Discrete inertial display navigation

• US 7,647,175 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rembrandt Technologies, LP (Rembrandt IP Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Fateh, Sina
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli; Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US11/223,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,586 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/220
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/166 Mechanical, construction or arrangement details of inertial navigation systems

Abstract

A system and method for calculating velocity vectors from accelerations by establishing a predetermined acceleration threshold, and attributing a predetermined velocity vector to accelerations that cross the predetermined threshold. Preferably, the system and method are used in conjunction with hand-held displays.

Claims

1. A threshold navigation system comprising:

a device including a display screen in a device housing;

one or more sensors measuring movement of said device, said one or more sensors disposed in said device housing;

wherein said one or more sensors register movement when a threshold level of activation motion is reached;

wherein said registering of movement is translated into a movement vector;

wherein said movement vector is being used to change contents of the display screen in a manner related to said movement vector; and

wherein a second movement in a direction substantially opposite of said movement is translated into a stop vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector.

2. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector; and

wherein a plurality of said sensors are used to sense said motion, and a total activation motion measurement is averaged between said sensors before comparing said activation motion to said threshold level.

3. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing; and

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector; and

wherein a second threshold level produces a second movement vector.

4. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a plurality of said sensors are used to sense said motion, and a total activation motion measurement is averaged between said sensors before comparing said activation motion to said threshold level; and

wherein said first threshold level does not produce said movement vector when a second threshold level produces a second movement vector.

5. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a plurality of said sensors are used to sense said motion, and a total activation motion measurement is averaged between said sensors before comparing said activation motion to said threshold level; and

wherein said first threshold level will only produce a movement vector once.

6. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a plurality of said sensors are used to sense said motion, and a total activation motion measurement is averaged between said sensors before comparing said activation motion to said threshold level; and

wherein a second movement vector is a negative movement vector as compared to said movement vector.

7. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a plurality of threshold levels are used to produce a plurality of movement vectors; and

wherein only a greatest of said threshold levels crossed produces said movement vector.

8. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a plurality of threshold levels are used to produce a plurality of movement vectors; and

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned an activation motion opposite to the direction of motion that created said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said given threshold level for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped.

9. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned an activation motion opposite to the direction of motion that created said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said threshold for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped.

10. A system for convening real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned an activation motion opposite to the direction of motion that created said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said threshold for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped; and

wherein said stop vector acts as a stop for all movement vectors activated in a direction opposite that of said stop vector.

11. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned an activation motion opposite to the direction of motion that created said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said threshold for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped; and

wherein said stop vector can be produced by an override command to said device or sensors.

12. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned an activation motion opposite to the direction of motion that created said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said threshold for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped; and

wherein said stop vector has multiple threshold levels, wherein a threshold level corresponds to one or more of said movement vectors.

13. A system for converting real movement into a movement vector comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing;

said device containing one or more sensors capable of sensing activation motion of said device when said device is moved, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said sensors produce said movement vector related to said activation motion of said device only when said activation motion produces an acceleration that is above a threshold level, said movement vector being at a predetermined level;

wherein activation motion below said threshold level does not produce a movement vector;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned an activation motion opposite to the direction of motion tat created said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said threshold for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped;

wherein said stop vector has multiple threshold levels, wherein a threshold level corresponds to one or more of said movement vectors; and

wherein a maximum threshold of the multiple threshold levels produces a new movement vector in the opposite direction of said movement vector.

14. A threshold navigation system comprising:

a device capable of being moved comprising a display screen in a device housing; and

one or more sensors measuring movement of said device, said one or more sensors located in said device housing;

wherein said one or more sensors register movement only when a threshold level of motion is reached;

wherein said registering of movement is ten being translated into a movement vector;

wherein said movement vector is being used to change contents of a display screen in a manner related to said movement vector;

wherein said device is at least one of hand held and worn by a user; and

wherein,

a natural arc produced by natural movement of human anatomy is calibrated to be translated as a straight movement.

15. A navigation system for using movement of a device to adjust content displayed in a display screen of the device, the navigation system, comprising:

a device housing of the device; and

one or more sensors coupled to the device that measure movement of said device;

said one or more sensors translates the movement into a movement vector in response to detecting tat acceleration of an activation motion reaches or exceeds a threshold level;

wherein the content displayed in the display screen is adjusted in a manner related to said movement vector;

wherein a second movement in a direction substantially opposite of said movement is translated into a stop vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector.

16. A system for converting physical movement into a movement vector, the system, comprising:

a device having a display screen and a device housing;

a plurality of sensors coupled to the device, the sensors operable to detect movement of said device;

in response to the sensors detecting that acceleration of said movement of said device reaches or exceeds a threshold level, said sensors generate said movement vector based on said movement of said device;

wherein the sensors do not generate a movement vector if the movement of the device has an acceleration below said threshold level;

wherein a cumulative movement measurement is obtained by averaging the measurements obtained from each of said plurality of sensors for comparison with said threshold level.

17. A system for converting physical movement into a movement vector, the system, comprising:

a device having a display screen and a device housing;

a sensor coupled to the device, the sensor operable to detect movement of said device;

in response to the sensor detecting that acceleration of said movement of said device reaches or exceeds a threshold level, said sensor generates said movement vector based on said movement of said device;

wherein the sensor does not generate a movement vector if the movement of the device has an acceleration below said threshold level;

in response to the sensor detecting that acceleration of said movement of said device reaches or exceeds a second threshold level, the sensor generates a second movement vector;

wherein said threshold level is not used to generate said movement vector when the second threshold level is used to generate the second movement vector.

18. A system for converting physical movement into a movement vector, the system, comprising:

a device having a display screen and a device housing;

a sensor coupled to the device, the sensor operable to detect movement of said device;

in response to the sensor detecting that acceleration of said movement of said device reaches or exceeds a threshold level, said sensor generates said movement vector based on said movement of said device;

wherein the sensor does not generate a movement vector if the movement of the device has an acceleration below said threshold level;

wherein a plurality of threshold levels are used for generating a plurality of movement vectors;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned a motion of the device that is opposite to the direction of the movement used to create said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said given threshold level for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped.

19. A system for converting physical movement into a movement vector, the system, comprising:

a device having a display screen and a device housing;

a sensor coupled to the device, the sensor operable to detect movement of said device;

in response to the sensor detecting that acceleration of said movement of said device reaches or exceeds a threshold level, said sensor generates said movement vector based on said movement of said device;

wherein the sensor does not generate a movement vector if the movement of the device has an acceleration below said threshold level;

wherein a stop vector is created when a given threshold level opposite in sign to the threshold level that produced said movement vector is crossed;

said stop vector being assigned a motion opposite to the direction of the movement used to create said movement vector, wherein said stop vector stops said movement vector;

said given threshold for said stop vector being approximately equal to or less than said threshold level for said movement vector;

wherein said stop vector is produced for each said movement vector produced and wherein said stop vector is reset when said stop movement vector is stopped.

20. The system in claim 19, wherein said stop vector acts as a stop for all movement vectors activated in a direction opposite that of said stop vector.

21. The system in claim 19, wherein said stop vector can be produced by an override command to said device or the sensor.

22. The system in claim 19, wherein said stop vector has multiple threshold levels, wherein a threshold level corresponds to one or more of said movement vectors.

23. The system in claim 22, wherein a maximum threshold of the multiple threshold levels produces a new movement vector in the opposite direction of said movement vector.

24. A navigation system for using movement of a hand-held device to adjust content displayed in a display screen of the device, the navigation system, comprising:

a device housing of the hand-held device; and

a sensor coupled to the hand-held device to measure movement of said hand-held device;

the movement being translated into a movement vector when a threshold level of the movement is reached;

wherein the content displayed in the display screen is adjusted in a manner related to said movement vector;

wherein, the sensor is able to be de-activated such that the movement of the hand-held device is not detected or measured;

wherein, a natural arc produced by natural movement of human anatomy is calibrated to be translated as a straight movement.