Abstract: A system for determining the pointing orientation of a remote unit relative to a base unit. The fixed base unit comprises at least one light source for emitting at least one light beam, and a polarizer for polarizing light emitted by said light source in at least one particular predetermined orientation. The movable remote unit comprises a photodetector for detecting light emitted by said light source means of the fixed base unit and determining components of pitch, yaw and roll of the remote unit relative to the base unit. The remote unit transmits signals related to the pitch, yaw and roll to the base unit. Either the base unit or the remote unit may compute corrected pitch and yaw of the remote unit on the basis of the roll of the remote unit. The roll information may be used alone to rotate an icon in a graphical user interface on a television or computer screen.

Abstract: An improved optical pointing device utilizing a moveable unit having a voltage-to-frequency converter (VFC). The VFC emits pulses with separation proportional to the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit, which pulses are applied to an LED of the moveable unit. A microcomputer in a base unit measures separation of the pulses received by a photodetector to determine the components of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit. In accordance with another aspect, automatic gain control circuitry is located in the moveable unit, thereby eliminating the need for two-way communication to achieve consistency of operation in a prescribed space.