APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTITUTING CHARACTER USING HEAD MOTION

• US 20080136681A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: JEONG, Hyuk, Kim, Jong Sung, Son, Wookho
• Granted Patent: US 8,059,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and method for inputting characters by making head motion. In the method for inputting a character by making head motion, a predetermined numeral group is selected among a plurality of numeral groups by shifting a center-point key set on a keyboard displayed on a screen in a predetermined direction along a sensed head motion. Then, one of numeral keys in the selected numeral group is selected by sensing the head motion, and the selected numeral key is inputted.

Claims

1. A method for inputting a character by making head motion comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a predetermined numeral group among a plurality of numeral groups by shifting a center-point key set on a keyboard displayed on a screen in a predetermined direction along a sensed head motion;

b) selecting one of numeral keys in the selected numeral group by sensing the head motion; and

c) inputting the selected numeral key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step c) further includes the step of c-1) selecting one of a plurality of characters assigned to the selected numeral key by sensing the head motion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the keyboard displayed on the screen is a 1×

4 (row×

column) layout, includes a plurality of numeral groups, three numeral keys are disposed at each of the numeral groups, and three characters are assigned to each of the numeral keys.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the keyboard displayed on the screen is a 4×

3 (row×

column) layout, includes a plurality of numeral groups, three numeral keys are disposed at each of the numeral groups, and three characters are assigned to each of the numeral keys.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the head motion is distinguished to a head motion of moving a head in a left direction and returning it to a center, a head motion of moving a heat in a right direction and returning it to a center, and a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the head motion is further divided into a head motion of moving a head in a left direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a left direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a right direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a right direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold, and a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of a predetermined numeral group is canceled by moving a head in the opposite direction of the selected numeral group.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein one of the characters assigned to the selected numeral key is sequentially selected by performing a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold as many as the number of the characters assigned to the selected numeral key.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an operation of performing a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold three times is replaced with an operation of performing a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold once.

10. An apparatus for inputting characters of a 1×

4 (row×

column) keyboard displayed on a screen by sensing head motion, comprising;

a signal detecting device for sensing two-axial motions of a head including up and down motions and left and right motions using acceleration sensors, generating acceleration signals based on the sensed motion, and transmitting the generated acceleration signals; and

a signal processor for selecting a predetermined character by determining a head motion according to predefined base patterns by receiving the acceleration signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal detecting device includes at least two one-axial acceleration sensors disposed orthogonally for sensing up and down head motions and left and right head motions.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the signal processor includes:

a signal receiver for receiving acceleration signals generated according to the up and down head motions or the left and right head motions;

a basic pattern recognizer for recognizing an up direction, a down direction, a left direction, and a right direction of a head motion by blocking the received acceleration signal at a regular interval, adding acceleration signals in blocks, calculating a velocity value per each of one-axial acceleration sensor, and comparing the calculated velocity value with a predetermined threshold value;

an instruction generator for selecting a corresponding character by determining a head motion of moving a head in a left direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a left direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a right direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a right direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold, a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed slower than a predetermined threshold, and a head motion of moving a head in a down direction and returning it to a center at a speed faster than a predetermined threshold according to the detected basic patterns; and

a character outputting unit for displaying the 1×

4 (row×

column) keyboard on a screen, and displaying a selected character from the instructor generator.