Input apparatus, control apparatus, control system, control method, and handheld apparatus

• US RE47,433 E1
• Filed: 07/18/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonshock, Dennis G
• Application Number:
  US15/212,887
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 345156, 345157, 345159, 345160, 715850
• CPC Class Codes: N/A

Abstract

An input apparatus, a control apparatus, a control system including those apparatuses, and a control method therefor with which a user can feel a linearity between a movement of the input apparatus and that of a pointer and an accurate pointing operation is possible are provided. An MPU of an input apparatus variably controls a gain value in a range from first threshold value to a second threshold value or first range, in which the input apparatus is within a low-velocity range, and controls the gain value to be constant in a range exceeding the second threshold value second range. The gain value is a value multiplied to a velocity value of the input apparatus that is obtained by an operation, the velocity value being obtained through detection of a movement of the input apparatus. Accordingly, in a relatively-low-velocity range, a pointer velocity value becomes smaller by a multi-degree function as movements of the input apparatus and a pointer on a screen become slower. As a result, accurate pointing becomes possible. Moreover, since a linearity is obtained when the input apparatus is in a relatively-high-velocity range, a user can obtain a linear operational feeling.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the input apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal of a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing, wherein the movement signal output means includes;

a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and

a first calculation means for calculating a first velocity value of the casing in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about the first axis, and

a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the casing in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;

a comparison means for comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;

a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain;

a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the control means controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison; and

a transmission means for transmitting information on the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control means controls the gain so that the gain increases as the velocity-related value increases in the first range.

3. The input apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the movement signal output means outputs an acceleration value of the casing, and

wherein the control means controls the gain so that the gain increases as the acceleration value increases in the first range.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the movement signal output means outputs an acceleration value of the casing, and

wherein the control means changes a change rate of the gain in the first range in accordance with a change in the acceleration value.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a storage means for storing information on a plurality of velocity-related values that are temporally consecutive in the first range; and

a sign judgment means for judging whether signs of the plurality of stored velocity-related values are the same,

wherein the control means includes a gain value storage means for storing a value of the gain in the first range and controls, when the signs of the plurality of velocity-related values are the same, the gain using a value obtained by adding a constant value to the stored gain value or multiplying the stored gain value by the constant value.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the control means controls a value of the gain to be constant when the value of the increased gain exceeds the constant gain.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control means controls the gain to be constant in a third range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from 0 to the first threshold value.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

an adjustment means for adjusting at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the movement signal output means includes

an acceleration sensor that detects an acceleration of the casing in a direction along a predetermined axis, and

a velocity calculation means for calculating, as the velocity-related value, the velocity value of the casing in the direction along the predetermined axis of the casing by integrating the detected acceleration value.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the movement signal output means includes

an output means for outputting an angular velocity value of the casing about the predetermined axis, and

an obtainment means for obtaining the velocity value calculated based on the output angular velocity value as the velocity-related value.

11. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means variably controls the gain in a range in which an operational value obtained based on the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated ranges from a third threshold value to a fourth threshold value larger than the third threshold value, and controls the gain to be constant in a range in which the operational value exceeds the fourth threshold value.

12. A control apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen based on information on a detection value transmitted from an input apparatus including a casing, a detection means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing, and a transmission means for transmitting the information on the detection value obtained by the detection means, the control apparatus comprising:

a reception means for receiving the information on the detection value;

a movement signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing based on the received information on the detection value;

a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain;

a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value;

a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means;

a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen; and

an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

13. A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

an input apparatus including;

a casing,

a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing, the movement signal output means including;

a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and

a first calculation means for calculating a first velocity value of the casing in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about the first axis, and

a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the casing in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value,

a comparison means for comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated,

a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,

a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the control means controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison, and

a transmission means for transmitting information on the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means; and

a control apparatus including;

a reception means for receiving the transmitted information on the pointer velocity value, and

a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the received pointer velocity value.

14. The control system according to claim 13, wherein control apparatus includes:

a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen; and

an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

15. A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

an input apparatus including;

a casing,

a detection means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing, and

a transmission means for transmitting information on a detection value obtained by the detection means; and

a control apparatus including;

a reception means for receiving the transmitted information on the detection value,

a movement signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing based on the received information on the detection value,

a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,

a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value,

a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means,

a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen, and

an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

16. A control method comprising:

detecting a three-dimensional movement of an input apparatus;

outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the input apparatus, wherein the signal is calculated by;

detecting a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the input apparatus about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis,

calculating a first velocity value of the input apparatus in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

detecting a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the input apparatus about the first axis, and

a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the input apparatus in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;

comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;

variably controlling a gain for determining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving a pointer on a screen, in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value;

controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the gain is controlled with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison;

outputting the pointer velocity value by multiplying the output velocity-related value by the controlled gain; and

generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value.

17. The control method according to claim 16, further comprising:

determining a size of an icon on the screen, and

adjusting, in accordance with the size of the icon, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

18. A handheld apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the handheld apparatus comprising:

a casing;

a display section to display the screen;

a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal of a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing, the movement signal output means including;

a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and

a first calculation means for calculating a first velocity value of the casing in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about the first axis, and

a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the casing in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;

a comparison means for comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;

a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain; and

a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the control means controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison.

19. A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

an input apparatus including;

a casing,

a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing,

a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,

a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, and

a transmission means for transmitting information on the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means; and

a control apparatus including;

a reception means for receiving the transmitted information on the pointer velocity value, and

a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the received pointer velocity value,

a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen, and

an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

20. A control method comprising:

detecting a three-dimensional movement of an input apparatus;

outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the input apparatus;

variably controlling a gain for determining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving a pointer on a screen, in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value;

controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value;

outputting the pointer velocity value by multiplying the output velocity-related value by the controlled gain;

generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value;

determining a size of an icon on the screen; and

adjusting, in accordance with the size of the icon, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

21. An input apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the input apparatus comprising:

a sensor unit;

a processor; and

a movement signal output means for detecting a movement of the sensor unit and outputting a signal of a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the sensor unit, wherein the movement signal output means includes;

a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and

the processor calculates a first velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about the first axis, and

the processor calculates a second velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;

wherein the processor compares the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;

wherein the processor obtains a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain; and

wherein the processor variably controls the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the processor controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison.

22. The input apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the processor controls the gain so that the gain increases as the velocity-related value increases in the first range.

23. The input apparatus according to claim 22,

wherein the movement signal output means outputs an acceleration value of the sensor unit, and

wherein the processor controls the gain so that the gain increases as the acceleration value increases in the first range.

24. The input apparatus according to claim 22,

wherein the movement signal output means outputs an acceleration value of the sensor unit, and

wherein the processor changes a change rate of the gain in the first range in accordance with a change in the acceleration value.

25. The input apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising:

a memory storing information on a plurality of velocity-related values that are temporally consecutive in the first range; and

wherein the processor judges whether signs of the plurality of stored velocity-related values are the same,

wherein the memory stores a value of the gain in the first range and the processor controls, when the signs of the plurality of velocity-related values are the same, the gain using a value obtained by adding a constant value to the stored gain value or multiplying the stored gain value by the constant value.

26. The input apparatus according to claim 22,

wherein the processor controls a value of the gain to be constant when the value of the increased gain exceeds the constant gain.

27. The input apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the processor controls the gain to be constant in a third range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from 0 to the first threshold value.

28. The input apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the processor adjusts at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

29. The input apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the movement signal output means includes

an acceleration sensor that detects an acceleration of the sensor unit in a direction along a predetermined axis, and

the processor calculates, as the velocity-related value, the velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the predetermined axis of the sensor unit by integrating the detected acceleration value.

30. The input apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the movement signal output means includes

an output means for outputting an angular velocity value of the sensor unit about the predetermined axis, and

the processor obtains the velocity value calculated based on the output angular velocity value as the velocity-related value.

31. The input apparatus according to claim 21,

wherein the processor variably controls the gain in a range in which an operational value obtained based on the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated ranges from a third threshold value to a fourth threshold value larger than the third threshold value, and controls the gain to be constant in a range in which the operational value exceeds the fourth threshold value.

32. The input apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the movement is a three-dimensional movement.

33. A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

an input apparatus including;

a sensor unit,

a processor, and

a movement signal output means for detecting a movement of the sensor unit and outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the sensor unit, the movement signal output means including;

a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and

the processor calculating a first velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about the first axis, and

the processor calculating a second velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value,

wherein the processor compares the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated,

wherein the processor obtains a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,

wherein the processor variably controls the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the processor controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison; and

a control apparatus including a different processor generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the received pointer velocity value.

34. The control system according to claim 33, wherein the different processor:

determines a size of an icon on the screen; and

adjusts, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the different processor, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

35. The control system according to claim 33, wherein the movement is a three-dimensional movement.

36. A control method comprising:

detecting a movement of a sensor unit of an input apparatus;

outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the sensor unit, wherein the signal is calculated by;

detecting a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,

outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis,

calculating a first velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,

detecting a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,

outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about the first axis, and

calculating a second velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;

comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;

variably controlling a gain for determining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving a pointer on a screen, in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value; and

controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the gain is controlled with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison.

37. The control method according to claim 36, further comprising:

outputting the pointer velocity value by multiplying the output velocity-related value by the controlled gain.

38. The control method according to claim 36, further comprising:

generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value.

39. The control method according to claim 36, further comprising:

determining a size of an icon on the screen, and

adjusting, in accordance with the size of the icon, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

40. The control method according to claim 36, wherein the movement is a three-dimensional movement.