to mate with each other when the electronic device and the peripheral component are docked and are operative to align the peripheral component and the electronic device with each other.

Claim 7

A multifunction pointing device connected with a portable hand-held electronic device, comprising: a pointing implement including a shaft; a holster connected with the portable hand-held electronic device and including an aperture through which the pointing implement is inserted into and removed from the holster, a portion of the shaft is positioned in the holster and is movable in a rotation about an axis and is movable in a translation along the axis; a first sensor positioned to detect the translation and the rotation of the portion of the shaft and operative to generate a first signal in response to the translation and the rotation, and wherein the portable hand-held electronic device receives the first signal and processes the first signal to initiate an action; a first port connected with the electronic device; and a peripheral component including the holster, the first sensor, the pointing implement, and a second port connected with the peripheral component and operative to electrically communicate with the first port; and wherein the peripheral component is connected with the electronic device by docking the peripheral component with the electronic device and at least the first signal is electrically communicated between first port and the second port to initiate the action in the electronic device in response to the first signal; a first alignment element connected with the electronic device; a second alignment element connected with the peripheral component, the first and second alignment elements include profiles adapted to complement each other; and wherein the first and second alignment elements are operative to mate with each other when the electronic device and the peripheral component are docked and are operative to align the peripheral component and the electronic device with each other.