Optical joystick for hand-held communication device

• US 20050275623A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Mobile LLC (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Chadha, Lovleen
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04707 with ball joint
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033

Abstract

An optical joystick for a hand-held communication device employs an image capture device for sensing movement of a stylus by capturing images of the stylus or a target attached to a socket receiving the stylus. The captured images are processed for tracking movement of the stylus so that movement of the stylus may be used for controlling functions of the hand-held communication device.

Claims

1. An optical joystick for a hand-held communication device, comprising:

a stylus; and

an image capture device for capturing images of the stylus;

wherein the captured images of the stylus are processed for tracking movement of the stylus, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling a function of the hand-held communication device.

2. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image capture device comprises a camera assembly disposed in the hand-held communication device, the camera assembly including a camera for capturing the images of the stylus.

3. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 2, wherein the camera assembly further comprises a swivel assembly for swiveling the camera.

4. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stylus comprises indicia, the image capture device capturing images of the indicia for tracking movement of the stylus.

5. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a socket for receiving the stylus, the stylus being capable of joystick motion when received in the socket.

6. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-held communication device comprises a display, and the function controlled comprises the display of information by the display.

7. A hand-held communication device, comprising:

a housing;

a stylus; and

an image capture device disposed in the housing for capturing images of the stylus;

wherein the captured images of the stylus are processed for tracking movement of the stylus with respect to the housing, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling a function of the hand-held communication device.

8. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the image capture device comprises a digital camera assembly disposed in the hand-held communication device, the digital camera assembly including a digital camera for capturing the images of the stylus.

9. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the camera assembly further comprises a swivel assembly for swiveling the digital camera.

10. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stylus comprises indicia, the image capture device capturing images of the indicia for tracking movement of the stylus.

11. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a socket for receiving the stylus, the stylus being capable of joystick motion when received in the socket.

12. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hand-held communication device comprises a display, and the function controlled comprises the display of information by the display.

13. A hand-held communication device, comprising:

a housing having a display for displaying information; and

a camera disposed in the housing for capturing images of a stylus, the stylus being capable of movement with respect to the housing;

wherein the captured images of the stylus are processed for tracking movement of the stylus, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling the display of information by the display.

14. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a swivel assembly disposed in the housing for supporting the camera so that the camera swivels with respect to the housing.

15. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the stylus comprises indicia, the image capture device capturing images of the indicia for tracking movement of the stylus.

16. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a socket for receiving the stylus, the stylus being capable of joystick motion when received in the socket.

17. An optical joystick for a hand-held communication device, comprising:

a chamber formed within the hand-held communication device;

a socket for receiving an end of a stylus, the socket extending into the chamber and including a target; and

an image capture device disposed in the chamber for capturing images of the target,

wherein the captured images of the target are processed for tracking movement of the stylus, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling a function of the hand-held communication device.

18. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 17, wherein the target comprises indicia, the image capture device capturing images of the indicia for tracking movement of the stylus.

19. The optical joystick as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hand-held communication device comprises a display, and the function controlled comprises the display of information by the display.

20. A hand-held communication device, comprising:

a housing having a display for displaying information;

a chamber formed within the housing;

a socket for receiving an end of a stylus, the socket extending into the chamber and including a target; and

an image capture device disposed in the chamber for capturing images of the target,

wherein the captured images of the target are processed for tracking movement of the stylus, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling the display of information by the display.

21. The hand-held communication device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the target comprises indicia, the image capture device capturing images of the indicia for tracking movement of the stylus.

22. An optical joystick for a hand-held communication device, comprising:

a stylus; and

means for capturing images of the stylus;

wherein the captured images of the stylus are processed for tracking movement of the stylus, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling a function of the hand-held communication device.

23. An optical joystick for a hand-held communication device, comprising:

a chamber formed within the hand-held communication device;

means for receiving an end of a stylus; and

means for capturing images of the stylus receiving means,

wherein the captured images of the stylus receiving means are processed for tracking movement of the stylus, the movement of the stylus being used for controlling a function of the hand-held communication device.

24. A method for providing a joystick for a hand-held communication device having a camera, comprising:

capturing an image of a stylus using the camera;

comparing the captured image of the stylus with a previous image of the stylus for tracking movement of the stylus;

generating a joystick input from the tracked movement of the stylus; and

providing the joystick input to the hand-held communication device for controlling a function of the hand-held communication device.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24, further comprising filtering noise from the captured image.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the step of comparing the captured image of the stylus with the previous image of the stylus comprises comparing the position of the stylus from the captured image with the position of the stylus in the previous image using at least one of pattern extraction, feature extraction, and pattern recognition.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the previous image includes a stored image of the stylus in a neutral position.