Granted Patent B2

US 8,416,190 · App. 12/526,255 · Granted Apr 9, 2013

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. An operation device that is held and used by a user, comprising:

a state detection part for detecting a first state and a second state of the operation device;

a tilt detection part for detecting a tilt of the operation device; and

an output part for outputting information indicating the state detected by the state detection part and information indicating the tilt detected by the tilt detection part, wherein

the user implements operation with respect to an operation target device by changing the tilt of the operation device,

the operation being expressed using operation information according to information which is output by the output part in response to the user's motion to change the tilt of the operation device, the operation information being information indicating a tilt detected by the tilt detection part when the state detection part has detected the first state, and being information indicating a tilt different from the tilt of the operation device detected by the tilt detection part when the state detection part has detected the second state.

2. An operation device according to claim 1 , wherein the operation device is formed in a manner that enables identification of a reference direction, the reference direction serving as a reference for the tilt detection performed by the tilt detection part.

3. An operation device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the state detection part comprises a switch,

wherein the first state is a state in which the switch is turned on, and

wherein the second state is a state in which the switch is turned off.

4. An operation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a support part formed to be pressable against a supporting object in a state in which the user is holding the operation device;

wherein the state detection part detects a state in which the support part is pressed against the supporting object as the first state, and a state in which the support part is not pressed against the supporting object as the second state.

5. An operation device according to claim 4 , wherein the support part is formed in a hemispherical shape.

6. An operation device according to claim 5 , wherein the support part is axisymmetric with respect to a predetermined reference axis, and is formed to have a curvature of a surface thereof that varies with an angle with respect to the reference axis.

7. An operation device according to claim 4 , wherein the support part has a surface, which is brought into contact with the supporting object, formed of a non-slip member.

8. An information processing system comprising an operation device that is held and used by a user, wherein the information processing system further comprises:

a state detection part for detecting a first state and a second state of the operation device;

a tilt detection part for detecting a tilt of the operation device;

operation information acquisition part for acquiring operation information that is based on information indicating the state detected by the state detection part and information indicating the tilt detected by the tilt detection part; and

a processing execution part for executing, based on the acquired operation information, processing in accordance with change in the tilt of the operation device

wherein the operation information acquisition part acquires, when the state detection part has detected the first state, information indicating the tilt of the operation device as the operation information, and acquires, when the state detection part has detected the second state, the operation information indicating a tilt different from the tilt of the operation device detected by the tilt detection part as the operation information.

9. An information processing system according to claim 8 , wherein, while the state detection part is detecting the second state, the operation information acquisition part acquires, as the operation information, information indicating a tilt of the operation device detected last in the first state.

10. An information processing system according to claim 8 , wherein, while the state detection part is detecting the second state, the operation information acquisition part acquires, as the operation information, information indicating a predetermined reference attitude of the operation device.

11. An information processing system according to claim 8 , wherein the information processing system further comprises:

a support part that is provided on the operation device, and is formed to be pressable against a supporting object in a state in which the user is holding the operation device,

wherein the state detection part detects a state in which the support part is pressed against the supporting object as the first state, and a state in which the support part is not pressed against the supporting object as the second state.

12. An information processing method, comprising:

a state detection step of detecting a first state and a second state of an operation device;

a tilt detection step of detecting a tilt of the operation device;

an operation information acquisition step of acquiring operation information that is based on information indicating the state detected in the state detection step and information indicating the tilt detected in the tilt detection step; and

a processing execution step of executing, based on the acquired operation information, processing in accordance with change in the tilt of the operation device

wherein the operation information acquisition step is for acquiring, when the first state has been detected in the state detection step, information indicating the tilt of the operation device as the operation information, and acquiring, when the second state has been detected in the state detection step, the operation information indicating a tilt different from the tilt of the operation device detected in the tilt detection step as the operation information.

Assignments (7)