Patent ID: 8786544

Claim:
An absolute coordinate pointing device manipulatable by a user to control at least cursor position on a display on a companion device, the absolute coordinate pointing device comprising: a base, defining an (x,y) plane including a drawing region surface defined within a boundary box, said (x,y) plane being orthogonal to a vertical z-axis; a user manipulable control element having a first end and a second, distal, end; a movable first light source outputting first optical energy rays at a first exit location that moves in said (x,y) plane with movement of said first end of said control element in said (x,y) plane; a stationary, relative to said (x,y) plane, first light sensor array disposed to receive at least some of said first optical energy rays directly output from said first exit location; wherein said stationary first light sensor array outputs (x,y) Cartesian coordinate data commensurate with (x,y) plane movement of said first end of said control element, which (x,y) Cartesian coordinate data is coupleable to said companion device to at least control position of said cursor position on said display; and wherein position of said control element relative to said boundary box is indicative of position of said cursor on said display, even when said control element is not being held by a user of said pointing device; and means for optically sensing z-axis displacement of a region of said control element, said means for optically sensing z-axis displacement outputting (z) Cartesian coordinate data commensurate with z-axis displacement of said first end of said control element, which (z) Cartesian coordinate data is coupleable to said companion device.