On May 8, 2008, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a new and exciting Apple patent which generally relates to a multi-dimensional 2D/3D remote control system. The remote control could employ both absolute and relative positioning detection techniques which provide for superior on-screen position accuracy. The remote controller would also provide a unique zoom feature to enable a user to go into and out of an image or even a portion thereof. Such techniques are employed in video game controllers and Apple’s patent confirms this application option. Such techniques would also support Apple’s vision of a Second Life-like virtual world application relating to their Apple Store. The new remote would allow consumers to roam through a virtual Apple Store as if they were in a sophisticated 3D video game such as BioShock or Call of Duty. The good part of this is that the remote may be closer to reality than you think – as Apple has implemented technologies that were developed and patented by ThinkOptics, the creators of Waveit. Their remote won the 2008 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award. According to their literature, the remote offers anti-shake stabilization and air zooming to move in on photos and webpages and supports onscreen keyboards – most of which are supported by Apple’s patent.

The Remote Control

In one embodiment of the present invention, relative motion sensor 34 can include a single or multi-dimensional accelerometer. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, relative motion sensor 34 can include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, any other sensor that can detect relative motion, or any combination thereof.

The remote control can incorporate user input component 38. User input component 38 can be a scrollwheel similar to that incorporated by a portable media player sold under the trademark iPod by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. The scrollwheel can include one or more buttons and a capacitive touchpad. The touchpad can permit a user to scroll through software menus by running the user’s finger around the track of the scrollwheel. User input component 38 also can include, for example, one or more buttons, a touchpad, a touchscreen display, or any combination thereof.

A user may actuate user input component 38 when the user wants remote control system 10 to perform an action. For example, a user my actuate user input component 38 when the user is pointing to a location on display 30 to which the user wants object 28 to be moved or when the user moves remote control 16 in the z-axis to, e.g., zoom in on or zoom out of the image shown on display 30. When the user is not actuating user input component 38, remote control system 10 can be configured to take no action.

In one embodiment of the present invention, console 40 can communicate with remote control. The Console mentioned in the patent as figure point 40 would likely be an Apple TV box. The patent states that other functions could be added. One example mentions video game cartridges.

Video Game/Virtual World Applications

Apple’s patent FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of a position detection process in accordance with the present invention. In step 50, controller 32 or 42 can accept data from photodetector 26 of absolute position detection sub-system 12. In respect to video games, Apple states that “the absolute x- and y-positions of remote control 16 can be used, for example, in video games to position a user’s character or to otherwise track the movement of the remote control in a user’s environment.” That of course supports Apple’s virtual store concept patent – which was published last week and noted in the reports introduction.

Devices that Could Support the New Technology

A remote control of the present invention can be any electronic device in a system that may need to determine the absolute positions of the electronic device with respect to one or more reference locations. For example, the remote control can be any portable, mobile, hand-held, or miniature consumer electronic device. Illustrative electronic devices can include, but are not limited to, music players, video players, still image players, game players, other media players, music recorders, video recorders, cameras, other media recorders, radios, medical equipment, calculators, cellular phones, other wireless communication devices, personal digital assistances, programmable remote controls, pagers, laptop computers, printers, or combinations thereof. Miniature electronic devices may have a form factor that is smaller than that of hand-held devices. Illustrative miniature electronic devices can include, but are not limited to, watches, rings, necklaces, belts, accessories for belts, headsets, accessories for shoes, virtual reality devices, other wearable electronics, accessories for sporting equipment, accessories for fitness equipment, key chains, or combinations thereof.

Above is Apple’s patent FIG. 4 which illustrates a process for determining an absolute position of a remote control in the z-axis. Apple’s patent FIGS. 6A-6C and 7A-7C below, illustrate embodiments of a zooming feature

Apple lists Duncan Robert Kerr (San Francisco, CA), Chad Bronstein (Sunnyvale, CA), Wing Kong Low (Cupertino, CA) and Nicholas Vincent King (San Jose, CA) as the inventors of this patent.
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Written and researched by Senior Patent Editor Jack “Neo” Purcher.