Elastomeric input device

• US 8,823,639 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Jackson, Philip, Poupyrev, Ivan, Leithinger, Daniel, Sigal, Leonid
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Sanjiv D
• Application Number:
  US13/117,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20120303839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386

Abstract

An input device for tracking three-dimensional movements. The input device includes a tracking structure and is in electronic communication with a computing device. The tracking structure is detectable by a tracking device. The tracking structure is configured so that as the input device is deformed, the tracking structure deforms correspondingly.

Claims

1. An input device configured to be in electronic communication with a computing device, comprising:

an elastomeric material forming at least a portion of an object; and

a tracking structure positioned in the object, the tracking structure comprising

interrelated elements detectable by a tracking device, the interrelated elements defining substantially conical, pyramid, or frustum shaped three-dimensional structures; and

one or more resolution enhancers defined along a sidewall of each three-dimensional structure;

wherein

upon deformation of at least a portion of the object, the tracking structure deforms correspondingly and the tracking device detects the deformation of the tracking structure.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is in electronic communication with a computing device, and the tracking device communicates signals to the computing device representative of the deformation.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is a sensor.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the tracking device is a camera.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the object defines a length, a width, and a height dimension and the tracking structure varies in diameter along the height dimension of the object.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the three-dimensional structures are disposed in at least one common surface inside the object.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the common surface is a common plane within the object.

8. The input device of claim 5, wherein the three-dimensional structures have a unique characteristic detectable by the tracking device.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the unique characteristic is a fluorescent property.

10. The input device of claim 5, wherein the common surface of intersecting members is angled with respect to a reference plane of the body.

11. The input device of claim 5, wherein the common surface of intersecting members is curved with respect to a reference plane of the object.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein the tracking structure includes at least one form defining the three-dimensional structures, the at least one form positioned in the elastomeric material.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the at least one form is a three-dimensional form.

14. The input device of claim 12, wherein the at least one form is a three-dimensional shape.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein a bottom perimeter of the at least one three dimensional shape is aligned with a bottom surface of the elastomeric material and the at least one three dimensional shape extends upwards towards a top surface of the elastomeric material.

16. The input device of claim 13, wherein the at least one three dimensional form is a recess defined in the elastomeric material.

17. The input device of claim 13, wherein in the at least one three dimensional form is formed of a material positioned within the elastomeric material.

31. The input device of claim 1, wherein the one or more resolution enhancers are further defined at a first end of each three-dimensional structure.

32. The input device of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional structures are cavities formed within the elastomeric material.

18. An input system for a computing device, comprising:

an elastomeric input device, including

an elastomeric material; and

a tracking structure operably associated with the elastomeric material comprising

interrelated elements having a conical, pyramid, or frustum shape; and

one or more resolution enhancers defined along a sidewall of each interrelated element, wherein when the elastomeric material is deformed the tracking structure deforms; and

a tracking device configured to sense the interrelated elements and the one or more resolution enhancers of the tracking structure and produce deformation data corresponding to a deformation of the tracking structure.

19. The input system of claim 18, further comprising a support structure configured to support the elastomeric input device at a position relative to the tracking device in a manner to allow the tracking device to sense the deformation of the tracking structure.

20. The input system of claim 19, further comprising a computing device electronically connected to the tracking device and configured to receive the deformation data from the tracking device.

21. The input system of claim 19, wherein the one or more resolution enhancers have fluorescent properties.

22. The input system of claim 21, further comprising:

a light source configured to illuminate the tracking structure and activate the fluorescent properties of the resolution enhancers; and

the tracking device configured to sense the deformation of the tracking structure by monitoring the motion of the fluorescent properties.

23. The input system of claim 19, wherein the tracking structure includes at least one form positioned in the elastomeric material.

24. The input system of claim 18, further comprising a computer in communication with the tracking device and configured to display an object on a display device deforming in a predetermined correlated manner to the deformation of the tracking structure.

25. A method for tracking three-dimensional movements comprising the steps of:

deforming an elastomeric input device, the elastomeric input device including

an elastomeric material; and

a tracking structure comprising

a plurality of frustum, pyramid, or conical shaped cavities defined within the elastomeric material; and

one or more alignment lines defined along a sidewall of each of the cavities, wherein the cavities are configured to deform in a corresponding manner with the elastomeric material; and

sensing a deformation of the tracking structure by sensing deformation of the cavities and the one or more alignment lines as the elastomeric material is deformed.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising determining at least one parameter corresponding to the deformation of the tracking structure.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining a deformation of the elastomeric input device using the at least one parameter.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising applying the deformation of the tracking structure to an application.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising transmitting the deformation of the tracking structure to a computing device.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying an object on a display device deforming in a predetermined correlated manner to the deformation of the tracking structure.