Computer input device using an orientation sensor

• US 5,287,119 A
• Filed: 10/11/1991
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Wang Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Drumm, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/775,674
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 340/686, 340/689, 341/20, 341/21, 341/157, 318/16, 318/581, 434/112, 200/52 A, 200/61.45 R, 200/6 A, 200/61.46, 200/61.83, 200/61.6, 200/220, 73/653, 73/655, 73/503
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• 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 3/0346 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 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A device for controlling a cursor on a data terminal display screen. The device is in the form of a headset and includes an orientation sensor which provides an electrical signal related to the orientation of the device without it being adjacent to any fixed surface. The orientation sensor includes a hollow spherical housing having at least one light source/detector pair mounted opposingly in the inner wall, along an axis extending through the center point of the housing. The housing is half-filled with a transparent liquid having a specified viscosity and index of refraction and half-filled with air. Light beams emitted from the sources are refracted upon passing through the boundary between the air and the liquid. As the orientation sensor rotates with respect to the vertical axis, the changing refraction angle of the light beam causes the detector to sense changing intensities of light, which are representative of the angle of rotation. Multiple light source/detector pairs spaced within the spherical housing allow measurement of direction and magnitude of angular change. Integral with the input device is a speaker independent voice control circuit which recognizes short isolated command words ending in voiced or fricative sounds for controlling display functions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a computer comprising the steps of:

sensing the magnitude and direction of angular displacement of a user-movable housing independently of external means for a continuous range of angles with respect to a reference axis passing through said housing for a continuous range of directions;

generating within said housing electrical signals representative of said magnitude and direction of angular displacement;

detecting and discriminating at least two user-generated vocal sounds, and generating second electrical signals representative thereof; and

translating said first electrical signals into control signals and translating said second electrical signals into computer command signals for transmission to a computer.

2. A device for controlling a computer comprising

a housing;

means, within the housing, for sensing the magnitude and direction of angular displacement of the housing for a continuous range of angles with respect to a reference axis passing through the housing for a continuous range of directions;

means, within the housing, for generating first electrical signals representative of said magnitude and direction;

means for detecting and discriminating at least two user-generated vocal sounds, and generating second electrical signals representative thereof; and

means for translating said first electrical signals into control signals and translating said second electrical signals into computer command signals for transmission to a computer.

3. The device recited in claim 2 further including computer means responsive to said first and second electrical signals for controlling movement of a servomechanism.

4. The device recited in claim 2 further including computer means responsive to said first and second electrical signals for controlling movement of a motorized wheelchair.