User Interface using acceleration for input

• US 20040145613A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Stavely, Donald J., Dalton, Dan L., Dow, James C., Battles, Amy E., Brake, Wilfred Francis
• Application Number:
  US10/354,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20040145613A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/863
• 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 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, accelerometers are used as the input devices for an appliance user interface. A first accelerometer is positioned with an orientation substantially different from the orientation of a second accelerometer. The users may either tilt, tap, or tilt and tap on an appliance to invoke different operations of the appliance.

Claims

1. ) An appliance comprising:

a) an accelerometer;

b) wherein movement of the accelerometer provides input to an appliance user interface.

2. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein movement of the accelerometer is accomplished by tilting the appliance.

3. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein movement of the accelerometer is accomplished by tapping the appliance.

4. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein movement of the accelerometer is accomplished by tilting and tapping the appliance.

5. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein movement of the accelerometer is accomplished using gravity.

6. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a cell phone.

7. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a digital camera.

8. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a game device.

9. ) The appliance of claim 1 wherein the appliance is a PDA.

10. ) An appliance comprising:

a) a first accelerometer;

b) a second accelerometer, the second accelerometer positioned with an orientation substantially different from the orientation of the first accelerometer;

c) wherein movement of the accelerometers provides input to an appliance user interface.

11. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein movement of the accelerometers is accomplished by tilting the appliance.

12. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein movement of the accelerometers is accomplished by tapping the appliance.

13. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein movement of the accelerometers is accomplished by tilting and tapping the appliance.

14. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein movement of the accelerometers is accomplished using gravity.

15. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein the appliance is a cell phone.

16. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein the appliance is a digital camera.

17. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein the appliance is a game device.

18. ) The appliance of claim 10 wherein the appliance is a PDA.

19. ) A method for providing input to an appliance user interface comprising:

a) installing a accelerometer on the appliance;

b) moving the appliance to provide input to the appliance user interface.

20. ) The method of claim 19 wherein the moving of the appliance is accomplished by tilting the appliance.

21. ) The method of claim 19 wherein the moving of the appliance is accomplished by tapping the appliance.

22. ) The method of claim 19 wherein the moving of the appliance is accomplished by tilting and tilting the appliance.

23. ) A method for providing input to an appliance user interface comprising:

a) installing a first accelerometer on the appliance;

b) installing a second accelerometer, the second accelerometer positioned with an orientation substantially different from the orientation of the first accelerometer;

c) moving the appliance to provide input to the appliance user interface.

24. ) The method of claim 23 wherein the moving of the appliance is accomplished by tilting the appliance.

25. ) The method of claim 23 wherein the moving of the appliance is accomplished by tapping the appliance.

26. ) The method of claim 23 wherein the moving of the appliance is accomplished by tilting and tilting the appliance.

27. ) An appliance comprising:

a) a first means for detecting acceleration;

b) a second means for detecting acceleration, the second means for detecting acceleration positioned with an orientation substantially different from the orientation of the first means for detecting acceleration;

c) wherein movement of the means for acceleration provide input to an appliance user interface.