Method of data input into a computer
First Claim
1. A method for inputting acceleration data into a computer comprising:
- measuring differences in characteristics of electromagnetic coils over time in response to changes of a magnetic field in a magnetic fluid due to displacement of a non-magnetic inertial body suspended in the magnetic fluid, said electromagnetic coils and said magnetic fluid being a part of a sensor and said electromagnetic coils arranged as three electromagnetic coil pairs, each pair substantially mutually perpendicular to each other; and
reporting said differences in characteristics of electromagnetic coils in real-time as angular acceleration data to a computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer input device and method used to input coordinates and three-dimensional graphical information into a computer. The device includes an acceleration sensor that has a fixed volume vessel containing a magnetic fluid. A non-magnetic inertial body is located in the magnetic fluid. Three magnetic field sources are located on three perpendicular axes where each magnetic field source has an output for connection to a computer. Changes in Q-factors and inductance of electromagnetic coils aligned on the X, Y, and Z-axis of the sensor are used to compute linear and angular acceleration components of any movement involving the sensor which permits three-dimensional coordinates to be provided in real-time.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for inputting acceleration data into a computer comprising:
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measuring differences in characteristics of electromagnetic coils over time in response to changes of a magnetic field in a magnetic fluid due to displacement of a non-magnetic inertial body suspended in the magnetic fluid, said electromagnetic coils and said magnetic fluid being a part of a sensor and said electromagnetic coils arranged as three electromagnetic coil pairs, each pair substantially mutually perpendicular to each other; and reporting said differences in characteristics of electromagnetic coils in real-time as angular acceleration data to a computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An input device for detecting acceleration of a sensor comprising:
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a vessel containing fluid; a non-magnetic inertial body in the vessel; means to create magnetic fields within said vessel; means for detecting changes in magnetic fields caused by movement of said inertial body relative to the vessel; and means for computing angular acceleration based on said changes in the magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An input device comprising:
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a housing; a magnetic fluid within the housing; a non-magnetic inertial body within the housing; and magnetic field sources generating magnetic fields within the magnetic fluid, wherein angular acceleration of the housing is calculated based on changes in the magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An input device comprising:
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a housing containing a magnetic fluid; a non-magnetic inertial body within the magnetic fluid; magnets positioned to generate a magnetic field in the magnetic fluid; and a data output from the magnets, wherein angular acceleration of the housing is calculated based on the data output that represents changes in the magnetic field.
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42. An input device comprising:
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a magnetic fluid; a non-magnetic inertial body suspended within the magnetic fluid; and magnetic field sources generating magnetic fields in the magnetic fluid so that the magnetic fluid exerts a repulsive force on the inertial body to maintain the inertial body approximately in place, wherein angular acceleration of the input device is calculated based on changes in the magnetic fields. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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Specification