Remote control with a single control button
First Claim
1. Apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:
- a display-region;
wherein detectors are physically attached-to or physically integrated-into said display-region;
wherein said detectors image the same locations in said display-region, when said display-region is moved or re-oriented;
a ring-shaped unit having an opening sized to be worn on an index finger of a user;
a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, wherein a pointer-spot of visible light is projected when said pointer is activated;
a wireless interface incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit;
a single actuator incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, so that when the user is wearing said ring-shaped unit on their index finger, the user is able to actuate the actuator with a thumb of a hand the ring-shaped unit is being worn on;
wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by a user;
wherein, when a first action on said actuator by the user is detected, the light-emitting pointer is activated and a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to turn-on an active control-display in said display-region, and to cause selectable-objects to appear in said display-region;
wherein, when the user is wearing said ring-shaped unit on their index finger, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said display-region while the user is able to activate the actuator with a second action;
wherein when a second action on said actuator by the user is detected, a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to cause said detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said display-region, and to cause a processor to analyze said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near;
wherein when a selectable-object is determined to have been selected by the pointer-spot, the processor sends control information to affect at least one electronic device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for the remote control and/or interaction-with electronic-devices such as computers; home-entertainment-systems; media-centers; televisions; DVD-players; VCR-players; music systems; appliances; security systems; toys/games; and/or displays. A user may orient a pointer (e.g., laser pointer) to place a visible pointer-spot on/near object(s) on an active-display(s); and/or a fixed-display(s); and/or on real-world object(s) within a display region or pointer-spot detection-region. Detectors and/or camera(s) may be connected/attached to the display region and/or a structure that is connected/attached to display region. When the user initiates a “select”, the detectors/cameras may detect the location of the pointer-spot within the display region. Corresponding to the user'"'"'s selection(s); control action(s) may be performed on the device(s) being controlled/interacted-with and additional selection-menus may be optionally presented on an active-display. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may operate equivalent to a computer-mouse or other pointing-device. In another alternative embodiment, the invention may be made inter-operable with existing electronic-devices [e.g., televisions] that are controlled with infrared signaling.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. Apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:
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a display-region;
wherein detectors are physically attached-to or physically integrated-into said display-region;
wherein said detectors image the same locations in said display-region, when said display-region is moved or re-oriented;a ring-shaped unit having an opening sized to be worn on an index finger of a user; a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, wherein a pointer-spot of visible light is projected when said pointer is activated; a wireless interface incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit; a single actuator incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, so that when the user is wearing said ring-shaped unit on their index finger, the user is able to actuate the actuator with a thumb of a hand the ring-shaped unit is being worn on;
wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by a user;wherein, when a first action on said actuator by the user is detected, the light-emitting pointer is activated and a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to turn-on an active control-display in said display-region, and to cause selectable-objects to appear in said display-region; wherein, when the user is wearing said ring-shaped unit on their index finger, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said display-region while the user is able to activate the actuator with a second action; wherein when a second action on said actuator by the user is detected, a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to cause said detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said display-region, and to cause a processor to analyze said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near;
wherein when a selectable-object is determined to have been selected by the pointer-spot, the processor sends control information to affect at least one electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:
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providing a display-region;
wherein detectors are physically attached-to or physically integrated-into said display-region;
wherein said detectors image the same locations in said display-region, when said display-region is moved or re-oriented;providing a ring-shaped unit having an opening sized to be worn on an index finger of a user;
wherein said ring-shaped unit includes;a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, wherein a pointer-spot of visible light is projected when said pointer is activated; a wireless interface incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit; a single actuator incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, wherein when the user is wearing said ring-shaped unit on their index finger, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said display-region while the user is able to activate the actuator;
wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by a user;when a first action on said actuator by the user is detected, activating the light-emitting pointer and sending a control signal across the wireless interface to turn-on an active control-display in said display-region, and to cause selectable-objects to appear in said display-region; when a second action on said actuator by the user is detected, sending a control signal across the wireless interface to cause detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said display-region; analyzing said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near; and when said analyzing determines that a selectable-object is selected by the pointer-spot, sending control information to affect at least one electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. Apparatus for remotely controlling a plurality of electronic devices, comprising:
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a display-region with detectors that are physically attached-to or integrated-into said display-region;
wherein when the display-region is moved or re-oriented, said detectors image the same locations in said display-region;a ring-shaped unit having an opening sized to be worn on an index finger of a user; a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, wherein a pointer-spot of visible light is projected when said pointer is activated;
wherein at least a portion of said pointer-spot will be visible to the user when reflecting or scattering off said display-region;
wherein said detectors are able to image a spot of light from said light-emitting pointer that is shining in said display-region;a single actuator incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit, wherein when the user is wearing said ring-shaped unit on their index finger, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said display-region while the user is able to activate the actuator;
wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by a user;a wireless interface incorporated as part of said ring-shaped unit; wherein when a first action by the user on said actuator is detected, the light-emitting pointer is activated and a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to turn-on an active control-display in said display-region, and to cause selectable-objects to appear in said display-region; wherein when additional actions by the user on said actuator is detected, a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to cause said detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said display-region; a processor to analyze said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near;
wherein dependent on which selectable-object or selectable-objects the pointer spot is on or near, the processor sends control information across a network to affect a plurality of electronic devices. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification