Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a handheld user input device, a processor for receiving input data from the handheld user input device and a gaming application for receiving data from the processor based on the received input data from the handheld user input device. The handheld user input device emulates one of a plurality of different devices associated with the gaming application. Each of the plurality of different devices have a set of input commands associated therewith. The set of input commands associated with the one of a plurality of different devices includes a command based on one of motion and orientation of the handheld device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for calibrating the Zero Rate Offset (ZRO) of a gyroscope are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for estimating and calibrating a gyroscope's scale using a magnetometer mounted on the same device by rotating the device about an axis multiple times; and, during the first rotation, storing the magnetometer magnetic field reading and a heading (from integration of the gyroscope readings) at each of a plurality of angular reference points; then, during each subsequent rotation, determining magnetometer/gyroscope-heading output pairs for which the magnetometer output matches the magnetometer reading corresponding to one of the reference points, thereby indicating that the device has reached the same heading as the matching reference point; then, for each matching output sample pair, using that magnetometer/gyroscope-heading output sample pair to update the gyroscope scale factor for the corresponding angular reference point; and averaging those scale estimates to generate a final gyroscope scale factor estimate.

Abstract: A bias value associated with a sensor, e.g., a time-varying, non-zero value which is output from a sensor when it is motionless, is estimated using a ZRO-tracking filter which is a combination of a moving-average filter and a Kalman filter having at least one constraint enforced against at least one operating parameter of the Kalman filter. It achieves faster convergence on an estimated bias value and produces less estimate error after convergence. A resultant bias estimate may then be used to compensate the biased output of the sensor in, e.g., a 3D pointing device.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention describe 3D pointing devices which enhance usability by transforming sensed motion data from a first frame of reference (e.g., the body of the 3D pointing device) into a second frame of reference (e.g., a user's frame of reference). One exemplary embodiment of the present invention removes effects associated with a tilt orientation in which the 3D pointing device is held by a user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for calibrating attitude-independent parameters of a 3-D magnetometer are provided. A calibration method includes storing and updating data related to a N×9 matrix T and a N×1 matrix U extended for each measurement with an additional row and an additional element, respectively, the additional row and the additional element being calculated based on values measured by the 3-D magnetometer for the respective measurement. The method further includes calculating analytically (1) a symmetric non-orthogonal 3×3 matrix D representing scaling and skew of the 3-D magnetometer measured values and (2) a vector b representing bias of the 3-D magnetometer measured values, using the stored data and a singular value decomposition (SVD) method.

Abstract: Methods, architectures, apparatuses, systems, devices, and computer program products directed to dead reckoning for pedestrian navigation (“pedestrian dead reckoning”) and robust heading estimation in pedestrian dead reckoning. Pursuant to the methodologies and technologies provided herein, a walking direction may be derived or otherwise determined using a robust heading estimation mechanism in connection with, for example, step detection and step length determination. The robust heading estimation mechanism may be based on device orientation (e.g., on changes in device orientation). The device orientation may be obtained based on (e.g., by way of) fusion of accelerometer and gyroscope measurements.

Abstract: Systems, devices, methods and software are described for mapping movement or motion of a 3D pointing device into cursor position; e.g., for use in rendering the cursor on a display. Absolute and relative type mapping algorithms are described. Mapping algorithms can be combined to obtain beneficial characteristics from different types of mapping.

Abstract: A 3D pointing device for use with a content delivery system is provided. The pointing device can operate in one of at least one of two modes: a first 3D or scrolling mode, and a second non-3D mode that can also be referred to as an up-down-left-right (UDLR) mode. The pointing device can include one or more directional sensors, to provide orientation and movement information. For either of the at least two modes, an optical finger navigation module is provided that can detect movement of a user's finger or object across its screen, and provides a predetermined threshold that must be exceeded before movement information is generated from the OFN module. The pointing device can generate scroll and UDLR commands based on the information from the orientation and movement sensors, as well as the OFN module, or can provide the information from the orientation and movement sensors to a user interface that can generate the appropriate scrolling or UDLR commands for use by the content delivery system.

Abstract: A variable mapped on an orientation of a device is smoothed to have a gradual evolution by adjusting the estimated orientation of the device obtained via sensor fusion or other sensor processing to take into consideration a current measured angular velocity.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a desired output, e.g., cursor movement.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for calibrating attitude-independent parameters of a 3-D magnetometer are provided. A calibration method includes storing and updating data related to a N×9 matrix T and a N×1 matrix U extended for each measurement with an additional row and an additional element, respectively, the additional row and the additional element being calculated based on values measured by the 3-D magnetometer for the respective measurement. The method further includes calculating analytically (1) a symmetric non-orthogonal 3×3 matrix D representing scaling and skew of the 3-D magnetometer measured values and (2) a vector b representing bias of the 3-D magnetometer measured values, using the stored data and a singular value decomposition (SVD) method.

Abstract: A gaming system comprises a handheld user input device, a processor for receiving input data from the handheld user input device and a gaming application for receiving data from the processor based on the received input data from the handheld user input device. The handheld user input device emulates one of a plurality of different devices associated with the gaming application. Each of the plurality of different devices have a set of input commands associated therewith. The set of input commands associated with the one of a plurality of different devices includes a command based on one of motion and orientation of the handheld device.

Abstract: A forward pointing direction associated with a handheld device is estimated or determined by, for example, calculating a center of rotation of the device. A resultant combined or selected bias estimate may then be used to compensate the biased output of the sensor in, e.g., a 3D pointing device.

Abstract: The present inventions generally relate to methods and dedicated apparatuses outputting a variable mapped on a device orientation in a non-inertial reference system, with the device orientation being estimated using measurements of motion sensors (such as 3D accelerometers and gyroscopes) and a magnetometer or other similar sensors including cameras. A variable mapped on an orientation of a device is smoothed to have a gradual evolution by adjusting the estimated orientation of the device obtained via sensor fusion or other sensor processing to take into consideration a current measured angular velocity.

Abstract: Devices, computer readable medium, and methods for selecting an object displayed on a screen and providing information about that object.

Abstract: A forward pointing direction associated with a handheld device is estimated or determined by, for example, calculating a center of rotation of the device. A resultant combined or selected bias estimate may then be used to compensate the biased output of the sensor in, e.g., a 3D pointing device.