Postitioning system using infrared radiation

An apparatus for changing a position of a displayed object on a screen in response to a change in orientation of a positioning controller, comprising:

• means for transmitting a reference signal to the positioning controller;
• means operatively connected to the positioning controller for receiving the reference signal;
• means operatively connected to the positioning controller for separately receiving a portion of the reference signal;
• means operatively connected to the positioning controller for determining a direction from which the reference signal and the portion of the reference signal were received and for outputting data indicative of an orientation of the positioning controller;
• and
• means for receiving the orientation data and for displaying the object on the screen, the position of the object corresponding to the orientation of the positioning controller.

A system for monitoring the roll orientation of a positioning controller, comprising:

• a source of polarized light;
• a receiver located on the positioning controller having a polarized filter, the receiver receiving the polarized light through the polarized filter;
• a single photodiode within the receiver for receiving the light from the polarized filter;
• and
• circuitry for determining the roll orientation of the positioning controller by determining the relative amount of light received by the single photodiode.

A method of obtaining a large range of operable distances between a positioning controller and a display, the positioning controller including a reference sensor and an angle-detecting sensor, the method comprising the following steps:

• transmitting infrared light from a beacon located near the display;
• receiving the transmitted light into the reference sensor and the angle-detecting sensor, each of the reference sensor and the angle-detecting sensor generating an output proportional to the amount of light received therein;
• integrating the output of the reference sensor and the output of the angle-detecting sensor for a predetermined amount of time, each of the two integrals representing respective accumulations of output over the predetermined amount of time;
• comparing the two accumulations;
• and
• determining an orientation of the positioning controller based on the comparison.

An apparatus for monitoring an orientation of a positioning controller relative to an external infrared light source, comprising:

• a first photodiode located on the positioning controller for receiving a reference signal of infrared light from the external infrared light source;
• a second photodiode located on the positioning controller for receiving a first portion the reference signal received by the first photodiode;
• a third photodiode located on the positioning controller for receiving a second portion the reference signal received by the first photodiode;
• and
• circuitry for determining an orientation of the positioning controller using the received reference signal, the received first portion of the reference signal, and the received second portion of the reference signal and for thereby determining the orientation of the positioning controller relative to the external infrared light source.

An apparatus for monitoring an orientation of a positioning controller relative to a remote infrared light source located externally from the positioning controller, comprising:

• a plurality of sensors located on the positioning controller for each receiving a respective portion of infrared light transmitted in the direction of the positioning controller from a single external infrared light source;
• wherein said plurality of sensors includes:
• a first sensor for receiving a reference signal of infrared light from the external infrared light source,
• a second sensor for receiving a first portion the reference signal received by the first sensor, and
• a third sensor for receiving a second portion the reference signal received by the first sensor;
• and
• circuitry for determining an orientation of the positioning controller using the received reference signal, the received first portion of the reference signal, and the received second portion of the reference signal and for thereby determining the orientation of the positioning controller relative to the external infrared light source.