System and method for executing a process using accelerometer signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016116995-A1
Application number	US-201514803949-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 25, 2003
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus and process for controlling a computer process with gestures and a handheld pointing device. The computer system employing the pointing device to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired.

First claim

1 . A method of controlling an object, the method comprising:
receiving orientation signals from one or more accelerometers based on use of a pointing device, wherein the one or more accelerometers are contained in the pointing device; normalizing the received orientation signals based in part on previously determined calibration factors; computing the three dimensional location of the pointing device based on the received orientation signals and the normalized signals; determining an object at which the pointing device is being pointed; and controlling the action of the object based on signals received from the pointing device.

2 . A method of determining the location and orientation of a pointer, comprising:
receiving, from a handheld pointer, a measurement from one or more sensors located in the pointer, wherein at least one of the received measurements comprises an indication of the pitch of the pointer; computing a location of the pointer in a three-dimensional space based on the received measurements; computing an orientation of the pointer based on the received measurements; recomputing the location and orientation of the pointer in the three-dimensional space as the pointer is moved; and displaying a result of the recomputed location and orientation of the pointer on a display.

3 . A computing system executing a process using acceleration signals output from a multi-axis acceleration sensor included in a pointer, comprising:
a processing unit receiving for a prescribed period of time acceleration signals from a multi-axis acceleration sensor and computing an orientation of the pointer based on at least the received acceleration signals, wherein the processing unit computes a pitch angle of the pointer based on a change in the received acceleration signals from a previous prescribed period of time; wherein the processing unit computes a movement direction of the pointer based on the computed orientation of the pointer and the received acceleration signals; and a game pad configured to execute a video game based on the computed movement direction and the computed pitch angle of the pointer.

4 . A computer system executing a process using accelerometer signals, the accelerometer signals output by an accelerometer of a pointing device, the computer system comprising:
a processing unit configured to:
receive signals from an accelerometer while a pointing device is in use;
compute normalized accelerometer values based at least in part on the received accelerometer signals and previously computed normalized accelerometer values; and
execute a video game using the received accelerometer signals and the computed normalized accelerometer values.

5 . A volume control device outputting a sound from a speaker in accordance with movement of a pointer having one or more acceleration sensors for detecting acceleration in at least two directions, comprising:
a processing unit receiving acceleration signals from the one or more acceleration sensors along two axes; wherein the processing unit computes an orientation of the pointer based on the received acceleration signals; wherein the processing unit generates a control signal for outputting sound in accordance with a change in the orientation of the pointer; and a speaker outputting a sound based on the changed pointer orientation.

6 . A system comprising:
a pointing device including:
a sensor generating a first signal associated with a motion of the pointing device; and
an accelerometer detecting acceleration of the pointing device and outputting at least one second signal; and
a processing unit receiving and processing the first signal and the at least one second signal, the processing including:
determining an orientation in which said pointing device is held using the at least one second signal; and
correcting the determined orientation by applying correction factors to define the orientation of the pointer.

7 . A pointing device comprising:
a sensor configured to generate a first signal associated with a motion of the pointing device; an accelerometer configured to detect acceleration of the pointing device and to output at least one second signal; and a processing unit configured to receive and process the first signal and the at least one second signal, the process including:
determining an orientation in which the pointing device is held using the at least one second signal;
correcting the determined orientation by applying correction factors to define the orientation of the pointer; and
recognizing a gesture associated with the motion of the pointing device.

Assignees

• Microsoft Corp

Inventors

• Wilson Andrew
• Oliver Nuria

Classifications

• A63F13/213

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06T7/593

  from stereo images · CPC title

• G06F3/012

  Head tracking input arrangements · CPC title

• G06T7/20

  Analysis of motion (motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51) · CPC title

• G06F3/038 Primary

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title