ORIENTING A USER INTERFACE OF A CONTROLLER FOR OPERATING A SELF-PROPELLED DEVICE

• US 20120173049A1
• Filed: 01/03/2012
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sphero Inc.
• Original Assignee: Orbotix Incorporated
• Inventors: BERNSTEIN, Ian H., Wilson, Adam, Smith, Brian Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,751,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/005 Motorised rolling toys
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0044 by providing the operator with a computer generated representation of the environment of the vehicle, e.g. virtual reality, maps maps used for automatic navigation G05D1/0274; flight directors G01C23/005
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0259 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0891 specially adapted for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame. A controller device is operable by a user to control the self-propelled device. The controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device. The controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a self-propelled device, wherein the self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame;

a controller device operable by a user to control the self-propelled device, wherein the controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device;

wherein the self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device;

wherein the controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is substantially spherical.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the self-propelled device includes one or more features that identify the orientation of the self-propelled device to an observer of the self-propelled device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more features of the self-propelled device includes a light emitting component.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface of the controller device includes content comprising a virtual steering mechanism for the self-propelled device, and wherein the virtual steering mechanism is provided in an orientation that reflects the orientation of the self-propelled device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual steering mechanism is provided a reference that is aligned directionally with the one or more features that mark the orientation of the self-propelled device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller device is configured to detect a movement of the controller device, and to re-orient the reference of the steering mechanism so that it is aligned directionally with the one or more features that mark the orientation of the self-propelled device after the controller device is moved.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller device is configured to detect the movement of the controller device using one or more accelerometers and/or magnetometer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the self-propelled device is configured to signal the information repeatedly to the controller device in order to enable the controller device to orient the user interface during or after the self-propelled device has moved.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the self-propelled device includes a wireless communication port to signal the controller device the information.

11. A self-propelled device comprising:

a housing;

one or more processors;

one or more sensors, wherein the one or more processors determine a reference frame based on input from the one or more sensors;

a wireless communication port;

wherein the self-propelled device is configured to signal a controller device, over the wireless communication port, information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device.

12. The self-propelled device of claim 11, wherein the signaled information includes information that identifies a forward-facing direction of the housing

13. The self-propelled device of claim 11, further comprising one or more features that indicate the forward-facing direction of the self-propelled device based on the determined reference frame.

14. The self-propelled device of claim 13, wherein the one or more features include a light-emitting component.

15. The self-propelled device of claim 13, wherein the one or more features include a light-emitting diode.

16. The self-propelled device of claim 13, the one or more features are provided on surface that coincides with the forward-facing direction.

17. The self-propelled device of claim 11, wherein the housing is substantially spherical.

18. A controller device comprising:

one or more processors;

a display screen;

a wireless communication port;

a memory that stores instructions, including instructions for controlling a self-propelled device;

wherein the processor operates to;

generate a user interface for controlling at least a directional movement of the self-propelled device;

receive information from the self-propelled device over the wireless communication port indicating an orientation of the self-propelled device; and

configure the user interface to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.

19. The controller device of claim 18, wherein the user interface content includes a virtual steering mechanism for controlling directional movements of the self-propelled device, wherein the virtual steering mechanism is provided in an orientation that reflects the orientation of the self-propelled device.

20. The controller device of claim 19, wherein the virtual steering mechanism is provided a reference that is aligned directionally with the one or more features that mark the orientation of the self-propelled device.

21. The controller device of claim 20, further comprising one or more sensors, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to detect a movement and an orientation of the controller device using the one or more sensors, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to re-orient the reference of the steering mechanism so that it is aligned directionally with the orientation of the self-propelled device after the controller device is moved.