Methods and devices for removing unintentional movement in 3D pointing devices

• US 8,237,657 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hillcrest Laboratories Incorporated (CEVA Incorporated)
• Inventors: Liberty, Matthew G., Hunleth, Frank A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boddie, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, DOROTHY H
• Application Number:
  US12/362,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 345157-167
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device

Abstract

Systems and methods according to the present invention describe 3D pointing devices and methods which detect movement of the 3D pointing device and remove unintentional movement from the output readings.

Claims

1. A method for operating a 3D pointing device comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating movement information associated therewith;

(b) detecting occurrence of an event;

(c) determining a velocity of said 3D pointing device;

(d) when said velocity of said 3D pointing device is below a predetermined velocity threshold, then applying a first technique to discard or attenuate the movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event; and

(e) otherwise, when said velocity of said 3D pointing device is above said predetermined velocity threshold, then applying a second technique, different from the first technique, to filter the movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event to remove the motion associated with said event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein movement information is discarded until either said 3D pointing device has moved more than a predetermined distance or a predetermined time has expired.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said 3D pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of sensing movement of the 3D pointing device and generating movement information associated therewith further comprises:

using at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera to sense said movement.

5. A handheld pointing device comprising:

at least one motion sensor for sensing movement of the handheld pointing device and generating movement information associated therewith; and

a processing unit for detecting occurrence of an event, determining a velocity of said handheld pointing device based on said sensed movement, wherein

(a) when said velocity of said handheld pointing device is below a predetermined velocity threshold, then said processing unit applies a first technique to discard or attenuate the movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event; and

(b) otherwise, when said velocity of said handheld pointing device is above said predetermined velocity threshold, then said processing unit applies a second technique, different from the first technique, to filter the movement information sensed after said detected occurrence of said event to remove the motion associated with said event.

6. The handheld pointing device of claim 5, wherein said movement information is discarded until either said handheld device has moved more than a predetermined distance or a predetermined time has expired.

7. The handheld pointing device of claim 5, wherein said handheld pointing device includes at least one button and said event is a button press or button release action.

8. The handheld pointing device of claim 5, wherein said at least one motion sensor includes at least one of an accelerometer, a rotational sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, an optical sensor and a camera.