Remote control with a single control button

• US 8,089,455 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Synergy Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: James W. Wieder
• Inventors: Wieder, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US11/563,785
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-181
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence

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.

Claims

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.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the size of said opening is adjustable to accommodate the finger of a plurality of different users that have different sizes.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first action is to push on the actuator and wherein said second action is to stop pushing on said actuator.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first action is to push the actuator from an off position into a first position and the said second action is to push the actuator further into a second position.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the actuator only moves along one physical axis in response to the user pressing or releasing the actuator.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the ring-shaped unit has only a single actuator which is a push and release button.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the ring-shaped unit has only one push button;

wherein the push button has an off position and a select position;

wherein the push button automatically returns to the off position when not being pressed on by a user.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said detectors are one or more cameras that 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.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least some of said detectors are mounted-on or incorporated-into a structure;

wherein said structure is physically attached to said display-region;

wherein said detectors image the same locations in said display-region when said display-region is moved or re-oriented.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein at least some of said detectors are located in one or more cameras that are mounted on a structure, wherein at least one dimension of said structure is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of said display-region, wherein the dimension of said structure is adjusted as said structure is attached to said display-region.

11. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein responsive to the selection of a selectable-object displayed on an active-display in said display-region, some of the selectable-objects shown on the active-display are removed and other selectable-objects are displayed on the active-display.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein an active-display in said display-region displays a plurality of selectable-objects that represent control buttons for a plurality of electronic devices;

wherein said control information is sent across a network to control said plurality of the electronic devices.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein some of the selectable-objects in said display-region represent control buttons for a plurality of electronic entertainment devices;

and said control information is sent across a network to control a plurality of the electronic entertainment devices.

14. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising:

a network capable of forwarding said control information from said processor to a plurality of user entertainment devices.

15. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic-devices, wherein said control information is sent to a plurality of electronic devices that are attached to the network.

16. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic-devices;

wherein said control information is sent to a plurality of electronic devices that are attached to the network;

wherein the network automatically incorporates a newly connected electronic-device into the network, or automatically removes a newly disconnected electronic-device from the network.

17. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic-devices;

wherein said control information is sent to a plurality of electronic devices that are attached to the network;

wherein the network automatically incorporates a newly connected electronic-device into the network, or automatically removes a newly disconnected electronic-device from the network;

wherein selectable-objects for a newly connected electronic-device are automatically included in the display-region;

wherein selectable-objects for a newly disconnected electronic-device are automatically removed from the display-region.

18. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the selectable-object that the pointer-spot is on or near, is determined without displaying or moving a cursor on an active-display.

19. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said analysis by said processor, uses information that defines spatial locations of the selectable-objects, in said display-region.

20. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said analysis by said processor, utilizes information that defines areas or locations in said display-region that are seen by individual detectors.

21. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein if prior to said first action, an active-display in said display-region, is unpowered or is not displaying selectable-objects, then said first action causes the active-display in said display-region to power-on and to display selectable-objects.

22. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein if prior to said first action, entertainment content without selectable-objects is being displayed on an active-display in said display-region;

then said first action causes the active-display to display selectable-objects.

23. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein if prior to said first action, entertainment content without a selectable-object is displayed on an active-display in said display-region;

and in response to detecting said first action, a plurality of selectable-objects are displayed on said active-display; and

if said second action is not detected within a defined time, then the selectable-objects are automatically removed from said active-display and said content without selectable-objects is displayed on said active-display.

24. Apparatus as in claim 1:

wherein the location in said display that each detector images is set during manufacture of said display;

wherein said detectors image the same locations in said display, when said display is moved or re-oriented.

25. Apparatus as in claim 1:

wherein said detectors are limited to detecting wavelengths that correspond to said light-emitting pointer.

26. Apparatus as in claim 1:

wherein fixed-objects, representing controls for an electronic-device, are in said display-region.

27. A method for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:

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.

28. A method as in claim 27 wherein the selectable-object that the pointer-spot is on or near, is determined without displaying or moving a cursor on an active-display.

29. A method as in claim 27 further comprising:

sending said control information across a network to affect a plurality of electronic devices that are attached to the network.

30. Apparatus for remotely controlling a plurality of electronic devices, comprising:

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.

31. Apparatus as in claim 30 wherein the ring-shaped unit has only a single actuator that only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by a user.

32. Apparatus as in claim 30 wherein the selectable-object that the pointer-spot is on or near, is determined without displaying or moving a cursor on an active-display.