Input device configured to control a computing device

• US 8,570,273 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, David Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, NICHOLAS J
• Application Number:
  US13/111,476
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

An input device configured to control a communicatively coupled remote processor is disclosed. The input device includes a band that is configured to at least partially encircle a digit of a hand. A connection member suspends a platform above an exterior surface of the band. The platform is configured to be manipulated by a second digit of the hand. A processor is configured to determine event data based on the manipulation of the platform. The event data is transmitted via a radio frequency (RF) transmitter in a control signal to the communicatively coupled remote processor.

Claims

1. An input device configured to control a communicatively coupled remote processor, comprising:

a band configured to at least partially encircle a first digit of a hand;

a platform configured to be manipulated by a second digit, the platform pivotally coupled to a first end portion of a connection member and suspended above an exterior surface of the band via the connection member, a second end portion of the connection member coupled to the band;

a transmitter;

a processor configured to;

determine first event data in response to a first manipulation of the platform, the first event data based on the first manipulation;

transmit, via the transmitter, a control signal comprising the first event data to the communicatively coupled remote processor.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a substantially planar touch-sensitive surface, and wherein the first manipulation comprises a touch of the substantially planar touch-sensitive surface by the second digit.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first manipulation comprises a canting of the platform with respect to the connection member.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the platform is pivotally coupled with respect to the first end portion of the connection member to allow the platform to cant with respect to the connection member in any of a plurality of different directions, and wherein the first event data is based on a canting of the platform in a first direction, and second event data is based on a canting of the platform in a second direction.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a convex outer surface.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the convex outer surface comprises a touch-sensitive surface.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the second end portion of the connection member is movably connected with respect to the band.

8. The input device of claim 7, further comprising a bias member that urges the connection member to extend at a first angle from the band, the connection member movable with respect to the band against the bias member upon application of a predetermined lateral force by the second digit upon the platform, thereby causing the connection member to deviate from the first angle along an arc to a second angle.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the connection member is further movably connected with respect to the band to enable movement of the platform in a continuous path about the second end portion of the connection member.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a continuous movement of the platform in the continuous path about the second end portion of the connection member, and in response, to determine a successive series of events based on a position of the platform in the continuous path, and to transmit, via the transmitter, a corresponding series of control signals comprising event data identifying the continuous movement.

11. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the input device from a first location in space to a second location in space.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor determines a velocity and a direction of the movement, and wherein the first event data comprises the velocity and direction.

13. The input device of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor comprises one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

14. The input device of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU) comprising an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

15. The input device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine second event data in response to the movement of the input device from the first location in space to the second location in space, the second event data based on the movement;

generate a second control signal comprising the second event data; and

transmit the second control signal via the transmitter to the communicatively coupled remote processor.

16. The input device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine second event data in response to the movement of the input device from the first location in space to the second location in space, the second event data based on the movement and determined substantially concurrently with the determination of the first event data, and wherein the control signal comprises the first event data and the second event data.

17. The input device of claim 11, wherein the first event data is based on both the first manipulation and the movement of the input device from the first location in space to the second location in space.

18. The input device of claim 1, further comprising an RF receiver, and wherein the platform comprises a display configured to present data received via the RF receiver.

19. The input device of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a first selectable button, and wherein the first manipulation of the platform comprises a selection of the first selectable button.

20. The input device of claim 1, wherein the platform has a length and a width, the width being greater than a width of the band.

21. A method for sending event data, comprising:

determining first event data in response to a first manipulation of a platform, the platform configured to be manipulated by a second digit of a hand, the platform pivotally coupled to a first end portion of a connection member and suspended above an exterior surface of a band via the connection member, a second end portion of the connection member coupled to the band, the band configured to at least partially encircle a first digit of a hand; and

transmitting, via a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, a control signal comprising the first event data to a communicatively coupled processing device.

22. A ring peripheral comprising a band configured to be worn on at least one digit of a human'"'"'s hand, the ring peripheral comprising a pivotable platform that is suspended above an exterior surface of the band, the ring peripheral configured to detect a manipulation of the platform comprising a rotation of the platform in a first direction, and in response thereto to convey event data identifying the manipulation within a signal to a communicatively coupled processing device, wherein the event data controls a movement of a stereoscopic image of an object depicted on the communicatively coupled processing device and perceivable by the human as a three-dimensional (3D) object, the movement comprising a rotation of the 3D object in the first direction.

23. The ring peripheral of claim 22, wherein the at least one digit comprises an index finger, and wherein the platform is operable to be manipulated by a thumb of the hand when the ring peripheral is worn on the index finger.

24. The ring peripheral of claim 22, wherein the ring peripheral is further configured to detect a plurality of different manipulations of the platform, to determine a plurality of event data based on the plurality of different manipulations, and to convey the plurality of event data to the communicatively coupled processing device, wherein the plurality of event data correspond to at least a left mouse click, a mouse-up event, a mouse-down event, a mouse-right event, and a mouse-left event.

25. The ring peripheral of claim 22, further comprising:

a wrist strap connected via conductive wires to the ring peripheral, the wrist strap comprising an RF transmitter, and wherein the RF transmitter conveys the event data identifying the manipulation within the signal to the communicatively coupled processing device.

26. The ring peripheral of claim 22, wherein the communicatively coupled processing device comprises glasses adapted to be worn by the human, the glasses comprising a pair of display screens upon which images are presented.

27. The ring peripheral of claim 22, wherein the ring peripheral is configured to detect a second manipulation of the platform that comprises a rotation of the platform in a second direction, and in response the 3D object is rotated in the second direction.

28. A ring peripheral comprising a band configured to be worn on at least one digit of a human'"'"'s hand, the ring peripheral comprising a pivotable platform that is suspended above an exterior surface of the band, the pivotable platform comprising a touch-sensitive surface, the ring peripheral configured to detect a manipulation of the platform comprising a movement of the platform from a first location to a second location and a concurrent tap of the touch-sensitive surface during the movement, and in response thereto to convey event data identifying the manipulation within a signal to a communicatively coupled processing device, wherein the event data controls a movement of a stereoscopic image of an object depicted on the communicatively coupled processing device and perceivable by the human as a three-dimensional (3D) object.

29. The ring peripheral of claim 28, wherein the movement of the stereoscopic image comprises an enlargement of the 3D object.