Orientation-sensitive signal output

• US 7,389,591 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2006
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GestureTek Incorporated (Winning Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: MacDougall, Francis, Jaiswal, Riten
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US11/383,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 333/661.1, 333/661.2, 333/661.4, 333/661.5, 345157-158, 425/423
• US Class Current: 33/366.11
• 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 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation

Abstract

The selection and output of a signal, such as an alphanumeric character, is provided depending upon the orientation of a device, such as a mobile telephone. In particular, a neutral position of a device is determined in relation to at least a first axis, the device including at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals, and an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis. A selection of the first control is also received, and one of the first plurality of output signals is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a tilt sensor configured to automatically determine a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis, and further configured to measure an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis;

at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals; and

a processor configured to receive a selection of the first control and further configured to output one of the first plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement,

wherein the neutral position of the device is determined in relation to at least a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis,

wherein the angular displacement includes a first-axis component and a second-axis component,

wherein the neutral position of the device is automatically determined in relation to at least a third axis orthogonal to the first axis and the second axis, and

wherein the angular displacement includes a third-axis component.

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein the tilt sensor determines the neutral position of the device in relation to at least a second axis, orthogonal to the first axis, and

wherein the angular displacement includes a first-axis component and a second-axis component.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect at a center of the device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect at a periphery portion of the device.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further includes at least second through tenth controls each associated with second through tenth pluralities of output signals, respectively.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first control is a button.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a telephone.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor is a gyroscope.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display the output signal.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a display configured to display an indication of a defined tilt region corresponding to the angular displacement.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the indication of the defined tilt region corresponding to the angular displacement further comprises the output signal associated with the selection and the angular displacement.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a keyboard configured to input the selection.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis intersect within the device.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first control is associated with at least six output signals.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the first control is associated with at least twenty six output signals, each output signal representing an alphabetic character.

16. The device according to claim 1, further comprising defining a plurality of tilt regions about the first axis, wherein one of the first plurality of output signals is also output based upon the plurality of tilt regions.

17. The device according to claim 16, further comprising more than three tilt regions within a 180°

region about the first axis.

18. The device according to claim 1,

wherein, when the selection is received:

a first output signal is output if the first component is within a first first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within a first second-axis tilt region,

a second output signal is output if the first component is within the first first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within a second second-axis tilt region,

a third output signal is output if the first component is within the first first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within a third second-axis tilt region,

a fourth output signal is output if the first component is within a second first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within the first second-axis tilt region,

a fifth output signal is output if the first component is within the second first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within the second second-axis tilt region,

a sixth output signal is output if the first component is within the second first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within the third second-axis tilt region,

a seventh output signal is output if the first component is within a third first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within the first second-axis tilt region,

an eighth output signal is output if the first component is within the third first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within the second second-axis tilt region, and/or

a ninth output signal is output if the first component is within the third first-axis tilt region and if the second-axis component is within the third second-axis tilt region.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the neutral position of the device is automatically determined after receiving the selection of the first control.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the neutral position of the device is automatically determined during the selection of the first control.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the tilt sensor further comprises a camera, and wherein the tilt sensor is further configured to measure the angular displacement of the device using optical flow.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein automatically determining the neutral position of the device further comprises determining the neutral position without requiring a manual calibration.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis is measured without referencing gravity.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the one of the first plurality of output signals further comprises a menu navigation command.

25. The device of claim 1,

wherein the tilt sensor is further configured to detect shaking of the device;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to output a second output signal based upon detecting the shaking of the device.

26. A device comprising:

a tilt sensor configured to automatically determine a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis, and further configured to measure an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis;

at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals; and

a processor configured to receive a selection of the first control and further configured to output one of the first plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement,

wherein the tilt sensor is further configured to measure the angular displacement about at least first through third axis, and

wherein the processor is further configured to output the one of the first plurality of output signals based at least upon the angular displacement about the first through third axis.

27. A device comprising:

a tilt sensor configured to automatically determine a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis, and further configured to measure an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis;

at least a first control associated with a first plurality of output signals; and

a processor configured to receive a selection of the first control and further configured to output one of the first plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement,

wherein the tilt sensor is further configured to detect shaking of the device; and

wherein the processor is further configured to output a second output signal based upon detecting the shaking of the device.