Remote control handset

• US 8,193,902 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takaki, Goro, Newton-Dunn, Henry, Ibars, Roger, Liu, Chris Shi-Chai
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorsey, Renee
• Application Number:
  US12/265,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20090201168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

A remote control handset for intuitively navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure. The remote control handset of the present invention is not required to have any buttons. The remote control handset has a first control surface, and a second control surface. The first control surface has a substantially planar portion and allows navigation with a level of the hierarchical menu structure. The second control surface has a component in an axis that is normal to the substantially planar portion of the first control surface, and is for navigating between the levels of the hierarchical menu structure.

Claims

1. A remote control handset for navigating a user interface of an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure with at least two levels, the remote control handset being defined by a first axis extending in a width direction of the remote control handset between opposite respective sides and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and extending in a longitudinal direction of the remote control handset, the remote control handset comprising:

a first surface having a substantially planar portion extending in the width direction between said opposite respective sides and that lies substantially in a plane defined by the first axis and the second axis; and

a second surface extending in the width direction between said opposite respective sides, adjacent to the first surface in the longitudinal direction, and having a component in a third axis that is orthogonal to the first and second axes,

wherein the first surface forms a first control surface configured to allow navigation within a level of the menu structure; and

the second surface forms a second control surface configured to allow navigation between the levels of the menu structure.

2. A remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein

the first axis is in a width direction of the first control surface;

the second axis is provided in a longitudinal direction of the first control surface; and

a cross-section taken at a constant position in the second axis direction, through the first control surface or the second control surface, is a straight line having a constant position in the third axis direction.

3. A remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the second control surface is planar.

4. A remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein the first control surface and the second control surface are immediately adjacent each other.

5. A remote control handset according to claim 4, wherein the first control surface and the second control surface form a single surface having a continuous gradient.

6. A remote control handset according to claim 1, further comprising a third surface, wherein

the third surface is directly connected to both the first control surface and the second control surface so as to join the first control surface and the second control surface together.

7. A remote control handset according to claim 6, wherein the first control surface, the second control surface, and the third surface form a single surface having a continuous gradient.

8. A remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein one or both of the control surfaces comprises a touchpad.

9. A remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first control surface and the second control surface is configured to be responsive to movement of a finger across its/their surface.

10. A remote control handset according to claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor configured to detect a specific movement of the handset, wherein

the remote control handset is configured to send a specific command to the entertainment device when the motion sensor senses the specific movement of the handset.

11. A remote control handset according to claim 10, wherein the motion sensor comprises a gyroscopic motion sensor.

12. A remote control handset according to claim 10, wherein the specific movement that the motion sensor is configured to detect comprises acceleration or deceleration of the remote control handset that is above a pre-determined magnitude.

13. A remote control handset according to claim 10, wherein the specific command that is sent to the entertainment device causes the entertainment device to be either turned on, or turned off.

14. A remote control handset according to claim 1, wherein the remote control handset is configured to control a television set via a graphical user interface.

15. A control apparatus for an entertainment device comprising:

a remote control handset according to claim 1; and

a user interface for an entertainment device, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure with at least two levels, wherein

the remote control handset is configured to navigate the user interface.

16. An entertainment system comprising:

the control apparatus of claim 15; and

an entertainment device, wherein

the control apparatus is configured to control the entertainment device.

17. A method of navigating a user interface for an entertainment device using a remote control handset that is defined by a first axis extending in a width direction of the remote control handset between opposite respective sides and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and extending in a longitudinal direction of the remote control handset, the user interface having a hierarchical menu structure, the method comprising:

providing the remote control handset having a first control surface and a second control surface;

arranging the first control surface with a substantially planar portion extending in the width direction between said opposite respective sides and that lies substantially in a plane defined by the first axis and the second axis;

arranging the second control surface extending in the width direction between said opposite respective sides, adjacent to the first surface in the longitudinal direction, and with a component in a third axis that is orthogonal to the first and second axes;

navigating within a level of the hierarchical menu structure using the first control surface; and

navigating between the levels of the hierarchical menu structure using the second control surface.