Input apparatus, control apparatus, control system, control method, and handheld apparatus

A control apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen based on information on a detection value transmitted from an input apparatus including a casing, a detection means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing, and a transmission means for transmitting the information on the detection value obtained by the detection means, the control apparatus comprising:

• a reception means for receiving the information on the detection value;
• a movement signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing based on the received information on the detection value;
• a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain;
• a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value;
• a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means;
• a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen;
• and
• an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

• an input apparatus including:
• a casing,
• a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing, the movement signal output means including:
• a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,
• a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and
• a first calculation means for calculating a first velocity value of the casing in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,
• a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,
• a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about the first axis, and
• a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the casing in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value,
• a comparison means for comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated,
• a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,
• a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the control means controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison, and
• a transmission means for transmitting information on the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means;
• and
• a control apparatus including:
• a reception means for receiving the transmitted information on the pointer velocity value, and
• a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the received pointer velocity value.

A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

• an input apparatus including:
• a casing,
• a detection means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing, and
• a transmission means for transmitting information on a detection value obtained by the detection means;
• and
• a control apparatus including:
• a reception means for receiving the transmitted information on the detection value,
• a movement signal output means for outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing based on the received information on the detection value,
• a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,
• a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value,
• a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means,
• a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen, and
• an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

A control method comprising:

• detecting a three-dimensional movement of an input apparatus;
• outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the input apparatus, wherein the signal is calculated by:
• detecting a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,
• outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the input apparatus about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis,
• calculating a first velocity value of the input apparatus in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,
• detecting a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,
• a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the input apparatus about the first axis, and
• a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the input apparatus in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;
• comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;
• variably controlling a gain for determining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving a pointer on a screen, in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value;
• controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the gain is controlled with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison;
• outputting the pointer velocity value by multiplying the output velocity-related value by the controlled gain;
• and
• generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value.

A handheld apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the handheld apparatus comprising:

• a casing;
• a display section to display the screen;
• a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal of a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing, the movement signal output means including:
• a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,
• a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and
• a first calculation means for calculating a first velocity value of the casing in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,
• a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,
• a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the casing about the first axis, and
• a second calculation means for calculating a second velocity value of the casing in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;
• a comparison means for comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;
• a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain;
• and
• a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the control means controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison.

A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

• an input apparatus including:
• a casing,
• a movement signal output means for detecting a three-dimensional movement of the casing and outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the casing,
• a gain means for obtaining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,
• a control means for variably controlling the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, and
• a transmission means for transmitting information on the pointer velocity value obtained by the gain means;
• and
• a control apparatus including:
• a reception means for receiving the transmitted information on the pointer velocity value, and
• a coordinate information generation means for generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the received pointer velocity value,
• a determination means for determining a size of an icon on the screen, and
• an adjustment means for adjusting, in accordance with the size of an icon determined by the determination means, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

A control method comprising:

• detecting a three-dimensional movement of an input apparatus;
• outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the input apparatus;
• variably controlling a gain for determining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving a pointer on a screen, in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value;
• controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value;
• outputting the pointer velocity value by multiplying the output velocity-related value by the controlled gain;
• generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the pointer velocity value;
• determining a size of an icon on the screen;
• and
• adjusting, in accordance with the size of the icon, at least one of a change rate of the gain in the first range, the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and a value of the gain in the second range.

An input apparatus for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the input apparatus comprising:

• a sensor unit;
• a processor;
• and
• a movement signal output means for detecting a movement of the sensor unit and outputting a signal of a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the sensor unit, wherein the movement signal output means includes:
• a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,
• a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and
• the processor calculates a first velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,
• a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,
• a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about the first axis, and
• the processor calculates a second velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;
• wherein the processor compares the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;
• wherein the processor obtains a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer on the screen by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain;
• and
• wherein the processor variably controls the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the processor controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison.

A control system for controlling a movement of a pointer on a screen, the control system comprising:

• an input apparatus including:
• a sensor unit,
• a processor, and
• a movement signal output means for detecting a movement of the sensor unit and outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the sensor unit, the movement signal output means including:
• a first acceleration sensor that detects a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,
• a first output means for outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis, and
• the processor calculating a first velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,
• a second acceleration sensor that detects a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,
• a second output means for outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about the first axis, and
• the processor calculating a second velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value,
• wherein the processor compares the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated,
• wherein the processor obtains a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving the pointer by multiplying the output velocity-related value by a gain,
• wherein the processor variably controls the gain in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value, and controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the processor controls the gain with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison;
• and
• a control apparatus including a different processor generating coordinate information of the pointer on the screen that corresponds to the received pointer velocity value.

A control method comprising:

• detecting a movement of a sensor unit of an input apparatus;
• outputting a signal corresponding to a velocity-related value that is related to a velocity of the sensor unit, wherein the signal is calculated by:
• detecting a first acceleration in a direction along a first axis,
• outputting a first angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about a second axis different from the direction along the first axis,
• calculating a first velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the first axis as the velocity-related value based on the first acceleration value and the first angle-related value,
• detecting a second acceleration in a direction along the second axis,
• outputting a second angle-related value as a value related to a rotational angle of the sensor unit about the first axis, and
• calculating a second velocity value of the sensor unit in the direction along the second axis as the velocity-related value based on the second acceleration value and the second angle-related value;
• comparing the first velocity value and the second velocity value that have been calculated;
• variably controlling a gain for determining a pointer velocity value as a velocity value for moving a pointer on a screen, in a first range in which the output velocity-related value ranges from a first threshold value to a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value;
• and
• controlling the gain to be constant in a second range in which the output velocity-related value exceeds the second threshold value, wherein the gain is controlled with respect to a larger one of the first velocity value and the second velocity value as a result of the comparison.