Methods for controlling an electric device using a control apparatus

• US 11,256,337 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2017
• Issued: 02/22/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 2020 Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Quantum Interface LLC
• Inventors: Josephson, Jonathan, Nalty, Kurt Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Rayeez R
• Application Number:
  US15/615,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20170269705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 : Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols

Abstract

Methods of controlling objects using an apparatus including a motion sensor and a processing unit and include sensing motion, converting the motion into a command function and processing the command function based on the sensed motion.

Claims

1. A method, implemented using a processor coupled with a display device and a motion sensor, the motion sensor having an active sensing zone, comprising:

sensing, via the motion sensor, a first motion direction of a sensed first motion;

producing, via the motion sensor, a first output corresponding to the first motion direction;

converting, via the processor, the first output into a scroll function;

executing, via the processor, the scroll function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein the executing causes;

scrolling through a plurality of first items;

displaying, on the display device, at least the scrolling through the plurality of first items;

sensing, via the motion sensor, a second motion direction of a sensed second motion;

producing, via the motion sensor, a second output corresponding to the second motion direction;

converting, via the processor, the second output into a select function;

executing, via the processor, the select function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein the executing causes;

selecting a particular first item; and

displaying, on the display device, the selecting of a first item,

wherein the sensed second motion is a continuation of the sensed first motion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the scroll function includes an indicate function,

the executing of the scroll function further causes;

indicating each first item during scrolling through the plurality of first items.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each of the first items comprise a list of second items, a menu of second items, a group of second items,

an icon, an electrical device, a software system, or a software product,

at least one of the first items includes an adjustable attribute,

the sensed first motion further includes a stop, a hold, or a timed hold, and

if the particular first item comprises a list of second items, a menu of second items, or a group of second items, then further displaying the second items.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

the second motion direction being discernibly different from the first motion direction, and

the sensed first motion and the sensed second motion comprise movement, within the active sensing zone of the motion sensor, of a human body or part thereof, an animal under the control of the human, or an object under the control of the human.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

if the particular first item comprises a list of last items, a menu of last items, or a group of last items, then the second motion direction comprises a last motion direction and the method further comprises;

drilling down a list hierarchy comprising;

sensing, via the motion sensor, a next motion direction of a sensed next motion being discernibly different from the last motion direction;

producing, via the motion sensor, a next output corresponding to the next motion direction;

converting, via the processor, the next output into a scroll function;

executing, via the processor, the scroll function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein the executing causes;

scrolling through the last items, and

displaying, on the display device, at least the scrolling,

sensing, via the motion sensor, another motion direction of a sensed another motion being discernibly different from the next direction of the sensed next motion;

producing, via the motion sensor, another output corresponding to the another motion direction of the sensed another motion;

converting, via the processor, the another output into a select function;

executing, via the processor, the select function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein executing causes;

selecting a particular last item;

displaying, on the display device, at least the selecting,

if the particular last item is a list of next items, a menu of next items, or a group of next items, then the last items comprise the next items and repeating the sensing, the producing, the converting, the executing, and the displaying,

if the particular last item comprises a directly activatable item, then activating the directly activatable item,

if the particular last item is an adjustable attribute, then adjusting a value of the adjustable attribute,

wherein each of the last items and each of the next items comprises a list, a menu, a group, an icon, an electrical device, a software system, a software, or an adjustable attribute associated therewith,

wherein at least one of the last items includes an adjustable attribute, and

wherein at least one of the next items includes an adjustable attribute.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

each of the scroll functions includes an indicate function, and

each of the executing of the scroll functions further causes;

indicating each last item during scrolling through the last items.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjusting comprises:

setting the value on of the adjustable attribute to ON or OFF,

setting the value on of the adjustable attribute to a pre-defined value,

increasing the value of the adjustable attribute, or

decreasing the value of the adjustable attribute.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the sensed next motion further includes a brief timed hold, then the adjusting comprises at least one of:

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute to a preset level,

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute through a high value/low value cycle, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to decrease from a maximum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to increase from a minimum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops, or

adjusting the value at a rate to allow maximum attribute value control, until the timed hold stops.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein:

if the particular first item comprises a directly activatable item, then activating the directly activatable item; and

displaying, on the display device, the activating.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein:

if the particular last item is an adjustable attribute, then adjusting a value of the adjustable attribute; and

displaying, on the display device, the selecting and the adjusting.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the adjusting comprises:

setting the value of the adjustable attribute to ON or OFF,

setting the value of the adjustable attribute to a pre-defined value,

increasing the value of the adjustable attribute, or

decreasing the value of the adjustable attribute.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the sensed second motion further includes a brief timed hold, and

the adjusting comprises at least one of;

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute to a preset level,

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute through a high value/low value cycle, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to decrease from a maximum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to increase from a minimum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops, or

adjusting the value at a rate to allow maximum attribute value control, until the timed hold stops.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input comprising a hard select, and

executing the input, the executing causes;

invoking a hard select.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during the executing associated with the sensing of the second direction of motion,

receiving an input comprising a hard select, and

executing the input, the executing causes;

invoking a hard select.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the motion sensor comprises digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and combinations thereof;

the electrical devices comprise lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof; and

the software products comprise computer operating systems, graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.

16. A method, implemented using a processor coupled with a display device and a motion sensor, the motion sensor having an active sensing zone, comprising:

sensing, via the motion sensor, a first motion direction of a sensed first motion;

producing, via the motion sensor, a first output corresponding to the first motion direction;

converting, via the processor, the first output into a scroll function;

executing, via the processor, the scroll function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein the executing causes;

scrolling through a plurality of first items;

displaying, on the display device, at least the scrolling through the plurality of first items;

sensing, via the motion sensor, a second motion direction of a sensed second motion;

producing, via the motion sensor, a second output corresponding to the second motion direction;

converting, via the processor, the second output into a select function;

executing, via the processor, the select function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein the executing causes;

selecting a particular first item; and

displaying, on the display device, the selecting of a first item,

wherein the sensed first motion includes a stop, a hold, or a timed hold followed directly by the sensed second motion and wherein the second direction of motion is different from the first direction of motion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the scroll function includes an indicate function,

the executing of the scroll function further causes;

indicating each first item during scrolling through the plurality of first items.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein:

each of the first items comprise a list of second items, a menu of second items, a group of second items,

an icon, an electrical device, a software system, or a software product,

at least one of the first items includes an adjustable attribute, and

if the particular first item comprises a list of second items, a menu of second items, or a group of second items, then further displaying the second items.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the second motion direction being discernibly different from the first motion direction, and

the sensed first motion and the sensed second motion comprise movement, within the active sensing zone of the motion sensor, of a human body or part thereof, an animal under the control of the human, or an object under the control of the human.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

if the particular first item comprises a list of last items, a menu of last items, or a group of last items, then the second motion direction comprises a last motion direction and the method further comprises;

drilling down a list hierarchy comprising;

sensing, via the motion sensor, a next motion direction of a sensed next motion being discernibly different from the last motion direction;

producing, via the motion sensor, a next output corresponding to the next motion direction;

converting, via the processor, the next output into a scroll function;

executing, via the processor, the scroll function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein the executing causes;

scrolling through the last items, and

displaying, on the display device, at least the scrolling,

sensing, via the motion sensor, another motion direction of a sensed another motion being discernibly different from the next direction of the sensed next motion;

producing, via the motion sensor, another output corresponding to the another motion direction of the sensed another motion;

converting, via the processor, the another output into a select function;

executing, via the processor, the select function without invoking a hard select protocol, wherein executing causes;

selecting a particular last item;

displaying, on the display device, at least the selecting,

if the particular last item is a list of next items, a menu of next items, or a group of next items, then the last items comprise the next items and repeating the sensing, the producing, the converting, the executing, and the displaying,

if the particular last item comprises a directly activatable item, then activating the directly activatable item,

if the particular last item is an adjustable attribute, then adjusting a value of the adjustable attribute,

wherein each of the last items and each of the next items comprises a list, a menu, a group, an icon, an electrical device, a software system, a software, or an adjustable attribute associated therewith,

wherein at least one of the last items includes an adjustable attribute, and

wherein at least one of the next items includes an adjustable attribute.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

each of the scroll functions includes an indicate function, and

each of the executing of the scroll functions further causes;

indicating each last item during scrolling through the last items.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the adjusting comprises:

setting the value on of the adjustable attribute to ON or OFF,

setting the value on of the adjustable attribute to a pre-defined value,

increasing the value of the adjustable attribute, or

decreasing the value of the adjustable attribute.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein, if the sensed next motion further includes a brief timed hold, then the adjusting comprises at least one of:

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute to a preset level,

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute through a high value/low value cycle, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to decrease from a maximum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to increase from a minimum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops, or

adjusting the value at a rate to allow maximum attribute value control, until the timed hold stops.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein:

if the particular first item comprises a directly activatable item, then activating the directly activatable item; and

displaying, on the display device, the activating.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein:

if the particular last item is an adjustable attribute, then adjusting a value of the adjustable attribute; and

displaying, on the display device, the selecting and the adjusting.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the adjusting comprises:

setting the value of the adjustable attribute to ON or OFF,

setting the value of the adjustable attribute to a pre-defined value,

increasing the value of the adjustable attribute, or

decreasing the value of the adjustable attribute.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein:

the sensed second motion further includes a brief timed hold, and

the adjusting comprises at least one of;

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute to a preset level,

adjusting the value of the adjustable attribute through a high value/low value cycle, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to decrease from a maximum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops,

adjusting the value to increase from a minimum value at a predetermined rate, until the timed hold stops, or

adjusting the value at a rate to allow maximum attribute value control, until the timed hold stops.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an input comprising a hard select, and

executing the input, the executing causes;

invoking a hard select.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

during the executing associated with the sensing of the second direction of motion,

receiving an input comprising a hard select, and

executing the input, the executing causes;

invoking a hard select.

30. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the motion sensor comprises digital cameras, optical scanners, optical roller ball devices, touch pads, inductive pads, capacitive pads, holographic devices, laser tracking devices, thermal devices, any other device capable of sensing motion, arrays of motion sensors, and combinations thereof;

the electrical devices comprise lighting devices, cameras, ovens, dishwashers, stoves, sound systems, display systems, alarm systems, control systems, medical devices, robots, robotic control systems, hot and cold water supply devices, air conditioning systems, heating systems, ventilation systems, air handling systems, computers and computer systems, chemical plant control systems, remote control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof; and

the software products comprise computer operating systems, graphics systems, business software systems, word processor systems, internet browsers, accounting systems, military systems, control systems, or mixtures and combinations thereof.