Patent ID: 8502769

Claim:
A universal input device to attach to a target of a user, comprising: a casing shaped like a ring into which the target is inserted; a motion detector for detecting motion of the target; a contact detector for detecting various types of contacts with the target; a power supply for supplying power to the universal input device; a switch for supplying power from the power supply to the universal input device when the target is inserted and connected to the casing, and for cutting off power from the power supply when the target is disconnected from the casing; and a controller for generating position data corresponding to motion data and control data, wherein the control data comprises function setting data to change a function of the universal input device from a function of one type of input device to a function of another type of input device, based on the type of contact with the contact detector, wherein the contact detector comprises a first contact detector and a second contact detector, wherein, when the time of the detected contact between the target and at least one of the first contact detector and the second contact detector is less than a predetermined time, the controller generates the control data based on a current function of the universal input device, and wherein, when the time of the detected contact between the target and at least one of the first contact detector and the second contact detector is greater than a predetermined time, the mode of the universal input device is changed.