EXTERNAL USER INTERFACE FOR HEAD WORN COMPUTING
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to external user interfaces used in connection with head worn computers (HWC). Embodiments relate to an external user interface that has a physical form intended to be hand held. The hand held user interface may be in a form similar to that of a writing instrument, such as a pen. In embodiments, the hand held user interface includes technologies relating to writing surface tip pressure monitoring, lens configurations setting a predetermined imaging distance, user interface software mode selection, quick software application launching, and other interface technologies.
1 . A user interface, comprising:
An outer housing adapted to be hand-held in a writing position, wherein the outer housing includes a writing surface end;
The writing surface end including a camera, a ball lens and a positioning system adapted to maintain a predetermined distance between the ball lens and a writing surface substantially independent of a writing angle of the outer housing, wherein the camera images the writing surface through the ball lens;
An integrated IMU adapted to monitor the outer housing's motion and to predict, from the outer housing's motion, a movement of the ball lens across the writing surface; and
A microprocessor adapted to intake data from the camera and the IMU and determine a written pattern.
2 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the outer housing is in the shape of a pen.
3 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor communicates the data to a HWC.
4 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor communicates the written pattern to a HWC.
5 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further adapted to, following a determination that the outer housing is not in a writing position, capture outer housing motions as gesture control motions to control a software application operating on a HWC.
6 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the outer housing further comprises a positioning system force monitor and wherein the force monitor sends to the microprocessor data indicative of the force being applied on the positioning system.
7 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor further determines a UI mode of operation for the user interface.
8 . The user interface of claim 1 wherein the outer housing further comprises a quick launch interface, wherein the quick launch interface, when activated, launches a predetermined software application in a HWC.
9 . A user interface, comprising:
An outer housing adapted to be hand-held in a writing position, wherein the outer housing includes a writing surface end;
The writing surface end including a positioning system adapted to maintain a predetermined distance between an internal lens adapted to view a writing surface and a writing surface, substantially independent of a writing angle of the outer housing; and
An IMU adapted to monitor motion of the outer housing, wherein the motion is interpreted as a gesture control for a software application operating on a HWC.
10 . A user interface, comprising:
An outer housing adapted to be hand-held in a writing position, wherein the outer housing includes a writing surface end;
The writing surface end including a positioning system adapted to maintain a predetermined distance between an internal lens adapted to view a writing surface and the writing surface, substantially independent of a writing angle of the outer housing; and
A force monitoring system adapted to monitor a force applied at the writing surface end, wherein the monitored force applied will cause a graphical user interface operation change.