Multi axis motion and position controller for portable electronic displays

Abstract

A virtual computer monitor is described which enables instantaneous and intuitive visual access to large amounts of visual data by providing the user with a large display projected virtually in front of the user. The user wears a head-mounted display containing a head-tracker, which together allow the user to position an instantaneous viewport provided by the head-mounted display at any position within the large virtual display by turning to look in the desired direction. The instantaneous viewport further includes a mouse pointer, which may be positioned by turning the user's head, and which may be further positioned using a mouse or analogous control device. A particular advantage of the virtual computer monitor is intuitive access to enlarged computer output for visually-impaired individuals.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for interacting with a computer, said device comprising: 
 an input device for receiving user input, said input device including at least one accelerometer for receiving said input in the form of acceleration of at least a portion of said input device; and    a signal processing device for producing at least one computer command in response to said input.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said acceleration input includes torsional acceleration about at least one axis of rotation.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said acceleration input includes substantially linear acceleration in at least one direction.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said input device operates independently of gravitational forces.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said input device is incorporated in a handheld computer.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said computer command is a game command for a computer game.  
     
     
         7 . A controller for controlling an electronic device comprising: 
 at least one sensor for sensing user input, wherein said input includes acceleration in at least one direction;    at least one processor for generating a signal in response to said input; and    a communications link for providing said signal to said electronic device in order to control said electronic device.    
     
     
         8 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device includes a computer game station.  
     
     
         9 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein said acceleration in at least one direction includes torsional acceleration about at least one axis of rotation.  
     
     
         10 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device includes a visual display showing a first page, and said electronic device displays a second page in response to said user input.  
     
     
         11 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device includes a display for viewing at least a portion of a full view, wherein said electronic device is operative for viewing other portions of said full view in response to said user input.  
     
     
         12 . A controller for an electronic device, said controller including a set of one or more motion sensors, each of which respond electrically to motion of at least a portion of said electronic device; 
 an information collection device for collecting information from said set of one or more motion sensors, wherein said information collection device collects electrical information, said set of one or more motion sensors capable of detecting motion in at least one dimension;    a command device which interprets said electrical information collected on said information collection device, said command device including command logic and a store of control commands, wherein said information collected is interpreted by said command logic by comparing said information with one of said store of control commands, said control commands being in a format which corresponds to at least one motion; and    wherein said command logic determines which one of said set of control commands will be executed on said device.    
     
     
         13 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one motion includes a set of motions corresponding to at least one control command.  
     
     
         14 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , where said command logic determines which portion of a virtual desktop will be presented on a physical display device.  
     
     
         15 . The controller of  claim 12 , wherein said display device and said electronic device are integrated as part of a handheld portable computer.  
     
     
         16 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said controller further comprises motion filtering logic, wherein said logic removes motion below a set threshold from said motion calculation logic.  
     
     
         17 . The controller as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said threshold is filtered by said set of one or more motion detectors.  
     
     
         18 . The controller as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said threshold is filtered by said information collection device.  
     
     
         19 . The controller as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said threshold is filtered by said command device.  
     
     
         20 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors respond to motion towards and away from a user of said portable device.  
     
     
         21 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors respond to motion in a vertical plane relative to a user of said portable device.  
     
     
         22 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors respond to motion in a substantially horizontal plane relative to a user of said portable device.  
     
     
         23 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors respond to an angle corresponding to a vertical plane perpendicular to a sightline and in front of a user and an angle of said device.  
     
     
         24 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors respond to angular motion about a sightline substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane substantially facing a front of a user.  
     
     
         25 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors is an accelerometer.  
     
     
         26 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein one of said set of motion sensors is a gyroscope.  
     
     
         27 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said set of motion sensors include both an accelerometer and a gyroscope.  
     
     
         28 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said control command to be executed may be executed by an operating system.  
     
     
         29 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said control command to be executed may be executed by a software program running on said device.  
     
     
         30 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said control command to be executed may be executed by a command located in an ASIC.  
     
     
         31 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said control command to be executed may be executed by a video driver running on said device.  
     
     
         32 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said control command to be executed may be executed by an adapter, said adapter for translating said control command to a command which may be executed by the operating system of said device.  
     
     
         33 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said device is immunersive.  
     
     
         34 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said device includes display goggles, which display a virtual desktop.  
     
     
         35 . The controller as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said device is worn on a head.  
     
     
         36 . A method for controlling a portable electronic device by moving said device, comprising the steps of 
 sensing at least one acceleration of said device in at least one direction; and    providing at least one command to said device in response to said at least one acceleration.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 producing a signal in response to said at least one acceleration;    comparing said signal to a data base of stored signals and corresponding commands in order to determine an appropriate command corresponding to an intended user input.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 filtering out said signals that do not correspond to one of said stored commands, such that no unintended command is executed on said device.    
     
     
         39 . A method for controlling a computer game program, comprising: 
 sensing at least one acceleration of a control device in at least one direction; and    providing at least one game command to said computer game program in response to said at least one acceleration.    
     
     
         40 . The controller of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device includes a display for viewing at least a portion of a full view, wherein said electronic device is operative for viewing other portions of said full view in response to said user input.  
     
     
         41 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein said accelerometer is operative to sense an acceleration magnitude.  
     
     
         42 . The cotroller of  claim 7 , wherein said electronic device includes a personal digital assistant (PDA).