Input apparatus, control apparatus, and control method for input apparatus

• US 9,823,757 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kabasawa, Hidetoshi, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, Mamiya, Toshio, Fuchigami, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US15/287,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20170068334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• 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 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

Abstract

An input apparatus capable of transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation of a user to a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, includes a first detection section, a second detection section, and a mode switch section. The first detection section detects analog information on a movement of the input apparatus made by the user. The second detection section detects digital information input by the user. The mode switch section makes a switch between a first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on the analog information detected by the first detection means and a second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on the digital information detected by the second detection means, in association with the display screen displayed on the control apparatus.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

acquire one of first information indicating a first mode and second information indicating a second mode;

in response to determining that first information is acquired, control, based on the acquired first information, at least one sensor to operate in the first mode to acquire user movement information, wherein the at least one processor operates at a first operation frequency when the at least one sensor is controlled to operate in the first mode;

in response to determining that second information is acquired, control, based on the acquired second information, the at least one sensor to operate in the second mode, wherein the at least one processor operates at a second operation frequency, lower than the first operation frequency, when the at least one sensor is controlled to operate in the second mode; and

control a display device based at least in part on input sensed by the at least one sensor operating in the first mode or the second mode.

2. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to output to the display device a signal indicating a switch from the first mode to the second mode.

3. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control an on/off operation of the at least one sensor in at least one of the first mode and the second mode.

4. The information processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors each having an on/off operation, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to individually control the on/off operation of each of the plurality of sensors.

5. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the at least one sensor to consume an amount of power in the first mode which is different than an amount of power consumed in the second mode by causing the at least one sensor to be powered down in the first mode or the second mode.

6. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the at least one sensor to consume an amount of power in the first mode which is different than an amount of power consumed in the second mode by modifying a rate at which information is transmitted to the display device in the first mode or the second mode.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the at least one sensor to consume an amount of power in the first mode which is different than an amount of power consumed in the second mode by modifying a power supply voltage in the first mode or the second mode.

8. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is a mobile device.

9. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor.

10. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, comprising the at least one sensor and the display device.

11. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a first display screen and a second display screen, and at least one processor is configured to control a switch of the display to the first display screen in response to acquiring first information, and to control a switch of the display to the second display screen in response to acquiring second information.

12. A control method, performed by an information processing apparatus comprising at least one processor, the control method comprising acts of:

(A) the at least one processor acquiring one of first information indicating a first mode and second information indicating a second mode;

(B) in response to determining that first information is acquired, the at least one processor controlling, based on the acquired first information, at least one sensor to operate in the first mode to acquire user movement information, wherein the at least one processor operates at a first operation frequency when the at least one sensor is controlled to operate in the first mode;

(C) in response to determining that second information is acquired, the at least one processor controlling, based on the acquired second information, the at least one sensor to operate in the second mode, wherein the at least one processor operates at a second operation frequency, lower than the first operation frequency, when the at least one sensor is controlled to operate in the second mode; and

(D) the at least one processor controlling a display device based at least in part on input sensed by the at least one sensor operating in the first mode or the second mode.