Wearable computer pointing device

• US 20080084385A1
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bathiche, Steven Nabil, Chatterjee, Monique, Ranta, Craig Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Described is a technology by which a computer pointing device (generally a mouse but alternatively a game controller or remote control device) may be worn on the hand and operated without needing to contact a mousing surface. Gyroscopic-based sensors convert the wearer'"'"'s hand and wrist movements to signals which are sent to a host computing device such as a conventional personal computer, a gaming console, an electronic appliance, and so forth. The data received from the pointing device may be used to move a cursor or the like, and other received data may correspond to left and right mouse clicks, scrolling operations, and so forth. A user-controlled enable switch/sensor selectively activates or deactivates the pointing device so that only intended movements result in data transmission. Gestures may also be sensed and used to trigger defined functions.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, a system comprising, a pointing device configured for wearing on a user'"'"'s hand, the pointing device comprising circuitry that senses hand movements, the circuitry including at least two gyroscopic sensors including a first sensor that senses pitch and a second sensor that senses yaw, and the circuitry including a transmitter that transmits data corresponding to the sensed movement to a host computing device coupled to the pointing device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pointing device is generally U-shaped, and has a first part that fits in the user'"'"'s palm coupled to a second part that fits behind the user'"'"'s knuckles.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the pointing device includes an enable switch, and wherein the circuitry transmits the data corresponding to the sensed movement only when the enable switch is actuated.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the enable switch comprises a capacitive proximity sensor that is actuated when the user'"'"'s hand is closed.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the enable switch comprises a mechanical button that is actuated when depressed.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the pointing device includes actuation mechanisms corresponding to left and right mouse buttons.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a microcontroller that packetizes data corresponding to the sensed movement, and the transmitter transmits the packetized data.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry includes a gesture detection mechanism, and wherein the circuitry outputs data corresponding to a function when a gesture is detected.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third gyroscopic sensor that senses roll.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one accelerometer.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one magnetometer.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the host computing device comprises a personal computer, a mobile computer, a gaming console, or an electronic appliance.

13. In a computing environment, a system comprising, a pointing device configured for wearing on a user'"'"'s hand, the pointing device including a plurality of actuation mechanisms and comprising at least two gyroscopic sensors that output analog signals corresponding to movements of the wearer'"'"'s hand, including a first sensor that senses pitch and a second sensor that senses yaw, means for converting the analog signals to digital data, a microcontroller that detects actuation of each actuation mechanism, and processes the digital data and data corresponding to at least some actuation detection into packetized data for transmission, and a transmitter coupled to the microcontroller to transmit the packetized data to a host computing device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the microcontroller performs a mathematical computation on the digital data.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the microcontroller processes the digital data into packetized data formatted for Bluetooth®

radio communication.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein one of the actuation mechanisms comprises an enable mechanism, and wherein the microcontroller or host software ignores the signals corresponding to movements of the wearer'"'"'s hand when the enable mechanism is not actuated.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein one of the actuation mechanisms comprises a left mouse button, and another of the actuation mechanisms comprises a right mouse button.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein one of the actuation mechanisms comprises a scrolling device.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the scrolling device comprises a capacitive scrolling device or a force sensing scrolling device.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the scrolling device comprises a scroll wheel.