POINTING DEVICE, CONTROLLING METHOD OF THE SAME, GLASSES FOR 3D IMAGE, AND DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20110316778A1
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHUNG, Ji-min
• Application Number:
  US12/917,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• 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: H04N 13/332 Displays for viewing with the aid of special glasses or head-mounted displays [HMD]

Abstract

A pointing device includes: a communication unit which performs communication with glasses for viewing a 3D image and a display apparatus; and a control unit which controls the communication unit to perform communication with the glasses, detects a reference distance between the glasses and the pointing device and a measurement distance between the glasses and the pointing device, and determines depth information for 3D pointing based on the reference distance and the measurement distance.

Claims

1. A pointing device comprising:

a communication unit which performs communication with glasses for viewing a three-dimensional (3D) image and a display apparatus; and

a control unit which controls the communication unit to perform communication with the glasses, detects a reference distance between the glasses and the pointing device, detects a measurement distance between the glasses and the pointing device, and determines depth information for 3D pointing based on the reference distance and the measurement distance.

2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the reference distance corresponds to a maximum distance between the glasses and the pointing device.

3. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a user input unit which receives an input from a user,

wherein the control unit detects the reference distance in response to the input from the user.

4. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the depth information for the 3D pointing is determined based on a ratio of the measurement distance to the reference distance.

5. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit comprises a transmission element which transmits an ultrasonic wave, and

wherein the control unit detects the reference distance and the measurement distance based on an amount of time for the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission element to reach the glasses, and on an ultrasonic wave speed.

6. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit comprises a transceiving element which transceives an ultrasonic wave, and

wherein the control unit detects the reference distance and the measurement distance based on an amount of time for the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transceiving element to reach the glasses and return to the pointing device, and on an ultrasonic wave speed.

7. The pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a motion detection unit which detects motion of the pointing device,

wherein the control unit calculates coordinates for the 3D pointing based on information detected by the motion detection unit and the depth information for the 3D pointing.

8. The pointing device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the communication unit to transmit information on coordinates for the 3D pointing to the display apparatus.

9. A method of controlling a pointing device for use with a three-dimensional (3D) display apparatus, the method comprising:

determining a reference distance;

detecting a measurement distance between a pair of glasses and the pointing device; and

determining depth information of 3D pointing on the display apparatus based on the reference distance and the measurement distance.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the reference distance corresponds to a maximum distance between the glasses and the pointing device.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving an input from a user,

wherein the reference distance is detected in response to the input from the user.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the depth information for the 3D pointing is determined based on a ratio of the measurement distance to the reference distance.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pointing device comprises a transmission element which transmits an ultrasonic wave, and

wherein the reference distance and the measurement distance are detected based on an amount of time for the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmission element to reach the glasses, and on an ultrasonic wave speed.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pointing device comprises a transceiving element which transceives an ultrasonic wave, and

wherein the reference distance and the measurement distance are detected based on an amount of time for the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transceiving element to reach the glasses and return to the pointing device, and on an ultrasonic wave speed.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pointing device comprises a motion detection unit which detects motion of the pointing device, and

wherein coordinates for the 3D pointing are calculated based on information detected by the motion detection unit and the depth information for the 3D pointing.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein information on the coordinates for the 3D pointing is transmitted to a display apparatus.

17. Glasses for viewing a three-dimensional (3D) image, the glasses comprising:

a communication unit which performs communication with a pointing device and a display apparatus; and

a control unit which controls the communication unit to perform communication with the pointing device, detects a reference distance between the glasses and the pointing device, detects a measurement distance between the glasses and the pointing device, and determines depth information for 3D pointing based on the reference distance and the measurement distance.

18. A display apparatus comprising:

a communication unit which performs communication with a pointing device and glasses for viewing a three-dimensional (3D) image; and

a control unit which controls the communication unit to receive a reference distance between the glasses and the pointing device and a measurement distance between the glasses and the pointing device from at least one of the pointing device and the glasses, and determines depth information for 3D pointing based on the received reference distance and measurement distance.