Patent ID: 7038661

Claim:
A computer-implemented process for selecting an object within a space by a user causing a laser beam to be shone on the object, comprising using a computer to perform the following process actions: directing a laser beam generated by a cursor device to shine on said object, wherein the cursor device comprises a laser which when activated projects said laser beam into the space and a pair of servos connected to laser, wherein the first of the servos is configured so as to move the laser in a manner that controls the yaw direction of the laser beam and the other of the servos is configured so as to move the laser in a manner that controls the pitch direction of the laser beam; determining whether the laser beam is being shone on the object, said determination comprising, modeling the location of objects within the space as the particular pitch and yaw angles associated with the laser that cause the laser beam to shine on approximately the center of the object being modeled, modeling the extent of said objects as being a circle which is centered on the location representing said approximate center of the object being modeled; and whenever the laser beam is being shone on the object, selecting that object for future control actions.