Device controller and data processing method thereof

• US 10,416,788 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Kunwoo, Kim, Dongik, Bang, Junseok, Yoon, Hyunjin, Lee, Seungil, Cho, Sunho, Lee, Chulbae
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cai, Charles
• Application Number:
  US15/819,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20180143702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser

Abstract

A device controller and data processing method thereof are disclosed. According to the present invention, the device controller for controlling a digital device includes a cover, an upper core part including an input unit, a lower core part including an interface unit, and a core including a core body combined with the upper core part and the lower core part. The core body includes a communication module configured to transmit and receive control signals for controlling the digital device, a first sensor module configured to sense motion data according to a movement of the device controller, a second sensor module configured to sense pressure applied to the core body, a control unit configured to control operations of the modules, collect data sensed by the sensor modules, generate a control signal based on the collected sensed data, and output feedback.

Claims

1. A device controller for controlling a digital device, the device controller comprising:

a cover;

an upper core part including an input unit;

a lower core part including an interface unit; and

a core including a core body combined with the upper core part and the lower core part,

wherein the core body comprises;

a communication module configured to transmit and receive control signals for controlling the digital device;

a first sensor module configured to sense motion data according to a movement of the device controller;

a second sensor module configured to sense pressure applied to the core body;

a first core body cover and a second core body cover configured to form outer surface of the core body;

a motor included on at least one of the first and second core body covers; and

a control unit configured to control operations of the first and second sensor modules, collect data sensed by the first and second sensor modules, generate a control signal based on the collected sensed data, and output feedback,

wherein the control unit is configured to control the motor and thereby control a distance between the first core body cover and the second core body cover to configure the core body, and

when the control unit initiates adjustment of a size of the device controller, the control unit controls the motor to change the distance between the first core body cover and the second core body cover until a sensed pressure value, from a user'"'"'s hand, is detected to be within a predetermined pressure value range.

2. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the core body further comprises at least one of an actuator, a tact key, and a pressure sensor.

3. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the first sensor module is implemented as one of a three-axis sensor, a six-axis sensor, and a nine-axis sensor based on at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a terrestrial magnetic sensor.

4. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the second sensor module is made of at least one of elastic materials selected from a group consisting of a spring, a magnetic spring, a conductive string, and an electronic textile.

5. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the interface unit of the lower core part is implemented as at least one of a USB, a micro USB, a POGO pin, and a connector to provide an interfacing environment by being combined with an external accessory and perform a charge function for the device controller.

6. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to control a distance between the first core body cover and the second core body cover to configure the core body by controlling the motor according to a mode of the device controller.

7. The device controller of claim 1, wherein when a key input signal is received through the input unit of the upper core part and/or when the motion data is sensed and collected by the first or second sensor module, the control unit is configured to configure a communication packet based on the collected sensed data and transmit the configured communication packet to the digital device and wherein the configured communication packet includes a control command for controlling an operation of the digital device.

8. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to sense grab strength applied to the core body through the first or second sensor module and wherein the control unit is configured to generate a control command by determining at least one of turn-on/off, operation start/end, and item selection/execution of the digital device based on the sensed grab strength.

9. The device controller of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of an elastic material to sense grab strength applied to the core body and wherein the device controller is configured to receive control signals from all directions regardless of inclinations of the core body with reference to the ground.