Magnetic Scroll Control for Six-Degree-of-Freedom Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current user-borne devices with magnetometers cannot detect rotations about axes with rotationally symmetric magnetic fields, limiting their functionality and application fields, as they can only track movements in five degrees of freedom without detecting rotations about such axes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a user-borne device with a housing, a scroll manipulation feature, and a magnetic object that can rotate about a first axis, allowing the magnetic object to be actuated by the user, thereby enabling the detection of rotations and extending the device's functionality to include scroll functions without additional magnetic objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a magnetic object with rotationally symmetric magnetic field is used for location determination, then the device structure is simple and manufacturing cost is low, but rotation about the symmetry axis cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately designing the magnetic object with an asymmetric magnetic field distribution. Instead of using a rotationally symmetric magnet, the invention employs a magnet whose field characteristics vary with orientation, enabling the six-degree-of-freedom tracking system to detect rotations about all three axes including the previously undetectable roll axis.
2Device complexity
If only five degrees of freedom are tracked, then the device complexity is low, but specific movements and additional functions cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the magnetic tracking system to detect all six degrees of freedom using the same magnetic object and magnetometer array. This universal detection capability allows the system to support multiple application functions including scroll operations, rotational gestures, and positional tracking without requiring separate detection mechanisms for each function.
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
Enables the integration of scroll functions, enhancing the device's usability and application fields, such as virtual environment interactions, while reducing manufacturing costs and improving user experience by associating distinct functions with the scroll manipulation feature.
Implementation Method 1
The provision of a plurality of magnetometers allows to measure a magnetic field associated with a magnetic object arranged in or coupled to the user-borne device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a user-borne device (100) which is operable on an interaction surface (210). The user-borne device (100) comprises a housing (101), at least one scroll manipulation feature (140) and at least one magnetic object (110) which defines a magnetic moment vector (120). The at least one scroll manipulation feature (140) is movably coupled to the housing (101) and actuatable by a user (U). The at least one magnetic object (110) is arranged rotatable and/or translatable with respect to the housing (101). The at least one magnetic object (110) is arranged in the housing (101) and operationally coupled to the scroll manipulation feature (140) such that an actuation of the scroll manipulation feature (140) causes a rotation of the at least one magnetic object (110) about a first rotation axis (112) with respect to the housing (101).