Input apparatus, handheld apparatus, and control method

• US 8,413,077 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, Mamiya, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai, Ramsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/644,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715/856, 715/865, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 463/37
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device

Abstract

An input apparatus includes: a motion signal output section to detect a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen and output a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object; a control command generation section to generate a control command corresponding to the motion signal for controlling the movement of the image; an operation signal output section to detect a user operation unintended for the control of the movement of the image and output an operation signal based on the operation; an operation command generation section to generate an operation command based on the operation signal; and a control section to control the control command generation section to generate, in temporal relation with a generation timing of the operation command, the control command with a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the object changed.

Claims

1. An input apparatus, comprising:

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling the movement of the image;

an operation signal output means for detecting a user operation that is unrelated to the control of the movement of the image and outputting an operation signal that is based on the user operation;

an operation command generation means for generating an operation command based on the operation signal;

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to generate, in temporal relation with a generation timing of the operation command, the control command indicating a change in a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the object;

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to generate the control command in which the sensitivity is changed during a predetermined time period following the generation of the operation command;

wherein a time control means for variably controlling the predetermined time period;

wherein the time control means variably controls the predetermined time period based on the motion signal; and

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to generate the control command in which the sensitivity is changed at least until the operation command is generated since one of an input of the operation signal and a cancel of the input of the operation signal.

2. An input apparatus, comprising:

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling the movement of the image;

an operation signal output means for detecting a user operation that is unrelated to the control of the movement of the image and outputting an operation signal that is based on the user operation;

an operation command generation means for generating an operation command based on the operation signal;

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to generate, in temporal relation with a generation timing of the operation command, the control command indicating a change in a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the object;

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to generate the control command in which the sensitivity is changed during a predetermined time period following the generation of the operation command;

a time control means for variably controlling the predetermined time period;

wherein the time control means variably controls the predetermined time period based on the motion signal;

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to prolong the predetermined time period as an output of a signal that is within a predetermined frequency range of the output value of the motion signal increases.

4. An input apparatus, comprising:

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling the movement of the image;

an operation signal output means for detecting a user operation that is unrelated to the control of the movement of the image and outputting an operation signal that is based on the user operation;

an operation command generation means for generating an operation command based on the operation signal;

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to generate, during a predetermined time period after one of an input of the operation signal and a cancel of the input of the operation signal, the control command indicating a change in a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the object; and

time control means that controls the predetermined time period to be shortened or prolonged based on an output value of the motion signal;

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to generate the control command in which the sensitivity is changed during one of a first time period following the input of the operation signal and a second time period following the cancel of the input of the operation signal.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a time control means for variably controlling one of the first time period and the second time period.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to generate the control command in which the sensitivity is changed until one of a first time the operation signal is input following the cancel of the input thereof and a second time the input of the operation signal is canceled following the input thereof.

8. A handheld apparatus comprising:

a display section;

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of the handheld apparatus and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the handheld apparatus;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen of the display section;

an operation command generation means that includes an operation section that outputs an operation signal that is generated by a user operation and unrelated to the movement of the handheld apparatus, and that generates an operation command based on the output operation signal; and

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to generate, during a predetermined time period after generation of the operation command, the control command indicating a change in a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the handheld apparatus;

time control means that controls the predetermined time period to be shortened or prolonged based on an output value of the motion signal; and

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

9. A handheld apparatus comprising:

a display section;

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of the handheld apparatus and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the handheld apparatus;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen of the display section;

an operation command generation means that includes an operation section that outputs an operation signal that is generated by a user operation and unrelated to the movement of the handheld apparatus, and that generates an operation command based on the output operation signal;

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to generate during a predetermined time period after one of an input of the operation signal and a cancel of the input of the operation signal, the control command indicating a change in a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the handheld apparatus; and

time control means that controls the predetermined time period to be shortened or prolonged based on an output value of the motion signal; and

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

10. A control method comprising:

detecting a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen;

outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object;

generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling the movement of the image;

detecting a user operation that is unrelated to the control of the movement of the image;

outputting an operation signal that is based on the user operation;

generating an operation command based on the operation signal;

generating, during a predetermined time period after generation of the operation command, the control command indicating a change in a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the object;

time control means that controls the predetermined time period to be shortened or prolonged based on an output value of the motion signal; and

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

11. An input apparatus comprising:

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling the movement of the image;

an operation signal output means for detecting a user operation that is unrelated to the control of the movement of the image and outputting an operation signal that is based on the user operation;

an operation command generation means for generating, a predetermined time period relative to generation of the control command, an operation command based on the operation signal;

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to stop, in temporal relation with a generation timing of the operation command, the movement of the image on the screen;

time control means that controls the predetermined time period to be shortened or prolonged based on an output value of the motion signal; and

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

12. The input apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to stop the movement of the image during a predetermined time period since the generation of the operation command.

13. The input apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising

a time control means for variably controlling the predetermined time period.

14. The input apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the control means controls the control command generation means to stop the movement of the image at least until the operation command is generated following one of an input of the operation signal and a cancel of the input of the operation signal.

15. A handheld apparatus comprising:

a display section;

a motion signal output means for detecting a movement of the handheld apparatus and outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the handheld apparatus;

a control command generation means for generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen of the display section;

an operation command generation means that includes an operation section that outputs an operation signal that is generated by a user operation and unrelated to the movement of the handheld apparatus, and that generates an operation command based on the output operation signal;

a control means for controlling the control command generation means to stop, a predetermined time period relative to generation timing of the operation command, the movement of the image on the screen;

time control means that controls the predetermined time period to be shortened or prolonged based on an output value of the motion signal; and

wherein the time control means controls the predetermined time period to shorten the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.

16. A control method comprising:

detecting a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen;

outputting a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object;

generating a control command that corresponds to the motion signal and is generated for controlling the movement of the image;

detecting a user operation that is unrelated to the control of the movement of the image;

outputting an operation signal that is based on the operation;

generating an operation command based on the operation signal;

controlling the generation of the control command to stop the movement of the image on the screen in temporal relation with a generation timing of the operation command; and

wherein the controlling includes generating, during a predetermined time period after output of the operation signal, the control command, and shortening the predetermined time period as an output value of the motion signal increases.