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US 7,925,039 B1Granted
Cylindrical controller for an electronic device
AssigneeGriffin Technology, Inc.
InventorPaul Griffin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cylindrical controller provides a user interface for an electronic device that is easier to use than conventional controls. The cylindrical body contains a number of sensors that detect when the cylindrical body is rotated between the thumb and finger of a user. The sensors determine whether the rotation is in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction. The present invention allows users to remotely control a consumer electronics device by manipulating a cylindrical body with familiar prehensile gestures, i.e., pinching, squeezing, and rolling.
Claims6
A controller for an electronic device, said controller comprising:
- a cylindrical body having a plurality of sensors or switches positioned around an outer circumference of said cylindrical body wherein rotating said cylindrical body between a user's fingers activates a subset of said plurality of sensors or switches positioned around said outer circumference of said cylindrical body and produces a signal indicative of a direction of rotation of said cylindrical body;
- and
- a processor for converting said signal into a control signal for said electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.