US 11,298,551 B2 · Spherical input and output methods and devices

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of sensorized spherical input and output devices, systems, and methods for capturing gestural input from a user's physical interactions with a spherical device, including tossing, bouncing and spinning. In one embodiment, the spherical input and output device includes force sensors in a configuration to capture a variety of user gestures with the sphere. A microprocessor receives sensor input and transmits the sensor data to receiving devices which include computer software to translate the sensor signals to audio output, visual output, or various functions on receiving devices. Embodiments of the invention include the integration of inertial measurement units (IMUs), which may include a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers to capture complex user gestures involving motion, direction and spin of the sensorized sphere in three dimensional space.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of generating musical outputs from a spherical input and output device, comprising the steps of:

tossing said device against a surface of an object to generate a return movement;
activating a sensor embedded under a compressive material of said device to generate a force signal corresponding to the impact of said device against said surface;
activating an inertial measurement unit sensor to generate an inertial measurement unit signal corresponding to the acceleration, velocity or spin of said return movement;
processing said force signal to generate force data;
processing said inertial measurement unit signal to generate inertial measurement data;
transmitting said force data and said inertial measurement data to a receiving device electrically coupled to the spherical input and output device;
translating said force data and said inertial measurement unit data to generate a musical output corresponding to the force and one of acceleration, velocity or rotation of the return movement.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spherical input and output methods and devices

Life of this patent

Spherical input and output methods and devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19