Selection device and method for performing positioning operation

• US 8,830,172 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2013
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IMU Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IMU Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Lou, Ruey-Der, Ni, Tsang-Der, Hwang, Deng-Huei
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US13/905,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/163, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34

Abstract

A method for performing a positioning operation related to an image area having a specific position includes the following steps. A specific orientation directed towards the specific position is provided, wherein the specific orientation and the specific position have a specific spatial relation therebetween, and the specific orientation and the image area have a specific angle structure therebetween. The specific angle structure is determined by detecting the specific orientation. The specific spatial relation is calculated according to the determined specific angle structure and the image area. A selection device for performing a positioning operation is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for performing a positioning operation related to an image area having a first specific position, the method comprising steps of:

providing a specific orientation directed towards the first specific position, wherein the specific orientation and the first specific position have a specific spatial relation therebetween, and the specific orientation and the image area have a specific angle structure therebetween; and

determining the specific angle structure by detecting the specific orientation;

calculating the specific spatial relation according to the determined specific angle structure and the image area.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of providing a selection unit, wherein:

the selection unit has a motion orientation, a first reference position and a specific axis;

on a condition that the motion orientation is aligned with the specific orientation, the specific orientation is detected;

the specific spatial relation is calculated in order to perform the positioning operation; and

the image area further has a definable position, and the motion orientation and the definable position have a first spatial relation therebetween.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising steps of:

defining the definable position as the first specific position under the specific orientation, wherein the specific orientation is represented by using the specific angle structure;

on a condition that the motion orientation is aligned with a first orientation different from the specific orientation, determining a first angle structure between the first orientation and the image area by detecting the first orientation, wherein the first orientation is represented by using the first angle structure;

calculating a second specific position in the image area according to the determined first angle structure, the determined specific angle structure and the image area, wherein the second specific position is different from the first specific position;

defining the definable position as the second specific position under the first orientation;

defining the definable position as a second reference position having a first absolute coordinate in response to a first defining operation in order to read the first absolute coordinate;

providing a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a defining device for sensing the first defining operation;

producing a signal for determining the motion orientation, wherein the signal has a first sub-signal produced by the gyroscope and a second sub-signal produced by the accelerometer; and

forming a first trajectory of the definable position in the image area according to the signal and the calculated specific spatial relation.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the defining device is one of a push-button device and a motion-sensing trigger device, and the second reference position is a reference point.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein:

the first defining operation includes a position defining push applied to the push-button device when the defining device is the push-button device; and

the first defining operation includes a position defining motion applied to the motion-sensing trigger device when the defining device is the motion-sensing trigger device.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein:

the image area is located on a display screen, and has a length H, a width L, an upper edge, a lower edge and a left edge;

the first specific position and the left edge have a first perpendicular distance u therebetween;

the first specific position and the upper edge have a second perpendicular distance v therebetween;

the first reference position and the display screen have a third perpendicular distance w therebetween, wherein the third perpendicular distance w is given between the first reference position and the first specific position, and the first, the second and the third perpendicular distances constitute a perpendicular distance group {u, v, w};

the first reference position and the upper edge have a first line segment therebetween extending from the first reference position to the upper edge;

the first reference position and the lower edge have a second line segment therebetween extending from the first reference position to the lower edge;

the first reference position and the left edge have a third line segment therebetween extending from the first reference position to the left edge;

the specific axis and the first line segment have a first included angle α

1 therebetween;

the specific axis and the second line segment have a second included angle α

2 therebetween;

the specific axis and the third line segment have a third included angle β

therebetween;

the first spatial relation is equal to the specific spatial relation under the specific orientation, wherein the specific spatial relation satisfies equations of u=H tan β

/(tan α

1+tan α

2), v=H tan α

1/(tan α

1+tan α

2) and w=H/(tan α

1+tan α

2);

the definable position is defined to have a second absolute coordinate associated with a displacement; and

the perpendicular distance group {u, v, w} has a variation corresponding to the displacement.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising steps of:

measuring the first included angle α

1 and the second included angle α

2 by using the second sub-signal; and

measuring the third included angle β

by using the first sub-signal, wherein;

the specific angle structure including the first, the second and the third included angles α

1, α

2 and β

;

the first, the second and the third included angles α

1, α

2 and β

are measured to respectively form a first measured angle, a second measured angle and a third measured angle; and

the determined specific angle structure includes the first, the second and the third measured angles.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising steps of:

obtaining the second absolute coordinate by using the displacement;

causing the selection unit to have a motion;

converting the motion into a second trajectory of the definable position; and

when the definable position reaches a second specific position having a third absolute coordinate on the image area, defining the definable position as the second specific position in response to a second defining operation and obtaining the third absolute coordinate.

9. A method according to claim 2, further comprising steps of:

providing a computer coupled to the selection unit; and

calculating the first spatial relation by the computer for performing the positioning operation.

10. A selection device for performing a positioning operation related to an image area having a first specific position and a definable position, the selection device comprising:

a selection unit having a motion orientation, wherein;

the motion orientation and the definable position have a spatial relation therebetween;

on a condition that the motion orientation is aligned with a specific orientation directed towards the first specific position, the selection unit detects the specific orientation to determine a specific angle structure between the specific orientation and the image area; and

the selection unit calculates the spatial relation according to the determined specific angle structure and the image area.

11. A selection device according to claim 10, wherein the selection unit has a first reference position and a specific axis, causes the definable position to be defined as the first specific position under the specific orientation, determines a first angle structure between a first orientation and the image area on a condition the motion orientation is aligned with the first orientation different from the specific orientation, and comprises:

a defining device forming a defining signal in response to a first defining operation;

a motion-sensing unit producing a first signal for determining the motion orientation, wherein the first signal has a first sub-signal and a second sub-signal; and

a processing unit receiving the defining signal and the first signal, and generating the determined specific angle structure according to the first signal, wherein;

the specific orientation is represented by using the specific angle structure, and the first orientation is represented by using the first angle structure;

on a condition that the motion orientation is aligned with the first orientation, the processing unit calculates the first orientation according to the first signal so as to generate the determined first angle structure;

the processing unit calculates a second specific position in the image area according to the determined first angle structure, the determined specific angle structure and the image area, wherein the second specific position is different from the first specific position;

the processing unit defines the definable position as the second specific position under the first orientation, thereby causing a first trajectory of the definable position to be formed in the image area for the motion orientation; and

when the defining signal is formed, the processing unit causes the definable position to be defined as a second reference position having a first absolute coordinate according to the defining signal, the first signal and the calculated spatial relation and causes the first absolute coordinate to be read.

12. A selection device according to claim 11, wherein the defining device is one of a push-button device and a motion-sensing trigger device, and the second reference position is a reference point.

13. A selection device according to claim 11, wherein the motion-sensing unit further comprises:

a gyroscope coupled to the processing unit, and producing the first sub-signal; and

an accelerometer coupled to the processing unit, and producing the second sub-signal.

14. A selection device according to claim 11, wherein:

the image area is located on a display screen, and has a length H, a width L, an upper edge, a lower edge and a left edge;

the first specific position and the left edge have a first perpendicular distance u therebetween;

the first specific position and the upper edge have a second perpendicular distance v therebetween;

the first reference position and the display screen have a third perpendicular distance w therebetween, wherein the third perpendicular distance w is given between the first reference position and the first specific position, and the first, the second and the third perpendicular distances constitute a perpendicular distance group {u, v, w};

the first reference position and the upper edge have a first line segment therebetween extending from the first reference position perpendicularly to the upper edge;

the first reference position and the lower edge have a second line segment therebetween extending from the first reference position perpendicularly to the lower edge;

the first reference position and the left edge have a third line segment therebetween extending from the first reference position perpendicularly to the left edge;

the specific axis and the first line segment have a first included angle α

1 therebetween;

the specific axis and the second line segment have a second included angle α

2 therebetween;

the specific axis and the third line segment have a third included angle β

therebetween; and

the spatial relation is equal to a specific spatial relation under the specific orientation, wherein the specific spatial relation satisfies equations of u=H tan β

/(tan α

1+tan α

2), v=H tan α

1/(tan α

1+tan α

2) and w=H/(tan α

1+tan α

2).

15. A selection device according to claim 14, wherein:

the selection unit measures the first included angle α

1 and the second included angle α

2 by using the second sub-signal, and measures the third included angle β

by using the first sub-signal;

the specific angle structure includes the first, the second and the third included angles α

1, α

2 and β

;

the first, the second and the third included angles α

1, α

2 and β

are measured to respectively form a first measured angle, a second measured angle and a third measured angle; and

the determined specific angle structure includes the first, the second and the third measured angles.

16. A selection device according to claim 14, wherein:

the definable position is defined to have a second absolute coordinate associated with a displacement;

the perpendicular distance group {u, v, w} has a variation corresponding to the displacement; and

the processing unit causes the second absolute coordinate to be obtained by using the displacement.

17. A selection device according to claim 11, wherein:

the selection unit further has a motion, and converts the motion into a second trajectory of the definable position; and

when the definable position reaches a second specific position having a second absolute coordinate on the image area, the defining device causes the definable position to be defined as the second specific position through the processing unit in response to a second defining operation and causes the second absolute coordinate to be obtained.

18. A selection device according to claim 10, wherein the selection unit is coupled to a computer calculating the spatial relation for performing the positioning operation.

19. A selection device for performing a positioning operation related to an image area having a first specific position, the selection device comprising:

a selection unit, wherein;

on a condition that the selection unit is set to have a specific orientation directed towards the first specific position, the selection unit detects the specific orientation to determine a specific angle structure between the specific orientation and the image area, and the specific orientation and the first specific position have a specific spatial relation therebetween; and

the selection unit calculates the specific spatial relation according to the determined specific angle structure and the image area.

20. A selection device according to claim 19, wherein:

the image area further has a definable position;

the selection unit further has a motion orientation;

on a condition that the motion orientation is aligned with a first orientation different from the specific orientation, the selection unit detects the first orientation to determine a first angle structure between the first orientation and the image area;

the selection unit calculates a second specific position in the image area according to the determined first angle structure, the determined specific angle structure and the image area, wherein the second specific position is different from the first specific position; and

the selection unit defines the definable position as the second specific position under the first orientation, thereby causing a trajectory of the definable position to be formed in the image area for the motion orientation.