US 10,372,237 B2Granted

Apparatus for controlling contents of a computer-generated image using 3D measurements

AssigneeUltimatePointer, L.L.C.

InventorErik Jan Banning

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method for controlling a computer display cursor in an interaction region includes projecting an image of the computer display to create the interaction region. A distance is established between a first point and a second point. The first point has a predetermined relation to the projection device, and the second point has a predetermined relation to the interaction region. At least one of an orientation and a position of a pointing line is measured. The pointing line has a predetermined relation to a pointing device. The established distance and the at least one of measured position and orientation are used to control the cursor position on the interaction region.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A non-transitory computer-readable medium or media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform a method for controlling contents of a computer-generated image, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating with and receiving first data from a first communication device coupled to a first sensing device, the first data being dependent on a first output signal of the first sensing device, the first output signal being sensitive to three independent orientational coordinates and three independent positional coordinates of a first device, the first device for generating a pattern of light representing said computer-generated image, the first device comprising at least one element of the first sensing device and an image capturing device coupled to the first communication device and for generating a third output signal;
communicating with and receiving second data from a second communication device coupled to a second sensing device, the second data being dependent on a second output signal of the second sensing device, the second output signal being sensitive to three independent orientational coordinates and three independent positional coordinates of a second device that is different from the first device, the second device configured to be wielded in mid-air by a user, the second device comprising at least one element of the second sensing device;
and
using said first and second data to control the contents of the computer-generated image,
wherein at least one of the first device and the second device is configured to be worn by the user as a head-set, and
wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
receiving third data from the first communication device, said third data being dependent on the third output signal;
and
using said third data to control the contents of the computer-generated image.

6 more elements

An apparatus for controlling contents of an image generated by a computer, the apparatus comprising:

a first device for generating a pattern of light representing the image generated by the computer, said first device comprising at least one component of a first sensing device for generating first data for controlling the contents of the image generated by the computer, said at least one component of said first sensing device being sensitive to three independent orientational coordinates and three independent positional coordinates of said first device, the three independent positional coordinates being relative to a base station that comprises at least one component of said first sensing device, the base station separate from the first device.

receiving first data that is dependent on a first output from a first sensing device, the first output being sensitive to three independent positional and three independent orientational coordinates of a first device, the first device for generating a pattern of light representing said computer-generated image, the first device comprising at least one element of the first sensing device;
receiving second data that is dependent on a second output from a user input device configured to allow a user to manipulate two positional coordinates of a feature on the image, the user input device contained in a second device that is different from the first device and configured to be handheld and wielded by the user in mid-air and on a third output from a second sensing device of which at least one element is contained in the second device, the third output being sensitive to three independent positional and three independent orientational coordinates of the second device;
and
controlling the contents of the computer-generated image based at least in part on said first data and second data,
wherein the three positional coordinates of the first device and the three positional coordinates of the second device are relative to a base station, the base station comprising at least one element of the first sensing device and at least one element of the second sensing device, the base station separate from the first device and the second device.

2 more elements

communicating with and receiving first data from a first communication device coupled to a first sensing device, the first data being dependent on a first output signal of the first sensing device, the first output signal being sensitive to three independent orientational coordinates and three independent positional coordinates of a first device, the first device for generating a pattern of light representing said computer-generated image, the first device comprising at least one element of the first sensing device;
communicating with and receiving second data from a second communication device coupled to a second sensing device, the second data being dependent on a second output signal of the second sensing device, the second output signal being sensitive to three independent orientational coordinates and three independent positional coordinates of a second device that is different from the first device, the second device configured to be wielded in mid-air by a user, the second device comprising at least one element of the second sensing device;
and
using said first and second data to control the contents of the computer-generated image,
wherein at least one of the first device and the second device is configured to be worn by the user as a head-set,
wherein the three independent positional coordinates of the first device are relative to a base station,
wherein the three independent positional coordinates of the second device are relative to the base station,
wherein the base station comprises at least one of a first power source and a connection to a second power source for providing power to the base station,
wherein the base station is separate from the first device and the second device,
wherein the first sensing device further comprises at least one element contained in the base station, and
wherein the second sensing device further comprises at least one element contained in the base station.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/014,879Filed 3 Feb 2016 · continuation
Priority: 13 Jul 2005
Published: US 2016/0299575 A113 Oct 2016
Granted: 6 Aug 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

G06F 3/0346
Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor: with detection of the…
G06F
Computing and data processing

Family

Application60/698,702Us provisional application · filed 13 Jul 2005
Application60/742,393Us provisional application · filed 5 Dec 2005
Application11/483,170Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Jul 2006
US 2016/0299575 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Oct 2016
US 9,285,897 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2007/0013657 A1Published application
US 10,372,237 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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