Method and apparatus for supporting accelerometer based controls in a mobile environment

1. A method of processing signals from an accelerometer-based input device, comprising the steps of:

providing the input device within a vehicle;

providing an accelerometer-based second device within the vehicle;

manually actuating the input device while the vehicle is in motion;

transmitting first signals from the input device in response to the manually actuating step;

transmitting second signals from the second device in response to the motion of the vehicle;

adjusting the first signals dependent upon the second signals; and

calculating an orientation of the input device, the adjusting step being dependent upon the calculated orientation, the calculating step including:

providing two infra-red emitters;

emitting infra-red energy from the emitters into a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

providing an infra-red sensor associated with the input device; and

using the infra-red sensor to sense the emitted infra-red energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting step includes subtracting the second signals from the first signals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the first signals and the second signals are indicative of acceleration in three axes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device comprises a user interface for an electronic game.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the input device is provided within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of fixedly attaching the second device to the vehicle.

7. An arrangement for receiving manual inputs, the arrangement comprising:

a gyroscopic-based input device disposed within a vehicle;

a gyroscopic-based second device fixedly attached to the vehicle;

a processor in communication with each of the input device and the second device, the processor being configured to:

receive first signals from the input device in response to the input device being manually actuated during a time period in which the vehicle is in motion;

receive second signals from the second device during the time period; and

calculate an acceleration of the input device with respect to the second device, the acceleration being during the time period, the calculating being dependent upon the first signals and the second signals; and

means for determining an orientation of the input device, the calculating being dependent upon an output of the determining means, the determining means comprising:

two infra-red emitters configured to emit infra-red energy into a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and

an infra-red sensor associated with the input device and configured to sense the emitted infra-red energy.

8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to calculate an acceleration of the input device in three axes with respect to the second device.

9. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the processor is configured to calculate an acceleration of the input device based on differences between the second signals and the first signals.

10. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the input device comprises a user interface for an electronic game.

11. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein the input device is disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

12. A method of calibrating an accelerometer-based or gyroscopic-based input device, comprising the steps of:

placing the input device within a vehicle;

fixedly installing an accelerometer-based or gyroscopic-based second device within the vehicle;

manually actuating the input device while the vehicle is in motion;

determining acceleration and orientation of the input device during the manually actuating step, the step of determining the orientation including:

providing two infra-red emitters;

emitting infra-red energy from the emitters into a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

providing an infra-red sensor associated with the input device; and

using the infra-red sensor to sense the emitted infra-red energy;

ascertaining acceleration and orientation of the second device during the manually actuating step; and

calculating acceleration of the input device with respect to the second device during the manually actuating step.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the determining step comprises determining acceleration of the input device in three axes during the manually actuating step.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the ascertaining step comprises ascertaining acceleration of the second device in the three axes during the manually actuating step.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the calculating step is dependent on the acceleration of the input device and on the acceleration of the second device.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the calculating step includes ascertaining a difference between first signals transmitted by the input device and second signals transmitted by the second device.

17. The method of claim 12 comprising the further step of sensing orientations of the input device during the manually actuating step, the determining step being dependent upon the sensed orientations.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the input device is accelerometer-based.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second device is accelerometer-based.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the input device is gyroscopic-based.