Input apparatus, control apparatus, and control method for input apparatus

• US 8,982,048 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kabasawa, Hidetoshi, Yamamoto, Kazuyuki, Mamiya, Toshio, Fuchigami, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US12/645,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/158, 715856-562, 710 1- 74
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0383 Remote input, i.e. interface arrangements in which the signals generated by a pointing device are transmitted to a PC at a remote location, e.g. to a PC in a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• 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 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An input apparatus capable of transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation of a user to a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, includes a first detection section, a second detection section, and a mode switch section. The first detection section detects analog information on a movement of the input apparatus made by the user. The second detection section detects digital information input by the user. The mode switch section makes a switch between a first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on the analog information detected by the first detection means and a second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on the digital information detected by the second detection means, in association with the display screen displayed on the control apparatus.

Claims

1. An input apparatus capable of transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation by a user to a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, comprising:

a transmission means configured to wirelessly transfer data to the control apparatus;

first detection means for detecting analog information of a movement of the input apparatus made by the user;

second detection means for detecting digital information input by the user;

processing means for processing information detected by the first detection means and the second detection means, the processing means having an operation frequency; and

mode switch means for making a switch between a first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on the analog information detected by the first detection means and a second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on the digital information detected by the second detection means, in association with a display screen displayed on the control apparatus, the mode switch means being configured to transmit to the control apparatus the first signal for making a switch to a first display screen corresponding to the first mode in response to the detection of the analog information indicating the switch to the first mode, and to transmit to the control apparatus the second signal for making a switch to a second display screen corresponding to the second mode in response to the detection of the digital information indicating the switch to the second mode;

wherein the first detection means comprises a means for sensing an angular velocity and/or an acceleration of the input apparatus, the mode switch means is configured to power down the means for sensing in response to making a switch from the first mode to the second mode, the mode switch means is configured to increase a data transfer rate of the transmission means in response to making a switch from the second mode to the first mode, and the mode switch means is configured to modify the operation frequency of the processing means in response to switching between the first mode and the second mode.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the input apparatus is a handheld apparatus.

3. An input apparatus capable of transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation of a user to a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, comprising:

a transmission section to wirelessly transfer data to the control apparatus;

a first detection section to detect analog information of a movement of the input apparatus made by the user;

a second detection section to detect digital information input by the user;

a processing section to process information detected by the first detection section and the second detection section, the processing section having an operation frequency; and

a mode switch section to make a switch between a first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on the analog information detected by the first detection section and a second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on the digital information detected by the second detection section, in association with a display screen displayed on the control apparatus, the mode switch section being configured to transmit to the control apparatus the first signal for making a switch to a first display screen corresponding to the first mode in response to the detection of the analog information indicating the switch to the first mode, and to transmit to the control apparatus the second signal for making a switch to a second display screen corresponding to the second mode in response to the detection of the digital information indicating the switch to the second mode;

wherein the first detection section comprises one or more sensors for sensing an angular velocity and/or an acceleration of the input apparatus, the mode switch section is configured to power down the one or more sensors in response to making a switch from the first mode to the second mode, the mode switch section is configured to increase a data transfer rate of the transmission section in response to making a switch from the second mode to the first mode, and the mode switch section is configured to modify the operation frequency of the processing section in response to switching between the first mode and the second mode.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the mode switch section makes a switch between the first mode and the second mode in response to a first mode switch command transmitted to the input apparatus from the control apparatus.

5. The input apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein the mode switch section makes a switch between the first mode and the second mode in response to a second mode switch command input by the user, and

wherein the mode switch section transmits to the control apparatus a signal for making a switch between the first display screen corresponding to the first mode and the second display screen corresponding to the second mode.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising

a response section to output to the control apparatus a response signal for notifying that the first mode switch command has been acquired.

7. The input apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the mode switch section controls on/off of an operation of the first detection section.

8. The input apparatus according to claim 7,

wherein the first detection section includes a plurality of detection sections the operations of which can be controlled individually to be turned on/off, and

wherein the mode switch section individually controls on/off of the operations of the plurality of detection sections.

9. The input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mode switch section is configured to modify an operation frequency comprising a clock speed of the processing section in response to switching between the first mode and the second mode.

10. The input apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the mode switch section is configured to switch the operation frequency of the processing section from a first value to a second value smaller than the first value in response to a switch from the first mode to the second mode, and

wherein the mode switch section is configured to switch the operation frequency of the processing section from the second value to the first value in response to a switch from the second mode to the first mode.

11. A control method for an input apparatus capable of transmitting a signal corresponding to an operation by a user to a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, the input apparatus comprising a transmitter for wirelessly transferring data to the control apparatus, at least one sensor for sensing an angular velocity and/or an acceleration of the input apparatus, and a processing unit for processing the angular velocity and/or acceleration sensed by the at least one sensor, the method comprising:

detecting, via the at least one sensor, analog information of a movement of the input apparatus made by the user;

detecting digital information input by the user;

switching between a first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on the detected analog information and a second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on the detected digital information, in association with a display screen displayed on the control apparatus, the switching comprising transmitting to the control apparatus the first signal for making a switch to a first display screen corresponding to the first mode in response to the detection of the analog information indicating the switch to the first mode, and transmitting to the control apparatus the second signal for making a switch to a second display screen corresponding to the second mode in response to the detection of the digital information indicating the switch to the second mode;

if the switching is from the first mode to the second mode, powering down the at least one sensor and reducing an operation frequency of the processing unit in response to the switching; and

if the switching is from the second mode to the first mode, increasing a data transfer rate of the transmitter and increasing an operation frequency of the processing unit in response to the switching.