Free space pointing devices and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A 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 modifying said first and second rotational outputs based on said acceleration and for generating an output based on said modified first and second rotational outputs.
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Abstract
Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a free space pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.
374 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A 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 modifying said first and second rotational outputs based on said acceleration and for generating an output based on said modified first and second rotational outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A pointing device comprising:
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at least one sensor for detecting movement of said pointing device; and
a processing unit for translating movement of said pointing device into an output indicative of said movement and for determining whether said pointing device is stationary based on an output of said at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a free space pointing comprising the steps of:
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detecting a lack of movement associated with said free space pointing device; and
placing said free space pointing device into a reduced power state as a result of said detecting step. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for controlling a system comprising the steps of:
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detecting movement associated with a device;
determining if said movement indicates that said device is currently being held by a user; and
controlling said system based on a result of said determining step. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A pointing device comprising:
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at least one sensor for outputting data associated with angular velocity of said device about at least one corresponding axis; and
a processing unit for mapping said data into cursor movement. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method for free space pointing comprising the steps of:
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sensing angular velocity of a free space pointing device about at least one axis;
outputting data associated with said angular velocity; and
processing said data to provide an associated cursor movement output. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification