MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CONTROLLING DEVICE

• US 20110037608A1
• Filed: 08/11/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC (Allied Inventors Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Wang, Zhenghan, Cao, Bo, Hou, Buyuan
• Granted Patent: US 8,232,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.22
• 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

Abstract

A controlling device is provided and is configured to detect a device and to control the detected device. Alternatively, a controlling device is provided and is configured to detect a device and to receive at least one command from a remote control device. The controlling device may control the device using the received command.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a controlling device sensing unit comprising;

a multi-axis geomagnetic sensor, and

a multi-axis accelerometer.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein

the geomagnetic sensor is configured to obtain a relative direction of the sensing unit to the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

and

the accelerometer is configured to obtain a relative position of the sensing unit to a pre-selected reference point;

the apparatus further comprising;

a calculating unit configured to determine an azimuth of the apparatus using the relative direction obtained by the geomagnetic sensor, and to determine a location of the apparatus using the relative position obtained by the accelerometer.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a control unit configured to

select a target device from a plurality of devices, and

select the target device using the azimuth and relative position determined by the calculating unit.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a communication unit configured to transmit commands to control the target device and receive information from the target device; and

an interaction unit configured to receive an input from the accelerometer based upon at least one change in a velocity of the apparatus and provide visual and sensory feedback based upon the information received from the target device.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the commands for controlling the plurality of devices to be transmitted by communication unit.

6. A controlling device, comprising:

a control unit configured to detect a reference data;

a sensor unit configured to detect a controlled device from a plurality of devices based on the reference data; and

a memory configured to store commands for controlling the controlled device.

7. The controlling device as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

an interaction unit configured to provide visual or sensory feedback, wherein the interaction unit is further configured to provide at least one of a visual and sensory feedback when the device is aimed at one of the devices from the plurality of devices, and wherein the sensory feedback of the interaction unit includes a vibration of the controlling device.

8. A method, comprising:

detecting a reference data on a controlling device;

detecting whether a position relative to the reference data of the controlling device corresponds to a controlled device of a plurality of controlled devices stored in a memory; and

providing at least one of a sensory feedback or a visual feedback when it is determined that the relative position of the controlling device corresponds to the one controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

accessing at least one command associated with the one controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices;

receiving an input to control the one controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices; and

transmitting a command to the one controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices in response to the input received.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

determining the one controlled device of the plurality of controlled devices from a pre-stored relative position and a pre-determined relative azimuth of the controlling device.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

accessing a calibration mode on the controlling device defining a reference direction.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

storing the reference direction on the controlling device.

13. A method, comprising:

detecting a reference data on a controlling device;

accessing a registration mode on the controlling device;

defining a controlling action on the controlling device;

receiving, from a remote controller, at least one command configured to control a controlled device; and

storing the received at least one command of the controlled device by associating the at least one command with the controlling action in a memory.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

accessing a calibration mode on the controlling device defining the reference direction.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

determining the reference data on the controlling device from a position of the controlling device.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

determining a position data on the controlling device based on a position of the controlling device;

associating the position data with the controlled device; and

storing the position data on the controlling device.