INPUT APPARATUS, CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD

• US 20090009471A1
• Filed: 07/02/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kumagai, Hideaki, Kabasawa, Hidetoshi, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, Yamada, Katsuhiko, Mamiya, Toshio
• Application Number:
  US12/166,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009471A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device

Abstract

An input apparatus outputting input information for controlling a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen is provided. The input apparatus includes: an angular velocity output unit for outputting a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis. A third angular velocity about a third axis; a combination calculates unit calculating a first combined angular velocity as a combination result of two angular velocities obtained by respectively multiplying the second and third angular velocities by two migration coefficients of a predetermined ratio. An output unit outputs, as the input information, information on the first angular velocity for controlling a movement of the user interface on the screen in an axial direction corresponding to the second axis and information on the first combined angular velocity for controlling the movement of the user interface on the screen in an axial direction corresponding to the first axis.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for outputting input information for controlling a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen, comprising:

angular velocity output means for outputting a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis;

combination calculation means for calculating a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

output means for outputting, as the input information, information on the first angular velocity for controlling a movement of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis and information on the first combined angular velocity for controlling the movement of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising:

angle calculation means for calculating an angle about the third axis from an absolute vertical axis based on the third angular velocity; and

rotation correction means for correcting the first angular velocity and the second angular velocity output by the angular velocity output means by rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the calculated angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity, and outputting information of the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity,

wherein the combination calculation means calculates a second combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by the two migration coefficients, and

wherein the output means outputs information on the second combined angular velocity and the first correction angular velocity as the input information.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the angle calculation means includes integration means for performing an integration operation of the third angular velocity to calculate an integration value as the angle, and reset means for resetting the integration value.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first axis is a pitch axis, the second axis is a yaw axis, and the third axis is a roll axis.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the angular velocity output means includes an angular velocity sensor configured to detect the first angular velocity, the second angular velocity, and the third angular velocity.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the angular velocity output means includes

an angle sensor configured to detect a first angle about the first axis and a third angle about the third axis,

an angular velocity sensor configured to detect the second angular velocity, and

differentiation means for calculating the first angular velocity and the third angular velocity through differentiation operations of the first angle and the third angle, respectively.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising rotation correction means for correcting the first angular velocity and the second angular velocity through rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the third angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity, and outputting information on the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity,

wherein the combination calculation means calculates a second combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by the two migration coefficients, and

wherein the output means outputs information on the second combined angular velocity and the first correction angular velocity as the input information.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the angular velocity output means includes

an angle sensor configured to detect one of a first angle about the first axis and a third angle about the third axis,

an angular velocity sensor configured to detect the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity when the first angle is detected by the angle sensor, and detect the first angular velocity and the second angular velocity when the third angle is detected by the angle sensor, and

differentiation means for calculating the first angular velocity through a differentiation operation of the first angle when the first angle is detected by the angle sensor, and calculating the third angular velocity through a differentiation operation of the third angle when the third angle is detected by the angle sensor.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising rotation correction means for correcting, when the third angle is detected by the angle sensor, the first angular velocity and the second angular velocity by rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the third angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity, and outputting information on the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity,

wherein the combination calculation means calculates a second combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by the two migration coefficients, and

wherein the output means outputs information on the second combined angular velocity and the first correction angular velocity as the input information.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the angular velocity output means includes

an angle sensor configured to detect a first angle about the first axis, a second angle about the second axis, and a third angle about the third axis, and

differentiation means for calculating the first angular velocity, the second angular velocity, and the third angular velocity through differentiation operations of the first angle, the second angle, and the third angle, respectively.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the angle sensor is one of an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an image sensor.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the angle sensor is one of an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an image sensor.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the angle sensor is one of an acceleration sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, and an image sensor.

14. A control apparatus for controlling a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen in accordance with input information output from an input apparatus, the input information being information on a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the control apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving the input information;

combination calculation means for calculating a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the received second angular velocity and the received third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

coordinate information generation means for generating second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first angular velocity, and generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

15. A control apparatus for controlling a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen in accordance with input information output from an input apparatus, the input information being information on a first angle about a first axis, a second angle about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angle about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the control apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving the input information;

differentiation means for performing differentiation operations of the received first angle, the received second angle, and the received third angle, to calculate a first angular velocity, a second angular velocity, and a third angular velocity, respectively;

combination calculation means for calculating a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

coordinate information generation means for generating second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the first angular velocity, and generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

16. A control system, comprising:

an input apparatus including

angular velocity output means for outputting a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis,

combination calculation means for calculating a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio, and

output means for outputting, as input information, information on the first angular velocity and information on the first combined angular velocity; and

a control apparatus including

reception means for receiving the input information, and

coordinate information generation means for generating second coordinate information of a user interface displayed on a screen in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first angular velocity, and generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

17. A control system, comprising:

an input apparatus including

angular velocity output means for outputting a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, and

output means for outputting information on the first angular velocity, the second angular velocity, and the third angular velocity as input information; and

a control apparatus including

reception means for receiving the input information,

combination calculation means for calculating a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the received second angular velocity and the received third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio, and

coordinate information generation means for generating second coordinate information of a user interface displayed on a screen in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first angular velocity, and generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

18. A method of controlling a user interface on a screen in accordance with a movement of an input apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting a first angular velocity of the input apparatus about a first axis;

detecting a second angular velocity of the input apparatus about a second axis different from the first axis;

detecting a third angular velocity of the input apparatus about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis;

calculating a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio;

generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity; and

generating second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the first angular velocity.

19. An input apparatus configured to output input information for controlling a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen, comprising:

a first acceleration sensor configured to detect a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis;

a second acceleration sensor configured to detect a second acceleration in a direction along a second axis different from the first axis;

a first angular velocity sensor configured to detect a first angular velocity about the first axis;

a second angular velocity sensor configured to detect a second angular velocity about the second axis;

angle calculation means for calculating, based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, an angle about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the angle being formed between a combined acceleration vector of the first acceleration and the second acceleration and the second axis;

angular velocity calculation means for calculating a third angular velocity about the third axis based on the calculated angle;

rotation correction means for correcting the first angular velocity and the second angular velocity by rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the calculated angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity, and outputting information on the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity;

combination calculation means for calculating a combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

output means for outputting, as the input information, information on the first correction angular velocity for controlling a movement of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis and information on the combined angular velocity for controlling the movement of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis.

20. A control apparatus configured to control a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen in accordance with input information output by an input apparatus including a first acceleration sensor configured to detect a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis, a second acceleration sensor configured to detect a second acceleration in a direction along a second axis different from the first axis, a first angular velocity sensor configured to detect a first angular velocity about the first axis, and a second angular velocity sensor configured to detect a second angular velocity about the second axis, the input information being information on the first acceleration, the second acceleration, the first angular velocity, and the second angular velocity, the control apparatus comprising:

reception means for receiving the input information;

angle calculation means for calculating, based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, an angle about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the angle being formed between a combined acceleration vector of the received first acceleration and the received second acceleration and the second axis;

angular velocity calculation means for calculating a third angular velocity about the third axis based on the calculated angle;

rotation correction means for correcting the received first angular velocity and the received second angular velocity by rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the calculated angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity, and outputting information on the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity;

combination calculation means for calculating a combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

coordinate information generation means for generating second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the first correction angular velocity, and generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the combined angular velocity.

21. A method of controlling a user interface on a screen in accordance with a movement of an input apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting a first acceleration of the input apparatus in a direction along a first axis;

detecting a second acceleration of the input apparatus in a direction along a second axis different from the first axis;

detecting a first angular velocity of the input apparatus about the first axis;

detecting a second angular velocity of the input apparatus about the second axis;

calculating, based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, an angle about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis the angle being formed between a combined acceleration vector of the first acceleration and the second acceleration and the second axis;

calculating a third angular velocity about the third axis based on the calculated angle;

correcting the first angular velocity and the second angular velocity by rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the calculated angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity;

outputting information on the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity;

calculating a combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio;

generating second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to die second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the first correction angular velocity; and

generating first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the combined angular velocity.

22. An input apparatus configured to output input information for controlling a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen, the input apparatus comprising:

an angular velocity output unit configured to output a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis;

a combination calculation unit configured to calculate a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

an output unit configured to output, as the input information, information on the first angular velocity for controlling a movement of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis and information on the first combined angular velocity for controlling the movement of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis.

23. A control apparatus configured to control a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen in accordance with input information output from a input apparatus, the input information being information on a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the control apparatus comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the input information;

a combination calculation unit configured to calculate a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the received second angular velocity and the received third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

a coordinate information generation unit configured to generate second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first angular velocity, and generate first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

24. A control apparatus configured to control a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen in accordance with input information output from an input apparatus, the input information being information on a first angle about a first axis, a second angle about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angle about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the control apparatus comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the input information;

a differentiation unit configured to calculate a first angular velocity, a second angular velocity, and a third angular velocity through differentiation operations of the received first angle, the received second angle, and the received third angle, respectively;

a combination calculation unit configured to calculate a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

a coordinate information generation unit configured to generate second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the first angular velocity, and generate first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

25. A control system comprising:

an input apparatus including

an angular velocity output unit configured to output a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis,

a combination calculation unit configured to calculate a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio, and

an output unit configured to output, as input information, information on the first angular velocity and information on the first combined angular velocity; and

a control apparatus including

a reception unit configured to receive the input information, and

a coordinate information generation unit configured to generate second coordinate information of a user interface displayed on a screen in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first angular velocity, and generate first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

26. A control system comprising:

an input apparatus including

an angular velocity output unit configured to output a first angular velocity about a first axis, a second angular velocity about a second axis different from the first axis, and a third angular velocity about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, and

an output unit configured to output information on the first angular velocity, the second angular velocity, and the third angular velocity as input information; and

a control apparatus including

a reception unit configured to receive the input information,

a combination calculation unit configured to calculate a first combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the received second angular velocity and the received third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio, and

a coordinate information generation unit configured to generate second coordinate information of a user interface displayed on a screen in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first angular velocity, and generate first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the first combined angular velocity.

27. A control apparatus configured to control a movement of a user interface displayed on a screen in accordance with input information output by an input apparatus including a first acceleration sensor configured to detect a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis, a second acceleration sensor configured to detect a second acceleration in a direction along a second axis different from the first axis, a first angular velocity sensor configured to detect a first angular velocity about the first axis, and a second angular velocity sensor configured to detect a second angular velocity about the second axis, the input information being information on the first acceleration, the second acceleration, the first angular velocity, and the second angular velocity, the control apparatus comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the input information;

an angle calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the first acceleration and the second acceleration, an angle about a third axis perpendicular to both the first axis and the second axis, the angle being an angle formed between a combined acceleration vector of the received first acceleration and the received second acceleration and the second axis;

an angular velocity calculation unit configured to calculate a third angular velocity about the third axis based on the calculated angle;

a rotation correction unit configured to correct the received first angular velocity and the received second angular velocity by rotational coordinate conversion that corresponds to the calculated angle to obtain a first correction angular velocity and a second correction angular velocity, and output information on the first correction angular velocity and the second correction angular velocity;

a combination calculation unit configured to calculate a combined angular velocity obtained as a result of combining two angular velocities, which are obtained by respectively multiplying the second correction angular velocity and the third angular velocity by two migration coefficients represented by a predetermined ratio; and

a coordinate information generation unit configured to generate second coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the second axis, the second coordinate information corresponding to the received first correction angular velocity, and generate first coordinate information of the user interface in an axial direction on the screen corresponding to the first axis, the first coordinate information corresponding to the combined angular velocity.