Gestural Remote Cursor Control With Custom IMU Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote controls for content receivers are bulky, difficult to use, and require numerous inputs, often interfering with the viewing experience and being unintuitive.
Innovation Solution
A gestural remote control that transforms inertial data into customizable horizontal and vertical cursor movements using a six-axis inertial measurement unit, allowing users to control content receivers with intuitive gestures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional remote controls are used to control content receivers, then basic control functions are achieved, but the device becomes bulky and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical button-pressing system with an inertial sensing system. The remote control device uses an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to detect gestures and movements, transforming physical motions into control commands. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple physical buttons while maintaining full control functionality, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control paradigm from discrete button presses to continuous gesture recognition. By detecting acceleration, velocity, and orientation parameters through the IMU, the system interprets a wide range of control commands from continuous physical movements. This parameter transformation allows a single sensor-based mechanism to replace multiple buttons, reducing device complexity while improving ease of use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional remote controls with many buttons are used, then comprehensive control functions are achieved, but the remote becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control mechanism where a single inertial sensor system performs multiple control functions. The IMU detects various types of gestures (directional movements, rotational motions, tapping patterns) that correspond to different control commands. This multi-functional approach allows the remote to provide comprehensive control capabilities without requiring separate buttons for each function, thereby reducing volume while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the inertial sensor to capture and interpret the natural copying of traditional remote control interactions. For example, circular motions of the remote copy the function of directional pad navigation, while rotational gestures copy channel switching functions. This allows the system to replicate comprehensive control functionality through gesture recognition rather than physical button replication, reducing remote size.
3Ease of operation
If users must look at the remote control to determine which buttons to press, then accurate control is achieved, but the viewing experience is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the visual-button-pressing interaction with an inertial gesture recognition system. Users perform intuitive physical gestures (such as pointing or directional movements) that are automatically interpreted by the IMU. This substitution eliminates the need to visually locate and press specific buttons, allowing users to control the device through natural motions while maintaining their attention on the display, thus resolving the contradiction between control accuracy and viewing experience.
4Productivity
If conventional remote controls require numerous inputs to perform a task, then precise control is achieved, but the operation becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the inertial sensor continuously monitor and pre-interpret user gestures. The system anticipates control commands by detecting the intent behind physical movements before explicit button presses would be required. For example, a directional swipe gesture is interpreted and executed as a complete navigation command in a single continuous motion, eliminating the need for multiple sequential button presses and significantly reducing the time required to complete control tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for controlling a content receiver using customizable gestural commands of a remote. The remote typically includes one or more buttons and a scroll input and is adapted to be held between a first finger and a second finger of a user or using a strap. The content receiver receives a customization function that defines a horizontal function to transform inertial data from the remote control into a horizontal cursor movement and a vertical function to transform the inertial data into a vertical cursor movement. The horizontal function is used to transform the inertial data into the horizontal cursor movement, and the vertical function is used to transform the inertial data into the vertical cursor movement. The horizontal cursor movement and the vertical cursor movement are used to control movement of a cursor on a display.