Control device

• US 7,495,655 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bollhoefer, Wilhelm
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US10/835,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-159, 345179-183, 345/9, 345/207, 353/42, 178/18.01, 178/18.02, 178/18.09, 178/19.01, 178/19.05
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen

Abstract

A control device includes a mobile control member (F) for emitting a diffuse light beam (LS). An electronic processing unit (V) generates a graphic user interface (VA) and is advantageously connected, via a data link (K1, K2), to a display unit (D, VD). The display unit (D, VD) displays the graphic user interfaces (VA). An optical receiver sensor (S) converts movement directions (B) of the diffuse light beam (LS) of the mobile control member (F) into a control signal. In the processing unit (V), the control signal effects, in accordance with the movements of the diffuse light beam (LS), tracking of a graphic control marker (C) and/or of the position of the graphic user interface (VA) and/or of parts of the interface (VA) and/or of visual elements (C) in the interface (VA).

Claims

1. A control device for a display panel, comprising:

a) a mobile control unit having an emitter configured to emit a diffuse light beam;

wherein the diffuse light beam projects a light field in an area of a plane, and

wherein the light field has a pattern,

b) an electronic processing unit configured to data-generate a graphic control marker that is freely positioned in a first graphical user interface of the display panel;

c) a display unit configured to display a second graphical user interface and the graphic control marker; and

d) an optical receiving sensor configured to convert movement directions of the pattern of the light field of the diffuse light beam of the mobile control unit into a control signal, wherein, in the processing unit, the control signal effects tracking of the graphical control marker on the display panel in accordance with the movement directions of the diffuse light beam,

wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam is inhomogeneous.

2. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical receiving sensor is a mobile optical receiving sensor.

3. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emitter of the mobile control unit is configured to generate a scattered laser beam as the diffuse light beam.

4. The control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mobile control unit comprises a laser pointing device having a scatter element.

5. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile control unit comprises a flashlight.

6. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emitter of the mobile control unit generates an infrared diffuse light beam.

7. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile control unit comprises a handheld device.

8. The control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handheld device comprises a remote control.

9. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphic marker is controlled in a two dimensional plane.

10. The control device claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel is larger than the display unit and wherein the first graphical user interface is depicted larger on the display panel than the second graphical user interface on the display unit.

11. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam has finely distributed fluctuations in an area of a plane.

12. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam has a marbled structure.

13. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projected image of the diffuse light beam is able to cover the respective graphic user interface over a largest possible area.

14. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an optical senor senses the diffuse light beam of the mobile control unit.

15. The control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the optical sensor directly receives the diffuse light beam.

16. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam is homogeneous.

17. A control device for at least one display panel, comprising

a) a mobile control unit having an emitter configured to emit a diffuse light beam;

wherein the diffuse light beam projects a light field in an area of a plane, and

wherein the light field has a pattern,

b) an electronic processing unit,

i) configured to generate at least one graphical user interface for each of the at least one display panel and at least one display unit; and

ii) having at least one data link;

c) said at least one display unit,

i) connected to the data link of the processing unit; and

ii) configured to display the graphical user interface;

d) said at least one display panel,

i) connected to the data link of the processing unit; and

ii) configured to display the graphical user interface;

e) an optical receiving sensor,

i) connected to the data link of the processing unit; and

ii) configured to convert movement directions of the pattern of the light field of the diffuse light beam of the mobile control unit into a control signal;

wherein, after transmission via the data link, the control signal, in the processing unit, tracks at least one of i) a position of the graphical user interface on the display panel and ii) parts of the graphical user interface on the display panel, and iii) visual elements located in the graphical user interface on the display panel, in accordance with the movement directions of the diffuse light beam, and

wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam is inhomogeneous.

18. The control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the optical receiving sensor is a mobile optical receiving sensor.

19. The control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emitter of the mobile control unit is configured to generate a scattered laser beam as the diffuse light beam.

20. The control device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the mobile control unit comprises a laser pointing device having a scatter element.

21. The control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the mobile control unit comprises a flashlight.

22. The control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the emitter of the mobile control unit generates an infrared diffuse light beam.

23. The control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the mobile control unit comprises a handheld device.

24. The control device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the handheld device comprises a remote control.

25. The control device claimed in claim 17, wherein the visual elements, the parts, or the positions on the graphical user interface are controlled in a two dimensional plane.

26. The control device claimed in claim 17, wherein the display panel is larger than the display unit and wherein the graphical user interface is depicted larger on the display panel than on the display unit.

27. A control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam has a marbled structure.

28. A control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the projected image of the diffuse light beam is able to cover the respective graphic user interface over the largest possible area.

29. A control device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam is homogeneous.

30. A control device for a display panel, comprising:

a) a mobile control unit having an emitter configured to emit a diffuse light beam;

wherein the diffuse light beam projects a light field in an area of a plane, and wherein the light field has a pattern,

b) an electronic processing unit configured to data-generate a graphic control marker that is freely positioned in a graphical user interface of the display panel; and

c) an optical unit configured to receive the diffuse light beam of the mobile control unit and to convert movement directions of the pattern of the light field of the diffuse light beam of the mobile control unit into a control signal,

wherein, in the processing unit, the control signal effects tracking of the graphical control marker on the display panel in accordance with the movement directions of the diffuse light beam, and

wherein the pattern of the light field projected by the diffuse light beam is homogeneous.