Apparatus and method for sensing of three-dimensional environmental information

Abstract

An apparatus for providing information about a three-dimensional environment to a user includes; a handle, at least one sensor operatively coupled to the handle, a tactile pad disposed on the handle, a plurality of tactile buttons arrayed on the tactile pad, a plurality of actuators, wherein each actuator is operatively coupled to one of the plurality of tactile buttons to control a height thereof in relation to the tactile pad, and a processor which receives signals from the at least one sensor and controls positioning of the plurality of actuators to represent a physical environment sensed by the at least one sensor.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A method of operating an apparatus that describes to a user a layout of a three-dimensional environment, the method comprising:
 transmitting a set of sensing signals from respective ones of a pair of transmitters to the environment from a transmitting position of the user;   receiving a set of modified sensing signals from elements within the environment; and   operating a plurality of actuators, which are operatively coupled to a plurality of tactile buttons, in accordance with the modified sensing signals to thereby control respective positions of the tactile buttons in real-time and to describe at least two spatial dimensions of the elements including a depth thereof, which extends towards/away from the transmitting position, and a width thereof, which is perpendicular to the depth thereof.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting at least one ultrasonic sensing signal and at least one infrared sensing signal. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein,
 the transmitting comprises transmitting two ultrasonic sensing signals, and   the transmitting comprises transmitting three infrared sensing signals.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of the actuators are arranged in a substantially matrix shape. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controlling of the position of the plurality of actuators further comprises:
 generating a map of the elements within the environment; and   instructing the plurality of actuators to project a tactile button connected thereto to positionally correspond to a determination of whether a portion of the map corresponds to a position of one or more of the elements.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the processing the received modified sensing signal and the instructing the plurality of actuators are performed in real-time. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method of operating an apparatus that describes to a user a layout of a surrounding three-dimensional (3D) environment, the method comprising:
 upon receipt of an initializing instruction from the user, transmitting a set of sensing signals from respective transmitters disposed along the apparatus to the environment from a transmitting position of the user;   receiving a set of modified sensing signals from elements within the environment until receipt of an ending instruction from the user;   repeating the sensing operation based on receipt of subsequent initializing and ending instructions from the user;   processing the set of modified sensing signals from each of the sensing operations to thereby generate a map of the elements in the three-dimensional environment; and   operating a plurality of actuators, which are operatively coupled to a plurality of tactile buttons, in accordance with the map to thereby control respective positions of the tactile buttons in real-time and to describe a depth of the elements, which extends towards/away from the transmitting position, and a width of the elements, which is perpendicular to the depth thereof.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is selectively swung by the user and the user selectively moves through the environment during the sensing operations, and wherein the processing comprises accounting for the swinging of the apparatus and the movement of the user in the generation of the map.