APPARATUSES FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL DEVICES AND SOFTWARE PROGRAMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME

• US 20160320860A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Interface LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Interface LLC
• Inventors: Josephson, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 10,289,204 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/54 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/194 involving foreground-background segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 : Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 : Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

An apparatus including a movement sensor and processing unit, where sensed movement, especially velocity and/or acceleration and changes thereof, is used to control real and/or virtual objects, where no hard selection protocol is used and output signals and/or commands occur with a change in velocity or acceleration.

Claims

1. A method for controlling objects comprising:

sensing motion including motion properties within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

producing an output signal or a plurality of output signals corresponding to the sensed motion,

converting the output signal or signals via a processing unit in communication with the motion sensor or sensors into a command function or a plurality of command functions, where the command functions comprise;

a scroll function,

a select function,

an attribute function,

an attribute control function,

a simultaneous control function including;

a select and scroll function,

a select, scroll and activate function,

a select, scroll, activate, and attribute control function,

a select and activate function,

a select and attribute control function,

a select, active, and attribute control function, or

combinations thereof,

processing the command function or the command functions, where the scroll functions scroll through lists of objects, object attributes or mixtures and combinations thereof, the select functions select one or more objects, the attribute functions activates one or more attributes, the attribute control functions controls one or more attributes, and the simultaneous control functions simultaneously invoke two or more command functions to control objects, object attributes, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

where the objects comprise real world objects, virtual objects and mixtures or combinations thereof, where the real world objects include physical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical, or electronic devices or any other real world device that can be controlled by a processing unit and the virtual objects include any construct generated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed by a display device and that are capable of being controlled by a processing unit,

where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with the objects, and

where changes in motion properties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processing units.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, fuel delivery systems, energy management systems, product delivery systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operating systems, systems, graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, other software systems, programs, routines, objects, and/or elements, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the timed hold is brief, then the processing unit causes an attribute to be adjusted to a preset level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein if the timed hold is continued, then the processing unit causes an attribute to undergo a high value/low value cycle that ends when the hold is removed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the timed hold causes an attribute value to change so that (1) if the attribute is at its maximum value, the timed hold causes the attribute value to decrease at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold is removed, (2) if the attribute value is at its minimum value, then the timed hold causes the attribute value to increase at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold is removed, (3) if the attribute value is not the maximum or minimum value, then the timed hold causes randomly selects the rate and direction of attribute value change or changes the attribute to allow maximum control, or (4) the timed hold causes a continuous change in the attribute value in a direction of the initial motion until the timed hold is removed.

7. A method for controlling real world objects comprising:

sensing motion including motion properties within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

producing an output signal or a plurality of output signals corresponding to the sensed motion,

converting the output signal or signals via a processing unit in communication with the motion sensor or sensors into a command function or a plurality of command functions, where the command functions comprise;

a scroll function,

a select function,

an attribute function,

an attribute control function,

a simultaneous control function including;

a select and scroll function,

a select, scroll and activate function,

a select, scroll, activate, and attribute control function,

a select and activate function,

a select and attribute control function,

a select, active, and attribute control function, or

combinations thereof, and

processing the command function or the command functions, where the scroll functions scroll through lists of objects, object attributes or mixtures and combinations thereof, the select functions select one or more objects, the attribute functions activates one or more attributes, the attribute control functions controls one or more attributes, and the simultaneous control functions simultaneously invoke two or more command functions to control objects, object attributes, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

where the objects comprise real world objects and mixtures or combinations thereof, where the real world objects include physical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical, or electronic devices or any other real world device that can be controlled by a processing unit,

where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with the objects, and

where changes in motion properties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processing units.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, fuel delivery systems, energy management systems, product delivery systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

10. A method for controlling virtual objects comprising:

sensing motion including motion properties within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

producing an output signal or a plurality of output signals corresponding to the sensed motion,

converting the output signal or signals via a processing unit in communication with the motion sensor or sensors into a command function or a plurality of command functions, where the command functions comprise;

a scroll function,

a select function,

an attribute function,

an attribute control function,

a simultaneous control function including;

a select and scroll function,

a select, scroll and activate function,

a select, scroll, activate, and attribute control function,

a select and activate function,

a select and attribute control function,

a select, active, and attribute control function, or

combinations thereof, and

processing the command function or the command functions, where the scroll functions scroll through lists of objects, object attributes or mixtures and combinations thereof, the select functions select one or more objects, the attribute functions activates one or more attributes, the attribute control functions controls one or more attributes, and the simultaneous control functions simultaneously invoke two or more command functions to control objects, object attributes, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

where the objects comprise virtual objects and mixtures or combinations thereof, where the virtual objects include any construct generated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed by a display device and that are capable of being controlled by a processing unit,

where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with the objects, and

where changes in motion properties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processing units.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the software products include computer operating systems, graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, other software systems, programs, routines, objects, and/or elements, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

13. A system for controlling objects comprising:

one or a plurality of motion sensor including an active zone, where the sensor senses motion including motion properties within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof to produce one or a plurality of sensor outputs,

one or a plurality of processing unit including communication software and hardware, where the processing unit or units convert the output or outputs into a command and control functions or a plurality of command and control functions, and

one or a plurality of controllable objects in communication with the processing unit,

where the command and control functions comprise;

a scroll function,

a select function,

an attribute function,

an attribute control function,

a simultaneous control function including;

a select and scroll function,

a select, scroll and activate function,

a select, scroll, activate, and attribute control function,

a select and activate function,

a select and attribute control function,

a select, active, and attribute control function, or

combinations thereof, and

where the processing unit or units process the command function or the command functions, where the scroll functions scroll through lists of objects, object attributes or mixtures and combinations thereof, the select functions select one or more objects, the attribute functions activates one or more attributes, the attribute control functions controls one or more attributes, and the simultaneous control functions simultaneously invoke two or more command functions to control objects, object attributes, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

where the objects comprise real world objects, virtual objects and mixtures or combinations thereof, where the real world objects include physical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical, or electronic devices or any other real world device that can be controlled by a processing unit and the virtual objects include any construct generated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed by a display device and that are capable of being controlled by a processing unit,

where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with the objects, and

where changes in motion properties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processing units.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the objects include include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, fuel delivery systems, energy management systems, product delivery systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operating systems, systems, graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, other software systems, programs, routines, objects, and/or elements, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

15°

.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

10°

.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

5°

.

19. The system of claim 13, further comprising

a remote control unit in communication with the processing unit to provide remote control of the processing unit and the objects in communication with the processing unit.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, fuel delivery systems, energy management systems, product delivery systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

15°

.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

10°

.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

5°

.

26. The system of claim 19, further comprising

a remote control unit in communication with the processing unit to provide remote control of the processing unit and the objects in communication with the processing unit.

20. A system for controlling real world objects comprising:

one or a plurality of motion sensor including an active zone, where the sensor senses motion including motion properties within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof to produce one or a plurality of sensor outputs,

one or a plurality of processing unit including communication software and hardware, where the processing unit or units convert the output or outputs into a command and control functions or a plurality of command and control functions, and

one or a plurality of controllable objects in communication with the processing unit,

where the command and control functions comprise;

a scroll function,

a select function,

an attribute function,

an attribute control function,

a simultaneous control function including;

a select and scroll function,

a select, scroll and activate function,

a select, scroll, activate, and attribute control function,

a select and activate function,

a select and attribute control function,

a select, active, and attribute control function, or

combinations thereof, and

where the processing unit or units process the command function or the command functions, where the scroll functions scroll through lists of objects, object attributes or mixtures and combinations thereof, the select functions select one or more objects, the attribute functions activates one or more attributes, the attribute control functions controls one or more attributes, and the simultaneous control functions simultaneously invoke two or more command functions to control objects, object attributes, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

where the objects comprise real world objects and mixtures or combinations thereof, where the real world objects include physical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, magnetic, electro-magnetic, electrical, or electronic devices or any other real world device that can be controlled by a processing unit,

where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with the objects, and

where changes in motion properties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processing units.

27. A system for controlling virtual objects comprising:

one or a plurality of motion sensor including an active zone, where the sensor senses motion including motion properties within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor, where the motion properties include a direction, a velocity, an acceleration, a change in direction, a change in velocity, a change in acceleration, a rate of change of direction, a rate of change of velocity, a rate of change of acceleration, stops, holds, timed holds, or mixtures and combinations thereof to produce one or a plurality of sensor outputs,

one or a plurality of processing unit including communication software and hardware, where the processing unit or units convert the output or outputs into a command and control functions or a plurality of command and control functions, and

one or a plurality of controllable objects in communication with the processing unit,

where the command and control functions comprise;

a scroll function,

a select function,

an attribute function,

an attribute control function,

a simultaneous control function including;

a select and scroll function,

a select, scroll and activate function,

a select, scroll, activate, and attribute control function,

a select and activate function,

a select and attribute control function,

a select, active, and attribute control function, or

combinations thereof, and

where the processing unit or units process the command function or the command functions, where the scroll functions scroll through lists of objects, object attributes or mixtures and combinations thereof, the select functions select one or more objects, the attribute functions activates one or more attributes, the attribute control functions controls one or more attributes, and the simultaneous control functions simultaneously invoke two or more command functions to control objects, object attributes, or mixtures and combinations thereof,

where the objects comprise virtual objects and mixtures or combinations thereof, where the virtual objects include any construct generated in a virtual world or by a computer and displayed by a display device and that are capable of being controlled by a processing unit,

where the attributes comprise activatable, executable and/or adjustable attributes associated with the objects, and

where changes in motion properties are changes discernible by the motion sensors and/or the processing units.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

15°

.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

10°

.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the sensor and/or the processing unit are capable of discerning a change in direction of motion of ±

5°

.

31. The system of claim 27, further comprising

a remote control unit in communication with the processing unit to provide remote control of the processing unit and the objects in communication with the processing unit.

32. The system of claim 27, wherein the motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, acoustic devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and mixtures or combinations thereof.

33. The system of claim 27, wherein the software products include computer operating systems, graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, other software systems, programs, routines, objects, and/or elements, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.