US 2013/0093674 A1 · Hybrid Pointing System and Method

Abstract

A handheld controller which includes at least two disparate sensors, such as a motion sensor and a touchpad sensor. A processor deployed in either handheld controller or separate product implements a hybrid pointing and selection method that uses data from the first sensor to adjust the sensitivity to stimulus of the second sensor, and vice versa. The respective sensor data are thus tempered and combined to generate a cursor control signal that includes a large scale control component to control size and movement of a rough pointer region, and a fine scale control component to control position of a precise pointer within the rough pointer region.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A controller for user interaction with displayed elements on an electronic display of the type having a cursor generation and display system that displays a graphical cursor at a user-controllable position on the display, comprising:

a handheld controller;
a first sensor disposed in said handheld controller and responsive to user movement of a first type producing first sensor data;
a second sensor disposed in said handheld controller and responsive to user movement of a second type different from the first type producing second sensor data;
at least one processor that calculates a hybrid cursor movement signal having a large scale movement component and a fine scale movement component;
wherein the at least one processor calculates the large scale movement component based on the first sensor data to which is applied a sensitivity parameter based on the second sensor data;
wherein the at least one processor calculates the fine scale movement component based on the second sensor data to which is applied a sensitivity parameter based on the first sensor data;
and
a transmitter for wirelessly communicating between the handheld controller, the cursor generation and display system.

5 more elements

A handheld controller for user interaction with displayed elements on an electronic display of the type having a cursor generation and display system that displays a graphical cursor at a user-controllable position on the display, comprising:

an in-air motion sensor that produces a first signal indicative of the movement of the controller with respect to a first reference frame;
a touch sensor responsive to contacting motion of a user's finger or thumb that produces a second signal indicative of the movement of the user's finger or thumb with respect to a second reference frame associated with a surface area of the touch sensor;
and
at least one processor that calculates and communicates cursor size and position data to the cursor generation and display system,
said at least one processor calculating rough size and rough position data which define with respect to said cursor a rough pointer area of predetermined size positioned at a display location dictated by the rough position data,
said at least one processor calculating precise pointer position data which define with respect to said cursor a precise pointer upon the display at a display location within the rough pointer area,
said at least one processor using a combination of said first signal and said second signal to produce movement of the rough pointer area and to produce movement of the precise pointer within the rough pointer area.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid Pointing System and Method

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Hybrid Pointing System and Method

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Abstract

Claims29