3D INPUT/NAVIGATION DEVICE WITH FREEZE AND RESUME FUNCTION

• US 20090265668A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Pauw, Jurjen Pieter, Esser, Norbert Christiaan, Michiels, Whilhelmus Petrus Adrianus Johannus, Gorissen, Paulus Mathias Hubertus Mechtildis Antonius
• Application Number:
  US12/298,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/850
• 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: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

3D input/navigation device, method and computer program product for controlling an object in a three-dimensional space by an operator, wherein an object can be switched in a frozen condition in which the movements of the object are suppressed with respect to at least one direction such that the object can only be moved in a surface or along a line determined by the operator and can be switched in a released condition in which the object is resumed or released such that it is freely controllable corresponding to a relative position of the device in a reference system.

Claims

1. 3D input/navigation device for controlling an object (2) in a three-dimensional space by an operator (4), wherein the device (1) can be operatively coupled to a computer system, wherein a data generator being provided operative to generate data in response to the relative position of the device (1) in a reference system and being operative to output the data to the computer system, wherein the device (1) is able to switch the object (2) in a frozen condition in which the movements of the object (2) are suppressed with respect to at least one direction such that the object (2) can only be moved in a surface or along a line determined by the operator (4) and to switch the object (2) in a released condition in which the object (2) is released such that it is freely controllable corresponding to a relative position of the device (1) in the reference system.

2. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is able to switch the object (2) in a completely frozen condition in which the object (2) is frozen with respect to its current position and/or orientation and to switch the object (2) in a released condition in which the object (2) is released such that it is controllable starting from its frozen condition.

3. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is adapted to call up a menu, displayable on a display (3), from which predetermined surfaces, lines and orientations can be accessed.

4. 3D input/navigation device according to 1, wherein the switching operation is activated via at least one actuation means arranged on the device (1).

5. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein at least one means for controlling orientation of the object (2) is arranged at the device (1).

6. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the freezing and resuming is activated via voice control.

7. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is wireless operatively coupled to the computer system.

8. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is operatively coupled to the computer system via at least one wire.

9. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) and the computer system are operatively coupled to the object (2) via network.

10. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is freely movable in space by the operator (4) for controlling the object (2).

11. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) is capable of being located on a substantially horizontal plane during controlling the object (2) in a plane parallel to a horizontal surface (X/Z surface) and is moved up and down only for controlling with respect to a direction (Y) substantially perpendicular to the plane.

12. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the data generator is adapted to provide data concerning absolute positions and/or orientations (x, y, z;

φ

, ψ

, θ

) and/or data concerning relative positions and/or orientations (Δ

x, Δ

y, Δ

z;

Δ

φ

, Δ

ψ

, φ

θ

).

13. 3D input/navigation device according to claim 1, wherein the data generator is arranged inside of the device (1) and is operatively coupled to the computer system.

14. Method for controlling an object (2) in a three-dimensional space by an operator (4), wherein a 3D input/navigation device (1) can be operatively coupled to a computer system, wherein a data generator being provided operative to generate data in response to the relative position of the device (1) in a reference system and operative to output the data to the computer system, comprising the steps of:

controlling the object (2) corresponding to movements of the device (1) in the reference system;

switching the object (2) in a frozen condition in which the movements of the object (2) are suppressed with respect to at least one direction such that the object (2) can only be moved in a surface or along a line determined by the operator (4); and

switching the object (2) in a released condition in which the object (2) is released such that it is freely controllable corresponding to a relative position of the device (1) in the reference system.

15. Computer program product, adapted for carrying out the method steps of controlling an object (2) in a three-dimensional space by an operator (4), wherein a 3D input/navigation device (1) can be operatively coupled to a computer system, wherein a data generator being provided operative to generate data in response to the relative position of the device (1) in a reference system and operative to output the data to the computer system, comprising the steps of:

controlling the object (2) corresponding to movements of the device (1) in the reference system;

switching the object (2) in a frozen condition in which the movements of the object (2) are suppressed with respect to at least one direction such that the object (2) can only be moved in a surface or along a line determined by the operator (4); and

switching the object (2) in a released condition in which the object (2) is released such that it is freely controllable corresponding to a relative position of the device (1) in the reference system.

16. Computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the product is in the form of a software package adapted to upgrade or update a computer program executable on a computer system.