Free space pointing devices with tilt compensation and improved usability
First Claim
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1. A handheld, pointing device comprising:
- a first rotational sensor for determining rotation of said pointing device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith;
a second rotational sensor for determining rotation of said pointing device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;
an accelerometer for determining an acceleration of said pointing device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and
a processing unit for receiving said first and second rotational outputs and said acceleration output and for;
(a) converting said first and second rotational outputs and said acceleration output from a body frame of reference associated with said handheld pointing device into a user'"'"'s frame of reference in order to remove the effects of tilt associated with the manner in which a user is holding said handheld, pointing device; and
(b) determining data associated with x and y coordinates which are in turn associated with movement of a screen cursor, said data based on said converted first and second rotational outputs and said converted acceleration output, wherein said step of converting renders said movement of said screen cursor substantially independent of an orientation in which a user holds said handheld device.
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Abstract
Systems and methods according to the present invention describe free space pointing devices which enhance usability by transforming sensed motion data from a first frame of reference (e.g., the body of the free space pointing device) into a second frame of reference (e.g., a user'"'"'s frame of reference). One exemplary embodiment of the present invention removes effects associated with a tilt orientation in which the free space pointing device is held by a user.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A handheld, pointing device comprising:
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a first rotational sensor for determining rotation of said pointing device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith;
a second rotational sensor for determining rotation of said pointing device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;
an accelerometer for determining an acceleration of said pointing device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and
a processing unit for receiving said first and second rotational outputs and said acceleration output and for;
(a) converting said first and second rotational outputs and said acceleration output from a body frame of reference associated with said handheld pointing device into a user'"'"'s frame of reference in order to remove the effects of tilt associated with the manner in which a user is holding said handheld, pointing device; and
(b) determining data associated with x and y coordinates which are in turn associated with movement of a screen cursor, said data based on said converted first and second rotational outputs and said converted acceleration output, wherein said step of converting renders said movement of said screen cursor substantially independent of an orientation in which a user holds said handheld device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for using a free space pointing device comprising the steps of:
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detecting movement of said free space pointing device; and
compensating said detected movement by transforming said detected movement from a body frame of reference associated with said free space pointing device into an inertial frame of reference. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A free space, handheld device comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting movement of said free space pointing device; and
a processing unit for compensating said detected movement by transforming said detected movement from a body frame of reference associated with said free space pointing device into an inertial frame of reference. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for operating a free space pointing device comprising the steps of:
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sensing motion in a body frame of the device;
converting said motion into signals representative of motion of the device;
transforming the signals from the body frame to another frame of reference; and
using the transformed signals to generate an output. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A free space pointing device comprising:
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means for detecting motion of said free space pointing device; and
means for compensating said detected motion due to tilt.
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23. A free space pointing device comprising:
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an accelerometer for measuring an acceleration of said free space pointing device; and
a processing unit for determining a center of rotation of said free space pointing device and for determining an acceleration of said free space pointing device at said center of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for operating a free space pointing device comprising the steps of:
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sensing motion of said free space pointing device in a first frame of reference;
transforming the sensed motion from the first frame of reference to another frame of reference; and
using the transformed signals to generate an output of said free space pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for operating a free space pointing device comprising the steps of:
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sensing motion of said free space pointing device in a first frame of reference;
transforming the sensed motion from the first frame of reference to another frame of reference; and
identifying a gesture associated with said transformed, sensed motion.
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35. A method for operating a free space pointing device comprising the steps of:
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sensing motion of said free space pointing device in a first frame of reference;
identifying a gesture associated with said sensed motion; and
transforming said gesture from a first frame of reference to another frame of reference.
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Specification