Orientation-sensitive signal output

• US 8,230,610 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jaiswal, Riten, MacDougall, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): GUADALUPE, YARITZA
• Application Number:
  US13/230,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20120001722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 333/661.1, 333/661.2, 333/661.4, 333/661.5
• US Class Current: 33/366.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• 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 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

Orientation-sensitive signal output, in which a neutral position of a device is automatically determined in relation to at least a first axis, an angular displacement of the device is measured about at least the first axis, and shaking of the device is detected. A selection of the first control is received, and an output signal is output based at least upon the selection and the angular displacement or based upon detecting the shaking of the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis and a second axis, wherein a first plurality of tilt regions are defined about the first axis, and a second plurality of tilt regions are defined about the second axis;

measuring an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis and the second axis;

receiving a selection of a first control associated with a plurality of output signals; and

outputting a signal from the plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection, the angular displacement, and the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first control is an icon on a touch-sensitive screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of output signals is associated with a respective combination of a tilt region from the first plurality of tilt regions and a tilt region from the second plurality of tilt regions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the outputting comprises outputting a signal from the plurality of signals associated with a first tilt region from the first plurality of tilt regions and a second tilt region from the second plurality of tilt regions when the measured angular displacement about the first axis falls into the first tilt region and the measured angular displacement about the second axis falls into the second tilt region.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured angular displacement about the first axis is used to identify a character to output, and wherein the measured angular displacement about the second axis is used to identify a case for the character.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions is defined with respect to a default output.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a first tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions differs in size from a second tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of tilt regions comprises more than two tilt regions in each direction with respect to the neutral position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a dead space is defined between two otherwise adjacent regions of the first plurality of tilt regions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the outputting includes:

determining whether the angular displacement of the device is within one of the first plurality of tilt regions and one of the second plurality of tilt regions; and

if the angular displacement of the device is outside of the first plurality of tilt regions or the second plurality of tilt regions;

providing no output, providing output corresponding to a closest defined tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions or a closest defined tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions, or providing output corresponding to a most recent output.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of tilt regions in the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions is set according to at least one of tilt sensitivity, the number of output signals in the plurality of output signals, and information relating to a user.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plurality of tilt regions or the second plurality of tilt regions includes a 0°

position.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first plurality of tilt regions or the second plurality of tilt regions includes angular displacement on two sides of a 0°

position.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of tilt regions in the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions is defined such that a number of combinations of tilt regions in the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions equals a number of output signals in the plurality of output signals.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the neutral position of the device is identified based on at least one of an average position of the device when the first control is selected or a user selection.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the neutral position of the device comprises ergonomically identifying the neutral position of the device in relation to at least the first axis and the second axis as an orientation of the device associated with a user holding the device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the selection is received:

a first output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within a first tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within a first tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

a second output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within the first tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within a second tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

a third output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within the first tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within a third tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

a fourth output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within a second tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within the first tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

a fifth output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within the second tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within the second tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

a sixth output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within the second tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within the third tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

a seventh output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within a third tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within the first tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions,

an eighth output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within the third tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within the second tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions, and

a ninth output signal is output if the angular displacement about the first axis is within the third tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions and the angular displacement about the second axis is within the third tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions.

18. A device comprising:

a tilt sensor configured to;

identify a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis and a second axis, wherein a first plurality of tilt regions are defined about the first axis, and a second plurality of tilt regions are defined about the second axis, and

measure an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis and the second axis;

at least a first control associated with a plurality of output signals; and

a processor configured to;

receive a selection of the first control, and

in response to receiving the selection of the first control, output a signal from the plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection, the angular displacement, and the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of output signals is associated with a respective combination of a tilt region from the first plurality of tilt regions and a tilt region from the second plurality of tilt regions.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to output a signal from the plurality of signals associated with a first tilt region from the first plurality of tilt regions and a second tilt region from the second plurality of tilt regions when the measured angular displacement about the first axis falls into the first tilt region and the measured angular displacement about the second axis falls into the second tilt region.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein a dead space is defined between at least one of:

two otherwise adjacent regions of the first plurality of tilt regions, or

two otherwise adjacent regions of the second plurality of tilt regions.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to:

in response to receiving the selection of the first control;

determine whether the angular displacement of the device is within one of the first plurality of tilt regions and one of the second plurality of tilt regions; and

if the angular displacement of the device is outside of the first plurality of tilt regions or the second plurality of tilt regions;

provide no output, provide output corresponding to a closest defined tilt region of the first plurality of tilt regions or a closest defined tilt region of the second plurality of tilt regions, or provide output corresponding to a most recent output.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the tilt sensor is configured to ergonomically identify the neutral position of the device in relation to at least the first axis and the second axis as an orientation of the device associated with a user holding the device.

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for identifying a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis and a second axis, wherein a first plurality of tilt regions are defined about the first axis, and a second plurality of tilt regions are defined about the second axis;

means for measuring an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis and the second axis;

means for receiving a selection of a first control associated with a plurality of output signals; and

means for outputting a signal from the plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection, the angular displacement, and the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:

identify a neutral position of a device in relation to at least a first axis and a second axis, wherein a first plurality of tilt regions are defined about the first axis, and a second plurality of tilt regions are defined about the second axis;

measure an angular displacement of the device about at least the first axis and the second axis;

receive a selection of a first control associated with a plurality of output signals; and

output a signal from the plurality of output signals based at least upon the selection, the angular displacement, and the first plurality of tilt regions and the second plurality of tilt regions.