US 2014/0176439 A1 · COMPUTING INTERFACE SYSTEM

Abstract

Computing interface systems and methods are disclosed. Some implementations include a first accelerometer attached to a first fastening article that is capable of holding the first accelerometer in place on a portion of a thumb of a user. Some implementations may also include a second accelerometer attached to a second fastening article that is capable of holding the second accelerometer in place on a portion of a wrist of a user. Some implementations may additionally or alternatively include magnetometers and/or gyroscopes attached to the first and second fastening articles. Some implementations may also include a processing device configured to receive measurements from the accelerometers, magnetometers, and/or gyroscopes and identify, based on the measurements, symbols associated with motions of a user's hand and/or the orientation of the hand. Some implementations may allow a user to control a cursor in a three dimensional virtual space and interact with objects in that space.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A system comprising:

a first accelerometer;
a first fastening article attached to the first accelerometer, the first fastening article capable of holding the first accelerometer in place on a portion of a thumb of a user;
a second accelerometer;
a second fastening article attached to the second accelerometer, the second fastening article capable of holding the second accelerometer in place on a portion of a wrist of a user;
a first magnetometer attached to the first fastening article;
and
a second magnetometer attached to the second fastening article.

4 more elements

A method comprising:

receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is attached to a thumb of a user;
receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is attached to a wrist of the user;
receiving a first set of magnetic flux measurements from a first magnetometer that is attached to the thumb of the user;
receiving a second set of magnetic flux measurements from a second magnetometer that is attached to the wrist of the user;
detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface;
when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer, wherein the orientation is determined based at least in part on the first set of magnetic flux measurements and the second set of magnetic flux measurements;
identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap;
assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap;
and
transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol.

7 more elements

A system comprising:

a data processing apparatus;
a data storage device storing instructions executable by the data processing apparatus that upon execution by the data processing apparatus cause the data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
receiving a first set of acceleration measurements from a first accelerometer that is attached to a thumb of a user;
receiving a second set of acceleration measurements from a second accelerometer that is attached to a wrist of the user;
receiving a first set of magnetic flux measurements from a first magnetometer that is attached to the thumb of the user;
receiving a second set of magnetic flux measurements from a second magnetometer that is attached to the wrist of the user;
detecting, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements, when the thumb is tapped on a surface;
when a tap of the thumb is detected, determining, based at least in part on the first set of acceleration measurements and the second set of acceleration
measurements, an orientation of the first accelerometer relative to the second accelerometer, wherein the orientation is determined based at least in part on first set of magnetic flux measurements and the second set of magnetic flux measurements;
identifying, based on the orientation, a tap target, from among a plurality of tap targets located on fingers of the user, that was touched during the tap;
assigning a symbol associated with the tap target to the tap;
and
transmitting, storing, or displaying the symbol.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/190,044Filed 25 Feb 2014

Priority

24 Nov 2012

Published

26 Jun 2014

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 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 3/014
Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality: hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
G06F 3/017
Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer: gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a…
G06F 3/0233
Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as…:…

Family

Application61/729,573Us provisional application · filed 24 Nov 2012

Application13/804,871Continuation · filed 14 Mar 2013

Application14/190,044Continuation

US 10,503,275 B2Related patent

US 8,698,740 B1Related patent

US 8,743,052 B1Related patent

US 2014/0176439 A1This patent

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

Computing interface system

Life of this patent

Computing interface system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30