Spatial, multi-modal control device for use with spatial operating system

Abstract

A system comprising an input device includes a detector coupled to a processor. The detector detects an orientation of the input device. The input device has multiple modal orientations corresponding to the orientation. The modal orientations correspond to multiple input modes of a gestural control system. The detector is coupled to the gestural control system and automatically controls selection of an input mode in response to the orientation.

1 . A method comprising:
 a host system operating in a first input mode of a plurality of input modes;   the host system receiving three-space orientation data and three-space position data of a multi-modal input device from the input device via a radio link;   the host system detecting rotation of the input device along a long axis of the input device based on the three-space orientation data and the three-space position data received from the input device via the radio link; and   responsive to the host system detecting rotation of the input device along the long axis beyond a first trigger angle of the first input mode, the host system triggering a transition from the first input mode to a second input mode of the plurality of input modes,   wherein the multi-modal input device is constructed to control transition to a plurality of input modes including the first input mode and the second input mode,   wherein each of the plurality of input modes is associated with a rotational angle with respect to rotation of the input device along the long axis, and   wherein a sum of the rotational angles is 360 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first trigger angle is the rotational angle of the first input mode. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first trigger angle is a sum of the rotational angle of the first input mode and a hysteresis angle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of input modes is associated with a trigger angle, and wherein a sum of the trigger angles is greater than 360 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device includes two faces, and wherein a first face of the input device is associated with the first input mode, and wherein a second face of the input device is associated with the second input mode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input device includes three faces, and wherein a first face of the input device is associated with the first input mode, wherein a second face of the input device is associated with the second input mode, and wherein a third face of the input device is associated with a third input mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the first input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is within the first trigger angle of the first input mode, the host system processes the rotation as a rotation input event, and   wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the first input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is beyond the first trigger angle of the first input mode, the host system processes the rotation as a mode transition event.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the second input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is within a second trigger angle of the second input mode, the host system processes the rotation as a rotation input event, and   wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the second input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is beyond the second trigger angle of the second input mode, the host system processes the rotation as a mode transition event.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the host system detecting a mode-locking event based on data received from the input device via the radio link; and   during detection of the mode-locking event, the host system continuing operation in a current input mode during rotation of the input device along the long axis beyond the trigger angle of the current input mode.   
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 a host system; and   a multi-modal input device communicatively coupled to the host system via a radio link;   wherein the host system is constructed to:
 operate in a first input mode of a plurality of input modes; 
 receive three-space orientation data and three-space position data of the multi-modal input device from the input device via the radio link; 
 detect rotation of the input device along a long axis of the input device based on the three-space orientation data and the three-space position data received from the input device via the radio link; and 
 responsive to the host system detecting rotation of the input device along the long axis beyond a first trigger angle of the first input mode, trigger a transition from the first input mode to a second input mode of the plurality of input modes, 
   wherein the multi-modal input device is constructed to control transition to a plurality of input modes including the first input mode and the second input mode,   wherein each of the plurality of input modes is associated with a rotational angle with respect to rotation of the input device along the long axis, and   wherein a sum of the rotational angles is 360 degrees.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first trigger angle is the rotational angle of the first input mode. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first trigger angle is a sum of the rotational angle of the first input mode and a hysteresis angle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of input modes is associated with a trigger angle, and wherein a sum of the trigger angles is greater than 360 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the input device includes two faces, and wherein a first face of the input device is associated with the first input mode, and wherein a second face of the input device is associated with the second input mode. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the input device includes three faces, and wherein a first face of the input device is associated with the first input mode, wherein a second face of the input device is associated with the second input mode, and wherein a third face of the input device is associated with a third input mode. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the first input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is within the first trigger angle of the first input mode, the host system is constructed to process the rotation as a rotation input event, and   wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the first input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is beyond the first trigger angle of the first input mode, the host system is constructed to process the rotation as a mode transition event.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the second input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is within a second trigger angle of the second input mode, the host system is constructed to process the rotation as a rotation input event, and   wherein in a case where the host system is operating in the second input mode and rotation of the input device along the long axis is beyond the second trigger angle of the second input mode, the host system is constructed to process the rotation as a mode transition event.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the host system is constructed to detect a mode-locking event based on data received from the input device via the radio link, and   wherein during detection of the mode-locking event, the host system is constructed to continue operation in a current input mode during rotation of the input device along the long axis beyond the trigger angle of the current input mode.