Input apparatus, control apparatus, control system, electronic apparatus, and control method

• US 9,152,246 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sawai, Kunihito, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Amy
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TOAN H
• Application Number:
  US12/645,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 715/784, 715/863, 715/764, 345/156, 463/8, 463/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04815 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An input apparatus includes a detection section, a change section, and a transmission section. The detection section detects a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary direction. The change section changes a ratio of a first movement amount as a movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen to a second movement amount as a movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value detected by the detection section. The transmission section transmits the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed as scroll information of an image displayed on the screen.

Claims

1. An input apparatus, comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction;

a processing unit configured to;

change a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value of the movement amount detected by the detection section;

wherein the processing unit changes the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, a scroll direction of the image is biased in the first direction, and changes the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction, and

wherein the first range of acceptable angles is a first angle range and the second range of acceptable angles is a second angle range; and

determine whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation,

wherein the processing unit controls the first angle range and the second angle range so that the first angle range is widened when the direction of the user operation is within a first modified angle range from the first operation direction and the second angle range is widened when the direction of the user operation is within a second modified angle range from the second operation direction; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit, based at least in part on the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed, scroll information of an image displayed on the screen.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine the judged direction of the user operation based on the detected detection value, and

change the ratio of the first movement amount to the second movement amount in accordance with the judged direction of the user operation.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second angle range is wider than the first angle range.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to change the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that the scroll direction of the image is restricted to at least the first direction on the screen and the second direction on the screen.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to change the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that the scroll direction of the image is restricted to directions that respectively form predetermined angles with respect to the first direction on the screen and the second direction on the screen.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a sensor that detects the user operation in a three-dimensional direction.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscopic sensor.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the sensor comprises an image sensor.

10. A control apparatus controlling display of scroll of an image displayed on a screen in accordance with information transmitted from an input apparatus, the input apparatus comprising a detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction and a transmission unit configured to transmit the information, wherein the information is related to a detection value of the movement amount detected by the detection section, the control apparatus comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the information;

a processing unit configured to;

change a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on the screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to the detection value;

wherein the processing unit changes the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, a scroll direction of the image is biased in the first direction, and changes the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction, and

wherein the first range of acceptable angles is a first angle range and the second range of acceptable angles is a second angle range; and

determine whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation; and

a display control unit configured to control the display on the screen so that the image displayed on the screen is scrolled in accordance with the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the first angle range and the second angle range so that the first angle range is widened when the direction of the user operation is within a first modified angle range from the first operation direction and the second angle range is widened when the direction of the user operation is within a second modified angle range from the second operation direction.

12. A control system, comprising:

an input apparatus including

a detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction,

a processing unit configured to;

change a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value of the movement amount detected by the detection section,

wherein the processing unit changes the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, a scroll direction of the image is biased in the first direction, and changes the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction, and

wherein the first range of acceptable angles is a first angle range and the second range of acceptable angles is a second angle range; and

determine whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit, based on the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed, scroll information of an image displayed on the screen; and

a control apparatus including

a reception unit configured to receive the scroll information, and

a display control unit configured to control a display on the screen so that the image displayed on the screen is scrolled in accordance with the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed.

13. A control system, comprising:

an input apparatus including

a detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction, and

a transmission unit configured to transmit information related to a detection value of the movement amount detected by the detection unit; and

a control apparatus including

a reception unit configured to receive the information,

a processing unit configured to;

change a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to the detection value,

wherein the processing unit changes the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, a scroll direction of the image is biased in the first direction, and changes the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction,

wherein the first range of acceptable angles is a first angle range and the second range of acceptable angles is a second angle range; and

control whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation; and

a display control unit configured to control a display on the screen so that an image displayed on the screen is scrolled in accordance with the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed.

14. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a display unit configured to display a screen;

a detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction;

a processing unit configured to;

change a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on the screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value of the movement amount detected by the detection section;

wherein the processing unit changes the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, a scroll direction of the image is biased in the first direction, and changes the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction,

wherein the first range of acceptable angles is a first angle range and the second range of acceptable angles is a second angle range; and

determine whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation; and

a display control unit configured to control a display on the screen so that an image displayed on the screen is scrolled in accordance with the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed.

15. A control method, comprising:

detecting a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction;

changing a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value of the detected movement amount; and

controlling display on the screen so that an image displayed on the screen is scrolled in accordance with the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed;

wherein changing the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount further comprises, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, the first range of acceptable angles being a first angle range;

biasing a scroll direction of the image in the first direction;

changing the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction, the second range of acceptable angles being a second angle range; and

determining whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation.

16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein controlling the first angle range and the second angle range comprises controlling so that the first angle range is widened when the direction of the user operation is within a first modified angle range from the first operation direction and the second angle range is widened when the direction of the user operation is within a second modified angle range from the second operation direction.

17. An input apparatus, comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of a user operation in an arbitrary three-dimensional direction;

a processing unit configured to;

change a ratio between a first movement amount and a second movement amount, the first movement amount in a first operation direction corresponding to a first direction on a screen, and the second movement amount in a second operation direction corresponding to a second direction on the screen, the second direction being different from the first direction, the first movement amount and the second movement amount corresponding to a detection value of the movement amount detected by the detection section;

wherein the processing unit changes the ratio between the first movement amount and the second movement amount so that, when an angle of a judged direction of the user operation is within a first range of acceptable angles from the first operation direction, a scroll direction of the image is biased in the first direction, and changes the ratio so that, when the angle of the judged direction of the user operation is within a second range of acceptable angles from the second operation direction, the scroll direction is biased in the second direction,

wherein the first range of acceptable angles is a first angle range and the second range of acceptable angles is a second angle range; and

determine whether to perform widening or narrowing of the first angle range and the second angle range based on the direction of the user operation; and

a transmission unit to transmit, based on the first movement amount and the second movement amount whose ratio has been changed, scroll information of an image displayed on the screen.