Wearable remote control with a single control button

• US 8,508,472 B1
• Filed: 01/02/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synergy Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: James W. Wieder
• Inventors: Wieder, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US13/342,131
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-181
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the remote control and/or interaction-with electronic-devices such as computers; home-entertainment-systems; media-centers; televisions; DVD-players; VCR-players; music systems; appliances; security systems; toys/games; and/or displays. A user may orient a pointer (e.g., laser pointer) to place a pointer-spot on/near object(s) on an active-display(s); and/or a fixed-display(s); and/or on real-world object(s) within a display region or pointer-spot detection-region. Detectors, imager(s) and/or camera(s) may be connected/attached to the display region and/or a structure that is connected/attached to display region. When the user initiates a “select”, the detectors/cameras may detect the location of the pointer-spot within the display region. Corresponding to the user'"'"'s selection(s); control action(s) may be performed on the device(s) being controlled/interacted-with and additional selection-menus may be optionally presented on an active-display.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:

a wearable unit having an opening sized to be worn on a hand or finger(s) of a user;

a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said wearable unit, wherein a pointer-spot of light is projected when said pointer is activated;

a wireless interface incorporated as part of said wearable unit;

an actuator incorporated as part of said wearable unit, so that when the user is wearing said wearable unit, the user is able to actuate said actuator with a thumb of a hand the wearable unit is being worn on;

wherein, when a first action on said actuator by the user is detected, the light-emitting pointer is activated, and a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to turn-on an active control-display in a detection-region, and to cause selectable-objects to appear in said detection-region;

wherein, when the user is wearing said wearable unit, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said detection-region while the user is able to activate the actuator with a second action;

wherein when a second action on said actuator by the user is detected, a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to cause detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said detection-region, and to cause a processor or processors, to analyze said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near;

wherein when a selectable-object is determined to have been selected by the pointer-spot, the processor sends control information to affect at least one electronic device.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuator is activated with a thumb of a hand the wearable unit is being worn on, to do said first and said second actions.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein there is only a single actuator;

wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by the user, to do said first and said second actions.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the selectable-object that the pointer-spot is on or near, is determined without displaying or moving a cursor on an active-display.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said analysis by said processor, utilizes information that defines areas or locations in said detection-region that are seen by individual detectors.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic-devices;

wherein said control information is sent to a plurality of electronic devices that are attached to the network;

wherein the network automatically incorporates a newly connected electronic-device into the network, or automatically removes a newly disconnected electronic-device from the network;

wherein selectable-objects for a newly connected electronic-device are automatically included in said detection-region;

wherein selectable-objects for a newly disconnected electronic-device are automatically removed from said detection-region.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein some of the selectable-objects in said detection-region represent control buttons for a plurality of electronic entertainment devices;

and said control information is sent across a network to control a plurality of the electronic entertainment devices.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said detectors are limited to detecting wavelengths that correspond to said light-emitting pointer.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein fixed-objects, representing controls for an electronic-device, are in said detection-region.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by the user;

wherein said first action is to push the actuator from an off-position into a second position and the said second action is to push the actuator further into a third position.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by the user;

wherein said first action is to push said actuator from an off-position into a second position; and

the said second action is to release said actuator, so said actuator automatically returns to said off-position.

14. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuator only moves in a substantially single axis when actuated by the user;

wherein said first action;

is to push said actuator from an off position into a second position and then release said actuator so it returns to said off position;

wherein said second action is to push the actuator from an off position into said second position and then release said actuator so it returns to said off position;

wherein said second action is effective only if said second action is detected before a time-out period has elapsed.

15. Apparatus as in claim 1 further including said detection-region;

wherein detectors or imager(s) or camera(s), are physically attached-to or physically integrated-into said detection-region;

wherein an area imaged by each detector in said detection-region, does not change when said detection-region or an active-display, is moved or re-oriented.

16. Apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic-devices;

wherein said control information is sent to a plurality of electronic devices that are attached to said network;

wherein the network automatically incorporates a newly connected electronic-device into said network, or automatically removes a newly disconnected electronic-device from said network.

17. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said detectors are distributed across an area of said detection-region;

wherein a distance between detectors, is less than a diameter of said pointer-spot.

18. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein activities resulting from said first action are undone, unless said second action is detected before a time-out period has elapsed.

19. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said detection-region comprises an active-display;

wherein a portion of said active-display imaged by each of said detectors does not change, when said active-display is moved or re-oriented.

20. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein locations in said detection-region that each detector images, is set during manufacture of said detection-region;

wherein said detectors image same said locations in said detection-region, when said detection-region is moved or re-oriented.

21. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said opening is adjustable to different sized hands or fingers of a plurality of different users.

22. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein if prior to said first action, entertainment content without selectable-objects is being displayed on an active-display in said detection-region;

then said first action causes the active-display to display selectable-objects on said active-display.

10. Apparatus for remotely controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:

an active-display;

wherein detectors or imager(s) or camera(s), are physically attached-to or physically integrated-into said active-display;

wherein each detector images a same location in said active-display, when said active-display is moved or re-oriented;

a wearable unit having an opening sized to be worn on a hand or finger(s) of a user;

a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said wearable unit, wherein a pointer-spot of light is projected when said pointer is activated;

a wireless interface incorporated as part of said wearable unit;

an actuator incorporated as part of said wearable unit, so that when the user is wearing said wearable unit, the user is able to actuate the actuator with a thumb of a hand the wearable unit is being worn on;

wherein, when a first action on said actuator by the user is detected, said light-emitting pointer is activated, and a control signal is sent across said wireless interface to cause selectable-objects to appear in said active-display;

wherein, when the user is wearing said wearable unit, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said active-display while the user is able to activate said actuator with a second action;

wherein when a second action on said actuator by the user is detected, a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to cause detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said active-display, and to cause a processor or processors, to analyze said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near in said active-display;

wherein when a selectable-object is determined to have been selected by the pointer-spot, the processor sends control information to affect at least one electronic device.

11. Apparatus for controlling one or more electronic devices, comprising:

a wearable unit having an opening sized to be worn on a hand or finger(s) of a user;

a light-emitting pointer incorporated as part of said wearable unit, wherein a pointer-spot of light is projected when said pointer is activated;

a wireless interface incorporated as part of said wearable unit;

only a single actuator, incorporated as part of said wearable unit, so that when the user is wearing said wearable unit, the user is able to actuate said actuator with a thumb of a hand the wearable unit is being worn on;

wherein, when a first action on said actuator by the user is detected, the light-emitting pointer is activated, and a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to turn-on an active control-display in a detection-region, and to cause selectable-objects to appear in said detection-region;

wherein, when the user is wearing said wearable unit, the user is able to place the pointer-spot onto a selectable-object in said detection-region while the user is able to activate the actuator with a second action;

wherein when a second action on said actuator by the user is detected, a control signal is sent across the wireless interface to cause detectors to capture an image or images of said pointer-spot in said detection-region, and to cause a processor or processors, to analyze said captured image or images to determine which selectable-object, the pointer-spot is on or near;

wherein when a selectable-object is determined to have been selected by the pointer-spot, the processor sends control information to affect at least one electronic device.