Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
  • G06F3/042—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/0346—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
  • G06F3/03545—Pens or stylus
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/038—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
  • G06F3/0386—Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry for light pen
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
  • G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
  • G06F3/0482—Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
  • G06V30/00—Character recognition; Recognising digital ink; Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
  • G06V30/10—Character recognition
  • G06V30/22—Character recognition characterised by the type of writing
  • G06V30/228—Character recognition characterised by the type of writing of three-dimensional handwriting, e.g. writing in the air
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
  • G01S11/00—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation
  • G01S11/12—Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
  • G01S3/00—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received
  • G01S3/78—Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
  • G01S3/782—Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction

Definitions

• the present invention relates to computer navigation and particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus which facilitates navigation of software stored on the apparatus even where the display for the apparatus is small.
• a significant disadvantage of such devices is that the reduced size forces a reduction in the size of the user interface, and particularly in the size of the screen or display used to display information or data stored on or processed by the device.
• an electronic device having a display for displaying data stored thereon, input means and control means for controlling the data displayed on said display in dependence on the three-dimensional position of the input means with respect to said device.
• the device includes means for sensing or monitoring the position of the input means relative to the device.
• the input means includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal and the display includes sensing means for sensing the position at which the signal strikes the display.
• the signal may be in the form of a conical or circular infrared beam and the sensing means may be operable to sense the area and/or the intensity of the beam as it strikes the display thereby to determine the three dimensional position of the input device relative to the display.
• an input device for a computer or the like having a display for displaying data stored thereon, the input device comprising input means, and sensing means for sensing the three dimensional position of the input means relative thereto and applying a position signal to said computer or the like in dependence on said three dimensional position thereby to control the data displayed on said display.
• Figure 1 shows illustratively a device according to the invention
• Figure 2 shows illustratively the concept of data "levels"
• Figure 3 shows illustratively a cross-section through a device according to one embodiment of the invention.
• the device 10 may be, for example, a hand-held or "palm-top” computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a mobile communication device such as a mobile telephone.
• the device 10 is capable of storing and displaying data from a display or screen 12 which may be a liquid crystal display, a dot matrix display or a TFT (thin film transistor) display.
• the user of the device 10 controls the data displayed on the display 12 by means of a number of buttons 14 located on the device or by an input device such as a scratch pad or tracker ball.
• many such devices incorporate touch-sensitive displays which permit the user to select options or to change the data on the display 12 by means of a pencil-shaped pointing device which is physically pressed against the display at the required position thereby to select the required option.
• touch sensitive displays are able only to determine the two-dimensional, X - Y position of the pointing device relative to the display 12 when the pointing device is pressed against the surface of the display.
• a disadvantage of such devices is that in order to achieve the required reduction in size to enable the device to be used as a hand-held device or pocket computer, the display 12 is made correspondingly smaller in size.
• the display 12 may be required to display similar amounts of data to that of a conventional desktop or lap-top computer having a display which may be an order of magnitude larger in size. The small size of the display 12 reduces the amount of data which can be displayed at any given time.
• the device is programmed to display data in a number of "levels" whereby the display 12 initially displays, for example, four options which are selectable by the user. Selecting one of these options, by means of the pointing device for example, may cause the display 12 to display a second "level" of options, for example in the form of a drop down list or menu commonly used in conventional computers. Each option displayed in the list may produce a further drop down list.
• the number of levels used by the device is generally proportional to the number of options available to the user and inversely proportional to the size of the display. It is therefore quite common to find that a user may be required to select several options in order to activate a particular function of the device. This is time consuming and can be irritating to the user. Moreover, the generating of a drop down list or the like may obscure completely the original list so that an erroneous selection may require the user to manually exit from the current list in order to return to the original set of options. This may significantly increase the number of operations required to be made by the user.
• the device 10 has a display 12 for displaying data stored on the device 10 which can be controlled by input means in the form of an input device 16.
• the input device 16 takes the form of a pen-shaped instrument, hereafter termed a "stylus" which allows the user to select various options displayed on the display 12.
• the electronic device 10 is able to detect or monitor the three dimensional position of the stylus 16 relative to the device 10, and in particular relative to the display. This permits, effectively "three- dimensional control" of the display 12 which can be used, for example, to achieve the following control functions.
• Movement of the stylus 16 in the X or Y directions relative to the display 12 causes the cursor on the display 12 (for example the mouse pointer or equivalent) to move accordingly, in the manner of a conventional mouse.
• movement of the stylus 16 in the Z direction i.e. in a direction generally perpendicular to the display 12, performs a "zoom" function which, depending on the direction of movement of the stylus 16, either towards or away from the display, causes the display 12 either to zoom in or to zoom out.
• movement of the stylus 16 in a direction towards the display 12 causes the data in the region of the display 12 corresponding to the X-Y position of the stylus 16 to be magnified in a manner similar to that achieved by the "zoom in” function of conventional computers and computer programs.
• the data in the region of the display 12 corresponding to the X - Y position of the stylus 16 is enlarged as the stylus 16 is moved closer to the display 12.
• This zooming in of the display 12 permits data relating to sub options to be displayed in place of the original option.
• conventional software offers an "incremental zoom" with each discrete selection
• the device described with reference to the drawings provides continuous zoom through constantly refreshed information based on the computed trajectory of the stylus. Continuous zoom makes possible an intuitive and responsive user interface.
• Figure 2 illustrates the concept of "levels" of information to be displayed by the display 12.
• the displays "level 1 " data which, as illustrated in Figure 3, may give the user two choices, OPTION 1 and OPTION 2, which are selectable by the user.
• OPTION 1 represents specific "level 2" data which may, for example, include a further two choices, OPTION A and OPTION B.
• OPTIONS A and B represent respective "level 3" data which may, for example, represent different functions which the device 10 can perform, for example to send an e-mail or to access the internet.
• OPTION 2 in the level 1 data may correspond to OPTIONS C and D in the second level data, each of which represents different functions which may be performed by the device 10, for example opening a calendar or opening a diary.
• An incorrect selection for example selection of OPTION A instead of OPTION B requires the user to select an "exit” option (not shown) in order to return to the level 1 data.
• the present invention permits the user to select, for example, the internet, with a minimum of individual operations.
• the user moves the stylus 16 over the part of the display 12 containing OPTION 1 and then moves the stylus 16 towards the display.
• the device 10 interprets the movement of the stylus 16 towards the screen as a "zoom in” operation which zooms the display 12 through the level 1 data towards the level 2 data until OPTION A and OPTION B are displayed on the screen.
• the user then alters the position of the stylus 16 in the X-Y plane until the stylus 16 is positioned over the OPTION B icon and again moves the stylus 16 towards the display.
• This movement "zooms in” through the level 2 data towards the level 3 data until the internet icon appears on the screen. This can then be selected by the user in the conventional manner, for example, by pressing the stylus 16 onto the screen at the required location.
• the present invention relies on the ability of the device 10 to monitor, track or otherwise detect the X-Y-Z, three-dimensional position of the stylus 16 relative to the display 12 whilst the stylus 16 is not in contact with the display 12 itself, unlike conventional touch-sensitive displays. This may be achieved in a number of ways.
• the stylus 16 is a so-called "smart stylus" which contains a source of electromagnetic radiation, for example an infrared emitter, an LED or other such light emitting device (not shown).
• the stylus 16 emits a beam of light, for example infrared or other spectrum light, from a circular, spherical, or other shaped tip.
• the light is sensed by a sensitive layer (not shown) positioned over, or incorporate in, the display 12.
• the light sensitive layer may, for example, be in the form of a CCD or CMOS infrared sensitive array or the like.
• the sensitive layer determines the appropriate X - Y coordinates of the stylus 16 and sends a corresponding position signal to the central processing unit or similar of the device 10 which adjusts the display 12 accordingly.
• Figure 4 is an example of this embodiment.
• the stylus 16 when moved closer to the display produces a circle or elipse 30 of smaller dimensions than the circle or elipse 32 formed when the stylus is moved away.
• the same eccentricity of the elipse means that the input stylus is at the same angle to the display and the size of the area indicates the distance of the stylus from the display.
• the stylus 16 operates in the manner of a conventional light pen and contains a light sensor or photodiode therein which senses the light given off by the display.
• the display 12 is scanned as in a conventional television screen so that the image is continually refreshed across and down the display 12 in a so-called raster scan. This continual refreshing causes the pixels in the display 12 to alternatively brighten and then dim at a very high frequency such that the effect is invisible to the naked eye.
• the photodiode is able to detect this bright/dim effect and when the light received by the photodiode steps from dim to light, the stylus 16 sends a signal to the display controller in the device 10. Since the display controller creates the display signal, it knows the position of the current raster line and so it can determine which pixel on the display 12 is being refreshed when the stylus 16 sends the signal to the controller. The display controller then sets a latch which feeds two numbers, representative of the X and Y coordinates of the pixel, to the central processing unit or similar of the device 10 which is therefore able to determine where on the screen the stylus 16 is pointed.
• the device 10 determines the X - Y coordinates of the stylus 16 relative to the display 12. It will be understood that the device 10 must also determine the Z- coordinate, i.e. the distance of the stylus 16 from the display. Again this can be achieved in a number of ways.
• the stylus 16 emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation, for example infrared or other spectrum light which is transmitted in a conical beam which widens in diameter with distance from the tip of the stylus 16.
• a beam of electromagnetic radiation for example infrared or other spectrum light which is transmitted in a conical beam which widens in diameter with distance from the tip of the stylus 16.
• the light incident on the display 12 and hence the sensitive layer is in the form of an ellipse, the eccentricity of which depends on the angle at which the light strikes the display 12 and hence the stylus 16 is being held.
• An eccentricity of 1, for example, is indicative of a circle of incident light and a vertically held stylus 16.
• the distribution of the light incident on the sensitive layer will vary with distance from the light source in the stylus 16.
• the stylus 16 When the stylus 16 is positioned at a distance from the sensitive layer of the display, the total area of the sensitive layer illuminated will be relatively large but the intensity of the incident light will be low. As the stylus 16 is moved closer to the display, the area the light incident upon the sensitive layer will decrease but the intensity will increase. At very short distances from the display, the area of the display 12 illuminated by the light from the stylus 16 will be small but the intensity will be high.
• the continuous range of possible intensities maybe divided into a number of thresholds of stimulation.
• the intensity of the light may be calculated according to which thresholds it falls between.
• the sensitive layer detects the light incident on the display 12 and sends appropriate signals to the processing unit of the device 10.
• the elliptical eccentricity of the light incident on the display 12 is then calculated and from this the angle at which the stylus 16 is determined.
• the total area of light incident on the display 12 may also be calculated and from this the distance of the stylus 16 from the display 12 may be determined.
• the intensity of the incident light may be measured and used either to independently determine the distance of the stylus 16 from the display 12 or to refine the result of the calculation based on the measured area.
• the angle of the stylus 16, in conjunction with the distance of the stylus 16 from the display 12 are then used to determine the vertical height of the stylus 16 above the display 12. Hence the position of the stylus 16, in the Z-dimension, is determined by the device 10.
• the location and angle of the stylus 16 may also be used to determine when the user makes a selection without physical contact between the stylus 16 and the display.
• a simple dipping motion could be used to represent the selection.
• the area and / or intensity of the light may also be used to represent a contactless selection. Such a selection may be indicated, for example, by the area of incident light falling below a certain minimum threshold and / or the intensity rising above a certain maximum threshold.
• the device 10 is provided with a plurality of light sensors 20 positioned around the perimeter of the display 12.
• the light sensors are segmented or layered in the Z-direction such that as the stylus 16 moves towards or away from the display 12, different or segments or layers of the light sensors will be illuminated by the conical beam emitted by the stylus 16.
• the stylus 16 moves closer to the screen, fewer of the light sensors around the display 12 will be illuminated, as illustrated in Figure 3.
• the signals from the sensors are interpreted by the processing unit of the device 10, which thus calculates the distance of the stylus 16 from the display 12.
• the display 12 is inset or sunk into the body of the device 10 to provide a surrounding wall.
• the wall is provided on two faces with a plurality of light emitting devices and on the other two faces by a corresponding number of light sensing devices.
• the light emitted by the light emitters are sensed by the opposing light sensors such that if the stylus 16 is moved towards the display 12, it will interrupt the light transmitted between some of the light emitters and the corresponding light sensors which will indicate to the device 10 that the stylus 16 has moved closer to the display. If the light emitters and sensors are layered in the Z-direction, this can provide an indication of the distance of the stylus 16 from the display.
• the stylus 16 incorporates a light emitting device to produce a conical beam
• the power of the device may be selected to produce a beam which is of a predetermined length and conical angle to restrict the amount of movement in the Z-direction required by the user to perform the zoom in or zoom out functions.
• the type of light emitter can be selected as desired to provide infrared or visible light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation may be used.
• the stylus 16 may alternatively include both a photodiode, to enable its use similar to a light pen, and a light emitter for establishing the Z-coordinate information.
• the stylus 16 may be connected to the device 10 by means of a cable for transmitting or receiving signals to and from the electronic device 10.
• the stylus 16 may be remotely linked to the device 10 or no data link may be provided at all. The latter situation is possible where a light emitting device is employed in the stylus 16.
• the stylus could optionally be attached to the device with a simple tether (spiral plastic cord, etc.) simply to prevent its loss from a place where many people might use it often, such as a refrigerator, computer or a commercial site.
• a simple tether spiral plastic cord, etc.
• the device 10 may incorporate a touch-sensitive screen or a conventional screen by which a selection is achieved by means of a button or the like located on the stylus 16 which causes a signal to be sent to the electronic device 10, similar to conventional light guns or the like.
• a sensitive layer may be formed of any suitable material, which may additionally or alternatively be heat-sensitive.
• the sensitive layer may be layered above or below the screen of the display 12 or integrated therewith. The sensitivity and qualities of the material chosen can be selected as desired.
• the invention may provide only a stylus 16 and a sensing "pad” or the like which is able to determine the three dimensional position of the stylus 16 relative thereto.
• the pad could be connected for communication with the electronic device 10 by any suitable means which will be well understood.
• Such an embodiment may enable the stylus 16 and "pad” to be used with conventional desk top or laptop computers in place of the more conventional mouse, scratch pad or tracker ball.
• the device 10 of the invention provides a number of advantages over existing systems.
• depth/height coordinates of the stylus 16 can be calculated from the device 10 and enable software on the device 10 to adapt the contents of the display 12 as the distance from the display 12 or device 10 changes.
• the device 10 interprets this movement as an intention to select a coordinate within a specific range and zoom all of the information displayed within that coordinate to fill a larger part of the display. This enables the information display to intuitively come "closer" to meet the intention of the user.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
• Navigation (AREA)

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• 2002
  • 2002-06-08 GB GBGB0213215.7A patent/GB0213215D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2003
  • 2003-06-09 AU AU2003240092A patent/AU2003240092A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-06-09 WO PCT/GB2003/002533 patent/WO2003104965A2/en active Search and Examination
  • 2003-06-09 EP EP03732706A patent/EP1522006A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-06-09 CN CNB038192713A patent/CN100555186C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-06-09 NZ NZ537550A patent/NZ537550A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-06-09 JP JP2004511970A patent/JP2005529395A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-06-09 CA CA2488676A patent/CA2488676C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2004
  • 2004-12-06 IL IL16557804A patent/IL165578A0/xx unknown
• 2005
  • 2005-01-06 ZA ZA2005/00137A patent/ZA200500137B/en unknown
  • 2005-01-10 NO NO20050115A patent/NO20050115L/no not_active Application Discontinuation

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