Handheld Motion Sensing Relative to Stylus Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handheld devices with motion sensors, such as gaming controllers or smartphones, experience unintended inputs when the user is in motion, as they detect motion relative to the Earth, making it difficult to distinguish between user rotation and device rotation, leading to inaccurate input control.
Innovation Solution
A handheld device system that utilizes a stylus with integrated orientation and motion sensors to provide a frame of reference, allowing the device to determine its motion relative to the user or vehicle instead of the Earth, by receiving and processing stylus orientation data alongside device sensor data to calculate relative motion and orientation, and using this information to control software applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If motion sensors detect motion relative to the Earth, then the device can sense dynamic motion for controlling software applications, but unintended inputs occur when the user is in motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a stylus as an intermediary reference object that the user holds. The motion sensor measures the device's motion relative to the stylus rather than relative to the Earth. This intermediary reference frame eliminates unintended inputs caused by user motion, as the stylus moves with the user. The solution resolves the contradiction by using the stylus as a mediator between the device and the user's body frame of reference.
2Device complexity
If the device uses Earth-relative motion detection, then motion sensing is simple and direct, but it cannot distinguish between user rotation and device rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The stylus serves as an intermediary reference that enables the device to distinguish between user rotation and device rotation. By measuring motion relative to the stylus (which moves with the user's body), the system can accurately detect device rotation independent of user movement. This maintains relative simplicity while achieving precise rotation detection.
3Device complexity
If the device determines motion relative to the Earth, then the sensing system is straightforward, but accuracy deteriorates during user motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the stylus as an intermediary reference object to improve motion measurement accuracy during user motion. The device measures its motion relative to the stylus rather than relative to the Earth, which eliminates errors caused by user movement. This approach maintains sensing system simplicity while dramatically improving measurement precision during dynamic user activities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces unintended inputs by accurately determining the device's motion and orientation relative to the user or vehicle, enhancing the control of software applications and maintaining screen orientation, thereby improving user experience during motion.
Implementation Method 1
A handheld host device, such as gaming controller, tablet computer or 'smart' mobile telephone, may incorporate motion sensors such as accelerometers or gyroscopes. These motion sensors provide information related to dynamic motion of the handheld host device relative to the Earth.
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld device and method of operation for determining motion of the handheld device relative to a stylus is presented, in which the stylus is used to provide a frame of reference for the handheld device rather than as a user input device. Stylus orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of a stylus, and handheld device orientation data, descriptive of an absolute orientation of the handheld device, are used to determine motion of the handheld device relative to the stylus. The handheld device has orientation and/or motion sensors, a communication module operable to receive stylus orientation data, and a processor operable to determine the motion or orientation of the handheld device relative to the stylus and execute an application dependent thereon.