METHODS AND DEVICES FOR REMOVING UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT IN 3D POINTING DEVICES

• US 20090128489A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Frank A. Hunleth, Matthew G. Liberty
• Inventors: Liberty, Matthew G., Hunleth, Frank A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,237,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention describe 3D pointing devices and methods which detect movement of the 3D pointing device and remove unintentional movement from the output readings.

Claims

1. A method for operating a 3D pointing device comprising the steps of:

sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith;

detecting occurrence of an event; and

filtering said output based on said detected event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said 3D pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of filtering further comprises the step of:

filtering said output using a first filter if said event is of a first type and using a second filter if said event is of a second type.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said first type of said event is a button press and said second type of said event is a button release.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith further comprises:

using at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera to sense said movement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of filtering said output based on said detected event further comprises the step of:

permitting some data generated by at least one sensor to be processed immediately subsequent to said detected event.

7. A method for operating a 3D pointing device comprising the steps of:

sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith;

detecting occurrence of an event; and

discarding or attenuating said output until a predetermined time has elapsed after said detection of said event.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said 3D pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith further comprises:

using at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera to sense said movement.

10. A method for operating a 3D pointing device comprising the steps of:

sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith;

detecting occurrence of an event; and

discarding or attenuating said output until either a predetermined time has elapsed after said detection of said event or said 3D pointing device has moved a predetermined distance after said detection of said event, whichever comes first.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said 3D pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith further comprises:

using at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera to sense said movement.

13. A method for operating a 3D pointing device comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith;

(b) detecting occurrence of an event;

(c) determining a velocity of said 3D pointing device;

(d) if said velocity of said 3D pointing device is below a predetermined velocity threshold, then discarding or attenuating movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event; and

(e) otherwise, if said velocity of said 3D pointing device is above said predetermined velocity threshold, then filtering movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event to remove unintended motion associated with said user-initiated event.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein movement information is discarded until either said handheld device has moved more than a predetermined distance or a predetermined time has expired.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said 3D pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating an output associated therewith further comprises:

using at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera to sense said movement.

17. A handheld pointing device comprising:

at least one motion sensor for sensing movement of the handheld pointing device and generating an output associated therewith; and

a processing unit for detecting occurrence of an event, determining a velocity of said 3D pointing device based on said sensed movement, wherein

(a) if said velocity of said 3D pointing device is below a predetermined velocity threshold, then said processing unit discards movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event; and

(b) otherwise, if said velocity of said 3D pointing device is above said predetermined velocity threshold, then said processing unit filters movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event to remove unintended motion associated with said user-initiated event.

18. The handheld pointing device of claim 17, wherein said movement information is discarded until either said handheld device has moved more than a predetermined distance or a predetermined time has expired.

19. The handheld pointing device of claim 17, wherein said handheld pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

20. The handheld pointing device of claim 17, wherein said at least one motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera.