Controller for controlling an electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9503802-B2
Application number	US-201514793696-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2015
Priority date	Jul 8, 2014
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a controller for controlling an electronic device. The invention may e.g. be used to control a headset or another electronic device connected to the controller.
The controller ( 1 ) comprises an elongate controller body ( 3 ) having a first body end ( 4 ) and a second body end ( 5 ). The controller body ( 3 ) comprises an elongate rotatable body section ( 10 ) adapted to be rotated by a user about a longitudinal axis ( 11 ) extending through the first body end ( 4 ) and the second body end ( 5 ). The rotatable body section ( 10 ) has a radially outer side surface ( 12 ) extending between a first section end ( 13 ) near the first body end ( 4 ) and a second section end ( 14 ) near the second body end ( 5 ). The rotatable body section ( 10 ) has a size and shape allowing the user to rotate the rotatable body section ( 10 ) about the longitudinal axis ( 11 ) by performing a rolling action using three or more fingers ( 21, 22, 23 ). The controller ( 1 ) further comprises a sensing means ( 30 ) adapted to detect a rotation of the rotatable body section ( 10 ) about the longitudinal axis ( 11 ) and to provide a control signal (S c ) indicating one or more control commands to the electronic device in dependence on detecting a rotation.
The controller ( 1 ) is characterized in that the sensing means ( 30 ) further is adapted to distinguish between a three-finger rolling action and a corresponding two-finger rolling action and to provide the control signal (S c ) in dependence on detecting a three-finger rolling action.
This may provide a controller ( 1 ) with a significantly reduced rate of “false alarms” as well as an unobtrusive, reliable and at the same time simple and easy-to-use interface to the user.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A controller for controlling an electronic device,
the controller comprising an elongate controller body having a first body end and a second body end,
the controller body comprising an elongate rotatable body section adapted to be rotated by a user about a longitudinal axis extending through the first body end and the second body end,
the rotatable body section having a radially outer side surface extending between a first section end near the first body end and a second section end near the second body end,
the rotatable body section having a size and shape allowing the user to rotate the rotatable body section about the longitudinal axis by performing a rolling action using three or more fingers,
the controller further comprising a sensor unit adapted to detect a rotation of the rotatable body section about the longitudinal axis and to provide a control signal indicating one or more control commands to the electronic device in dependence on detecting a rotation,
characterized in that the sensor unit further is adapted to distinguish between a three-finger rolling action and a corresponding two-finger rolling action and to provide the control signal in dependence on detecting a three-finger rolling action,
wherein the three-finger rolling action comprising touching a first portion of the side surface with a thumb of one hand and touching with the index finger and the middle finger of the same hand respective second and third portions of the side surface radially opposite to the first portion, such that the three fingers are aligned mainly laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis and such that the second surface portion extends beyond the first surface portion in one direction along the longitudinal axis and the third surface portion extends beyond the first surface portion in the respective opposite direction along the longitudinal axis, and moving the thumb in its length direction with respect to the index and middle fingers.

2. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit further is adapted to distinguish between a three-finger rolling action and a two-finger rolling action when the user's fingers are covered by a glove.

3. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a proximity sensor adapted to detect when a finger is close to the side surface.

4. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a touch sensor adapted to detect when a finger touches the side surface.

5. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a pressure-force sensor adapted to detect exertion of a pressure on the side surface.

6. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a bending-force sensor adapted to detect exertion of a bending force on the rotatable body section along the longitudinal axis.

7. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a rotation sensor adapted to detect a rotation of the rotatable body section about the longitudinal axis.

8. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit further is adapted to distinguish between a three-finger rolling action and a two-finger rolling action by combining sensor signals from two or more different classes of sensors.

9. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit further is adapted to detect a rotation of the rotatable body section about the longitudinal axis by combining sensor signals from two or more different classes of sensors.

10. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable body section is rigid.

11. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the general cross section of the rotatable body section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis has a substantially circular shape or a shape substantially like a regular polygon having five or more convex vertexes.

12. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller body comprises a first end piece arranged at the first body end and/or a second end piece arranged at the second body end, and wherein the rotatable body section is rotatable with respect to the first end piece and/or the second end piece.

13. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first section end constitutes the first body end and/or the second section end constitutes the second body end.

14. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the first body end and/or the second body end comprises a connector for detachably connecting a cable.

15. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a cable with a first flexible cable section mechanically and electrically connected to the first body end and/or a second flexible cable section mechanically and electrically connected to the second body end.

Assignees

• Gn Audio As

Inventors

• Kann Peter Ulrik
• Hauschultz Lars Ivar

Classifications

• H04R1/1041 Primary

  Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements (switches in general H01H) · CPC title

• G06F3/01

  Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04R1/1033

  Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06) · CPC title

• G06F3/038

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

• G06F3/0362

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title