(19)
(11) EP 2 028 584 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
Note: Bibliography reflects the latest situation

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
29.07.2009 Bulletin 2009/31

(43) Date of publication:
25.02.2009 Bulletin 2009/09

(21) Application number: 07425538.1

(22) Date of filing: 23.08.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
G06F 3/033(2006.01)
 G01C 21/16(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK RS

(71) Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
20041 Agrate Brianza (Milano) (IT)

(72) Inventors:
  • Pasolini, Fabio
    27028 S. Martino Siccomario (IT)
  • Bendiscioli, Paolo
    27100 Pavia (IT)
  • Vocali, Francesco
    50053 Empoli (IT)
  • Biganzoli, Fabio
    21040 Jerago (IT)

(74) Representative: Cerbaro, Elena et al
STUDIO TORTA Via Viotti 9
10121 Torino
10121 Torino (IT)

   


(54) Pointing and control device and method for a computer system


(57) A pointing and control device for a computer system includes: a body (9) that can be manoeuvred by a user; and an inertial sensor (12), fixed to the body (9), for supplying first signals (SAX', SAY', SAZ') correlated to the orientation of the body (9) with respect to a gravitational field (G) acting on the inertial sensor (12). The device moreover includes: a magnetometer (11), fixed to the body (9) for supplying second signals (SMX', SMY', SMZ') correlated to the orientation of the body (9) with respect to the Earth's magnetic field (M) acting on the magnetometer (11); and processing modules (17, 18; 317) for determining an orientation (A, X', Y', Z') of the body (9) in an absolute reference system (X, Y, Z; G, P, N), fixed with respect to the Earth's magnetic field (M) and gravitational field (G), on the basis of the first signals (SAX', SAY, SAZ') and second signals (SMX', SMY', SMZ').