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

• US 9,569,012 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• 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:
  US14/620,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20150220165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 information processing apparatus for use in switching display among a plurality of display screens, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a processing section to process information produced by at least one sensor as a result of a user operation, the processing section having an operation frequency; and

a mode switch section to initiate a switch between a first mode in which a first signal that is based on first information is processed and a second mode in which a second signal that is based on second information is processed, in association with a display screen, the mode switch section being configured to process the first signal for transitioning to a first display screen corresponding to the first mode in response to detection of first information indicating a switch to the first mode, and to process the second signal for transitioning to a second display screen corresponding to the second mode in response to detection of second information indicating a switch to the second mode;

wherein the mode switch section is configured to reduce consumption of power in response to initiating a switch between the first mode and the second mode by modifying an operation frequency of the processing section.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in communication with a control apparatus, wherein the mode switch section is to initiate a switch between the first mode and the second mode in response to a first mode switch command transmitted to the information processing apparatus.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, 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.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in communication with a control apparatus, wherein the mode switch section is to initiate 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 is to transmit 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.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode switch section is to control an on/off operation of the at least one sensor.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor includes a plurality of sensors, the operations of which can be controlled individually to be turned on/off, and wherein the mode switch section is to individually control on/off of the operations of the plurality of sensors.

7. The information processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode switch section is further configured to reduce consumption of power by initiating one or more of a plurality of actions which comprises causing one or more sensors of the at least one sensor to be powered down, modifying a rate at which information is transmitted, and modifying a power supply voltage.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, 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

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.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a handheld apparatus.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, in communication with a control apparatus, wherein the mode switch section is to initiate a switch between the first mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a first signal that is based on first information, and the second mode for transmitting to the control apparatus a second signal that is based on second information.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, comprising an input apparatus, wherein the processing section is to process information produced by the at least one sensor as a result of an operation using the input apparatus.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, in communication with an input apparatus, wherein the mode switch section is to initiate a switch to the first mode in response to receiving the first signal based on first information from the input apparatus, and to the second mode in response to receiving the second signal based on second information from the input apparatus.

13. A control method for an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a control apparatus capable of switching display among a plurality of display screens, the method comprising acts of:

(A) processing information produced by at least one sensor as a result of a user operation; and

(B) initiating a switch between a first mode in which a first signal that is based on first information is processed and a second mode in which a second signal that is based on second information is processed, in association with a display screen, the switch comprising processing the first signal for transitioning to a first display screen corresponding to the first mode in response to detection of first information indicating a switch to the first mode, and processing the second signal for transitioning to a second display screen corresponding to the second mode in response to detection of second information indicating a switch to the second mode;

wherein the act (B) comprises reducing consumption of power, in response to initiating a switch between the first mode and the second mode, by modifying a frequency at which the information produced by the at least one sensor is processed.