US6747632B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless control device
Assignee: HARMONIC RESEARCH Inc
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Filing: 2001-09-07
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Granted: 2004-06-08
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Expires: 2021-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A wireless control device includes a small, lightweight housing worn by an operator, for example on the operator's wrist, and a controlled device, for example a personal computer. Several optical emitters, preferably light emitting diodes operating in the infrared range, and several optical detectors are provided on the housing. At least one x-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture, and at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect a y-direction of a pointing motion or gesture. This motion can then be used to cause a response in the controlled device. For example, angles of the operator's hand at the wrist can be interpreted to induce motion of a cursor on a computer display. The device may also include a motion sensor, an environmental condition sensor, or a voice recognition sensor, and can also be adapted for gesture recognition and image scanning applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Bruce Howard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 00:48
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/011; G06F3/014; G06F3/03; G06F3/017; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/041; G06F3/042; G06F3/0421; G06F3/0423; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/201; G10H2220/221; G10H2220/321; G10H2220/405; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/201; G10H2240/211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A wireless control device, comprising: a base station including a sensor; a housing worn on a body of an operator, said housing including a plurality of optical emitters and a plurality of optical detectors; at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector forming at least one x-axis emitter-detector pair for detecting an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture; at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector forming at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair for detecting a y-direction of a pointing motion or gesture; and, means for distinguishing between optical beams emitted from said plurality of optical emitters when reflected from a body part of the operator or another object and detected by said optical detectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A wireless control device, comprising: a base station including a sensor; a housing worn on a body of an operator, said housing including a plurality of optical emitters and a plurality of optical detectors; at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector forming at least one x-axis emitter-detector pair for detecting an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture; at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector forming at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair for detecting a y-direction of a pointing motion or gesture; and, means for distinguishing between optical beams emitted from said plurality of optical emitters when reflected from a body part of the operator or another object and detected by said optical detectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said optical emitters are light emitting diodes and said optical beams are beams of infrared light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said x- and y-axis emitter-detector pairs detect motion of the body part adjacent to a body part on which said housing is worn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The wireless control device according to claim 3 , wherein said housing is worn on a wrist of the operator and said x- and y-axis emitter-detector pairs detect motion of a hand of the operator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The wireless control device according to claim 4 , wherein said emitters in said at least one x-axis emitter-detector pair illuminate a knife edge of the hand of the operator, said detectors in said at least one x-axis emitter-detector pair detect beams reflected from the knife edge of the hand of the operator, said emitters in said at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair illuminate a heel of the hand of the operator, and said detectors in said at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair detect beams reflected from the heel of the hand of the operator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wireless control device according to claim 5 , wherein said emitters illuminate the knife edge and the heel of the hand of the operator in fan shaped beams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises an environmental condition sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises a voice recognition sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said x- and y-directions of said pointing motions or gestures correspond to x- and y-axis movement of a cursor on a display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said x- and y-axis emitter-detector pairs detect said x- and y-directions of said pointing motion or gesture in a joystick-like fashion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , further comprising means for resolving at least one of position, orientation, and motion of the body part of the operator over time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wireless control device according to claim 11 , wherein said x- and y-axis emitter-detector pairs detect said x- and y-directions of said pointing motion or gesture in a mouse-like fashion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The wireless control device according to claim 11 , wherein said means for resolving motion of the body part of the operator over time is an accelerometer or a gyroscope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wireless control device according to claim 11 , further comprising means for recognizing a plurality of gestures performed by the operator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wireless control device according to claim 14 , wherein said gestures include American Sign Language gestures, Native American Sign Language gestures, or gestures comprising any other gesture-based method of communication.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wireless control device according to claim 14 , wherein said means for recognizing a plurality of gestures is context-sensitive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , further comprising demand means for toggling said device between an on state and an off state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , further comprising scanning means for identifying an object.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wireless control device according to claim 18 , wherein the object is the body part of the operator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The wireless control device according to claim 19 , wherein said scanning means starts a scan at one extreme of motion of the body part of the operator and ends said scan at an opposite extreme of motion of the body part of the operator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The wireless control device according to claim 18 , wherein said scanning means further comprises a physically movable optical member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The wireless control device according to claim 21 , wherein said physically movable optical member further comprises a rotating or pivoting member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wireless control device according to claim 21 , wherein said physically movable optical member further comprises at least one electrically steerable emitter-detector pair.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The wireless control device according to claim 18 , wherein said scanning means scans the object in three dimensions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The wireless control device according to claim 1 , wherein said optical emitters and said optical detectors are disposed on said housing in two planes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-08 | 2007-12-08 | 2008-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-08 | 2011-12-08 | 2012-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-08 | 2015-12-08 | 2016-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |