INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND PROGRAM

• US 20100245238A1
• Filed: 02/22/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogawa, Hiroyuki, KUMAGAI, Hideaki, Kabasawa, Hidetoshi, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, Niikura, Hideo, Mamiya, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 8,558,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region

Abstract

An input device includes an operating unit that a user grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device; and a transmitting unit to transmit a signal for a first gesture in the free space of the operating unit to set a mode, and a signal for a second gesture in the free space of the operating unit which differs from the first gesture to execute processing in the mode set based on the first gesture.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

an operating unit that a user grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device; and

a transmitting unit to transmit

a signal for a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit to set a mode, and

a signal for a second gesture in said free space of said operating unit which differs from said first gesture to execute processing in said mode set based on said first gesture.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein one of said first gesture and said second gesture is a rotating movement gesture of said operating unit, and the other is a parallel movement gesture.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein said mode is set in the case that said first gesture exceeds a predetermined threshold.

4. The input device according to claim 3, wherein said first gesture thresholds are the angle and time of the state of said operating unit.

5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein said first gesture is a gesture to rotate said operating unit from a horizontal state to a state wherein the front end thereof is in an upward facing vertical state;

and wherein said second gesture is a gesture to move said operating unit of which the front end is in an upward facing vertical state so as to bring nearer to or farther from the user.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said mode is disengaged in the case that a third gesture, which differs from said first gesture and said second gesture, is performed so as to exceed a predetermined threshold.

7. The input device according to claim 6, wherein said third gesture thresholds are the angle and time of the state of said operating unit.

8. The input device according to claim 7, wherein in the event that said third gesture is performed so as to exceed the predetermined threshold, a mode is set that differs from said mode set in the case that said first gesture is performed so as to exceed a predetermined threshold.

9. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a setting unit to set modes, based on the first gesture in said free space of said operating unit.

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein in the case that said mode is changed, the processing of said mode before changing is restricted.

11. An input method for an input device including

an operating unit, and

a transmission unit;

said method comprising the steps of;

grasping and operating of said operating unit by a user in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device; and

transmitting, by said transmitting unit,

a signal for a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit to set a mode, and

a signal for a second gesture in said free space of said operating unit which differs from said first gesture, to execute processing in said mode set based on said first gesture.

12. A program to cause a computer to execute the function of transmission means to transmit, for an operating unit that is grasped and operated by a user in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device;

a signal for a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit to set a mode, and

a signal for a second gesture in said free space of said operating unit which differs from said first gesture, to execute processing in said mode set based on said first gesture.

13. An information processing system comprising:

an input device; and

an information processing device that is controlled by remote control signals from said input device;

wherein said input device is grasped and operated by a user in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device;

and wherein said information processing device sets modes based on the first gesture in said free space of said input device; and

executes processing for said modes that are set based on said first gesture, based on a second gesture in said free space of said input device which differs from said first gesture.

14. An information processing device comprising:

a setting unit to set modes, based on a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit, which are obtained from the operating unit which the users grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operating an information processing device; and

an executing unit to execute processing for said modes that are set based on said first gesture, based on a second gesture in said free space of said input device which differs from said first gesture.

15. The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein operating speed of said mode is controlled according to the movement speed of said operating unit at time of said second gesture.

16. The information processing device according to claim 14, wherein identifying information is output that identifies said mode that is set.

17. The information processing device according to claim 16, wherein said identifying information of said mode that can be transitioned from said mode that is set, is further output.

18. The information processing device according to claim 16, wherein said identifying information is output by display, audio, or vibration.

19. An information processing method for an information processing device including

a setting unit;

and

an executing unit;

said method comprising the steps of;

setting of modes by said setting unit, based on a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit that sets modes, obtained from the operating unit which the users grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operating an information processing device; and

executing of processing by said executing unit for said modes that are set based on said first gesture, based on a second gesture in said free space of said operating unit which differs from said first gesture.

20. A program to cause a computer to execute the functions of

setting means to set modes based on a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit, which are obtained from the operating unit which the user grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operating an information processing device;

and

executing means to execute processing for said modes that are set based on said first gesture, based on a second gesture in said free space of said input device which differs from said first gesture.

21. A program to cause a computer to execute the function of a transmission unit to transmit, for an operating unit that is grasped and operated by a user in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operate an information processing device;

a signal for a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit to set a mode, and

a signal for a second gesture in said free space of said operating unit which differs from said first gesture, to execute processing in said mode set based on said first gesture.

22. A program to cause a computer to execute the functions of

a setting unit to set modes based on a first gesture in said free space of said operating unit, which are obtained from the operating unit which the user grasps and operates in a three-dimensional free space in order to remotely operating an information processing device;

and

an executing unit to execute processing for said modes that are set based on said first gesture, based on a second gesture in said free space of said input device which differs from said first gesture.