IP Library Granted Patent US 7,148,878
Granted Patent B2
US 7,148,878 · App. 10/016,699 · Granted Dec 12, 2006

Method and apparatus for biometric control of display indicator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,148,878
App. No.
10/016,699
Granted
Dec 12, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

Biometric sensors such as electromyographic sensors 21 A and 21 B sense muscle flexing. The resultant signals are sensed 11 and utilized to establish 13 a corresponding angle of movement and to establish 15 magnitude of movement for an on-screen display indicator such as an on-screen cursor 61. In one embodiment, the electromyographic sensor signals are shifted and scaled 31. Wireless transmissions can be utilized to increase portability of the sensor interface.

Claims (21)

1. A method for manipulating an on-screen cursor comprising:

sensing first electromyogram signals;

sensing second electromyogram signals;

in response to sensing at least some of the first electromyogram signals, establishing an angle of directional movement for the on-screen cursor;

in response to sensing at least some of the second electromyogram signals, moving the on-screen cursor in a previously determined direction.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing first electromyogram signals includes sensing first electromyogram signals from at least a first muscle and wherein sensing the second electromyogram signals includes sensing second electromyogram signals from at least a second muscle, which second muscle is different from the first muscle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing an angle of directional movement for the on-screen cursor includes rotating an on-screen directional indicator that corresponds to the angle of directional movement.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein rotating an on-screen directional indicator that corresponds to the angle of directional movement includes rotating the on-screen cursor.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising wirelessly transmitting information signals that at least correspond to the first and second electromyogram signals.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising wirelessly transmitting information signals that at least correspond to the angle of directional movement for the on-screen cursor and movement of the on-screen cursor in a previously determined direction.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising processing the first and second electromyogram signals to at least level shift the first and second electromyogram signals.

8. The method of claim 1 and further comprising processing the first and second electromyogram signals to at least scale the first and second electromyogram signals.

9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising processing the first and second electromyogram signals to at least level shift and scale the first and second electromyogram signals.

10. The method of claim 1 and further comprising, in response to sensing at least one of the electromyogram signals, asserting a mouse click.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein asserting a mouse click includes asserting a mouse left click.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein asserting a mouse click includes asserting a mouse right click.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing first electromyogram signals includes sensing first electromyogram signals that at least equal a predetermined threshold.

14. A method for manipulating an on-screen cursor comprising:

in response to receiving a first biometric signal, deriving corresponding angular direction of movement information for the on-screen cursor;

in response to receiving a second biometric signal, deriving corresponding magnitude of movement information for the on-screen cursor.

15. The method of claim 14 and further comprising, in response to receiving at least one of the first and second biometric signals, deriving a corresponding mouse click assertion.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2014
From: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
To: GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 034413/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 2, 2012
From: MOTOROLA MOBILITY, INC.
To: MOTOROLA MOBILITY LLC
Reel/Frame 029216/0282 →