Control of display content by movement on a fixed spherical space

• US 7,365,734 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rembrandt IP Management, LLC
• Inventors: Valdes, Ray, Masiewicz, John, Fateh, Sina
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US10/775,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 463 36- 39
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer

Abstract

The present invention addresses the above described problems by simplifying the assumptions on possible motions made by a user. This simplification process can take place by making an assumption that the motion of the device will travel along a certain preferential motion arc, which will be referred to herein as the “Javal arc.” Calculations of motions of the device can be made based on these Javal arcs. Additionally, the double integration of each accelerometer is now eliminated and the expensive accelerometers are replaced by two magnetic sensors.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a display on a portable electronic device, the method comprising the computer-implemented acts of:

detecting a motion of said portable electronic device relative to a fixed point, wherein said motion follows a preferential motion arc that is natural to eye and/or hand coordination of holder of said portable electronic device;

calculating a position of said portable electronic device based on said motion that is relative to said fixed point;

calculating and analyzing said motion; and

adjusting said display based on said motion and on said position, if said motion corresponds to a user command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of detecting said motion further comprising:

receiving input from motion sensors which can detect said motion of said portable electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of calculating a position is based on a Javal coordinate system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of calculating and analyzing said motion is based on a Javal arc coordinate system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of calculating and analyzing said motion further comprises measuring changes in a magnetic field.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said act of calculating and analyzing said motion further comprises measuring one or more angles corresponding to a position of said portable electronic device relative to said fixed point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said motion is modeled mathematically by a virtual surface of a virtual thin-walled shell that is approximately spherical in shape.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein an origin of said Javal arc is said fixed point.

9. A controller for a display on a portable electronic device, the controller comprising:

at least one accelerometer for measuring a motion of said portable electronic device, wherein said motion follows a preferential motion arc that is natural to eye and/or hand coordination of holder of said portable electronic device;

at least one magnetic sensor for measuring said motion; and

logic for calculating said motion and for calculating a position of said portable electronic device based on one or more measurements from said at least one accelerometer and said at least one magnetic sensor.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein said motion is modeled by a pre-defined path.

11. The controller of claim 9, wherein said motion is modeled by a Javal arc.

12. The controller of claim 9, wherein said motion is based on a Javal coordinate system.

13. A method for controlling a device, the method comprising the computer-implemented acts of:

calculating and analyzing a motion of said device relative to a fixed point from said device, wherein said motion follows a preferential motion arc that is natural to eye and/or hand coordination of holder of said portable electronic device; and

determining if said motion corresponds to a user command;

adjusting at least one aspect of a display on said device based on said motion when said motion corresponds to a user command.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said acts of calculating and analyzing said motion further comprising:

receiving input from motion sensors which can detect said motion of said device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said motion sensors are attached to said device.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

calculating a position of said device based on said motion that is relative to said fixed point.

17. A controller for a display on a portable electronic device, the controller comprising:

two accelerometers for measuring a motion of said portable electronic device, wherein said motion follows a preferential motion arc that is natural to eye and/or hand coordination of holder of said portable electronic device;

at least one magnetic sensor for measuring said motion; and

logic for calculating said motion and for calculating a position of said portable electronic device based on one or more measurements from said two accelerometers and said at least one magnetic sensor.

18. A controller for a display on a portable electronic device, the controller comprising:

one gyroscope for measuring a motion of said portable electronic device,

wherein said motion follows a preferential motion arc that is natural to eye

and/or hand coordination of holder of said portable electronic device;

at least one magnetic sensor for measuring said motion; and

logic for calculating said motion and for calculating a position of said portable electronic device based on one or more measurements from said one gyroscope and said at least one magnetic sensor.

19. A controller for a display on a portable electronic device, the controller comprising:

one accelerometer for measuring a motion of said portable electronic device, wherein said motion follows a preferential motion arc that is natural to eye and/or hand coordination of holder of said portable electronic device;

two magnetic sensors for measuring said motion; and

logic for calculating said motion and for calculating a position of said portable electronic device based on one or more measurements from said one accelerometer and said two magnetic sensors.