METHODS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC DEVICE USING A CONTROL APPARATUS

• US 20170269705A1
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2020 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Interface LLC
• Inventors: Josephson, Jonathan, Nalty, Kurt Edward
• Granted Patent: US 11,256,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• 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 67/51 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: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

Methods of controlling objects using an apparatus including a motion sensor and a processing unit and include sensing motion, converting the motion into a command function and processing the command function based on the sensed motion.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing a motion within an active sensing zone of a motion sensor;

producing an output signal based on the sensed motion;

converting, via a processing unit in communication with the motion sensor, the output signal into a scroll command; and

processing the scroll command until sensing a second motion that is non-collinear with respect to the motion, the scroll command corresponding to traversal through a plurality of objects or to traversal through a list or menu associated with at least one object of the plurality of objects based on the motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a distance covered by the motion is greater than a threshold distance, wherein a duration of the motion is greater than a threshold duration, or both.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second motion is a continuation of the motion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion comprises movement in a first direction, wherein the first motion is followed by a hold, and wherein the second motion follows the hold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the zone is a two-dimensional zone or a three-dimensional zone.

6. A method comprising:

sensing, by a motion sensor, a first motion in a first direction;

processing, at a processor coupled to the motion sensor, a scroll command in response to the first motion, the scroll command comprising traversal through a list, a menu, or a set of objects;

sensing a second motion in a second direction that is non-collinear with respect to the first direction; and

processing, in response to the second motion, a combination select and activate command if a particular object indicated by the second motion is directly activatable, a combination select and attribute adjust command if the particular object has a single adjustable attribute, or a combination select and scroll command if the particular object has multiple adjustable attributes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a distance covered by the first motion is greater than a threshold distance, wherein a duration of the first motion is greater than a threshold duration, or both.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second motion is a continuation of the first motion.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first motion comprises movement in the first direction and is followed by a hold.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sensing a third motion in a third direction that is non-collinear with respect to the second direction; and

processing at least one of an activate command or an attribute adjust command with respect to the particular object in response to the third motion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second motion comprises movement in the second direction and is followed by a hold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first motion, the second motion, and the third motion are associated with a two-dimensional space or a three-dimensional space.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the first motion and the second motion are associated with a two-dimensional space or a three-dimensional space.

14. A method comprising:

sensing, by a motion sensor, a first motion in a first direction;

processing, at a processor coupled to the motion sensor, a select command in response to the first motion, the select command comprising selecting a particular object having a plurality of adjustable attributes;

sensing a second motion in a second direction that is discernibly different with respect to the first direction;

processing, in response to the second motion, a scroll command comprising traversal through the plurality of adjustable attributes;

sensing a third motion in a third direction that is discernibly different with respect to the second direction; and

processing, in response to the third motion, a select and attribute adjust command comprising selecting a particular attribute and adjusting a value of the particular attribute.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a distance covered by the first motion is greater than a threshold distance, wherein a duration of the first motion is greater than a threshold duration, or both.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second motion is a continuation of the first motion.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first motion comprises a movement in a first direction and is followed by a hold.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second motion comprises movement in the second direction and is followed by a hold.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first motion and the second motion are associated with a two-dimensional space or a three-dimensional space.