SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THREE DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL OBJECTS ON A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20110115784A1
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: CARY, James B., TARTZ, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,922,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• 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 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A method of manipulating a three-dimensional (3D) virtual objects at a wireless device is disclosed and includes detecting a press on a 3D sensor array and moving the 3D virtual object in response to the press. Further, the method includes detecting a release of the press on the 3D sensor array and stopping the 3D virtual object.

Claims

1. A method of manipulating a three-dimensional (3D) virtual objects at a wireless device, the method comprising:

detecting a press on a 3D sensor array; and

moving the 3D virtual object in response to the press.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a release of the press on the 3D sensor array; and

stopping the 3D virtual object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a bump on the 3D sensor array; and

moving the 3D virtual object in response to the bump, wherein the 3D virtual object is move a distance generated based on the bump.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a touch on each of two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

virtually grabbing the 3D virtual object.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting a quick slide on either of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

spinning the 3D virtual object in a direction corresponding to a direction of the quick slide and at a speed based on a speed of the quick slide.

6. The method claim of 4, further comprising:

detecting opposed motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

rotating the 3D virtual object about a center of the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the opposed motion.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting unidirectional motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

sliding the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the unidirectional motion.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting motion on one of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

rotating the 3D virtual object about a side opposite the one of the two opposed sensors in a direction based on a direction of the motion.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

detecting a squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

virtually squeezing the 3D virtual object in a direction based on the squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the 3D virtual object is elastic;

maintaining a new shape of the 3D virtual object if the 3D virtual object is not elastic; and

returning to the 3D virtual object to an original shape if the 3D virtual object is elastic.

11. A portable computing device, comprising:

a processor, wherein the processor is operable to;

detect a press on a 3D sensor array; and

move the 3D virtual object in response to the press.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect a release of the press on the 3D sensor array; and

stop the 3D virtual object.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect a bump on the 3D sensor array; and

move the 3D virtual object in response to the bump, wherein the 3D virtual object is move a distance generated based on the bump.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect a touch on each of two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

virtually grab the 3D virtual object.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect a quick slide on either of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

spin the 3D virtual object in a direction corresponding to a direction of the quick slide and at a speed based on a speed of the quick slide.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect opposed motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

rotate the 3D virtual object about a center of the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the opposed motion.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect unidirectional motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

slide the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the unidirectional motion.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect motion on one of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

rotate the 3D virtual object about a side opposite the one of the two opposed sensors in a direction based on a direction of the motion.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further operable to:

detect a squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

virtually squeeze the 3D virtual object in a direction based on the squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further operable to:

determine whether the 3D virtual object is elastic;

maintain a new shape of the 3D virtual object if the 3D virtual object is not elastic; and

return to the 3D virtual object to an original shape if the 3D virtual object is elastic.

21. A portable computing device, comprising:

means for detecting a press on a 3D sensor array; and

means for moving the 3D virtual object in response to the press.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting a release of the press on the 3D sensor array; and

means for stopping the 3D virtual object.

23. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting a bump on the 3D sensor array; and

means for moving the 3D virtual object in response to the bump, wherein the 3D virtual object is move a distance generated based on the bump.

24. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting a touch on each of two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

means for virtually grabbing the 3D virtual object.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for detecting a quick slide on either of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

means for spinning the 3D virtual object in a direction corresponding to a direction of the quick slide and at a speed based on a speed of the quick slide.

26. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for detecting opposed motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

means for rotating the 3D virtual object about a center of the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the opposed motion.

27. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for detecting unidirectional motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

means for sliding the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the unidirectional motion.

28. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for detecting motion on one of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

means for rotating the 3D virtual object about a side opposite the one of the two opposed sensors in a direction based on a direction of the motion.

29. The device of claim 24, further comprising:

means for detecting a squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

means for virtually squeezing the 3D virtual object in a direction based on the squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising:

means for determining whether the 3D virtual object is elastic;

means for maintaining a new shape of the 3D virtual object if the 3D virtual object is not elastic; and

means for returning to the 3D virtual object to an original shape if the 3D virtual object is elastic.

31. A machine readable medium, comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting a press on a 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for moving the 3D virtual object in response to the press.

32. The machine readable medium of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting a release of the press on the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for stopping the 3D virtual object.

33. The machine readable medium of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting a bump on the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for moving the 3D virtual object in response to the bump, wherein the 3D virtual object is move a distance generated based on the bump.

34. The machine readable medium of claim 31, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting a touch on each of two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for virtually grabbing the 3D virtual object.

35. The machine readable medium of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting a quick slide on either of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for spinning the 3D virtual object in a direction corresponding to a direction of the quick slide and at a speed based on a speed of the quick slide.

36. The machine readable medium of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting opposed motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for rotating the 3D virtual object about a center of the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the opposed motion.

37. The machine readable medium of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting unidirectional motion on each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for sliding the 3D virtual object in a direction based on a direction of the unidirectional motion.

38. The machine readable medium of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting motion on one of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for rotating the 3D virtual object about a side opposite the one of the two opposed sensors in a direction based on a direction of the motion.

39. The machine readable medium of claim 34, further comprising:

at least one instruction for detecting a squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array; and

at least one instruction for virtually squeezing the 3D virtual object in a direction based on the squeeze between each of the two opposed sensors in the 3D sensor array.

40. The machine readable medium of claim 39, further comprising:

means for determining whether the 3D virtual object is elastic;

means for maintaining a new shape of the 3D virtual object if the 3D virtual object is not elastic; and

means for returning to the 3D virtual object to an original shape if the 3D virtual object is elastic.