Apple inc. (20240103642). INPUT DEVICE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTROL simplified abstract

INPUT DEVICE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTROL

Organization Name

apple inc.

Inventor(s)

Bart K. Andre of Palo Alto CA (US)

Brian T. Gleeson of Mountain View CA (US)

Kristi E. Bauerly of Los Altos CA (US)

William D. Lindmeier of San Francisco CA (US)

Matthew J. Sundstrom of Campbell CA (US)

Geng Luo of Santa Clara CA (US)

Seung Wook Kim of San Jose CA (US)

Evangelos Christodoulou of Santa Clara CA (US)

Megan M. Sapp of San Francisco CA (US)

Kainoa Kwon-perez of San Francisco CA (US)

John B. Morrell of Los Gatos CA (US)

INPUT DEVICE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTROL - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240103642 titled 'INPUT DEVICE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTROL

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a three-dimensional control system that utilizes ultrasonic technology to track the position of an input device relative to a computing device.

• Input device includes sensors and an ultrasonic speaker
• Tracking assembly includes ultrasonic microphones and an inertial measurement unit
• Ultrasonic microphones detect waves from the input device's speaker
• Computing device triangulates the position of the input device in space

Potential Applications

The technology can be used in virtual reality systems, gaming consoles, and interactive displays.

Problems Solved

This technology solves the problem of accurately tracking the position of an input device in three-dimensional space.

Benefits

The system provides precise and real-time tracking of the input device, enhancing user experience and interaction with digital environments.

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology can be applied in entertainment, education, healthcare, and industrial sectors for interactive and immersive experiences.

Possible Prior Art

Similar technologies using ultrasonic tracking systems have been used in virtual reality headsets and motion capture systems.

Unanswered Questions

How does the system handle interference from other ultrasonic devices in the environment?

The system may need to have mechanisms in place to filter out unwanted signals and ensure accurate tracking.

What is the range of the ultrasonic tracking system?

The effective range of the system may impact its usability in different applications and environments.

Original Abstract Submitted

a three-dimensional control system includes an input device, a computing device, and a tracking assembly. the input device can include an input sensor, an inertial measurement unit sensor, and an ultrasonic speaker. the tracking assembly can include a plurality of ultrasonic microphones and an inertial measurement unit disposed on or with the computing device. the plurality of ultrasonic microphones can include three microphones in a first plane and at least one other ultrasonic microphone disposed out of the first plane. the ultrasonic microphones can be configured to detect ultrasonic waves output by the speaker of the input device and the computing device can triangulate the position of the input device relative to the computing device in space.