Computer input device using an orientation sensor

• US 5,142,655 A
• Filed: 10/07/1991
• Issued: 08/25/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Wang Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Drumm, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Augustus, Jhancy
• Application Number:
  US07/772,195
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 379/387, 379/354, 379/355, 379/52, 340/825.14, 340/706, 340/707, 340/709, 340/710, 341/20, 341/21, 273/148 B, 273/438, 273/439, 200/52 A, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.52, 200/6 A, 200/52 R, 73/653, 73/655, 73/505, 250/573, 250/574, 250/575, 250/577, 33/365, 33/366, 33/377, 400/87, 434/112, 434/258, 434/111, 434/325
• US Class Current: 379/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• 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 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

A device for controlling a cursor on a data terminal display screen. The device is in the form of a headset and includes an orientation sensor which provides an electrical signal related to the orientation of the device without it being adjacent to any fixed surface. The orientation sensor includes a hollow spherical housing having at least one light source/detector pair mounted opposingly in the inner wall, along an axis extending through the center point of the housing. The housing is half-filled with a transparent liquid having a specified viscosity and index of refraction and half-filled with air. Light beams emitted from the sources are refracted upon passing through the boundary between the air and the liquid. As the orientation sensor rotates with respect to the vertical axis, the changing refraction angle of the light beam causes the detector to sense changing intensities of light, which are representative of the angle of rotation. Multiple light source/detector pairs spaced within the spherical housing allow measurement of direction and magnitude of angular change. Integral with the input device is a speaker independent voice control circuit which recognized short isolated command words ending in voiced or fricative sounds for controlling display functions.

Claims

1. A telephone system comprising

a user-movable housing;

sensor means, coupled to the housing, for sensing the magnitude and direction of angular displacement of the housing for a continuous range of angles relative to a vertical axis for a continuous range of directions and generating first electrical signals representative thereof;

voice control means, including a microphone and an earphone, for detecting and discriminating at least two vocal sounds, and generating second electrical signals representative thereof;

interface means, coupled to the sensor means and the voice control means, for translating said first electrical signals into cursor position control signals and for translating said second electrical signals into computer command signals for transmission to a computer;

a display screen;

a computer programmed to control the position of a cursor on said display screen in response to cursor position control signals and programmed to display at least one telephone operation icon; and

telephone circuit means, coupled to a telephone line, to said interface means, and to said earphone and microphone for processing standard telephone transmission signals, said telephone circuit means being responsive to selection of said telephone operation icon;

wherein a user initiates standard telephone operations by moving a cursor relative to said telephone operation icon and issuing audio commands, and wherein a telephone conversation is conducted using said microphone and earphone.