Input system for controlling electronic device

• US 9,946,369 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Power2B, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Power2B, Inc.
• Inventors: Lipman, Robert Michael, Lipman, Sarah Michelle
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US15/272,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20170010700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 345182, 178 1905
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0317 in co-operation with a patterned surface, e.g. absolute position or relative movement detection for an optical mouse or pen positioned with respect to a coded surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

An electronic device includes a display for displaying data stored on the electronic device; input means; sensing means for sensing the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to the device; and control means for controlling the data displayed on the display in dependence on the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to the device. The input means includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for directing an infrared conical beam onto the display. The sensing means can sense the elliptical eccentricity of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the angle at which it strikes the display, and can sense the area of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the distance of the input means from the display.

Claims

1. An interactive device comprising:

a housing having a screen to display one or more selectable options to a user;

a plurality of light sensors disposed in the housing, each sensor configured to detect a portion of light incident on the device and provide an output signal based on the portion of light detected; and

a processing unit configured to;

receive the output signal from one or more light sensors;

determine, based on the output signal, a position of an object in a three-dimensional (3D) space relative to the interactive device;

determine the position of the object corresponds to one of the selectable options based on a first dimension and a second dimension of the 3D space;

determine, based on a change in the output signal, movement of the object relative to the interactive device in a third dimension of the 3D space; and

execute, based on the movement of the object, a function related to at least one of the one or more selectable options.

2. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the screen defines a plane formed in the first dimension and the second dimension, wherein a distance between the object and the device defines the third dimension wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

detect a pre-defined movement of the object in the third dimension; and

select one option of the selectable options based on the pre-defined movement.

3. The interactive device of claim 1, further comprising at least one light emitting device disposed on the housing.

4. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the object comprises one of a stylus or finger.

5. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the function comprises at least one of a zoom operation or a selection operation.

6. The interactive device of claim 5, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute the function when the output signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

7. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the function comprises a display operation to display a sub-menu for one option of the selectable options.

8. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the function comprises a selection operation to select one option of the selectable options.

9. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises data representing an intensity level of light incident on the device.

10. The interactive device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to calculate an angle of the object with respect to the screen based on the output signal.

11. A method comprising:

detecting, by one or more sensors of an interactive device, light associated with an object in proximity to the interactive device;

determining, by a processor of the interactive device, a position of the object in a three-dimensional (3D) space relative to the interactive device based on the light detected by the one or more sensors;

determining, by the processor, the position of the object in a first dimension and a second dimension of the 3D space corresponds to at least one selectable element displayed on a display screen of the interactive device;

determining, by the processor, the position of the object in a third dimension of the 3D space corresponds to a distance between the interactive device and the object;

calculating, by the processor, a change in the distance based on the light detected by the one or more sensors; and

executing, by the processor, a function related to the at least one selectable element based on the change in the distance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the function comprises performing at least one of a zoom operation or a selection operation.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the function comprises displaying a sub-menu of options related to the selectable element.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the function comprises selecting an option related to the selectable element.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, the change in the distance corresponds to a pre-defined motion; and

selecting, by the processor, an option related to the selectable element based on the pre-defined motion.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the light associated with the object further comprises detecting an intensity level of light associated with the object.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

calculating, by the processor, an angle of the object with respect to the interactive device based on the light detected by the one or more sensors.