3D Pointer Mapping

• US 20110227825A1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IDHL Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sheng, Hua, Liberty, Matthew G., Cook, Bryan A.
• Application Number:
  US13/000,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20110227825A1
• 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: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

Systems, devices, methods and software are described for mapping movement or motion of a 3D pointing device into cursor position, e.g., for use in rendering the cursor on a display. Absolute and relative type mapping algorithms are described. Mapping algorithms can be combined to obtain beneficial characteristics from different types of mapping.

Claims

1. A method for mapping a device'"'"'s movement into cursor position, comprising:

estimating at least one of said device'"'"'s linear position and angular position;

processing at least one of said estimated linear position and estimated angular position using both a first mapping algorithm to generate a first cursor location and a second mapping algorithm to generate a second cursor location; and

combining said first cursor location and said second cursor location to generate a final cursor output.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first mapping algorithm is an absolute pointing algorithm and wherein said second mapping algorithm is a relative pointing algorithm.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms is an absolute pointing algorithm which has a characteristic that a ratio of cursor motion to angular device motion changes as a function of distance between said device and a display on which a cursor is displayed.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said absolute pointing algorithm maps device motion to cursor location based upon an intersection of a forward pointing direction (body-frame x-axis) of the device and a surface of a display on which said cursor is to be displayed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said absolute pointing algorithm is defined as:

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms is an absolute invariant algorithm which has a characteristic of providing a direct, repeatable mapping from device linear position and angular position into cursor location and a second characteristic that cursor responsiveness to linear motion and angular motion is consistent over a motion range.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said absolute invariant algorithm generates cursor position as a sum of a term of linear position values and a term computed from angular position that is independent of linear position.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said absolute invariant algorithm is defined as:

9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms creates an intermediate, virtual display that moves to face the device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said wherein said intermediate, planar virtual display maps device motion to cursor location based upon an intersection of a forward pointing direction (body-frame x-axis) of the device and a surface of a display on which said cursor is to be displayed rotated to at least partially face the device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said intermediate, planar virtual display is defined as:

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms creates an intermediate, spherical virtual display that moves to face the device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said spherical virtual display maps device motion to cursor location based upon spherical coordinates of the estimated angular position being transformed into the virtual display coordinates by a transformation matrix and converted into cursor location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said mapping is performed without using said estimated linear position of said device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said spherical virtual display is defined as:

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms creates an intermediate, relative, spherical virtual display which uses a change in angle between the device and the display to determine a change in cursor location.

17. The method of claim 16, said intermediate, relative, spherical virtual display maps device motion to cursor location based upon body-frame angular velocity modified by a transformation matrix and converted into cursor change in location.

18-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A 3D pointing device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to generate an output which is associated with movement of said 3D pointing device; and

a processor configured to estimate at least one of said device'"'"'s linear position and angular position using said output, to process at least one of said estimated linear position and angular position using both a first mapping algorithm to generate a first cursor location and a second mapping algorithm to generate a second cursor location, and to combine said first cursor location and said second cursor location to generate a final cursor output.

30. The 3D pointing device of claim 29, wherein said first mapping algorithm is an absolute pointing algorithm and wherein said second mapping algorithm is a relative pointing algorithm.

31. The 3D pointing device of claim 29, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms is an absolute pointing algorithm which has a characteristic that a ratio of cursor motion to angular device motion changes as a function of distance between said device and a display on which a cursor is displayed.

32. The 3D pointing device of claim 31, wherein said absolute pointing algorithm maps device motion to cursor location based upon an intersection of a forward pointing direction (body-frame x-axis) of the device and a surface of a display on which said cursor is to be displayed.

33. The 3D pointing device of claim 32, wherein said absolute pointing algorithm is defined as:

34. The 3D pointing device of claim 29, wherein at least one of the mapping algorithms is an absolute invariant algorithm which has a characteristic of providing a direct, repeatable mapping from device linear position and angular position into cursor location and a second characteristic that cursor responsiveness to linear motion and angular motion is consistent over a motion range.

35-106. -106. (canceled)