Hybrid hardware/firmware multi-axis accelerometers for pointer control and user interface

• US 20070106483A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OQO Incorporated (Audiotone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pocklington, Richard, Kelley, Robert, Alcouloumre, Vince, Betts-La Croix, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US11/580,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20070106483A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• 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: G11B 19/042 due to external shock or vibration

Abstract

A portable computing device with hybrid hardware/firmware accelerometers for pointer control and user interface is disclosed. In one embodiment, a portable computing device can include: (i) at least one accelerometer; and (ii) an embedded controller coupled to the accelerometer, where the embedded controller can change a parameter or variable of the portable computing device when a predetermined condition is detected by the accelerometer. The predetermined condition can include a tilt of the portable computing device, and the parameter that is changed can be a game piece property, for example.

Claims

1. A portable computing device, comprising:

at least one accelerometer; and

an embedded controller coupled to the at least one accelerometer, wherein the embedded controller is configured to change a parameter or variable of the portable computing device when a predetermined condition is detected by the at least one accelerometer.

2. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a tilt.

3. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the parameter or variable change comprises adjusting a momentum of a game piece.

4. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the parameter or variable change comprises influencing a property of a game piece.

5. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the embedded controller is further configured to control a sound emission associated with the parameter or variable change.

6. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one accelerometer comprises a 3-axis accelerometer.

7. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one accelerometer is located away from a center of mass.

8. The portable computing device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of parameter or variable changes, each corresponding to a different tilt position.

9. The portable computing device of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of parameter or variable changes comprises a function of a modifier key.

10. The portable computing device of claim 1, wherein the embedded controller is configured to support firmware.

11. A method of controlling a portable computing device, the method comprising:

entering a motion-based user interface mode;

detecting a tilt direction using at least one accelerometer in the portable computing device; and

modifying a parameter using an embedded controller coupled to the at least one accelerometer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the entering the motion-based user interface mode comprises using a test feature.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying the parameter comprises adjusting a momentum of a game piece.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying the parameter comprises influencing a property of a game piece.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising emitting a sound to indicate the modifying of the parameter.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the parameter corresponds to a function of a modifier key.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying the parameter comprises performing a mouse function.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying the parameter comprises varying a rate of change of a variable.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the modifying the parameter comprises changing a minimum or a maximum value of a variable.

20. A means for controlling a portable computing device, the means comprising:

means for entering a motion-based user interface mode;

means for detecting a tilt direction using at least one accelerometer in the portable computing device; and

means for modifying a parameter using an embedded controller coupled to the at least one accelerometer.