MULTI-SURFACE CONTROLLER

• US 20170123516A1
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yinbo Li
• Original Assignee: Yinbo Li
• Inventors: Li, Yinbo
• Granted Patent: US 10,534,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0337 Status LEDs integrated in the mouse to provide visual feedback to the user about the status of the input device, the PC, or the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• 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 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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: 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

Disclosed herein are a controller device and a method of detecting user inputs. According to at least one embodiment, an electronic controller device includes first and second button components, a processing circuit and a communication interface. The first and second button components respectively include first and second touch pads. The first and second button components are configured to register click operations by respectively first and second fingers of a user. The first and second touch pads are configured to register touch operations by fingers. The processing circuit is configured to convert the click operations and the touch operations into input signals. The communication interface is configured to transmit the input signals to at least one external device.

Claims

1. An electronic controller device, comprising:

a first button component including a first touch pad, the first button component configured to register click operations by a first finger of a user, the first touch pad configured to register touch operations by the first finger;

a second button component including a second touch pad, the second button component configured to register click operations by a second finger of the user, the second touch pad configured to register touch operations by the second finger;

a processing circuit configured to convert the click operations and the touch operations into input signals; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the input signals to at least one external device.

2. The electronic controller device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having a top surface;

wherein the first button component is located on the top surface of the housing such that a thumb of the user rests on the first button component when the user holds the electronic controller device with a hand of the user.

3. The electronic controller device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having a head end;

wherein the second button component is located on the head end of the housing such that an index finger of the user rests on the second button component when the user holds the electronic controller device with a hand of the user.

4. The electronic controller device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having a side surface and a bottom concave area; and

a third button component configured to register click operations;

wherein the third button component is located on the side surface of the housing such that a middle finger of the user wraps around the bottom concave area and a tip of the middle finger rests on the third button component when the user holds the electronic controller device with a hand of the user.

5. The electronic controller device of claim 4, wherein the third button component includes a third touch pad, the third touch pad configured to register touch operations by the middle finger.

6. The electronic controller device of claim 1, wherein the input signals include information of locations on the first and second touch pads where the fingers touch during the touch operations.

7. The electronic controller device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing having an ergonomic shape that fits human hand arches.

8. The electronic controller device of claim 1, wherein the first and second button components are configured to register touch operations by the first finger on the first touch pad and the second finger on the second touch pad simultaneously.

9. The electronic controller device of claim 1, further comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect a location, a motion, or an orientation of the electronic controller device.

10. The electronic controller device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second button components includes a haptic component configured to provide haptic feedback.

11. The electronic controller device of claim 1, further comprising:

a lighting component having a ring shape that outlines an edge of the first button component, the lighting component configured to emit light to indicate a status of the electronic controller device.

12. The electronic controller device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second touch pads is configured to detect touch operations by multiple fingers simultaneously.

13. The electronic controller device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface or a connector for an external cable.

14. A method of detecting user inputs, comprising:

detecting a first operation signal by a first button component of a controller device, the first button component including a first touch pad, the first operation signal indicating a click operation registered by the first button component or a touch operation registered by the first touch pad;

detecting a second operation signal by a second button component of the controller device, the first button component including a second touch pad, the second operation signal indicating a click operation registered by the second button component or a touch operation registered by the second touch pad;

converting the first and second operation signals into input signals; and

transmitting the input signals to at least one external device via a communication interface of the controller device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a third operation signal by a third button component, when a middle finger of a user wraps around a bottom concave area of the controller surface and a tip of the middle finger rests on the third button component, wherein the third button component is located on a side surface of the controller device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting a first operation signal comprises:

detecting a first operation signal by a first button component of a controller device, when a user holds the controller device and a thumb of the user rests on the first button component, the first button component located on a top surface of the controller device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting a second operation signal comprises:

detecting a second operation signal by a second button component of the controller device, when a user holds the controller device and an index finger of the user rests on the second button component, the second button component located on a head end of the controller device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch operation registered by the first touch pad and the touch operation registered by the second touch pad are detected simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second touch pads are configured to register touch operations by multiple fingers simultaneously.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

emitting light that indicates a status of the controller device.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a location, a motion or an orientation of the controller device by a sensor of the controller device.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an instruction from the external device via the communication interface; and

in response to the instruction, performing a haptic feedback by a haptic component of the controller device.