Hand held electronic remote control device
First Claim
1. A hand held remote control device for enabling a user to communicate device originated signals to a remote receiver used to input command signals to a computer terminal or multimedia unit comprising:
- an elongated housing forming a containment chamber having a first end and an opposite end, and having an opening at said first end;
means for closing said first end of said elongated housing;
means forming a communications window at one end of said containment chamber;
first position sensor means for sensing a first orientation of said elongated housing relative to a first axis parallel to the lengthwise dimension of said elongated housing, and havingmeans forming a generally cylindrical first chamber mounted within said elongated housing, and having a first chamber axis oriented substantially parallel to said first axis;
a first rotation responsive element located within said first chamber and free to move therein relative to the perimeter of said first chamber under the influence of gravity as said remote control device rotates about said first chamber axis, said first rotation responsive element being capable of influencing the direction of reflected and transmitted beams of light cast upon said first rotation responsive element as a function Of the location of said first rotation responsive element within said chamber;
at least one light source disposed along said first chamber axis and operative to illuminate said first rotation responsive element; and
first and second light sensors disposed on opposite sides of said first chamber and operative to detect light reflected by said first rotation responsive element and to develop first and second current signals corresponding to light influenced by said first rotation responsive element;
second position sensor means for sensing a second orientation of said elongated housing relative to a second axis normal to said first axis, and havingmeans forming a generally cylindrical second chamber mounted within said elongated housing, and having a second chamber axis oriented substantially parallel to said second axis;
a second rotation responsive element located within said second chamber and free to move therein relative to the perimeter of said second chamber under the influence of gravity as said remote control device rotates about said second chamber axis, said second rotation responsive element being capable of influencing the direction of reflected and transmitted beams of light cast upon said second rotation responsive element as a function of the location of said second rotation responsive element within said chamber;
at least one light source disposed along said second chamber axis and operative to illuminate said second rotation responsive element; and
third and fourth light sensors disposed on opposite sides of said second chamber and operative to detect light reflected by said second rotation responsive element and to develop third and fourth current signals corresponding to light influenced by said second rotation responsive element;
electronic means disposed within said containment chamber and operative to develop housing orientation signals for transmission through said communications window to said remote receiver;
user interface means for allowing a user to communicate with said electronic means; and
power supply means disposed within said containment chamber for supplying operative power to said electronic means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand held electronic remote control device having orientation sensors, signal processing electronics, power supply and an infrared transmitter contained therein. The sensors include two angular position detectors. A first angular position detector is aligned in a first plane and provides a first detector output. The first and second detector outputs provide responsive inputs to a dividing analog-to-digital converter which transforms the input to a digitally compatible output that is used as an input to a transmitter controller which compares the input to a reference signal and provides a modulation output for driving an infrared light source. The resulting infrared light beam is then carries the modulation signal to a remote receiver via the apparatus to be controlled. The present invention is used to replace the conventional mouse. The receiver would convert a form commensurate with the usual mouse output for compatibility with the usual serial mouse port. The preferred embodiment also includes a plurality of input controls such as "right and left mouse" buttons, a cursor activation button and other control keys.
207 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hand held remote control device for enabling a user to communicate device originated signals to a remote receiver used to input command signals to a computer terminal or multimedia unit comprising:
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an elongated housing forming a containment chamber having a first end and an opposite end, and having an opening at said first end; means for closing said first end of said elongated housing; means forming a communications window at one end of said containment chamber; first position sensor means for sensing a first orientation of said elongated housing relative to a first axis parallel to the lengthwise dimension of said elongated housing, and having means forming a generally cylindrical first chamber mounted within said elongated housing, and having a first chamber axis oriented substantially parallel to said first axis; a first rotation responsive element located within said first chamber and free to move therein relative to the perimeter of said first chamber under the influence of gravity as said remote control device rotates about said first chamber axis, said first rotation responsive element being capable of influencing the direction of reflected and transmitted beams of light cast upon said first rotation responsive element as a function Of the location of said first rotation responsive element within said chamber; at least one light source disposed along said first chamber axis and operative to illuminate said first rotation responsive element; and first and second light sensors disposed on opposite sides of said first chamber and operative to detect light reflected by said first rotation responsive element and to develop first and second current signals corresponding to light influenced by said first rotation responsive element; second position sensor means for sensing a second orientation of said elongated housing relative to a second axis normal to said first axis, and having means forming a generally cylindrical second chamber mounted within said elongated housing, and having a second chamber axis oriented substantially parallel to said second axis; a second rotation responsive element located within said second chamber and free to move therein relative to the perimeter of said second chamber under the influence of gravity as said remote control device rotates about said second chamber axis, said second rotation responsive element being capable of influencing the direction of reflected and transmitted beams of light cast upon said second rotation responsive element as a function of the location of said second rotation responsive element within said chamber; at least one light source disposed along said second chamber axis and operative to illuminate said second rotation responsive element; and third and fourth light sensors disposed on opposite sides of said second chamber and operative to detect light reflected by said second rotation responsive element and to develop third and fourth current signals corresponding to light influenced by said second rotation responsive element; electronic means disposed within said containment chamber and operative to develop housing orientation signals for transmission through said communications window to said remote receiver; user interface means for allowing a user to communicate with said electronic means; and power supply means disposed within said containment chamber for supplying operative power to said electronic means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification