3D pointing devices with orientation compensation and improved usability
View Patent ↗Systems and methods according to the present invention describe 3D pointing devices which enhance usability by transforming sensed motion data from a first frame of reference (e.g., the body of the 3D pointing device) into a second frame of reference (e.g., a user's frame of reference). One exemplary embodiment of the present invention removes effects associated with a tilt orientation in which the 3D pointing device is held by a user.
1. A 3D pointing device comprising:
a sensor configured to generate a first output associated with motion of said 3D pointing device;
an accelerometer configured to detect acceleration of said 3D pointing device and outputting at least one second output; and
a processing unit configured to receive and process said first output from said sensor and said at least one second output from said accelerometer,
said process including:
determining an orientation in which said 3D pointing device is held using said at least one second output,
compensating said first output based on said determined orientation by performing a two-dimensional rotational transform on said first output to generate an output which is substantially independent of a tilt of said 3D pointing device with reference to a predetermined axis; and
determining a gesture associated with the detected movement.
2. The 3D pointing device of claim 1 , wherein said gesture is a command to a user interface.
3. The 3D pointing device of claim 1 , wherein said gesture controls movement of a cursor on a display device.
4. The 3D pointing device of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a gesture associated with the detected movement is performed after the compensating step using the output which is substantially independent of the tilt.
5. The 3D pointing device of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining a gesture associated with the detected movement is performed prior to the compensating step.
6. The 3D pointing device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is a camera, a rotational sensor, a magnetometer, or an optical sensor.
7. A method comprising:
generating, from a first sensor, a first output associated with motion of a 3D pointing device;
detecting, by a second sensor, acceleration of said 3D pointing device and outputting at least one second output; and
processing said first output and said at least one second output, said processing including:
determining an orientation in which said 3D pointing device is held using said at least one second output;
compensating said first output based on said determined orientation by performing a two-dimensional rotational transform on said first output to generate an output which is substantially independent of a tilt of said 3D pointing device with reference to a predetermined axis; and
determining a gesture associated with the motion of the 3D pointing device.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said gesture is a command to a user interface.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said gesture controls movement of a cursor on a display device.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of determining a gesture associated with the detected movement is performed after the compensating step using the output which is substantially independent of the tilt.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of determining a gesture associated with the detected movement is performed prior to the compensating step.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first sensor is a camera, a rotational sensor, a magnetometer, or an optical sensor.
13. A method for using a 3D pointing device comprising the steps of:
detecting movement of said 3D pointing device using an accelerometer and at least one other sensor;
determining an orientation, in which said 3D pointing device is held, based on an output of said accelerometer;
compensating said at least one other sensor's detected movement based on said determined orientation by performing a two-dimensional rotational transform on said at least one other sensor's detected movement to generate an output which is substantially independent of a tilt of said 3D pointing device with reference to a predetermined axis; and
determining a gesture associated with the detected movement.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said gesture is a command to a user interface.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said gesture controls movement of a cursor on a display device.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining a gesture associated with the detected movement is performed after the compensating step using the output which is substantially independent of the tilt.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining a gesture associated with the detected movement is performed prior to the compensating step.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein said at least one other sensor is a camera, a rotational sensor, a magnetometer, or an optical sensor.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein said accelerometer is a multi-axis accelerometer and wherein said at least one second output includes a value y generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said 3D pointing device in a y-axis direction and a value z generated by said multi-axis accelerometer associated with acceleration of said 3D pointing device in a z-axis direction.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said multi-axis accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.