Methods and apparatuses for providing input for head-worn image display devices

Abstract

An apparatus for use with an image display device configured for head-worn by a user, includes: a screen; and a processing unit configured to assign a first area of the screen to sense finger-action of the user; wherein the processing unit is configured to generate an electronic signal to cause a change in a content displayed by the display device based on the finger-action of the user sensed by the assigned first area of the screen of the apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for use with an image display device configured for head-worn by a user, the apparatus comprising:
 a screen; and   a processing unit configured to assign a first area of the screen to sense finger-action of the user;   wherein the processing unit is configured to generate an electronic signal to cause a change in a content displayed by the image display device based on the finger-action of the user sensed by the assigned first area of the screen of the apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screen has a touch-sensitive region, and wherein the assigned first area is less than a total area of the touch-sensitive region. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is also configured to operate a feedback component in response to the finger-action of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first area has a boundary, and wherein the finger-action of the user comprises a finger of the user crossing, reaching, or moving to a location that is within a prescribed distance from, the boundary. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the feedback component to generate different types of feedback based on different respective spatial relationships between one or more finger(s) of the user with respect to the first area. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the different respective spatial relationships comprise different distances between (1) one of the one or more finger(s), or a point that is between two fingers, of the user and (2) a reference location within the assigned first area. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the different respective spatial relationships comprise one of the one or more finger(s), or a point that is between two fingers, reaching different respective distances from a boundary of the assigned first area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the assigned first area has a first boundary and a second boundary;
 wherein the different types of the feedback comprise at least a first type of feedback and a second type of feedback;   wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the feedback component to generate the first type of feedback when one or more finger(s) of the user crosses, reaches, or moves to a location that is within a prescribed distance from, the first boundary; and   wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the feedback component to generate the second type of feedback when one or more finger(s) of the user crosses, reaches, or moves to a location that is within a prescribed distance from, the second boundary.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to obtain an input signal associated with a pinching or un-pinching action performed on the assigned first area of the screen; and
 wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause a size of the content displayed by the image display device to change based on the input signal that is associated with the pinching or un-pinching action.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the apparatus, wherein the processing unit is also configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content displayed by the image display device to change based on the input signal associated with the pinching or un-pinching action and the sensed orientation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content to contract or expand in a first plane if the pinching or un-pinching action is sensed by the apparatus while the apparatus is at a first orientation; and
 wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content to contract or expand in a second plane if the pinching or un-pinching action is sensed by the apparatus while the apparatus is at a second orientation different from the first orientation, the second plane being different from the first plane.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus has the first orientation when a major axis of the apparatus forms an angle with a horizontal plane that is less than 45°; and
 wherein the apparatus has the second orientation when a major axis of the apparatus forms an angle with a vertical plane that is less than 45°. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to obtain an input signal associated with a swiping action performed on the assigned first area of the screen. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content to change by moving the content in response to the input signal associated with the swiping action. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the apparatus, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content displayed by the image display device to change based on the input signal associated with the swiping action and the sensed orientation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content to move in a first plane if the swiping action is sensed by the apparatus while the apparatus is at a first orientation; and
 wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content to move in a second plane if the swiping action is sensed by the apparatus while the apparatus is at a second orientation different from the first orientation, the second plane being different from the first plane.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus has the first orientation when a major axis of the apparatus forms an angle with a horizontal plane that is less than 45°; and
 wherein the apparatus has the second orientation when a major axis of the apparatus forms an angle with a vertical plane that is less than 45°. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the content is in a virtual three-dimensional environment, and wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content displayed by the image display device to change by moving the content closer to or further from the user when the swiping action is sensed by the apparatus while the orientation of the apparatus is approximately parallel to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the content is in a virtual three-dimensional environment, and wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal to cause the content displayed by the image display device to move in a vertical plane in the three-dimensional environment when the swiping action is sensed by the apparatus while the orientation of the apparatus is approximately perpendicular to a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the apparatus, wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the electronic signal (1) to cause the content to expand in one or more directions, (2) to cause the content to rotate, or (3) to cause the content to move, based on the sensed orientation of the apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a handheld apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is also configured to assign a second area of the screen as a first button. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is also configured to assign a second area of the screen as a keyboard activation button, and wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the screen to display a keyboard in response to the user touching the assigned second area of the screen. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the content comprises a change in a size of the content, a change in a position of the content, a change in a shape of the content, a change in a color of the content, a replacement of information in the content, an increase or decrease in a quantity of information in the content, or any combination of the foregoing. 
     
     
         25 . A method comprising:
 assigning a first area of a screen of an apparatus to sense finger-action of a user of an image display device, wherein the image display device is configured for head-worn by the user, and wherein the apparatus is different from the image display device;   generating an electronic signal to cause a change in a content displayed by the image display device based on the finger-action of the user sensed by the assigned first area of the screen of the apparatus.   
     
     
         26 . A product comprising a non-transitory medium storing a set of instructions, an execution of which will cause a method to be performed, the method comprising:
 assigning a first area of a screen of an apparatus to sense finger-action of a user of an image display device, wherein the image display device is configured for head-worn by the user, and wherein the apparatus is different from the image display device;   generating an electronic signal to cause a change in a content displayed by the image display device based on the finger-action of the user sensed by the assigned first area of the screen of the apparatus.