Computer control with heads-up display

• US 9,217,866 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
• Inventors: Scales, John Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): CERULLO, LILIANA P
• Application Number:
  US12/172,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,717 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 345 7- 9, 340901-905, 359630-633, 348/115, 341 20- 35, 463 1- 3, 463 49- 57, 700/83, 715856-861
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0189 Sight systems

Abstract

A method, computer-readable medium and apparatus are described for providing a user interface control for use with a manipulable object, such as a weapon. As the object is moved, images from a video camera are projected into a heads-up display. A user of the object may activate a user interface control by pressing a button on the object, causing an image of a user interface control to be projected into the heads-up display. Movement of the object may cause a cursor to be moved across the heads-up display, allowing the user to select user interface features without removing hands from the object. Pressing a button may cause a mouse click command to be generated, allowing the user to type or perform other functions.

Claims

1. A weapon system comprising:

a weapon having mounted thereon at least one switch, a video camera, and a measurement device configured to output signals indicative of movement of the weapon;

a heads-up display providing a field of view and configured to project a first image into a first eye of a wearer; and

a computer programmed with executable instructions that, when executed by the computer, perform;

outputting the first image to the heads-up display;

detecting activation of the at least one switch and, in response thereto, replacing the first image with an image of a computer control function including a cursor;

detecting movement of the weapon from the measurement device; and

causing the cursor to move on the image of the computer control function in response to movement of the weapon.

2. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein the executable instructions further perform:

detecting activation of a second switch mounted on the weapon and, in response thereto, generating a mouse click command.

3. The weapon system of claim 2, wherein the executable instructions further perform:

detecting a second activation of the first switch and, in response thereto, removing the image of the computer control function from the heads-up display.