Image Controller

• US 20150199034A1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Application Number:
  US14/570,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20150199034A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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

Appropriately structured multiple-axes controllers comprised of a single input member moveable in 6 DOF. Some, most, or all of the 6 DOF sensors are preferably supported on a generally single plane, such as on a printed flexible membrane sensor sheet or circuit board sheet. Secondary inputs add functionality independent of the 6 DOF sensors. The member may support a display therein. The controllers structured for added functionality such as, web browsing, telephone, GPS, e-mail, scanning, etc. The controllers may communicate with hosts and displays.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a housing with

a display, the housing hand moveable in 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF);

a plurality of 6DOF sensors configured to detect 6DOF movement of the housing mounted on

a sheet,

wireless communication circuitry,

random access memory (RAM),

programmable memory,

a secondary input, and

circuitry enabling, at least in part, e-mail functions, web browsing functions, remote controller functions, PDA functions, and time display functions all contained, at least in part, within the housing.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

circuitry enabling telephone function.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

an active tactile feedback device supported within the housing;

the device configured to receive signals via wireless communication to activate the active tactile feedback device.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of 6DOF sensors are configured into a single component structure mounted on the sheet.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the secondary input is a pressure sensitive input.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising:

circuitry associated with the secondary input that is configured to detect at least three readable states of a user'"'"'s input.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the three states are no pressure, low pressure applied by the user, and high pressure applied by the user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is structured to enable ease in replacing a malfunctioning sensor or conductor by replacement of an entire sensor sheet.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a rotatable input and one or more sensors associated with the rotatable input.

10. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

circuitry enabling a scanning function.

11. A system, comprising:

a host configured to communicate wirelessly and

a six degree of freedom (6DOF) device including;

a housing with

a display, the housing hand moveable in 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF);

a plurality of 6DOF sensors configured to detect 6DOF movement of the housing;

a processor;

wireless communication circuitry;

random access memory (RAM);

programmable memory;

circuitry to enable wireless web browsing function; and

circuitry to enable video game play function.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

circuitry to enable e-mail function.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

circuitry enabling scanning function.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

circuitry to enable telephone, GPS, and time display functions.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

an active tactile feedback device, receiving signals wirelessly into the 6 DOF device to activate the active tactile feedback device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a pressure-sensitive surface and

a rotatable input both with their associated sensors sensing inputs independently of the 6DOF sensors.

17. A method of communicating between a host, a display and a six degree of freedom (6DOF) device;

the 6DOF device comprising;

a plurality of 6DOF sensors mounted on

a sheet,

a capacitive sensor,

a secondary input with associated circuitry that senses input independent from the plurality of 6DOF sensors,

wireless communication circuitry,

a display,

circuitry enabling telephone, global positioning service (GPS), and wireless web browsing functions,

all supported, at least in part, within the housing;

the method comprising;

sensing 6DOF movement of the 6DOF device;

communicating wirelessly between the host and the 6DOF device; and

generating an image on the display in response to the communication.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a signal by wireless communication to activate the active tactile feedback device within the 6DOF device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving scanned information in the 6DOF device and communicating the information to the host.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sensing rotation of the secondary input and generating an image on the display in response to the rotation.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sensing the activation of a pressure sensitive variable sensor and generating a first image in response to a first intensity of pressure and generating a second image in response to a second intensity of pressure.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sensing activation of a silent sensor that provides no audible or tactile indication of the activation and generating an image on the display and relaying a signal to a mechanism, separate from the silent sensor, to generate a tactile or audible indication of the activation.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

sending a signal from the host to the 6 DOF device causing a mechanism or mechanisms to generate an audible and/or tactile indication of the signal being sent.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

replacing a malfunctioning sensor or conductor from the 6DOF device by replacing an entire sensor sheet.

25. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored therein which, when executed by a system including a host device and a six degree of freedom (6 DOF) device;

the 6 DOF device including wireless communication circuitry, 6 DOF sensors, circuitry enabling telephone, global positioning service (GPS), and wireless web browsing functions;

a display, and a secondary input with circuitry that senses input separate from the 6 DOF sensors;

all housed, at least in part within the 6 DOF device;

causes the system to perform a method comprising;

sensing 6 DOF movement of the 6 DOF device;

communicating, between the 6DOF device and the host device via wireless communication; and

controlling an image on the display.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, further comprising:

converting states from a pressure sensitive secondary input into images on a display.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 26, further comprising:

converting signals sensed from a rotatable secondary input into images on a display.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 25, further comprising:

scanning an image into the 6 DOF device

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, further comprising:

communicating the scanned image to the host.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a signal via wireless communication into the 6DOF device to activate the active tactile feedback device.