Electric device control apparatus and methods for making and using same

• US 7,831,932 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 2020 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Revelations In Design Incorporated
• Inventors: Nalty, Kurt Edward, Josephsoon, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh; Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, MYLINH T
• Application Number:
  US10/384,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,804 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715/719, 345/168, 345/156, 345/158, 382/118, 382/115, 382/116, 382/103, 382/100
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information

Abstract

An electrical switch apparatus including a movement sensitive form is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a motion sensor and a processing unit, where motion on, near or about the motion sensor is translated into output commands adapted for list scrolling, where the list can be arranged in a hierarchy such as menus or for changing a value of an attribute of a electrical device under the control of the switch.

Claims

1. A device control apparatus comprising:

a user interface including a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to;

(a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor, or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor;

a processing unit in communication with the interface adapted to convert the sensor output signal into a command function, where a sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, and where the command function comprises a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, and

one object or a plurality of objects in electronic communication with and under the control of the processing unit and where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having a plurality of attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier,

where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a selecting and attribute controll function,

where the objects are selected from a group consisting of software components, electrical or electronic devices and mixtures or combinations thereof, and

where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue the scroll function for scrolling through the object list and where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor includes an optical sensors, touch sensitive surfaces, touchless surfaces, rotatable devices, or combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operating systems and other software systems, remote control systems, or combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the objects has a single controllable attribute and motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to either increase or decrease a value of its single controllable attribute depending on the motion in the second direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the objects has a plurality of adjustable attributes and motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to issue a scroll function for scrolling through its object specific attribute list, and motion in a third direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select an attribute from its object specific attribute list and to either increase or decrease a value of the attribute depending on the motion in the third direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value, where the second direction and the third direction are different in an amount sufficient to allow direction discrimination.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if one of the objects has no controllable attribute, then motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to and activate it.

7. An electrical switch apparatus comprising:

a switch including;

a user interface having a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to;

(a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor, or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of the human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, and

a processing unit in electric communication with the motion sensor, which converts the output signal into a control function, where a sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, and where the command function comprises the scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, and

one object or a plurality of objects in electrical communication with and under the control of the processing unit, and where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having a plurality of attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier,

where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function and

where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue the scroll function for scrolling through the object list and

where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the motion sensor includes an optical sensors, touch sensitive surfaces, touchless surfaces, rotatable devices, or combinations thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operating systems and other software systems, remote control systems, or combinations thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein one of the objects has a single controllable attribute and motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to either increase or decrease a value of its single controllable attribute depending on the motion in the second direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein one of the objects has a plurality of adjustable attributes and motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to issue a scroll function for scrolling through its object specific attribute list , and motion in a third direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select an attribute from its object specific attribute list and to either increase or decrease a value of the attribute depending on the motion in the third direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value, where the second direction and the third direction are different in an amount sufficient to allow direction discrimination.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein if one of the objects has no controllable attribute, then motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to and activate it.

13. An electrical device control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of device switches, each of the switches including

a user interface having a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to;

(a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor, or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor,

a processing unit in electric communication with the motion sensor, which converts the output signal into a control function, where a sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, and where a command function comprises a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function and where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function, and

each of the switches is in electrical communication with and controls a plurality of objects, where each of the objects includes at least one adjustable attribute,

where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having a plurality of attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier,

where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue the scroll function for scrolling through the object list and

where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising

a remote control unit in communication with each of the switches and designed to provide remote control of the switches and the devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising

a control unit in communication with each of the switches and designed to provide centralized control of the switches and the devices.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising

a remote control unit in communication with the control unit to provide remote control of the control unit, all of the switches and all of the devices.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the motion sensor includes an optical sensors, touch sensitive surfaces, touchless surfaces, rotatable devices, or combinations thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the objects include lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operating systems and other software systems, remote control systems, or combinations thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein one of the objects has a single controllable attribute and motion in the second direction produces simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to either increase or decrease a value of its single controllable attribute depending on the motion in the second direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein one of the objects has a plurality of adjustable attributes and motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to issue a scroll function for scrolling through its object specific attribute list, and motion in a third direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select an attribute from its object specific attribute list and to either increase or decrease a value of the attribute depending on the motion in the third direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value, where the second direction and the third direction are different in an amount sufficient to allow direction discrimination.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein if one of the objects has no controllable attribute, then motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to and activate it.

22. An user interface apparatus for controlling objects comprising

a housing,

a user interface for communicating with a user,

a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to:

(a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, and

a processing unit in electric communication with the motion sensor, which converts the output signal into a control function, where a sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, where a command function comprises a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function, where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each controlled object and an object specific attribute list for each controlled object having a plurality of attributes, and where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier, and

where the interface is capable of controlling one object or a plurality of objects,

where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the object list and

where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, where in the objects include sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, computer operating systems and other software systems, and combinations thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising

a plurality of motion sensors, where each motion sensor controls one or more of the objects and the processing unit includes a motion sensor list and the object list comprises a plurality of motion sensor object list, one for each motion sensor.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the motion sensor list, motion in a second direction causes the processing unit to simultaneously select a particular motion sensor from the motion sensor list and to scroll through its motion sensor object list, motion in a third direction causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object to scroll through its object specific attribute list, and motion in a fourth direction causes the processing unit to simultaneously selects an attribute and to either increase or decrease the attribute depending on the motion in the third direction being in a direction of increasing attribute value or decreasing attribute value, where the first direction and the second directions are different by an amount sufficient to allow direction discrimination, the second direction and third direction are different an amount sufficient to allow direction discrimination, and the third direction and the fourth direction are different an amount sufficient to allow direction discrimination.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising

a remote control unit in communication with each of the motion sensing apparatuses and designed to provide remote control of the motion sensing apparatuses and the devices they control.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising

a control unit in communication with each of the motion sensing apparatuses and designed to provide centralized control of the motion sensing apparatuses and the devices they control.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising

remote control unit in communication with the control unit to provide remote control of the control unit, all of the motion sensing apparatuses and the devices they control.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein if one of the objects has no controllable attribute, then motion in the second direction simultaneously causes the processing unit to select the object and to and activate it.