3D pointing devices and methods

• US 7,489,298 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Turner, Mark, Liberty, Matthew G., Gritton, Charles W. K., Simpkins, Daniel S., Hunleth, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US11/820,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-169, 345173-179, 178 1801- 1809, 178 1901- 1906
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• 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: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one rotational sensor for determining rotation of said device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith and for determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;

an accelerometer for determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and

a processing unit for generating an output based on said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output;

wherein said at least one rotational sensor further comprises a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said accelerometer is a multi-axis accelerometer and wherein said acceleration output includes a value y generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said device in a y-axis direction and a value z generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said device in a z-axis direction.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said multi-axis accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver for receiving data from said processing unit and wirelessly transmitting said data.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth®

transceiver.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of buttons disposed on a housing of said device; and

at least one LED disposed on said housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit performs a two dimensional rotational transform on detected translational motion of said device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit performs a two dimensional rotational transform on detected rotational motion of said device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit performs a two dimensional rotational transform on both detected translational motion and detected rotational motion of said device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is a 3D pointing device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit compensates at least one of said first rotational output and said second rotational output for linear acceleration.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rotational sensor is a MEMs sensor.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rotational sensor further comprises:

a second resonating mass attached to a second frame, wherein said second resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said second axis, wherein displacement of said second resonating mass along said second axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said second rotational output.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to generate, as said output, an indication of motion of said device which is substantially independent of an orientation of said device.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to determine whether said device is stationary.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to adjust for bias of said at least one rotational sensor.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to filter out hand tremor.

18. A device comprising:

means for determining rotation of said device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith and for determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;

means for determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and

means for generating an output based on said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output;

wherein said means for determining rotation further comprises a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass in said first rotational sensor resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured by said means for determining rotation using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for determining acceleration is a multi-axis accelerometer and wherein said acceleration output includes a value y generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said device in a y-axis direction and a value z generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said device in a z-axis direction.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said multi-axis accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving data from said processing unit and wirelessly transmitting said data.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said means for receiving and transmitting is a Bluetooth®

transceiver.

23. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of buttons disposed on a housing of said device; and

at least one LED disposed on said housing.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating performs a two dimensional rotational transform on detected translational motion of said device.

25. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating performs a two dimensional rotational transform on detected rotational motion of said device.

26. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating performs a two dimensional rotational transform on both detected translational motion and detected rotational motion of said device.

27. The device of claim 18, wherein said device is a 3D pointing device.

28. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating compensates at least one of said first rotational output and said second rotational output for linear acceleration.

29. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for determining rotation is a MEMs sensor.

30. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for determining rotation further comprises:

a second resonating mass attached to a second frame, wherein said second resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said second axis, wherein displacement of said second resonating mass along said second axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said second rotational output.

31. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to generate, as said output, an indication of motion of said device which is substantially independent of an orientation of said device.

32. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to determine whether said device is stationary.

33. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to adjust for bias of said means for determining rotation.

34. The device of claim 18, wherein said means for generating processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to filter out hand tremor.

35. A method comprising:

determining rotation of a device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith;

determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;

determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and

processing said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output to generate an output;

wherein said step of determining rotation further comprises using a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of determining acceleration includes outputting an acceleration output value y associated with acceleration of said device in a y-axis direction and a value z associated with acceleration of said device in a z-axis direction.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

performing a two dimensional rotational transform on detected translational motion of said device.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

performing a two dimensional rotational transform on detected rotational motion of said device.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

performing a two dimensional rotational transform on both detected translational motion and detected rotational motion of said device.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

compensating at least one of said first rotational output and said second rotational output for linear acceleration.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to generate, as said output, an indication of motion of said device which is substantially independent of an orientation of said device.

42. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to determine whether said device is stationary.

43. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to adjust for bias.

44. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to filter out hand tremor.

45. A system comprising:

(a) a device including;

a housing;

an accelerometer, disposed within said housing, for determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith;

(b) at least one rotational sensor for determining rotation of said device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith and for determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith,

wherein said at least one rotational sensor further comprises a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output; and

(c) a processing unit for generating an output based on said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said accelerometer is a multi-axis accelerometer and wherein said acceleration output includes a value y generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said device in a y-axis direction and a value z generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said device in a z-axis direction.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein said multi-axis accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.

48. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

a wireless transceiver for receiving data from said processing unit and wirelessly transmitting said data.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein said wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth®

transceiver.

50. The system of claim 45, further comprising:

a plurality of buttons disposed on a housing of said device; and

at least one LED disposed on said housing.

51. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit performs a two dimensional rotational transform on detected translational motion of said device.

52. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit performs a two dimensional rotational transform on detected rotational motion of said device.

53. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit performs a two dimensional rotational transform on both detected translational motion and detected rotational motion of said device.

54. The system of claim 45, wherein said device is a 3D pointing device.

55. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit compensates at least one of said first rotational output and said second rotational output for linear acceleration.

56. The system of claim 45, wherein said at least one rotational sensor is a MEMs sensor.

57. The system of claim 45, wherein said at least one rotational sensor further comprises:

a second resonating mass attached to a second frame, wherein said second resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said second axis, wherein displacement of said second resonating mass along said second axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said second rotational output.

58. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to generate, as said output, an indication of motion of said device which is substantially independent of an orientation of said device.

59. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to determine whether said device is stationary.

60. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to adjust for bias of said at least one rotational sensor.

61. The system of claim 45, wherein said processing unit processes at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to filter out hand tremor.

62. The system of claim 45, wherein said system further comprises:

a system controller;

a wireless transceiver, disposed in said device, for transmitting data from said device to said system controller;

wherein said processing unit is disposed within one of said device and said system controller.

63. The system of claim 45, wherein said at least one rotational sensor is disposed within said housing.

64. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions which, when executed by a computer or processor, perform the steps of:

determining rotation of a device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith;

determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;

determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith; and

processing said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output to generate an output;

wherein said step of determining rotation further comprises using a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, wherein said step of determining acceleration includes outputting an acceleration output value y associated with acceleration of said device in a y-axis direction and a value z associated with acceleration of said device in a z-axis direction.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

performing a two dimensional rotational transform on detected translational motion of said device.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

performing a two dimensional rotational transform on detected rotational motion of said device.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

performing a two dimensional rotational transform on both detected translational motion and detected rotational motion of said device.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

compensating at least one of said first rotational output and said second rotational output for linear acceleration.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to generate, as said output, an indication of motion of said device which is substantially independent of an orientation of said device.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to determine whether said device is stationary.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to adjust for bias.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 64, further comprising:

processing at least one of said first rotational output, said second rotational output and said acceleration output to filter out hand tremor.