Remote control

• US 20020068556A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Applied Psychology Research Limited
• Original Assignee: Applied Psychology Research Limited
• Inventors: Brown, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/945,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068556A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device

Abstract

A unit for mounting on a user'"'"'s forearm comprises at least one sensor for detecting movement of a user to which the unit is mounted and a wireless communication device for transmitting a signal in response to such movement. The unit is ideally suited as a remote control device for controlling electronic apparatus such as domestic entertainment apparatus.

Claims

1. A unit for mounting on a user'"'"'s forearm comprising at least one sensor for detecting movement of a user to which the unit is mounted and a wireless communication means for transmitting a signal in response to such movement.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication means comprise a short-range radio transmitter.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the short-range radio transmitter comprises a Bluetooth transmitter.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit comprises means for attachment to a user'"'"'s wrist.

5. A unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the unit comprises a bracelet.

6. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor for detecting movement of the user comprises an accelerometer.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor for detecting movement of the user comprises a pair of sensors arranged substantially opposite to one another.

8. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor for detecting movement of the user comprises four sensors arranged at different points within the unit.

9. A unit as claimed in claims 1, further comprising means for determining the absolute orientation of the unit.

10. A unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for determining the absolute orientation of the unit comprises a gravity switch.

11. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a manually-actuable switch.

12. A unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the manually-actuable switch comprises an ON/OFF switch.

13. A unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for deriving a plurality of control signals in response to movement of the unit.

14. A control unit for use with at least one unit as claimed in claim 1, the control unit comprising means for receiving a wireless communication from the user-mountable unit and means for deriving a plurality of control signals in response that communication.

15. A control unit as claimed in claim 14, further comprising means for determining the position of the user-mountable unit relative to the control unit.

16. A control unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the means for determining the position of the user-mountable unit comprises ultrasonic radar.

17. A control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for receiving wireless communication are responsive to signals from a plurality of units as claimed in claim 1.

18. A method of interpreting signals provided by a unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising comparing the output of the at least one sensor with a plurality of ranges of sensor output and outputting a control signal associated with a range into which the sensor value falls.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a step of determining a sensor output in response to at least one of the sensor output values.

20. A set of processor-implementable instructions for implementation by a processor to carry out the method as claimed in claim 18.

21. A carrier medium carrying the set of processor-implementable instructions as claimed in claim 20.