Remote control device for controlling electronic devices

• US 6,108,271 A
• Filed: 12/10/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erskine College
• Original Assignee: Erskine College
• Inventors: Junkin, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US09/209,129
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 367/124, 367/127, 367/907, 345/148
• US Class Current: 367/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/907 Coordinate determination

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a method of remotely controlling electronic devices by using the change in time required for sound waves to travel from an emitter to a detector. The time needed for emitted sound waves to reach a detector depends on the distance from the emitter to the detector. The present invention uses a system which measures the time between emission and detection of two or more successive sound pulses or sound waves. The change in time for sound waves to travel the distance from the emitter (or emitters) to the detector (or detectors) is determined and then used for controlling electronic devices. The sound waves are produced by a sound generator, and the detector is designed specifically for the detection of sound waves. In certain embodiments, ultrasonic sound waves or pulses are produced by the sound generator and are used to control an electronic device such as a computer cursor or vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device comprising the steps of:

emitting a first sound wave from a sound emitter located at a first position;

detecting said first sound wave by a sound detector located at a second position;

changing the relative distance between said sound emitter and said sound detector by moving either of said sound emitter or said sound detector to a third position;

emitting a second sound wave from said sound emitter after the passage of a standard time interval after emitting said first sound wave;

detecting said second sound wave by said sound detector;

determining the difference in time between said detecting of said first sound wave and said detecting of said second sound wave;

arriving at a value by subtracting said difference in time from said standard time interval;

using said value to generate control signals without the necessity for determining the absolute distance between said sound emitter and said sound detector or determining the absolute time required for said first and second sound waves to travel from said emitter to said detector; and

supplying said control signals to an electronic device.

2. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device according to claim 1 wherein said sound emitter emits said first and second sound waves in a regular manner so that said standard time interval between the emissions of said first and second sound waves remains constant.

3. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sound waves are ultrasonic waves.

4. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sound waves are audible sound waves.

5. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sound waves are pulsed waves of sound.

6. A method for controlling a device according to claim 5 wherein said pulsed waves of sound are pulsed at a single frequency.

7. A method for controlling a device according to claim 5 wherein said pulsed waves of sound are pulsed at varying frequencies.

8. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sound waves are continuous waves of sound.

9. A method for controlling a device according to claim 8 wherein said continuous waves of sound remain at a single frequency throughout their emission.

10. A method for controlling a device according to claim 8 wherein said continuous waves of sound change frequency throughout their being emitted.

11. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device according to claim 1 wherein changing the relative distance between said sound emitter and said sound detector is achieved by moving said sound emitter to said third position and moving said sound detector to a fourth position either toward or away from each other.

12. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 wherein said emitter and/or said detector employs a battery as a power source.

13. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 wherein said emitter and/or said detector employs solar power as a power source.

14. A method for controlling a device according to claim 1 further comprising the use of three or more sound emitters and the use of three or more sound detectors.

15. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device for generating control signals according to claim 1 further comprising the use of a second sound emitter to produce said second sound wave.

16. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device for generating control signals according to claim 1 further comprising the use of a second sound detector to detect said second sound wave.

17. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device for generating control signals according to claim 1 wherein said electronic device is a cursor on a computer screen.

18. A method for supplying control signals to an electronic device for generating control signals according to claim 1 further comprising the use of a second sound emitter to produce said second sound wave.

19. A method for controlling a device according to claim 17 wherein said movement of said cursor on said computer screen is either to the right, to the left, up, down, or diagonally on said screen.

20. A method for controlling a device according to claim 18 wherein both said sound emitter and said second sound emitter emit first and second sound waves in a regular manner so that a standard time interval is established between the emissions of said first and second sound waves.