Method and apparatus of position tracking and detection of user input information
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus of detecting user initiated movement by an input element handled by a user is disclosed. The method may include performing a calibration procedure that is initiated by the user via a physical movement performed by the user. The method may also include positioning at least one sensor to dynamically adjust a size of an effective workspace range capable of detecting the user's movement of the input element.
1. A calibration apparatus, comprising:
exactly one sensor capable of detecting movement of an input element;
a tangible button coupled to the sensor and movable from a stored position inaccessible to the input element to a known calibration position selectable using the input element;
wherein the sensor is adapted to sense the position of the input element when the input element is on the button; and
wherein the calibration apparatus is configured to perform a calibration procedure that includes comparing the known calibration position of the button relative to the sensor with a sensed position of the button as detected by the sensor when the input element is placed on the button.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input element is a passive pen-shaped writing utensil that does not contain any electronic components.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein selection of the button by the input element establishes a position of the input element at the button relative to the sensor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the button is selected by a pressing motion performed via the input element, and wherein the sensor measures the position of the input element while the button is selected.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus determines whether the measured position of the input element matches the known position of the button, and, if so, then the calibration procedure is complete, and, if not, the apparatus uses a calculation algorithm to adjust the measured position of the button to match the known position of the button.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a rigid calibration arm pivotally coupled to the sensor and fixedly coupled to the button, arranged to pivot from a stored position to a calibration position as the button moves from its stored position to its calibration position, respectively.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input element comprises a transmitter that emits ultrasound burst signals which are received at the sensor.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the sensor detects the arrival time of the burst and uses it in combination with the arrival time measured at at least one other calibrated sensor to determine the position of the input element.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the position of the input element is determined via a triangulation algorithm.
10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is further configured to determine the position of the sensor relative to the position of said at least one other calibrated sensor.
11. A method of calibrating a sensor capable of detecting movement of an input element, comprising:
moving a tangible button from a stored position inaccessible to the input element to a calibration position that is known relative to the sensor and where the button is selectable using the input element,
selecting the button with the input element;
sensing, by the sensor, the position of the input element when the input element is on the button; and
responsive to the selecting the button, calibrating the sensor by a calibration apparatus performing a calibration procedure that includes comparing the known calibration position of the button relative to the sensor with the sensed position of the button as detected by the sensor when the input element is placed on the button.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the input element is a passive pen-shaped writing utensil that does not contain any electronic components.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein selection of the button by the input element establishes a position of the input element at the button relative to the sensor.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the button is selected by a pressing motion performed via the input element, and wherein the sensor measures the position of the input element while the button is selected.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining whether the measured position of the input element matches the known position of the button, and, if so, then the calibration procedure is complete, and, if not, the method further comprises using a calculation algorithm to adjust the measured position of the button to match the known position of the button.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising extending a rigid calibration arm that is pivotally coupled to the sensor and fixedly coupled to the button, from a stored position to a calibration position as the button moves from its stored position to its calibration position, respectively.
17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising emitting ultrasound burst signals, via the input element, which are received at the sensor.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising detecting the arrival time of the burst at the sensor and using it in combination with the arrival time measured at at least one other calibrated sensor to determine the position of the input element.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the position of the input element is determined via a triangulation algorithm.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising determining the position of the sensor relative to the position of said at least one other calibrated sensor.