Computing interface system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is structurally attached to a thumb of a user;
receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is structurally attached to a wrist of the user;
detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface;
when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer;
identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap;
assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap;
transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol;
receiving a first set of magnetic flux measurements from a first magnetometer that is structurally attached to the thumb of the user; and
receiving a second set of magnetic flux measurements from a second magnetometer that is structurally attached to the wrist of the user; and
wherein the orientation is determined based at least in part on the first set of magnetic flux measurements and the second set of magnetic flux measurements, and wherein determining the orientation comprises;
filtering the first set acceleration measurements to determine a first estimate of acceleration experienced by the first accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to a hand of the user on the tap target;
filtering the second set of acceleration measurements to determine a second estimate of acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target;
filtering the first set magnetic flux measurements to determine a first estimate of magnetic flux experienced by the first magnetometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target;
filtering the second set of magnetic flux measurements to determine a second estimate of magnetic flux experienced by the second accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; and
determining a rotation that will approximately align the first estimate of acceleration with the second estimate of acceleration and that also will approximately align the first estimate of magnetic flux with the second estimate of magnetic flux.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computing interface systems and methods are disclosed. Some implementations include a first accelerometer attached to a first fastening article that is capable of holding the first accelerometer in place on a portion of a thumb of a user. Some implementations may also include a second accelerometer attached to a second fastening article that is capable of holding the second accelerometer in place on a portion of a wrist of a user. Some implementations may additionally or alternatively include magnetometers and/or gyroscopes attached to the first and second fastening articles. Some implementations may also include a processing device configured to receive measurements from the accelerometers, magnetometers, and/or gyroscopes and identify, based on the measurements, symbols associated with motions of a user'"'"'s hand and/or the orientation of the hand. Some implementations may allow a user to control a cursor in a three dimensional virtual space and interact with objects in that space.
292 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is structurally attached to a thumb of a user; receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is structurally attached to a wrist of the user; detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface; when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer; identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap; assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap; transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol; receiving a first set of magnetic flux measurements from a first magnetometer that is structurally attached to the thumb of the user; and receiving a second set of magnetic flux measurements from a second magnetometer that is structurally attached to the wrist of the user; and wherein the orientation is determined based at least in part on the first set of magnetic flux measurements and the second set of magnetic flux measurements, and wherein determining the orientation comprises; filtering the first set acceleration measurements to determine a first estimate of acceleration experienced by the first accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to a hand of the user on the tap target; filtering the second set of acceleration measurements to determine a second estimate of acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; filtering the first set magnetic flux measurements to determine a first estimate of magnetic flux experienced by the first magnetometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; filtering the second set of magnetic flux measurements to determine a second estimate of magnetic flux experienced by the second accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; and determining a rotation that will approximately align the first estimate of acceleration with the second estimate of acceleration and that also will approximately align the first estimate of magnetic flux with the second estimate of magnetic flux.
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2. A method comprising:
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receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is structurally attached to a thumb of a user; receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is structurally attached to a wrist of the user; detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface; when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer; identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap; assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap; transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol; determining, based on the second set of acceleration measurements, an estimate of an orientation of an acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer with respect to the axes of the second accelerometer during the tap; and wherein assigning the symbol to the tap comprises selecting the symbol from among a plurality of symbols associated with the tap target based on the orientation of the acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a data processing apparatus; a data storage device storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus that upon execution by the data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising; receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is structurally attached to a thumb of a user; receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is structurally attached to a wrist of the user; detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface; when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer; identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap; assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap; transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol; and filtering the first set of acceleration measurements to determine an estimate of a deceleration vector caused by the impact of the thumb with the tap target. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a data processing apparatus; a data storage device storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus that upon execution by the data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising; receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is structurally attached to a thumb of a user; receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is structurally attached to a wrist of the user; detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface; when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer; identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap; assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap; transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol; receiving a first set of magnetic flux measurements from a first magnetometer that is structurally attached to the thumb of the user; and receiving a second set of magnetic flux measurements from a second magnetometer that is structurally attached to the wrist of the user; and wherein the orientation is determined based at least in part on the first set of magnetic flux measurements and the second set of magnetic flux measurements, and wherein determining the orientation comprises; filtering the first set acceleration measurements to determine a first estimate of acceleration experienced by the first accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to a hand of the user on the tap target; filtering the second set of acceleration measurements to determine a second estimate of acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; filtering the first set magnetic flux measurements to determine a first estimate of magnetic flux experienced by the first magnetometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; filtering the second set of magnetic flux measurements to determine a second estimate of magnetic flux experienced by the second accelerometer while the thumb was at rest with respect to the hand of the user on the tap target; and determining a rotation that will approximately align the first estimate of acceleration with the second estimate of acceleration and that also will approximately align the first estimate of magnetic flux with the second estimate of magnetic flux.
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12. A system comprising:
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a data processing apparatus; a data storage device storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus that upon execution by the data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising; receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is structurally attached to a thumb of a user; receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is structurally attached to a wrist of the user; detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface; when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer; identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap; assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap; transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol; determining, based on the second set of acceleration measurements, an estimate of an orientation of an acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer with respect to the axes of the second accelerometer during the tap; and wherein assigning the symbol to the tap comprises selecting the symbol from among a plurality of symbols associated with the tap target based on the orientation of the acceleration experienced by the second accelerometer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification