MULTI-SURFACE CONTROLLER

• US 20160062489A1
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yinbo Li
• Original Assignee: Yinbo Li
• Inventors: Li, Yinbo
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A control device is provided having multiple buttons with touch sensors attached on top of the buttons. The buttons and touch sensors may detect signals of finger movements and/or gestures. The detected signals may be used to control various operations in various operation modes of the controller. The control device may interface with multiple devices.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a body;

two or more buttons that are connected to the body, each of the two or more buttons having a surface facing outward;

a plurality of sensors, which sense signals, wherein a first type of signal is sensed when at least one of the two or more buttons is pressed, wherein a second type of signal is sensed when the surface of at least one of the two or more buttons is touched;

a processor system having at least one processor;

a communication interface for communicating with at least one external device;

a memory system storing one or more machine instructions on one or more non-transitory computer readable media; and

wherein the one or more machine instructions, when implemented, cause the processor system to generate control instructions based on the signals sensed by the plurality of sensors, the control instructions being sent via the communication interface to control the at least one external device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein

the device does not need a flat surface to operate on.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein

the body has an ergonomic shape that fits human hand arches.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein

the body has a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, the body has a longitudinal axis extending along the length of the body, the body is symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the body.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein

a first button of the two or more buttons faces a first direction, and a second button of the two or more buttons faces a second direction, the first direction being different from the second direction.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein

the first button is located on a first surface of the body, close to one end of the body, and the second button is located on a second surface at the end of the body.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein

the first button is located on a surface of the body, the device further comprising

a concave area located on another surface of the body, opposite the surface on which the first button is located, the concave area facing away from the first button.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein

the surface of at least one of the two or more buttons includes multiple portions, wherein different signals are sensed when different portions of the multiple portions are touched.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein

at least one of the two or more buttons, when activated, generates the first type of signal and the second type of signal.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein

the plurality of sensors sense signals when multiple touches take place simultaneously on at least a same button of the two or more buttons.

11. The device of claim 1, the plurality of sensors further comprising

at least a sensor for detecting movements of the device as a whole.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising

at least a microphone for detecting sound signals.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein

the memory system stores instructions, which when activated cause the processor system to translate sound signals generated by a voice into control instructions.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein

at least one of the two or more buttons has haptic feedback.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising

one or more speakers for broadcasting sound signals.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a laser, which when activated, emits a beam of laser light for pointing at an object.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising

a light, which when activated, emits light to indicate a status of the device.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein

the communication interface, when activated, connects the device to at least a computing device, wherein the computing device is communicatively connected to multiple display systems, wherein the device controls the computing device to display content of the computing device on at least one of the multiple display systems.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein

the memory system stores instructions, which when activated cause the processor system to combine a first signal that is generated when at least one of the two or more button is touched, and a second signal that is generated when at least another of the two or more button is touched, wherein the processor system generates control instructions that are defined by the combination of the first signal and the second signal.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein

a same signal is interpreted differently depending on a mode in which the device operates.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein

the device includes three buttons, each being connected to sensors for detecting the first type of signals and the second type of signals.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein

at least one of the two or more buttons is connected to sensors that independently detect multiple touches on the same button.

23. A method, comprising:

sensing signals, by a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors being connected to two or more buttons, the two or more buttons are connected to a body of a device, each of the two or more buttons having a surface facing outward,

receiving, at the device, the signals that are sensed by the plurality of sensors, wherein the device further includes at least

a processor system having at least one processor;

a communication interface for communicating with at least one external device;

a memory system storing one or more machine instructions on one or more non-transitory computer readable media;

analyzing the signals, by the processor system, and generating control instructions based on the signals; and

sending the control instructions to the at least one external device,

wherein a first type of signal is sensed when at least one of the two or more buttons is pressed, wherein a second type of signal is sensed when the surface of at least one of the two or more buttons is touched.

24. A method, comprising

connecting two or more buttons to a body of a device, each of the two or more buttons having a surface facing outward;

connecting a plurality of sensors to the two or more buttons, at least a set of the plurality of sensors being attached on the surface of at least one of the two or more buttons;

installing a processor system having at least one processor;

installing a communication interface;

installing a memory system storing one or more machine instructions on one or more non-transitory computer readable media; and

wherein the one or more machine instructions, when activated, cause the processor system to generate control instructions based on the signals sensed by the plurality of sensors.