Remote controller ring for user interaction

• US 20060164383A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marshman Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Media Lab Europe
• Inventors: Machin, Alberto Perdomo, Allen, Rebecca
• Application Number:
  US11/303,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164383A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• 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

Abstract

A hand-worn controller consisting of a housing having a central opening sized to permit the controller to be worn as ring on the index finger of a human hand. A joystick lever projects outwardly from said housing and is positioned to be manipulated by the user'"'"'s thumb. The joystick operates on or more control devices, such as switches or potentiometers, that produce control signals. A wireless communications device, such as a Bluetooth module, mounted in said housing transmits command signals to a remote utilization device which are indicative of the motion or position of said joystick lever.

Claims

1. A hand worn controller for transmitting command signals to control a remotely located electronic device comprising, in combination,

a ring worn on the finger of a user;

a manually manipulatable control device housed in or supported by said ring,

a wireless communication device housed in or supported by said ring, said communications device being connected to transmit said command signals to said remotely located electronic device in response to the manipulation of said control device.

2. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control device is positioned on said ring to that it can be readily manipulated by the user'"'"'s thumb when the ring is worn on the user'"'"'s index finger.

3. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 2 wherein said manually manipulatable control device is a joystick having a lever which can be moved in at least two different directions by said user.

4. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 3 wherein said lever operates a plurality of switches whose switched state is communicated via said wireless controller to said remotely located device.

5. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 4 wherein said wireless communications transmits said command signals using the Bluetooth protocol and wherein said remotely located electronic device includes a Bluetooth receiver for receiving said command signals from said hand worn controller.

6. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 5 wherein said hand worn controller further includes an output device for producing a output indication perceptible to said user in response to a notification signal transmitted from said remotely located electronic device using the Bluetooth protocol.

7. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device transmits said command signals using the Bluetooth protocol and wherein said remotely located electronic device includes a Bluetooth receiver for receiving said command signals from said hand worn controller.

8. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hand worn controller further includes an output device for producing a output indication perceptible to said user.

9. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 8 wherein said output indication is a vibratory signal which can be haptically perceived by said user.

10. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 8 wherein said output device is a visual indicator for producing a visible display perceptible to said user.

11. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 10 wherein said manually manipulatable control device includes at least one electrical switch which is turned on and off by said user.

12. A hand worn controller as set forth in claim 8 wherein said output device is connected to said communication device for producing said output indication in response to a notification signal sent from said remotely located electronic device.

13. A hand-worn controller comprising:

an annular housing having a central opening sized to be worn on the index finger of a human user,

a joystick lever attached to said housing and projecting outwardly from said housing and positioned to be manipulated by the user'"'"'s thumb,

one or more control devices actuated by the movement of said lever,

a wireless communications device mounted in said housing and connected to said one or more control devices to transmit command signals to a remote utilization device indicative of the motion or position of said joystick lever.

14. A hand-worn controller as set forth in claim 13 wherein at least one of said control devices is an electrical switch which is turned on and off by the motion of said lever.

15. A hand-worn controller as set forth in claim 14 wherein said wireless communications device transmits said command signals using the Bluetooth protocol and wherein said remote utilization device includes a Bluetooth receiver for receiving said command signals from said hand worn controller.

16. A hand-worn controller as set forth in claim 13 wherein said control devices comprise of plurality of electrical switches which are turned on and off by the motion of said lever.

17. A hand-worn controller as set forth in claim 13 wherein said wireless communications device transmits said command signals using the Bluetooth protocol and wherein said remote utilization device includes a Bluetooth receiver for receiving said command signals from said hand worn controller.

18. A hand-worn controller as set forth in claim 13 wherein said hand-worn controller further includes an output device for producing a output indication perceptible to said human user in response to a notification signal transmitted to said hand-worn controller from said remote utilization device.