Device orientation based input signal generation

• US 7,138,979 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayek, Matt C., Robin, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US10/928,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

A method (500) and apparatus (601) generate an input signal based on the orientation of a device. A sensor (302) such as a camera, a gyro, or an accelerometer detects a change in device orientation and generates a position input signal that is provided to an application program (612) such as a game program, a text messaging program, or a user interface program to affect an operation thereof. The input signal can, for example, affects a navigation position associated with the application program.

Claims

1. A method for providing an input to an application program executing on a device, the method comprising:

detecting a change in an orientation of the device;

generating an input signal associated with the change in the orientation;

providing the input signal to the application program to change an operation performed by the application program, the application program comprising a simulated keyboard program and the providing the input signal facilitating use of the simulated keyboard program, wherein;

the input signal includes position information,

the providing includes avoiding position information to change a cursor position associated with the simulated keyboard program,

the cursor position is associated with a key on the simulated keyboard program; and

selecting the key when the cursor position coincides with the key.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detecting a change comprises detecting a change using a sensor that includes one or more of a camera, a gyro, and an accelerometer.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the application program includes one or more of a game program, a text processing program, and a user interface program.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the application program includes a game program, and

the providing further includes providing position information to change an action position associated with the game program, the action position associated with a user guided action of the game program.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the device includes a wireless communication unit.

6. A method for controlling a cursor position associated with an application program executing on a device, the method comprising:

detecting a change in an orientation of the device relative to a reference position of the device;

using a sensor comprising one or more of a camera and a gyro to generate a position signal associated with the change in the orientation;

processing the position signal based on a sensor type associated with the sensor to generate a cursor position signal; and

updating the cursor position based on the cursor position signal,

wherein the application program includes a user interface program, and

wherein the updating the cursor position further comprises updating the cursor position associated with the user interface program, the cursor position corresponding to a selection position associated with a single action of the user interface program, and

wherein the action associated with the selection position is selected when the cursor position coincides with the selection position and a select signal is generated.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the sensor further includes an accelerometer.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein the device includes a wireless communication unit.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the application program includes one or more of a game program and a text processing program.

10. An apparatus for navigating within an application program in a device, the apparatus comprising:

a memory for storing the application program, the application program further including a program for facilitating text entry and text processing;

a sensor having an associated sensor type, the sensor adapted to;

determine an orientation of the device, and

generate a position signal proportional to a change in the orientation of the device;

a processor coupled to the memory and the sensor, the processor adapted to;

execute the application program,

process the position signal according to the sensor type to generate a navigation position, and

update a navigation action associated with the application program using the navigation position; and

a selector coupled to the processor, the selector configured to generate a select signal,

wherein the application program includes a user interface program,

wherein the processor in updating the navigation action is further configured to update the navigation action associated with the user interface program, the navigation position corresponding to a selection position associated with a single action of the user interface program, and

wherein the action associated with the selection position is selected when the position coincides with the selection position and the select signal is generated.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the sensor type includes one or more of a camera, a gyro, and an accelerometer.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the application program includes a game program.

13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the device includes a wireless communication unit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the application program includes a simulated keyboard program, and

wherein the processor in updating the navigation action is further configured to update the navigation action associated with the simulated keyboard program, the navigation position capable of being associated with a key on the simulated keyboard program, and wherein a key associated with the navigation position is selected when the navigation position coincides with the key and the select signal is generated.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the selector includes a select button on the device.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the application program includes a game program, and

wherein the processor in updating the navigation action is further configured to update the navigation action associated with the game program, the navigation position corresponding to a user guided action position associated with the game program.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the action includes a menu selection associated with the user interface program.