Touchless control of a control device
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- generating a field proximate a remote controller, wherein the remote controller includes a housing having a curved support surface;
altering the field in the absence of contact with the controller;
determining a change in characteristic of the altered field; and
using a motive device to move a weight within the housing along a linear track, in response to the change, to cause the curved support surface to roll on a surface supporting the remote controller.
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Abstract
A method and a system are provided for controlling a controller without physically touching the controller. A hand or other object interacts with a field surrounding the controller, altering the field. A change in characteristic of the altered field causes a corresponding movement of the controller that, in turn, corresponds to an amount of change in a parameter of a target device being controlled by the controller. The parameter of the target device is controlled by the controller while a user has no physical contact with the controller.
162 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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generating a field proximate a remote controller, wherein the remote controller includes a housing having a curved support surface; altering the field in the absence of contact with the controller; determining a change in characteristic of the altered field; and using a motive device to move a weight within the housing along a linear track, in response to the change, to cause the curved support surface to roll on a surface supporting the remote controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a remote controller for remotely controlling a target electrical device, the remote controller embodied in a housing having a predefined structural configuration, the remote controller responsive to a spatial orientation of the housing to adjust a parameter of the target electrical device, the housing further comprising; a processor; a field sensor having an output coupled to an input of the processor; and a motive device mechanically coupled to the housing structure and electrically coupled to an output of the processor for moving a weight within the housing along a linear track to adjust the spatial orientation of the housing; wherein the processor output is generated in accordance with the input received from the field sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
the motive device moves the weight within the housing along the linear track to adjust the spatial orientation of the housing structure in a first direction responsive to altering the first field and moves the weight within the housing along the linear track to adjust the spatial orientation of the housing structure in a second direction responsive to altering the second field; and wherein the processor output is generated in accordance with the input received from a selected one of the first and second field sensors.
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20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the parameter comprises audio volume.
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21. A method, comprising:
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generating a field proximate a remote controller; altering the field in the absence of contact with the controller; determining a change in a characteristic of the altered field; and moving the controller in response to the change, wherein generating the field comprises generating first and second non-overlapping fields, wherein altering the field comprises selectively altering one or the other of the first and second fields, and wherein moving the controller in response to the change comprises moving the controller in a first direction responsive to altering the first field and moving the controller in a second direction responsive to altering the second field.
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a remote controller for an electrical device, the remote controller embodied in a housing having a predefined structural configuration, the remote controller responsive to the spatial orientation of the housing to adjust a parameter of the electrical device, the housing further comprising; a processor; a field sensor having an output coupled to an input of the processor; and a motive device mechanically coupled to the housing structure and electrically coupled to an output of the processor for adjusting the spatial orientation of the housing structure, wherein an output of the processor is generated in accordance with the input received from the field sensor, wherein the housing further comprises a field generator configured to generate a field proximate and external to the housing, wherein the motive device comprises a motor and a counterbalance mechanism, and wherein the motive device is responsive to the processor output to pivot the housing about an axis by an amount related to a change in magnitude of a component of the field. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification