Selection of software and hardware functions with a force/torque sensor

• US 7,302,350 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3Deconnexion GmbH
• Original Assignee: 3DCONNEXION GmbH (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Gombert, Bernd, Von Prittwitz, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Barlow; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kundu; Sujoy
• Application Number:
  US10/433,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 702/41, 702/33, 702 42- 44, 345163-169, 345173-177, 345179-184, 345/156
• US Class Current: 702/41
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A force-moment sensor (1) is used as a switch, with which, depending on the introduction of forces and moments onto an operating part (5) of the force-moment sensor (1), software or hardware functions of a device (2, 2′) to be controlled are triggered. For this purpose, the output signals of the force-moment sensor (1) are analysed by comparisons with threshold values. The selection of a device or a function thereof does not have to be chosen in advance, but takes place while introducing a force or a moment into the sensor. The introduced forces or moments in each degree of freedom of the sensor are analysed. The selection of the device or function coincides with the driving. The device can thus be simplified since no special facilities for selecting devices or functions must be provided. Additionally, the selection and driving are accelerated by this temporal coincidence.

Claims

1. Method of controlling hardware and/or software functions of devices, having the following steps:

generation of an output signal by means of a force-moment sensor, which communicates with the device to be controlled, and can be manipulated manually in multiple degrees of freedom,

comparison of the output signal with at least one specified characteristic defining ranges,

triggering a first function of the device for the case that according to analysis, a value of the output signal with respect to one degree of freedom of the force-moment sensor is in a first range, triggering a further function for the case that according to analysis, the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom is in a second range, and triggering no function for the case that according to analysis, the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom is not in the first range or the second range.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the force-moment sensor provides output signals with respect to different degrees of freedom for analysis.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the analysis of the output signal is context-dependent, to take account of the state in which the device currently is.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein a driving of software functions takes account of which application is currently active on the device.

5. Method according to claim 3, wherein external parameters are taken into account as context in the analysis of the output signal.

7. Method according to claim 1 wherein the development of the output signal is taken into account in the analysis.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 wherein the current value of the output signal is taken into account in the analysis.

10. Computer readable medium having computer program code, implementing a method according to claim 1 when executed by a processor.

6. Method of controlling hardware and/or software functions of devices having the following steps:

generation of an output signal by means of a force-moment sensor, which communicates with the device to be controlled, and can be manipulated manually in multiple degrees of freedom,

comparison of the output signal with at least one specified characteristic defining ranges, triggering a first function of the device for the case that according to analysis, a value of the output signal with respect to one device of freedom of the force-moment sensor is in a first range, triggering a further function for the case that according to analysis, the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom is in a second range, and triggering no function for the case that according to analysis, the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom is not in the first range or the second range,

wherein the analysis of the output signal is context-dependent, to take account of the state in which the device currently is and wherein past events are taken into account as state context in the analysis of the output signal.

9. Method of controlling hardware and/or software functions of devices, having the following steps:

generation of an output signal by means of a force-moment sensor which communicates with the device to be controlled, and can be manipulated manually in multiple degrees of freedom,

comparison of the output signal with at least one specified characteristic defining ranges, triggering a first function of the device for the case that according to analysis, a value of the output signal with respect to one device of freedom of the force-moment sensor is in a first range, triggering a further function for the case that according to analysis, the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom is in a second range, and triggering no function for the case that according to analysis, the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom is not in the first range or the second range,

wherein a threshold value coincides with a final position of the force-moment sensor in one direction of motion.

11. Input system for driving hardware and/or software functions of connected devices, having

an input device to capture forces and/or moments which act on an operating part of the input device, and

a device and/or input side processing unit, to which an output signal of the input device can be fed, and which is designed to compare the output signal with predefined characteristics which define ranges, and to generate a driving signal to trigger a first function of the device for the case that according to analysis of the output signal with respect to one degree of freedom of a force-moment sensor is in a first range, and/or another function of the device for the case that according to analysis the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom of the force-moment sensor is in a second range,

wherein the input side processing unit receives output signals concerning different degrees of freedom from the input device, and

wherein the input side processing unit generates the driving signal depending on context, to take account of the state in which the device currently is.

12. Input system according to claims 11 wherein external parameters are taken into account as context in the analysis of the output signal.

13. Input system for driving hardware and/or software functions of connected devices, having

an input device to capture forces and/or moments which act on an operating part of the input device, and

a device and/or input side processing unit, to which an output signal of the input device can be fed, and which is designed to compare the output signal with redefined characteristics which define ranges, and to generate a driving signal to trigger a first function of the device for the case that according to analysis of the output signal with respect to one degree of freedom of a force-moment sensor is in a first range, and/or another function of the device for the case that according to analysis the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom of the force-moment sensor is in a second range,

wherein the input side processing unit receives output signals concerning different degrees of freedom from the input device,

wherein the input side processing unit generates the driving signal depending on context, to take account of the state in which the device currently is, and

wherein past events are taken into account as state context in the analysis of the output signal.

14. Input system for driving hardware and/or software functions of connected devices, having

an input device to capture forces and/or moments which act on an operating part of the input device, and

a device and/or input side processing unit, to which an output signal of the input device can be fed, and which is designed to compare the output signal with predefined characteristics which define ranges, and to generate a driving signal to trigger a first function of the device for the case that according to analysis of the output signal with respect to one degree of freedom of a force-moment sensor is in a first range, and/or another function of the device for the case that according to analysis the value of the output signal with respect to the one degree of freedom of the force-moment sensor is in a second range,

wherein the input side processing unit receives output signals concerning different degrees of freedom from the input device,

wherein the input side processing unit generates the driving signal depending on context, to take account of the state in which the device currently is, and

wherein a threshold value coincides with a final position of the force-moment sensor in one direction of motion.