Multi-media pointing device
First Claim
1. In a multimedia display system including a display device, a computer that controls the display device, and input apparatus for supplying user input information to the computer, an improved input apparatus comprising:
- (A) a remote unit, including;
(1) sensor means for measuring the inclination of the remote unit relative to a horizontal plane and for producing corresponding inclination signals, said sensor means having(a) a housing having a first axis passing therethrough and positionable parallel to said horizontal plane, said housing containing a predetermined quantity of liquid,(b) an inclination sensitive element located within said housing, such that said element is free to move within said housing under the influence of gravity, the location of said element within said housing being directly related to rotation of said housing about said first axis, said element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast thereon as a function of its location within said housing, and(c) detector means for monitoring the location of said inclination sensitive element within said housing and for developing said inclination signals commensurate therewith, said detector means including(i) at least one light emitting component mounted along said first axis and operative to emit light in the direction of said element,(ii) a first pair of light measuring components mounted proximate said housing on opposite sides thereof and along a second axis passing through said housing, said first axis and said second axis being mutually perpendicular, said light measuring components being operative to receive light emitted from said light emitting component and influenced by said element and to develop outputs commensurate with a characteristic thereof, and(iii) signal producing means responsive to the outputs developed by said light measuring components and operative to produce said inclination signals;
(2) command switch means for sensing user input and producing corresponding command signals; and
(3) transmitter means for transmitting said inclination and command signals; and
(B) a base unit, including;
(1) receiver means for receiving said inclination and command signals from the remote unit; and
(2) interface means for communicating the received inclination and command signals to the computer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-media pointing device including a handheld, self-contained remote unit having a set of command buttons and a microphone mounted on the exterior of the remote unit housing. Contained within the housing are a pair of angular motion detectors, keyboard and motion data processing circuitry, and infrared or radio frequency transmission circuitry. The preferred embodiment further includes a separate base module having infrared or radio frequency receiver circuitry, circuitry for interfacing to a computer, and output ports for sending the received keyboard, motion and audio signals to the computer.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a multimedia display system including a display device, a computer that controls the display device, and input apparatus for supplying user input information to the computer, an improved input apparatus comprising:
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(A) a remote unit, including; (1) sensor means for measuring the inclination of the remote unit relative to a horizontal plane and for producing corresponding inclination signals, said sensor means having (a) a housing having a first axis passing therethrough and positionable parallel to said horizontal plane, said housing containing a predetermined quantity of liquid, (b) an inclination sensitive element located within said housing, such that said element is free to move within said housing under the influence of gravity, the location of said element within said housing being directly related to rotation of said housing about said first axis, said element being capable of influencing the direction of light cast thereon as a function of its location within said housing, and (c) detector means for monitoring the location of said inclination sensitive element within said housing and for developing said inclination signals commensurate therewith, said detector means including (i) at least one light emitting component mounted along said first axis and operative to emit light in the direction of said element, (ii) a first pair of light measuring components mounted proximate said housing on opposite sides thereof and along a second axis passing through said housing, said first axis and said second axis being mutually perpendicular, said light measuring components being operative to receive light emitted from said light emitting component and influenced by said element and to develop outputs commensurate with a characteristic thereof, and (iii) signal producing means responsive to the outputs developed by said light measuring components and operative to produce said inclination signals; (2) command switch means for sensing user input and producing corresponding command signals; and (3) transmitter means for transmitting said inclination and command signals; and (B) a base unit, including; (1) receiver means for receiving said inclination and command signals from the remote unit; and (2) interface means for communicating the received inclination and command signals to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A sensor for measuring inclination with respect to a horizontal plane and for producing a corresponding inclination signal, comprising:
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(A) a housing; (B) an inclination sensitive element located within said housing and free to move within said housing under the influence of gravity, the location of said element within said housing being directly related to the inclination of said housing relative to said horizontal plane, said element being capable of influencing the direction of light as a function of its location within said housing; and (C) detector means for monitoring the location of said inclination sensitive element within said housing and for developing corresponding inclination signals, said detector means including (1) light emitting means for illuminating said inclination sensitive element, said light emitting means being disposed along a first axis passing through said housing, and operative to emit light in the direction of said element, (2) light detecting means for detecting light emitted from said light emitting means and influenced by said inclination sensitive element and including a first pair of light measuring components mounted on opposite sides of said housing and along a second axis passing through said housing, said first axis and said second axis being mutually perpendicular, said light measuring components being operative to receive light influenced by said element and to develop outputs commensurate with a characteristic thereof; and (3) signal producing means responsive to the output developed by the said light measuring components and operative to produce said inclination signals. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of generating signals indicative of the angle of inclination of an object relative to a horizontal plane comprising the steps of:
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providing said object with means forming a generally cylindrical chamber having a central axis positionable parallel to said horizontal plane; filling said chamber with a predetermined quantity of liquid; providing a light reflective element within said chamber which is free to move within said liquid and which has the characteristic that its position within said chamber is related to the angle of rotation of said object about said central axis; causing light to pass into said chamber in the direction of said central axis so as to be reflected by said light reflective element; detecting light reflected by said element in a first direction along a diameter of said chamber and generating a corresponding first electrical signal; detecting light reflected by said element in a second direction along said diameter of said chamber and generating a corresponding second electrical signal; and using said first and second electrical signals to provide information indicative of the angle of inclination of said object. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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32. A method of generating signals as recited in claim 32 and further comprising the steps of:
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detecting light reflected by said element in a third direction along another diameter of said chamber orthogonal to said first mentioned diameter and generating a corresponding third electrical signal; detecting light reflected by said element in a fourth direction along said other diameter of said chamber and generating a corresponding fourth electrical signal; and using said third and fourth electrical signals in combination with said first and second electrical signals to provide information indicative of the angle of rotation of said object about said central axis. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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Specification