Processing signals to determine spatial positions

• US 8,436,808 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Chapman, Christopher, Sandbach, David L., Hardie-Bick, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Boddie, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US11/017,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,058 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/054 Acoustic pick-up, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for supplying input signals to a computer. A sensor having the form of a sphere has a touch sensitive surface for generating position data for touch events. The sensor includes orientation sensors that determine rotation with respect to the earth'"'"'s magnetic and gravitational fields. Orientation data may be combined with position data to interpret the orientation of touch events on the surface with respect to the computer'"'"'s display. Cursor movement or text may be generated from touch events. Preferably the sphere has a roughened surface that generates sound when touched. Position data is generated by processing signals from microphones under the sphere'"'"'s surface.

Claims

1. A method comprising remotely generating control signals for a computer-generated environment represented graphically on a display means, using remote input means including a touch sensing surface, orientation sensing means for sensing the orientation of said touch sensing surface with respect to the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field and the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field and signal transmitting means for transmitting input data to said computer-generated environment, said method, further comprising steps of:

receiving a calibration touch event at a location on said touch sensing surface to generate a calibration signal, and analyzing said calibration signal to determine a user orientation angle about a vertical axis of the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field, with respect to the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

in response to receiving a touch event at a location on said touch sensing surface, generating location data representing the location of the touch event on said touch sensing surface,

producing signals at said orientation sensing means;

in response to said signals produced by said orientation sensing means, generating orientation data representing orientation of said touch sensing surface with respect to the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field and magnetic field, and

combining said location data, said user orientation angle and said orientation data to generate touch event signals for said computer-generated environment that are dependent upon said location of said touch event on said touch sensing surface, said user orientation angle and said orientation of said touch sensing surface with respect to the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field and magnetic field.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said remote input means includes microphones, and said method includes producing signals at said microphones in response to sound generated at said touch event on said touch sensing surface, and processing said signals produced by said microphones to generate said location data wherein said processing signals comprises frequency domain analysis.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said remote input means includes microphones, said location data is generated by processing signals generated by said microphones, and said method includes measuring a time interval between the start of a sound signal received at a plurality of microphones.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said remote input means includes microphones, said location data is generated by processing signals generated by said microphones, said touch event generates sound caused by friction between an object and said touch sensing surface, and said microphones generate said signals in response to receiving said sound caused by friction.

5. A method comprising remotely generating control signals for a computer-generated environment represented graphically on a display means, using remote input means including a touch sensing surface, orientation sensing means for sensing the orientation of said touch sensing surface with respect to the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field and the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field and signal transmitting means for transmitting input data to said computer-generated environment, said method, further comprising steps of:

receiving a calibration touch event at a location on said touch sensing surface to generate a calibration signal, and analyzing said calibration signal to determine a user orientation angle about a vertical axis of the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field, with respect to the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field;

in response to receiving a touch event on said touch sensing surface, generating location data representing the location of said touch event on said touch sensing surface;

producing signals at said orientation sensing means;

in response to signals produced by said orientation sensing means and said user orientation angle, generating orientation data representing orientation of said remote input means with respect to the Earth'"'"'s gravitational field and magnetic field, said orientation data defining a co-ordinate system having an orientation that is independent of the orientation of said touch sensing surface; and

combining said location data and said orientation data to generate touch event signals for said computer-generated environment, said touch event signals representing the location of said touch events with respect to said co-ordinate system.

6. A method of remotely generating control signals according to claim 5, wherein said remote input means includes microphones, and said method includes producing signals at said microphones in response to sound generated at said touch event on said touch sensing surface, and processing said signals produced by said microphones to generate said location data wherein said processing signals comprises frequency domain analysis.

7. A method of remotely generating control signals according to claim 5, wherein said remote input means includes microphones, said location data is generated by processing signals generated by said microphones, and said method includes measuring a time interval between the start of a sound signal received at a plurality of microphones.

8. A method of remotely generating control signals according to claim 5, wherein said remote input means includes microphones, said location data is generated by processing signals generated by said microphones, said touch event generates sound caused by friction between an object and said touch sensing surface, and said microphones generate said signals in response to receiving said sound caused by friction.