3D cursor or joystick device
First Claim
1. A 3D cursor or joystick device comprising:
- a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable component moved by the user in a 3D space and the other of which is mounted on a stationary component positioned at a reference position facing toward the 3D space in which the user moves the movable component, wherein each emitter/detector unit of the complementary pair has an emitter element for emitting a three-dimensionally distributed signal beam in a direction toward the other unit, and a detector element adjacent the emitter element so as to receive the signal beam from the other unit and provide an output signal representing measured characteristics of the signal beam received from the other unit,wherein only the two output signals of the two detector elements, each detecting the signal beam from the emitter element of the other one of the complementary pair of emitter/detector units at opposite endpoints defining a single line between the two emitter/detector units, are used in combination together to calculate position and orientation angle values for the emitter/detector unit of the movable component relative to the emitter/detector unit of the stationary component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A 3D cursor or joystick device and control method employs a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one worn on a part of a user'"'"'s body (e.g., the head) and the other mounted in a stationary position on a display monitor facing the user. Each unit has an array of photovoltaic (PV) cells centered on a normal axis and an infrared diode for emitting a light beam on the normal axis. Each photodetectors array receives the infrared beam from the other unit and provides output signals representing the light intensities of the received beam on the PV cells. The PV cell response signals of the complementary units are used together to calculate the position and angular orientation of the user-worn unit relative to the stationary unit. The position and angle values are used by a software device driver installed on a computer to control 3D navigation functions of the associated application program on the computer. The system can be used for playing interctive 3D games, and also used for hands-free control in a wide range of other applications and environments, such as to control flight motions in a simulator or cockpit of an aircraft, or the command center of a naval vessel, spaceship, land vehicle, etc., for disabled persons to provide hands-free input to a computer, motorized wheelchair, prosthetic device, etc., and for controlling various functions in an industrial environment, such as guiding machine-assisted movement, or in CAD design, architectural, medical graphics, virtual reality, and other applications.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A 3D cursor or joystick device comprising:
- a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable component moved by the user in a 3D space and the other of which is mounted on a stationary component positioned at a reference position facing toward the 3D space in which the user moves the movable component, wherein each emitter/detector unit of the complementary pair has an emitter element for emitting a three-dimensionally distributed signal beam in a direction toward the other unit, and a detector element adjacent the emitter element so as to receive the signal beam from the other unit and provide an output signal representing measured characteristics of the signal beam received from the other unit,
wherein only the two output signals of the two detector elements, each detecting the signal beam from the emitter element of the other one of the complementary pair of emitter/detector units at opposite endpoints defining a single line between the two emitter/detector units, are used in combination together to calculate position and orientation angle values for the emitter/detector unit of the movable component relative to the emitter/detector unit of the stationary component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable component moved by the user in a 3D space and the other of which is mounted on a stationary component positioned at a reference position facing toward the 3D space in which the user moves the movable component, wherein each emitter/detector unit of the complementary pair has an emitter element for emitting a three-dimensionally distributed signal beam in a direction toward the other unit, and a detector element adjacent the emitter element so as to receive the signal beam from the other unit and provide an output signal representing measured characteristics of the signal beam received from the other unit,
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16. A 3D cursor or joystick control method comprising the steps of:
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providing a peripheral device having a complementary pair of emitter/detector units, one of which is mounted on a movable component moved by the user in a 3D space and the other of which is mounted on a stationary component positioned at a reference position facing toward the 3D space in which the user moves the movable component, wherein each emitter/detector unit of the complementary pair has an emitter element for emitting a three-dimensionally distributed signal beam in a direction toward the other unit, and a detector element adjacent the emitter element for receiving the signal beam from the other unit and providing an output signal representing measured characteristics of the signal beam received from the other unit, and obtaining respective output signals of the two detector elements each detecting the signal beam from the emitter element of the other one of the complementary pair of emitter/detector units at opposite endpoints defining a single line between the two emitter/detector units and using only the two output signals of the complementary pair of emitter/detector units in combination together to calculate position and orientation angle values of the emitter/detector unit of the movable component relative to the emitter/detector unit of the stationary component. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification