Apparatus and method for operating a user interface of a device

• US 9,507,425 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakoshi, Sho, Kondo, Kazumoto, Shintani, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abebe, Sosina
• Application Number:
  US13/786,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20140253460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-178, 178/18.01, 178/18.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Certain aspects of an apparatus and a method for operating a user interface of a device may comprise a plurality of sensors coupled to a surface. The plurality of sensors may detect a movement of an object within a pre-defined distance from the surface. The one or more sensors may generate one or more signals in response to the detected movement. One or more processors that are communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors may generate a control signal corresponding to the one or more generated signals to operate the user interface of the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for operating a user interface of a device, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sensors, wherein said plurality of sensors are configured to be coupled to a surface, wherein said plurality of sensors are operable to;

detect a movement of an object within a pre-defined distance from said surface; and

generate one or more signals in response to said detected movement; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled to said plurality of sensors, wherein said one or more processors are operable to;

determine at least three locations of said object obtained as a result of said movement based on said one or more signals generated by said plurality of sensors;

determine a closed region formed by connecting said determined at least three locations of said object; and

generate a control signal corresponding to said one or more generated signals, based on a polarity of an area of said determined closed region, to operate said user interface of said device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pre-defined distance is based on a surface area detected by said plurality of sensors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pre-defined distance extends above and/or below said surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors are operable to track said movement of said object along a path within said pre-defined distance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said plurality of sensors are operable to track said movement by determining said at least three locations of said object along said path.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are operable to determine a pair of coordinates in a two-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to each of said determined at least three locations.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of said determined pair of coordinates is indicative of a position of each of said determined at least three locations in said two-dimensional coordinate system.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said closed region is formed by a plurality of said determined pair of coordinates in said two-dimensional coordinate system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are operable to determine said polarity of said area of said determined closed region based on vector analysis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are operable to determine a direction of said movement based on said polarity of said area, wherein said determined direction of said movement corresponds to an operation associated with said device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said movement comprises one or both of:

a clockwise movement and/or a counter-clockwise movement resulting in said determined closed region.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises an ultrasonic sensor and/or an infra-red sensor.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said one or more processors are operable to determine a pair of an X coordinate and a Y coordinate in a two-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to each of said determined at least three locations of said object along a path within said pre-defined distance.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said one or more processors are operable to:

determine a difference between X coordinates of each pair of subsequent locations of said object along said path;

determine a sum of Y coordinates of said each pair of subsequent locations;

determine a product of said determined difference between X coordinates and said determined sum of Y coordinates of said each pair of subsequent locations;

determine a sum of plurality of said determined products for a plurality of said pairs of subsequent locations; and

determine said polarity of said area of said determined closed region based on said determined sum of plurality of said determined products.

13. A method for operating a user interface of a device, said method comprising:

detecting a movement of an object within a pre-defined distance from a surface;

generating one or more signals in response to said detected movement;

determining at least three locations of said object obtained as a result of said movement based on said generated one or more signals;

determining a closed region formed by connecting said determined at least three locations of said object; and

generating a control signal corresponding to said one or more generated signals, based on a polarity of an area of said determined closed region, to operate said user interface of said device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising tracking said movement of said object along a path within said pre-defined distance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said tracking comprises determining said at least three locations of said object along said path.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a pair of coordinates in a two-dimensional coordinate system corresponding to each of said determined at least three locations, wherein each of said determined pair of coordinates is indicative of a position of each of said determined at least three locations in said two-dimensional coordinate system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said closed region is formed by a plurality of said determined pair of coordinates in said two-dimensional coordinate system.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining said polarity of said area of said determined closed region.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a direction of said movement based on said polarity of said area, wherein said determined direction of said movement corresponds to an operation associated with said device.

20. A device for interaction, said device comprising:

one or more processors and/or circuits in said device that is configured to be communicatively coupled to an apparatus, wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to;

receive a control signal from said apparatus, wherein said control signal is generated by said apparatus in response to detection of a movement of an object within a pre-defined distance from a surface, wherein said control signal is generated by said apparatus based on determination of a closed region formed by connecting at least three locations of said object obtained as a result of said movement and a polarity of an area of the closed region formed as a result of said movement; and

operate a user interface of said device based on said received control signal.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein said movement comprises one or both of:

a clockwise movement and/or a counter-clockwise movement resulting in said closed region.