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US 7,489,298 B2Granted
3D pointing devices and methods
AssigneeHillcrest Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsMatthew G. Liberty, Daniel S. Simpkins, Charles W. K. Gritton, Mark Turner, Frank A. Hunleth
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Abstract
Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.
Claims73
A device comprising:
- at least one rotational sensor for determining rotation of said device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith and for determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;
- an accelerometer for determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith;
- and
- a processing unit for generating an output based on said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output;
- wherein said at least one rotational sensor further comprises a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.
2 more elements
A device comprising:
- means for determining rotation of said device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith and for determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;
- means for determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith;
- and
- means for generating an output based on said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output;
- wherein said means for determining rotation further comprises a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass in said first rotational sensor resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured by said means for determining rotation using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining rotation of a device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith;
- determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;
- determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith;
- and
- processing said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output to generate an output;
- wherein said step of determining rotation further comprises using a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- (a) a device including:
- a housing;
- an accelerometer, disposed within said housing, for determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith;
- (b) at least one rotational sensor for determining rotation of said device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith and for determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith,
- wherein said at least one rotational sensor further comprises a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass in said at least one rotational sensor resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured by said at least one rotational sensor using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output;
- and
- (c) a processing unit for generating an output based on said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output.
4 more elements
A computer-readable medium containing program instructions which, when executed by a computer or processor, perform the steps of:
- determining rotation of a device about a first axis and generating a first rotational output associated therewith;
- determining rotation of said device about a second axis and generating a second rotational output associated therewith;
- determining an acceleration of said device and outputting an acceleration output associated therewith;
- and
- processing said first and second rotational outputs, and said acceleration output to generate an output;
- wherein said step of determining rotation further comprises using a first resonating mass attached to a first frame, wherein said first resonating mass resonates along said first axis, wherein displacement of said first resonating mass along said first axis is measured using the Coriolis acceleration effect to generate said first rotational output.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.