Generating an input command

• US 9,952,688 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Krger, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): SIMPSON, LIXI CHOW
• Application Number:
  US15/033,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20160328034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• 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 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An arrangement for generating an input command having two essentially ring-shaped input elements which are spatially separate from each other, for securing to respectively a hand is provided. A processing unit for generating an input command in accordance with predefined interacting input patterns is provided. A method for generating an input command is also disclosed, wherein when an instance of touching occurs a respective input pattern is determined in at least two spatially separated input elements. An associated input command is generated from the respective input patterns as a function of input patterns which interact in a predetermined way.

Claims

1. An arrangement for generating an input command, comprising

a first and second essentially annular input elements which are spatially separated from one another and are arranged for attachment to one hand each, wherein the first and second essentially annular input elements each comprise touch-sensitive regions whereby respective input touch patterns can be determined when the touch-sensitive regions of the first and second essentially annular input elements are touched, the first essentially annular input element configured to collect raw data of a first input touch pattern and the second essentially annular input element configured to collect raw data of a second input touch pattern;

and

a processing unit for generating an input command from the respective input touch patterns as a function of input touch patterns which interact in a predetermined way, wherein the processing unit is external to the first and second essentially annular input elements;

wherein the second essentially annular input element is configured with an evaluation unit for evaluating instances of touching and for determining the respective input touch patterns;

wherein raw data of the first input touch pattern collected at the first essentially annular input element is transmitted to the second essentially annular input element;

wherein at least one of the raw data of the first input touch pattern and the raw data of the second input touch pattern is evaluated by the evaluation unit on the second essentially annular input element and is made available as the first input touch pattern or the second input touch pattern respectively by an interface of the second essentially annular input element; and

further wherein the processing unit receives at least one of the first input touch pattern and the second input touch pattern from the second essentially annular input element and generates the input command.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is embodied integrally into one of the first and second essentially annular input elements.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is arranged in a mobile or permanently installed device which can be controlled by the first and second essentially annular input elements.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second essentially annular input elements have at least one respective interface for communicating with at least one of the processing unit and with one another.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the respective interface is embodied as one of a wireless interface and a cable-bound interface.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second essentially annular input elements has an energy accumulator as an internal voltage source.

7. An arrangement for generating an input command as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second essentially annular input elements which are spatially separated from one another are further arranged for attachment to at least one finger.

8. A method for generating an input command, comprising:

collecting a first touch gesture by a first input element and a second touch gesture by a second input element, wherein the first and second input elements are spatially separated;

transmitting the first touch gesture from the first input element to the second input element;

evaluating, by an evaluation unit on the second input element, the first and second touch gestures and determining first and second input patterns from the first and second touch gestures, respectively;

making available, to a processing unit located externally to the first and second input elements, the first and second input patterns;

generating, by the processing unit, the input command from at least one of the first and second input patterns.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input command is generated as a function of an assignment rule, wherein the assignment rule assigns an input command to a combination of input patterns, the combination of input patterns including the first and second input patterns.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of the respective input patterns

is determined by means of respective touch-sensitive regions of the first and second input elements;

and

is made available at a respective interface of the first and second input elements.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein, in order to determine at least one of the first and second input patterns, a chronological and/or spatial profile is determined for respective input pattern.

12. A system for generating an input command, comprising:

a first essentially annular input element having a first touch-sensitive region;

a second essentially annular input element having a second touch-sensitive region;

an evaluation unit located in the second essentially annular input element; and

a processing unit external to the first and second essentially annular input elements;

wherein the first touch-sensitive region collects first raw touch data and the second touch-sensitive region collects second raw touch data;

wherein the first raw touch data is transmitted to the second essentially annular input element;

wherein the evaluation unit determines a first input touch pattern from the first raw touch data and a second input touch pattern from the second raw touch data; and

wherein the processing unit receives the first and second input touch patterns and generates a corresponding input command.