Device controller and data processing method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10416788-B2
Application number	US-201715819321-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2017
Priority date	Nov 21, 2016
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A device controller and data processing method thereof are disclosed. According to the present invention, the device controller for controlling a digital device includes a cover, an upper core part including an input unit, a lower core part including an interface unit, and a core including a core body combined with the upper core part and the lower core part. The core body includes a communication module configured to transmit and receive control signals for controlling the digital device, a first sensor module configured to sense motion data according to a movement of the device controller, a second sensor module configured to sense pressure applied to the core body, a control unit configured to control operations of the modules, collect data sensed by the sensor modules, generate a control signal based on the collected sensed data, and output feedback.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device controller for controlling a digital device, the device controller comprising:
a cover;
an upper core part including an input unit;
a lower core part including an interface unit; and
a core including a core body combined with the upper core part and the lower core part,
wherein the core body comprises:
a communication module configured to transmit and receive control signals for controlling the digital device;
a first sensor module configured to sense motion data according to a movement of the device controller;
a second sensor module configured to sense pressure applied to the core body;
a first core body cover and a second core body cover configured to form outer surface of the core body;
a motor included on at least one of the first and second core body covers; and
a control unit configured to control operations of the first and second sensor modules, collect data sensed by the first and second sensor modules, generate a control signal based on the collected sensed data, and output feedback,

wherein the control unit is configured to control the motor and thereby control a distance between the first core body cover and the second core body cover to configure the core body, and
when the control unit initiates adjustment of a size of the device controller, the control unit controls the motor to change the distance between the first core body cover and the second core body cover until a sensed pressure value, from a user's hand, is detected to be within a predetermined pressure value range.

2. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the core body further comprises at least one of an actuator, a tact key, and a pressure sensor.

3. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module is implemented as one of a three-axis sensor, a six-axis sensor, and a nine-axis sensor based on at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a terrestrial magnetic sensor.

4. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor module is made of at least one of elastic materials selected from a group consisting of a spring, a magnetic spring, a conductive string, and an electronic textile.

5. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the interface unit of the lower core part is implemented as at least one of a USB, a micro USB, a POGO pin, and a connector to provide an interfacing environment by being combined with an external accessory and perform a charge function for the device controller.

6. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control a distance between the first core body cover and the second core body cover to configure the core body by controlling the motor according to a mode of the device controller.

7. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein when a key input signal is received through the input unit of the upper core part and/or when the motion data is sensed and collected by the first or second sensor module, the control unit is configured to configure a communication packet based on the collected sensed data and transmit the configured communication packet to the digital device and wherein the configured communication packet includes a control command for controlling an operation of the digital device.

8. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to sense grab strength applied to the core body through the first or second sensor module and wherein the control unit is configured to generate a control command by determining at least one of turn-on/off, operation start/end, and item selection/execution of the digital device based on the sensed grab strength.

9. The device controller of claim 1 , wherein the cover is made of an elastic material to sense grab strength applied to the core body and wherein the device controller is configured to receive control signals from all directions regardless of inclinations of the core body with reference to the ground.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Kunwoo
• Kim Dongik
• Bang Junseok
• Yoon Hyunjin
• Lee Seungil
• Cho Sunho
• Lee Chulbae

Classifications

• G06F2203/04806

  Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation · CPC title

• G06F3/0485

  Scrolling or panning · CPC title

• G06F3/017

  Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883) · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F3/0487

  using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser · CPC title