Method and apparatus for computer input using six degrees of freedom

• US 20050093823A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sinclair, Michael J., Szeliski, Richard S., Hinckley, Kenneth P., Conway, Matthew J., Hanson, Erik J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,554,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• 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 3/0395 Mouse pads

Abstract

A method and computer input device are provided for controlling a displayed object. Using the method and computer input device, an indication of the amount of rotation and translation of the computer input device is received. A decision is then made as to whether to use the amount of rotation of the computer input device to control a displayed object based on the amount of translation of the computer input device.

Claims

1. A computer input device for providing input control to a computer, the input device comprising:

rotation identification components for identifying a change in the rotation of the computer input device;

translation identification components for identifying a change in the x-y translation of the computer input device;

a processor capable of communicating changes in the orientation of the computer input device, the processor communicating that there is no change in the rotation of the computer input device when the rotation identification components indicate a change in the rotation if the translation identification components indicate a change in the translation of the computer input device.

2. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the processor communicates a change in the rotation of the computer input device when the rotation identification components indicate a change in the rotation if the translation identification components indicate no change in the translation of the computer input device.

3. The computer input device of claim 1 wherein the processor communicates a change in the rotation of the computer input device when the rotation identification components indicate a change in the rotation if the translation identification components indicate a change in the translation of the computer input device and the rotation identification components indicate a change in the rotation that exceeds a threshold amount of rotation.

4. A method of controlling an object displayed on a display associated with a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving a value indicating rotation of a computer input device;

determining whether the rotation is less than a threshold amount of rotation;

determining whether the input device changed position during the rotation; and

not using the rotation to control the displayed object if the rotation is less than the threshold amount and the input device changed position during the rotation.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising using the rotation to control the displayed object if the rotation is more than the threshold amount.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising using the rotation to control the displayed object if the input device did not change position during the rotation.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising using the change in position of the input device to control the displayed object if the input device changed position during the rotation.

8. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving an indication of the amount of rotation and translation of a computer input device; and

determining whether to use the amount of rotation of the computer input device to control a displayed object based on the amount of translation of the computer input device.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein determining whether to use the amount of rotation further comprises determining whether the amount of rotation exceeds a threshold amount.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein determining whether to use the amount of rotation further comprises determining not to use the amount of rotation if the amount of rotation is less than the threshold and the amount of translation is greater than zero.