MACHINE INTERFACES

• US 20110254762A1
• Filed: 09/07/2009
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
• Original Assignee: Elliptic Laboratories AS
• Inventors: Syversurd, Bjørn Cato, Vågenes, David, Tuttle, Matthew, Dahl, Tobias
• Application Number:
  US13/062,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254762A1
• 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: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

Apparatus for determining the movement of an object comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers 1,4;16 arranged to enable the location of the object to be determined by transmission and reflection of signals between the transducers 1,4;16. A yielding surface 2;12 is arranged in proximity to the transducers such that movement of the object into the surface upon application of a yielding pressure to the yielding surface 2;12 can be detected.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining the movement of an object comprising a plurality of transducers arranged to enable the location of the object to be determined by transmission and reflection of signals between the transducers;

and a yielding surface arranged in proximity to the transducers such that movement of the object into the surface upon application of a yielding pressure thereto can be detected.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface is at least partially transparent to the radiation employed by the transducers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducers are arranged to transmit and receive ultrasonic radiation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface is at least partially reflective and the transducers comprise:

at least one light source arranged to project a pattern of lights onto the yielding surface; and

at least one light sensor arranged to detect changes in the pattern corresponding to a yielding pressure being applied to the surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising logic configured to calculate channel impulse responses and to use the impulse responses to determine an impulse response pattern which is characteristic of the object to be located.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising at least three receiving transducers.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a or the transmitter located centrally with respect to the yielding surface or a designated active region thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transducers are mounted on a common plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the common plane is parallel to the initial position of the yielding surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an array of transducer elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface is supported by a frame.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface is separated from the transducers by a fluid gap.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a material medium between the yielding surface and the transducers.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a foam layer, wherein the outermost surface of the foam layer provides the yielding surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is flexible.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface is of a material or construction such as to give it a temporary or permanent shape memory.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface is elastic so that upon removal of the yielding pressure it returns to its initial configuration.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising a separate detector for determining that the yielding surface has been touched.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 configured so that light is projected onto or generated by the yielding surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface comprises a flexible display screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an actuator for imparting physical movement to the yielding surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an actuator for making the yielding surface bend or slope.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising an actuator for altering one or more of the height, tension or texture of the yielding surface.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the yielding surface layer is multilayered surface.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the layers of the surface are separated from one another either by a gap or by an intermediate material.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, further configured to detect movement of the object when the object is not touching the surface.

26. A method of controlling a computer according to an amount of pressure applied to a yieldable surface.

27. The method of claim 26 comprising detecting the amount of pressure and therefore the degree of yielding of the surface.