Input for three dimensional navigation using two joysticks
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional pointing system for use with an information processing system, comprising:
- a first computer pointing device for receiving first manual input commands with two degrees of freedom from an operator and for generating first output signals corresponding to the two degrees of freedom;
a second computer pointing device for receiving second manual input commands with the same two degrees of freedom from the same operator and for generating second output signals corresponding to the two degrees of freedom;
converting means for receiving the first and second output signals and for converting the first and second output signals into a single set of command signals having four degrees of freedom and representing navigation along three orthogonal axes of a three-dimensional space and rotation about one of the three axes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-joystick interface for use with an information processing system having a 3D virtual reality module implements a bulldozer control metaphor permitting movement in three orthogonal directions—forward-backward, up-down, left-right—and turning about a vertical axis. The pointing interface includes mode switching permitting use of the joysticks for the cursor positioning and page scrolling functions of the information processing system. The pointing system includes a frame-of-reference conversion module for transforming the pointing devices software interface to a four-degree-of-freedom three-dimensional interface, an interface with a virtual reality module including a display function. Ergonomic embodiments of the interface include locating the joysticks, e.g., two IBM TrackPoints™ along the bottom row of keys of a standard keyboard, and, alternatively, placing the joysticks and related momentary switches in a wristpad.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional pointing system for use with an information processing system, comprising:
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a first computer pointing device for receiving first manual input commands with two degrees of freedom from an operator and for generating first output signals corresponding to the two degrees of freedom;
a second computer pointing device for receiving second manual input commands with the same two degrees of freedom from the same operator and for generating second output signals corresponding to the two degrees of freedom;
converting means for receiving the first and second output signals and for converting the first and second output signals into a single set of command signals having four degrees of freedom and representing navigation along three orthogonal axes of a three-dimensional space and rotation about one of the three axes. - 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 multi-purpose pointing system for use with an information processing system that includes three-dimensional virtual reality software, the pointing system comprising:
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first and second pointing devices for receiving respective first and second two-dimensional manual input commands from an operator, each of the pointing devices having a same two degrees of freedom;
software drivers for providing respective two-dimensional pointing device interfaces between the information processing system and the first and second pointing devices;
means responsive to the software drivers for transforming the two-dimensional pointing device interfaces into a single four-degree-of-freedom three-dimensional interface;
the virtual reality software being responsive to the four-degree-of-freedom interface for maneuvering a point-of-view in the three-dimensional virtual reality; and
display means for displaying the three-dimensional virtual reality. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for navigating with four degrees of freedom in a three-dimensional virtual reality, comprising the steps of:
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providing a pair of joystick pointing devices and compatible device drivers each providing a pair of orthogonal outputs;
transforming the device driver outputs to a single three-dimensional, four-degree-of-freedom set of transformed outputs; and
using the set of transformed outputs for navigating within a three-dimensional virtual reality system. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification