Input apparatus, display apparatus and control method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016277699-A1
Application number	US-201615060798-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 4, 2016
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An input apparatus, a display apparatus, and control methods thereof are disclosed. The input apparatus for the display apparatus includes a user input device configured to receive a user's input; communication circuitry configured to communicate with the display apparatus; a driver configured to provide a driving force to drive the input apparatus to move; and at least one processor configured to control the driver to move the input apparatus to a preset location corresponding to a user's location in response to a preset event so that a user can take and use the input apparatus. Thus, a movable input apparatus comes to a user by itself and provides user-friendly interaction, thereby improving a user's convenience.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An input apparatus for a display apparatus, comprising:
an input device configured to receive an input of a user; communication circuitry configured to communicate with the display apparatus; a driver configured to provide a driving force to drive the input apparatus to move; and at least one processor configured to control the driver to move the input apparatus to a preset location corresponding to a location of a user in response to a preset event.

2 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input apparatus has a substantially spherical shape, and is driven by the driver to roll toward the preset location.

3 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the preset event comprises one or more of a user's operation to a user input device provided in the display apparatus, a user's input using another terminal apparatus paired with at least one of the display apparatus and the input apparatus, a user's voice, a user's motion and a user positioned in front of the display apparatus.

4 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the preset location comprises a first location distant from a front of the display apparatus by a first distance, and a second location distant from the first location by a second distance.

5 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the driver to move the input apparatus from the preset location to a third location by a third distance if the input apparatus is not picked up by the user or does not sense an obstacle in the preset location.

6 . The input apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising a storage configured to store a value corresponding to the preset location, wherein
the at least one processor is configured to update the stored value with a value corresponding to a location where the input apparatus is picked up by a user or senses an obstacle.

7 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the input apparatus includes a user input device comprising at least one touch sensor for sensing a touch input.

8 . The input apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the touch sensor comprises:
a first area configured to sense a pressure or motion due to touch with a first finger; and a second area configured to sense a pressure or motion due to touch with a second finger, and the first area and the second area are respectively positioned corresponding to the first finger and the second finger when the substantially spherical input apparatus is held in one hand.

9 . The input apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to control the communication circuitry to transmit a command corresponding to one of channel change and volume control to the display apparatus in response to a swiping operation to the first area, and to transmit a command corresponding to the other one of the channel change and the volume control to the display apparatus in response to a swiping operation to the second area.

10 . The input apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an output unit comprising output circuitry, the output unit configured to operate corresponding to operations of the input apparatus, wherein
the output unit comprises one or more of a vibrator, a light emitting diode, and a sound output unit.

11 . A method of controlling an input apparatus communicating with a display apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving a preset event; and moving the input apparatus to a preset location corresponding to a user's location in response to receiving the preset event.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the input apparatus has a substantially spherical shape and comprises a driver configured to provide a driving force, and
the moving the input apparatus to the preset location comprises driving the input apparatus by applying the driving force of the driver to the input apparatus to cause the input apparatus to roll toward the preset location.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the preset event comprises one or more of a user's operation to a user input device provided in the display apparatus, a user's input using another terminal apparatus paired with at least one of the display apparatus and the input apparatus, a user's voice, a user's motion and a user positioned in front of the display apparatus.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the preset location comprises a first location distant from a front of the display apparatus by a first distance, and a second location distant from the first location by a second distance.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising moving the input apparatus from the preset location to a third location by a third distance if the input apparatus is not picked up by the user or does not sense an obstacle in the preset location.

16 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
storing a value corresponding to the preset location; and updating the stored value with a value corresponding to a location where the input apparatus is picked up by a user or senses an obstacle.

17 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the user input apparatus comprises at least one touch sensor for sensing a user's touch input.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the touch sensor comprises
a first area configured to sense a pressure or motion due to touch with a first finger; and a second area configured to sense a pressure or motion due to touch with a second finger, and the first area and the second area are respectively positioned corresponding to the first finger and the second finger when the input apparatus is held in one hand, the input apparatus being substantially spherical.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
transmitting a command corresponding to one of channel change and volume control to the display apparatus in response to a swiping operation to the first area; and transmitting a command corresponding to the other one of the channel change and the volume control to the display apparatus in response to a swiping operation to the second area.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cho Eun Nim
• Lim Woo Youl
• Jang Sung Gook
• Cha Young Ki

Classifications

• H04N2005/4428

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/4403 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• H04N2005/4432

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N2005/4407

  Electricity · mapped topic