3D pointing devices

• US 20070035518A1
• Filed: 07/03/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gupta, Arvind, Gritton, Charles, Moshiri, Negar, Simpkins, Daniel, Geck, Friedrich, Francz, Steven, Wroblewski, Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/480,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035518A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0334 Ergonomic shaped mouse for vertical grip, whereby the hand controlling the mouse is resting or gripping it with an attitude almost vertical with respect of the working 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: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device

Abstract

A remote control device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, has a ring-shaped or arcuate-shaped housing and at least one sensor mounted within the housing for sensing movement of said remote control device. The housing is adapted to promote a user'"'"'s arm, hand and wrist to be substantially in a neutral position when the user is holding the remote control device.

Claims

1. A remote control device comprising:

a hand-held, ring-shaped housing; and

at least one initial sensor mounted within said ring-shaped housing for sensing movement of said remote control device.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein said ring-shaped housing is adapted to promote a user'"'"'s arm, hand and wrist to be substantially in a neutral position when the user is holding the remote control device.

3. The remote control device of claim 1 further comprising:

a grip attached to an inner side of a portion of said ring-shaped housing.

4. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein said grip in conjunction with said portion of said ring-shaped housing together comprise a grip region, said grip region having at least one predetermined circumference and at least one predetermined diameter.

5. The remote control device of claim 4, wherein said at least one predetermined circumference equivalent to a diameter having a maximum value ranging between 28 mm and 59 mm.

6. The remote control device of claim 4, wherein said at least one predetermined diameter or alternate shape having a radii or blended surface of a minimum value of 12 mm.

7. The remote control device of claim 4, wherein said at least one predetermined circumference varies along at least a portion of said grip region.

8. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein said at least one predetermined circumference varies from a minimum circumference in the range of 87-100 mm to a maximum circumference in the range of 115-150 mm.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein said minimum circumference is 90 mm and said maximum circumference is 130 mm.

10. The remote control device of claim 4, wherein said grip region has a cross-sectional area which is one of circular, elliptical or substantially elliptical in shape.

11. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a control area positioned on an outer portion of said ring-shaped housing, said control area including at least one user-actuable control element.

12. The remote control device of claim 11, wherein said at least one user-actuable control element includes two buttons and a scroll wheel.

13. The remote control device of claim 11, wherein said outer portion of said ring-shaped housing is located proximate to a grip portion of said remote control device.

14. The remote control device of claim 13, wherein said location of said outer portion of said ring-shaped housing relative to said grip portion of said remote control device enables a user'"'"'s digits to naturally rest proximate said at least one user-actuable control element when said user holds said remote control device via said grip portion.

15. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein elements of said remote control device are distributed around said ring-shaped housing such that a center of gravity of said remote control device is proximate a grip region of said remote control device.

16. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is a 3D pointing device.

17-32. -32. (canceled)