US 6,184,867 B2 · Input for three dimensional navigation using two joysticks

Abstract

A two-joystick interface for use with an information processing system having a 3D virtual reality module implements a bulldozer control metaphor permitting movement in three orthogonal directions—forward-backward, up-down, left-right—and turning about a vertical axis. The pointing interface includes mode switching permitting use of the joysticks for the cursor positioning and page scrolling functions of the information processing system. The pointing system includes a frame-of-reference conversion module for transforming the pointing devices software interface to a four-degree-of-freedom three-dimensional interface, an interface with a virtual reality module including a display function. Ergonomic embodiments of the interface include locating the joysticks, e.g., two IBM TrackPoints™ along the bottom row of keys of a standard keyboard, and, alternatively, placing the joysticks and related momentary switches in a wristpad.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A three-dimensional pointing system for use with an information processing system, comprising:

a first computer pointing device for receiving first manual input commands with two degrees of freedom from an operator and for generating first output signals corresponding to the two degrees of freedom;
a second computer pointing device for receiving second manual input commands with the same two degrees of freedom from the same operator and for generating second output signals corresponding to the two degrees of freedom;
converting means for receiving the first and second output signals and for converting the first and second output signals into a single set of command signals having four degrees of freedom and representing navigation along three orthogonal axes of a three-dimensional space and rotation about one of the three axes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Input for three dimensional navigation using two joysticks

Life of this patent

Input for three dimensional navigation using two joysticks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36