Cursor control device
First Claim
1. A cursor control device comprising:
- a base unit adapted for coupling to a television assembly, the television assembly including at least one of an output display, a television, cable apparatus, set-top apparatus and applications programs, the base unit being formed of (a) a controller for interfacing with the television assembly, and (b) an ultrasound transmitter coupled to the controller, such that the controller controls an ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter, and one of the television assembly and the base unit employing (c) a sensor coupled to the controller, in response to working signals received by the sensor, the controller providing cursor coordinate information to the television assembly; and
a remote member adapted for portable use by a user to control the television assembly including control of movement of a cursor displayed through the television assembly, the remote member being formed of (i) an ultrasound receiver array comprising a plurality of sensors spaced apart from each other for receiving the ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter of the base unit, (ii) a positioning circuit coupled to receive from the ultrasound receiver array an indication of a phase angle of the received beacon signal at each sensor relative to other sensors, and therefrom determining corresponding angular orientation of the remote member relative to the base unit, (iii) a transmitter responsive to the positioning circuit, the positioning circuit enabling the transmitter to provide to the sensor of the base unit, working signals comprising data corresponding to said angular orientation of the remote member as derived by the positioning circuit from the determined phase relationship, such that user movement which changes angular orientation of the remote member is detected and determined by the remote member for controlling movement of a cursor displayed through the television assembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a cursor control device for use in three dimensional space. The cursor control device is based on point and click technology such that a user points a remote member of the cursor control device to a television assembly and depresses appropriate keys for corresponding functions. In particular, a mouse key on the remote member enables control of cursor movement functioning of a cursor displayed through the television assembly. A base unit portion of the present invention device is coupled to or interfaced with the television assembly. The base unit provides an ultrasound source for use of ultrasound by the remote member for determining positioning angular orientation of the remote member in three dimensional space. The base unit includes an infrared receiver for receiving infrared signals generated by an infrared transmitter at the remote member. Mouse commands and other commands from the remote member are communicated through infrared signals to the base unit.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A cursor control device comprising:
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a base unit adapted for coupling to a television assembly, the television assembly including at least one of an output display, a television, cable apparatus, set-top apparatus and applications programs, the base unit being formed of (a) a controller for interfacing with the television assembly, and (b) an ultrasound transmitter coupled to the controller, such that the controller controls an ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter, and one of the television assembly and the base unit employing (c) a sensor coupled to the controller, in response to working signals received by the sensor, the controller providing cursor coordinate information to the television assembly; and a remote member adapted for portable use by a user to control the television assembly including control of movement of a cursor displayed through the television assembly, the remote member being formed of (i) an ultrasound receiver array comprising a plurality of sensors spaced apart from each other for receiving the ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter of the base unit, (ii) a positioning circuit coupled to receive from the ultrasound receiver array an indication of a phase angle of the received beacon signal at each sensor relative to other sensors, and therefrom determining corresponding angular orientation of the remote member relative to the base unit, (iii) a transmitter responsive to the positioning circuit, the positioning circuit enabling the transmitter to provide to the sensor of the base unit, working signals comprising data corresponding to said angular orientation of the remote member as derived by the positioning circuit from the determined phase relationship, such that user movement which changes angular orientation of the remote member is detected and determined by the remote member for controlling movement of a cursor displayed through the television assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling movement of a cursor comprising the steps of:
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providing a television assembly including at least one of an output display, a television, cable apparatus, set-top apparatus and applications programs; coupling a base unit to the television assembly, the base unit being formed of (a) a controller for interfacing with the television assembly, and (b) an ultrasound transmitter coupled to the controller such that the controller controls an ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter, and one of the television assembly and the base unit including a sensor coupled to the controller, the controller providing cursor coordinate information to the television assembly in response to working signals received by the sensor; providing to the user of the television assembly, a portable hand-held remote member formed of (i) an ultrasound receiver array comprising a plurality of sensors spaced apart from each other for receiving the ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter of the base unit, (ii) a positioning circuit coupled to receive from the ultrasound receiver array an indication of a phase angle of the received beacon signal at each sensor relative to other sensors, and therefrom determining corresponding angular orientation of the remote member relative to the base unit, by phase discrimination and correlation, (iii) a transmitter responsive to the positioning circuit, the positioning circuit enabling the transmitter to provide to the sensor of the base unit, working signals comprising data indicative of angular orientation of the remote member as derived by the positioning circuit from the phase discrimination and correlation, such that user movement which changes angular orientation of the remote member is detected and determined by the remote member for controlling movement of a cursor displayed through the television assembly; and determining and detecting by the remote member, said user movement of the remote member such that the base unit is enabled to change position of a cursor displayed through the television assembly in a manner corresponding to user desired cursor movement. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. In a television system with remote control comprising a handheld remote unit with an infrared transmitter for transmitting infrared signals carrying orientation information, and a television assembly, the television assembly including at least one of an output display, a television, cable apparatus, set-top apparatus and applications programs, the television assembly employing (i) an infrared receiver to receive infrared signals transmitted from the handheld remote unit, and (ii) a controller coupled to the infrared receiver to control the television assembly based on the received infrared signals including controlling channel and volume played through the television, the improvement comprising:
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an ultrasound transmitter coupled to the controller such that the controller controls an ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter; an ultrasound receiver array comprising a plurality of sensors located within the handheld remote unit and spaced apart from each other for receiving the ultrasonic beacon signal emitted from the ultrasound transmitter; a positioning circuit within the handheld remote unit coupled to receive from the ultrasound receiver array an indication of a phase angle of the received beacon signal at each sensor relative to other sensors and therefrom determining corresponding angular orientation of the remote unit relative to the television assembly, wherein the infrared transmitter, in addition to transmitting infrared signals for controlling channel and volume played through the television, is further responsive to the positioning circuit and provides to the infrared receiver employed by the television assembly, working signals comprising data corresponding to angular orientation of the remote unit as derived by the positioning circuit from the determined phase relationship, such that a change in said angular orientation of the handheld remote unit, and caused by angular user movement of the handheld remote unit is detected and determined by the remote unit for controlling movement of a cursor displayed through the television assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification