U.S. patent application number 12/003158 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for method for adjusting sensing range and sensitivity and inertia interactive aparatus and system using thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Industrial Technology Research Institute. Invention is credited to Yi-Chia Hsu, Shun-Nan Liou, Ying-Ko Lu, Ming-Jye Tsai, Ching-Hsiang Tu.
Application Number | 20090062005 12/003158 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40408365 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090062005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lu; Ying-Ko ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
Method for adjusting sensing range and sensitivity and inertia
interactive aparatus and system using thereof
Abstract
The present invention provides an architecture of a method,
apparatus and system for user adjusting the sensing range and
sensitivity dynamically according to various user statuses so as to
obtain an appropriate interactive effect regardless of different
age group of users. In the present invention, a way of adjusting
sensing range according to a switch signal, or a ratio for
adjusting magnitude of a processed signal, or changing the
threshold of the application program directly are illustrated as
embodiments respectively for adjusting the sensing range and
sensitivity dynamically.
Inventors: |
Lu; Ying-Ko; (Taoyuan
County, TW) ; Hsu; Yi-Chia; (Tainan City, TW)
; Tu; Ching-Hsiang; (Kaohsiung City, TW) ; Liou;
Shun-Nan; (Kaohsiung City, TW) ; Tsai; Ming-Jye;
(Hsinchu County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
Industrial Technology Research
Institute
|
Family ID: |
40408365 |
Appl. No.: |
12/003158 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0346 20130101;
A63F 2300/1018 20130101; A63F 2300/105 20130101; A63F 13/10
20130101; A63F 13/22 20140902; A63F 13/211 20140902 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/37 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 30, 2007 |
TW |
096132180 |
Claims
1. A method for sensing range and sensitivity adjustment,
comprising the steps of: determining whether there is a switch
signal; changing a sensing range for detecting motions of a movable
object when the switch signal is detected; generating at least an
inertial sensing parameter according to the detected motions; and
processing the at least one inertial sensing parameter for forming
an output signal.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: issuing
an adjustment signal when the switch signal is detected; and
adjusting a threshold value according to the adjustment signal
while using the comparison between the threshold value and the
output signal to generate an interaction correspondingly.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the switch signal is issued from
a device selected from the group consisting of an interactive
console and an inertial sensing device for sensing the motions of
the movable object; and the inertial sensing device further
comprises a switch control, being electrically connected to a
switching element; and the switching element, used as an interface
communicating the switch unit with a user, is a device selected
from the group consisting of a press button, a switch, a roller and
a touch panel.
4. A method for sensing range and sensitivity adjustment,
comprising the steps of: detecting motions of a movable object for
generating at least an inertial sensing parameter; determining
whether there is a switch signal; and adjusting the magnitude of an
output signal generated from the at least one inertial sensing
parameter according to a ratio when the switch signal is
detected.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of: issuing
an adjustment signal when the switch signal is detected; and
adjusting a threshold value according to the adjustment signal
while using the comparison between the threshold value and the
output signal to generate an interaction correspondingly.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the switch signal is issued from
a device selected from the group consisting of an interactive
console and a sensor for sensing the motions of the movable
object.
7. A method for sensing range and sensitivity adjustment,
comprising the steps of: detecting motions of a movable object for
generating at least an inertial sensing parameter; processing the
at least one inertial sensing parameter for forming an output
signal; determining whether there is a switch signal, and issuing
an adjustment signal when the switch signal is detected; and
adjusting a threshold value according to the adjustment signal
while using the comparison between the threshold value and the
output signal to generate an interaction correspondingly.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the switch signal is issued from
a device selected from the group consisting of an interactive
console and an inertial sensing device for sensing the motions of
the movable object; and the inertial sensing device further
comprises a switch control, being electrically connected to a
switching element; and the switching element, used as an interface
communicating the switch unit with a user, is a device selected
from the group consisting of a press button, a switch, a roller and
a touch panel.
9. An inertial sensing interactive system: comprising: an
interactive console; and an inertial sensing apparatus, capable of
communicating with the interactive console, further comprising: an
inertial sensing module, configured with at least an inertial
sensor for sensing motions of a movable object so as to generate at
least an inertial sensing parameter; a switch unit, for generating
a first switch signal; and a micro control unit, coupled to the
inertial sensing module and the switch unit, for processing the at
least one inertial sensing parameter so as to generate an output
signal and capable of adjusting the sensing range and sensitivity
of the inertial sensing module according to the first switch
signal.
10. The inertial sensing interactive system of claim 9, wherein the
interactive console is capable of generating a second switch signal
to be used for controlling the micro control unit to adjust the
sensing range and sensitivity accordingly; and the interactive
console is a device selected from the group consisting of
multimedia interactive apparatuses, computers and household
electronic appliances.
11. The inertial sensing interactive system of claim 9, wherein the
inertial sensor is a device selected from the group consisting of a
gyroscope and an accelerometer.
12. The inertial sensing interactive system of claim 9, wherein the
switch unit is further coupled to a switching element, being a
device selected from the group consisting of a press button, a
switch, a roller and a touch panel.
13. The inertial sensing interactive system of claim 9, wherein the
communication between the interactive console and the inertial
sensing apparatus is achieved by a means selected from the group
consisting of a wired means and a wireless means; and the wired
means is enabled by an interface selected form the group consisting
of a RS232 interface, an USB interface and Ethernet; and the
wireless means is enabled by a way selected form the group
consisting of Bluetooth communication, radio frequency (RF)
communication and GSM.
14. The inertial sensing interactive system of claim 9, wherein the
micro control unit is enabled to generate an adjustment signal
according to the first switch signal; and the interactive console,
configured with a threshold value, is enabled to adjust the
threshold value according to the adjustment signal.
15. The inertial sensing interactive system of claim 9, wherein
each inertial sensor is configured with a plurality of sensing
ranges, thereby, the adjusting of the sensing range and sensitivity
is achieved by a manner selected from the group consisting of:
utilizing the switch unit to select one sensing range out of the
plural sensing ranged; and using the micro control unit to adjust
the magnitude of the output signal according to a ratio.
16. An inertial sensing interactive apparatus, comprising: a motion
module; and an inertial sensing apparatus, capable of communicating
with the motion module, further comprising: an inertial sensing
module, configured with at least an inertial sensor for sensing
motions of a movable object so as to generate at least an inertial
sensing parameter; a switch unit, for generating a first switch
signal; and a micro control unit, coupled to the inertial sensing
module and the switch unit, for processing the at least one
inertial sensing parameter so as to generate an output signal and
capable of adjusting the sensing range and sensitivity of the
inertial sensing module according to the first switch signal.
17. The inertial sensing interactive apparatus of claim 16, wherein
the motion module is a device selected from the group consisting of
a step counter and a counter for counting hula hoop rolling.
18. The inertial sensing interactive apparatus of claim 16, wherein
the inertial sensor is a device selected from the group consisting
of a gyroscope and an accelerometer.
19. The inertial sensing interactive apparatus of claim 16, wherein
the switch unit is further coupled to a switching element, being a
device selected from the group consisting of a press button, a
switch, a roller and a touch panel.
20. The inertial sensing interactive apparatus of claim 16, wherein
the micro control unit is enabled to generate an adjustment signal
according to the first switch signal; and the motion module,
configured with a threshold value, is enabled to adjust the
threshold value according to the adjustment signal.
21. The inertial sensing interactive apparatus of claim 16, wherein
each inertial sensor is configured with a plurality of sensing
ranges, thereby, the adjusting of the sensing range and sensitivity
is achieved by a manner selected from the group consisting of:
utilizing the switch unit to select one sensing range out of the
plural sensing ranged; and using the micro control unit to adjust
the magnitude of the output signal according to a ratio.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a dynamic adjusting method
and an interactive system using the same, and more particularly, to
a method for adjusting sensing range and sensitivity and an
inertial interactive apparatus and system using thereof, capable of
basing on personal requirements of a user to dynamically adjust the
sensing range and sensitivity of inertial sensors configured in the
architecture of the inertial interactive system for facilitating
the interaction between the user and a program executing in the
inertial interaction system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] After developing for years on the high gear, multimedia game
enjoys great breakthrough not only in its audio and graphic
performances, but also in it animation capability, since the
computation abilities of electronic devices relating to multimedia
games had been greatly improved which is directly resulted from the
recent rapid development of semiconductor industry. Hence, players
can now enjoys a multimedia game in a virtual-reality environment
full of sounds and images.
[0003] Although the fun of playing multimedia games can be greatly
enhancing by the improvement of audio/video effect, it is noted
that for most multimedia games, conventional input interface, such
as keyboard, joystick, or mouse, etc., are still used by players as
the control device. In another word, as players can only interact
with multimedia games through such conventional handheld input
interfaces, the fun of playing multimedia games is reduced.
[0004] There are already some techniques for improving such
disadvantage. One such technique is a video game system disclosed
in U.S. Pub. No. 20070072680, and in U.S. Pub. No. 20070066394. The
aforesaid game controller of the video game system is a
revolutionary device by which any motions of a game player can be
used for controlling movements of a character displayed on its game
console. One representative gaming system is the fifth home video
game console "Wii" released by Nintendo. A distinguishing feature
of the Wii console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote,
which can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect
acceleration in three dimensions. This design allows users to
control the game using physical gestures as well as traditional
button presses so that not only the conventional joysticks with a
plurality of press buttons are consindered to be obsolete, but it
also make possible a new form of player interaction.
[0005] However, in all the aofresaid techniques, as user can
interact with a program executing in the interaction game console
by way of an operation interface, the operation interface,
generally capable of sensing movements of the user, is configured
to generate inertial sensing parameters with respect to the sensed
movements for controlling the interaction with a character of the
program in a one-to-one relation. In another word, when the user
performs a movement with comparatively less force, the operation
interface will correspondingly generate a smaller inertial sensing
parameter for directing the program to give a smaller response; and
when the movement is perform with larger force, the operation
interface will correspondingly generate a larger inertial sensing
parameter for directing the program to give a larger response.
However, such response of the game or program executing in the
interactive console can not be adjusted dynamically according to
various user statuses.
[0006] For instance, while playing a hula hoop game on a game
console, the inertial sensors are usually being configured to
detect accelerations ranged between +2 g and -2 g. However, such
configuration might be appropriate for common users, but for
children or handicapped people who can generate accelerations at
most between +1 g and -1 g, interactions with the hula hoop at the
ranges of [+2 g, +1 g] and [-1 g, -2 g] are impossible and thus the
fun of interactive playing is greatly reduced.
[0007] Although inertial sensors are usually designed with a
plurality of sensing ranges provided for users to set up the
sensing range and sensitivity. Nevertheless, as soon as the sensing
range is set, it is fixed and can not be adjusted at will by
users.
[0008] Therefore, it is in need of an architecture of a method,
apparatus and system for enabling users to adjust the sensing range
and sensitivity dynamically according to various user statuses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an
architecture of a method, apparatus and system, provided with a
switch selection for enabling users to adjust the sensing range and
sensitivity dynamically according to various user statuses.
[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide an
architecture of a method, apparatus and system, provided with a
switch selection for enabling users to adjust the magnitude of the
inertial sensing apparatus's output signal dynamically according to
various user statuses.
[0011] It is further another object of the invention to provide an
architecture of a method, apparatus and system, provided with a
switch selection for enabling users to adjust the magnitude of an
adjustment signal issued from the inertial sensing apparatus
according to various user statuses and thus enabling an application
program corresponding to the inertial sensing apparatus to adjust
the magnitude of a threshold value according to the adjustment
signal in a dynamical manner.
[0012] It is yet another object of the invention to provide an
architecture of a method, apparatus and system, capable using a
switch signal issued from an application program corresponding to
the inertial sensing apparatus to adjust the magnitude of the
inertial sensing apparatus's output signal dynamically or to adjust
the sensing range of inertial sensors configured inside the
inertial sensing apparatus.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the present
invention provides a method for sensing range and sensitivity
adjustment, which comprises the steps of: determining whether there
is a switch signal; changing a sensing range for detecting motions
of a movable object and thus generating at least an inertial
sensing parameter accordingly when the switch signal is detected;
and processing the at least one inertial sensing parameter for
forming an output signal.
[0014] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the
present invention provides a method for sensing range and
sensitivity adjustment, which comprises the steps of detecting
motions of a movable object for generating at least an inertial
sensing parameter; and determining whether there is a switch
signal; adjusting the magnitude of an output signal generated from
the at least one inertial sensing parameter according to a ratio if
the switch signal is detected.
[0015] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the
present invention provides a method for sensing range and
sensitivity adjustment, which comprises the steps of: detecting
motions of a movable object for generating at least an inertial
sensing parameter; processing the at least one inertial sensing
parameter so as to form an output signal; determining whether there
is a switch signal, and issuing an adjustment signal is no switch
signal detected; and adjusting a threshold value according to the
adjustment signal while using the comparison between the threshold
value and the output signal to generate an interaction
correspondingly.
[0016] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the
present invention provides an inertial sensing interactive system,
which comprises: an interactive console; and an inertial sensing
apparatus, capable of communicating with the interactive console.
Moreover, the inertial sensing module further comprises: an
inertial sensing module, configured with at least an inertial
sensor for sensing motions of the movable object so as to generate
at least an inertial sensing parameter; a switch unit, for
generating a first switch signal; and a micro control unit, coupled
to the inertial sensing module and the switch unit, for processing
the at least one inertial sensing parameter so as to generate an
output signal and capable of adjusting the sensing range and
sensitivity of the inertial sensing module according to the first
switch signal.
[0017] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the
present invention provides an inertial sensing interactive
apparatus, comprising: a motion module; and an inertial sensing
apparatus, capable of communicating with the motion module.
Moreover, the inertial sensing module further comprises: an
inertial sensing module, configured with at least an inertial
sensor for sensing motions of the movable object so as to generate
at least an inertial sensing parameter; a switch unit, for
generating a first switch signal; and a micro control unit, coupled
to the inertial sensing module and the switch unit, for processing
the at least one inertial sensing parameter so as to generate an
output signal and capable of adjusting the sensing range and
sensitivity of the inertial sensing module according to the first
switch signal.
[0018] Further scope of applicability of the present application
will become more apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed
description and specific examples, while indicating preferred
embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration
only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and
scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention and wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an inertial sensing
interactive system according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting an inertial sensing
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3A is a flow chart showing steps of a method for
sensing range and sensitivity adjustment according to a first
embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 3B shows steps of interactions performed in an inertial
sensing system of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are schematic diagrams showing curves of
output signal magnitude before and after the sensing range is
changed.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing steps of a method for sensing
range and sensitivity adjustment according to a second embodiment
of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are schematic diagrams showing curves of
output signal magnitude before and after the threshold value is
changed.
[0027] FIG. 7A is a flow chart showing steps of a method for
sensing range and sensitivity adjustment according to a third
embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 7B is a flow chart showing steps of a method for
sensing range and sensitivity adjustment according to a fourth
embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a block diagram depicting an interactive motion
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0030] For your esteemed members of reviewing committee to further
understand and recognize the fulfilled functions and structural
characteristics of the invention, several exemplary embodiments
cooperating with detailed description are presented as the
follows.
[0031] Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a sectional view of an
inertial sensing interactive system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention. The inertial sensing interactive
system 2 is composed of an interactive console 20 and at least an
inertial sensing apparatus 21, as the one shown in FIG. 1, but
actually there can be more than one inertial sensing apparatus:
included in the inertial sensing interactive system 2. The
interactive console 20 can be a multimedia interactive device (such
as a multimedia gamming console), a computer, or a household
electronic appliance. In this exemplary embodiment, the interactive
console 20 is a multimedia gamming console, which includes an
operation station 200 and a display unit 201. The inertial sensing
apparatus 21 is able to communicate with the interactive console 20
in a manner that it can be an operation interface used by a user 8
for interacting with the interactive console 20.
[0032] Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a block diagram depicting
an inertial sensing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention. The inertial sensing apparatus 21 comprises an
inertial sensing module 210, a switch unit 211, a transceiving
module 213 and a micro control unit 212. The inertial sensing
module is configured with at least an inertial sensor, each of
which is capable of sensing motions of a user (or movable
components of an object) performed in free space or on a surface,
and thus generating at least an inertial sensing parameter, such as
angular velocity or acceleration. It is noted that thee inertial
sensor can be a device selected from the group consisting of a
gyroscope, an accelerometer and the combination thereof. In
addition, each inertial sensor is configured with at least a
sensing range for selection, such as .+-.2 g/.+-.1 g/.+-.0.5 g.
[0033] The switch unit 211, used for generating a first switch
signal, is electrically connected to a switching element, in that
the switching element is used as an interface between the user 8
and the switch unit 211. It is noted that the switching element can
be a device selected from the group consisting of a press button, a
switch, a roller and a touch panel. The transceiving module 213 is
used for communicating with the interactive console 20 so as to
transmit/receive signals to/from the interactive console 20; and
the transceiving module 213 can communicate with the interactive
console 20 by a wired means or a wireless means. In addition, the
wired means is enabled by an interface selected form the group
consisting of a RS232 interface, an USB interface and Ethernet; and
the wireless means is enabled by a way selected form the group
consisting of Bluetooth communication, radio frequency (RF)
communication and GSM. In this exemplary embodiment, the
transceiving module 213 communicates with the interactive console
20 by a wireless means.
[0034] Moreover, the interactive console 20 can be configured to
issue a second switch signal to the inertial sensing apparatus 210.
The micro control unit 212 is coupled to the inertial sensing
module 210, the switch unit 211 and the transceiving module 213 for
processing the at least one inertial sensing parameter so as to
generate an output signal and for adjusting the sensing range and
sensitivity of the inertial sensing module according to the first
switch signal or the second switch signal. In addition, the micro
control unit 212 is able to generate an adjustment signal according
to the first switch signal and then transmit the adjustment signal
to the operation station 200 of the interactive console 20. As soon
as the adjustment signal is received by the interactive console 20,
the interactive console 20 will proceed to adjust the threshold
value according to the adjustment signal.
[0035] Please refer to FIG. 3A, which is a flow chart showing steps
of a method for sensing range and sensitivity adjustment according
to a first embodiment of the invention. In this first embodiment,
the method sensing range and sensitivity adjustment is realized in
the inertial sensing interactive system shown in FIG. I and FIG. 2,
and moreover, the inertial sensing apparatus 210 is configured with
a plurality of sensing ranges for selection. The flow starts from
step 30. At step 30, a detection is perform by the micro control
unit 212 for determining whether there is a switch signal send from
the switch unit 211 and received by the micro control unit 212; if
so, the flow proceeds to step 3 1; otherwise, the flow proceeds to
step 34. At step 31, the micro control unit 212 is enabled to
access a control code which had been changed from the default
control code for using the control code to change the sensing range
and sensitivity of the inertial sensors; and then the flow proceeds
to step 32. At step 32, the micro control unit 212 changes the
sensing range and sensitivity of the inertial sensors according to
the accessed control code; and then the flow proceeds to step 33.
At step 33, the interactive console 20 is enabled to interact with
the user 8. At step 34, enabling the micro control unit to access
the default control code for using the control code to control the
sensing range and sensitivity of the inertial sensors; and then the
flow proceeds to step 32.
[0036] Please refer to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, which are schematic
diagrams showing curves of output signal magnitude before and after
the sensing range is changed. FIG. 4A shows the relationship
between output signal magnitude and the threshold value of an
inertial interactive system when the sensing range remains
unchanged as that performed in step 34, in which the straight line
90 represents a default threshold value defined by an application
program executing in the inertial interaction system, while the
curve 91 plots the magnitude of output signal issued from the
inertial sensing apparatus when the sensing range remains
unchanged. As shown in FIG. 4A, the output signal never exceed the
threshold value so that no matter how hard the user is trying,
there is no interaction between the inertial interactive system and
the user.
[0037] In FIG. 4B, the curve 92 plots the magnitude of output
signal issued from the inertial sensing apparatus when the sensing
range is 15 changed, as those perform in steps 31.about.33 of FIG.
3A. As the sensing range and sensitivity are changed the in a
manner that the magnitude of output signal is increased, a portion
of the output signal actually exceeds the threshold value even the
threshold value remains unchanged, and thus the output signal will
be detected by the inertial interactive system for enabling the
same to interact with the user.
[0038] As for how the sensing range can be changed for increasing
the magnitude of the output signal, an example is used for
illustration as following. It is noted that when the default
sensing range is .+-.2 g and the acceleration corresponding to a
user's motion is in the range of .+-.2 g, such motion will be
detected by the inertial sensing module and thus an inertial
sensing parameter is generated accordingly. Moreover, the range of
.+-.2 g is mapped with an output range with 2 power of 10, i.e. the
range [-2 g, +2 g] is corresponded to another range of [0, 1024],
so that when the detected acceleration is 2 g, the output value is
1024 and when the detected acceleration is 1 gm the output value
will be 256 in proportion. However, as soon as the sensing ranged
is changed from .+-.2 g to .+-.1 g, the acceleration of 1 g will
correspondingly cause an output of 1024.
[0039] Please refer to FIG. 3B, which shows steps of interactions
performed in an inertial sensing system of the invention, and the
interactive system shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is used as
illustration. The flow starts from step 330. At step 330, the
inertial sensing module 210 is enabled to detect user's movements
for generating at least an inertial sensing parameter, and then the
flow proceeds to step 331. At step 331, the at least one inertial
sensing parameter is sent and received by the micro control unit
212, and then the flow proceeds to step 332. At step 332, the micro
control unit to processes the at least one inertial sensing
parameter for generating an output signal accordingly, and then the
flow proceeds to step 333. At step 333, the output signal is
transmitted to the operation station 200 of the interactive console
20 by the transceiving module 213 for enabling the interactive
console 20 to interact with the user 8.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing steps of a method for sensing
range and sensitivity adjustment according to a second embodiment
of the invention, and the interactive system shown in FIG. 1 and
FIG. 2 is used as illustration. In this second embodiment, the
changing of sensing range and sensitivity can be achieved by
changing a threshold value of the interactive console or through
the inertial sensing apparatus. The aforesaid method 4 starts from
step 40. At step 40, a detection is perform by the micro control
unit 212 for determining whether there is a switch signal send from
the switch unit 211 and received by the micro control unit 212; if
so, the flow proceeds to step 41; otherwise, the flow proceeds to
step 46. At step 41, an evaluation is made for determining whether
to change the threshold value or to change the sensing range of the
inertial sensors in the inertial sensing apparatus; if the process
of changing sensing range is selected, then the flow proceeds to
perform step 42 to step 45; if the process of changing threshold
value is selected, then the flow proceeds to step 45. As the
process of step 42 to step 45 is performed similar to the step 31
to step 33 shown in FIG. 3A, they are not described further herein.
At step 45, the micro control unit 212 is enabled to issue an
adjustment signal through the transceiving module 213, and then the
flow proceeds to step 44 where the adjustment signal is transmitted
to the operation station 200 of the interactive console 20 for
controlling an application program executing on the interactive
console to adjust the threshold value. At step 46, the micro
control unit 212 is enabled to access the default control code for
using the control code to control the sensing range and sensitivity
of the inertial sensors.
[0041] Please refer to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, which are schematic
diagrams showing curves of output signal magnitude before and after
the threshold value is changed. FIG. 6A shows the relationship
between output signal magnitude and the threshold value of an
inertial interactive system when no switch signal is detected for
changing sensing range and the threshold remains unchanged as that
performed in step 46, which is similar to that shown in FIG. 4A and
thus is not described further herein. In FIG. 6B, the curve 93
plots the threshold value after being changed as the switch signal
is detected and the process of changing threshold value is
selected. As in the proceeding of step 44 that the sensing range
and sensitivity are not changed but instead the threshold value is
changed the in a manner that a portion of the output signal
actually exceeds the threshold value even the threshold value
remains unchanged, and thus the output signal will be detected by
the inertial interactive system for enabling the same to interact
with the user.
[0042] Please refer to FIG. 7A, which is a flow chart showing steps
of a method for sensing range and sensitivity adjustment according
to a third embodiment of the invention, and the interactive system
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is used as illustration. The
characteristic of this third embodiment is that: the inertial
sensors used in the inertial sensing apparatus 21 are all
configured with only one sensing range. The method 5 starts from
step 50. At step 50, the inertial sensing module 210 detects user's
movements for generating at least an inertial sensing parameter,
and then the flow proceeds to step 51. At step 51, the at least one
inertial sensing parameter is received by the micro control unit
212, and then the flow proceeds to step 52. At step 52, the micro
control unit 212 process the at least one inertial sensing
parameter for generating an output signal accordingly, and then the
flow proceeds step 53. At step 53, a detection is perform by the
micro control unit 212 for determining whether there is a switch
signal send from the switch unit 211 and received by the micro
control unit 212; if so, the flow proceeds to step 54; otherwise,
the flow proceeds to step 55. At step 54, the magnitude of the
output signal generated from the at least one inertial sensing
parameter is adjusted according to a ratio, and then the flow
proceeds to step 55. At step 55, the interactive console 20
interacts with the user 8 according to the output signal. As the
inertial sensors used in this embodiment are configured with only
one sensing range, the sensing range of the inertial sensing module
can not be changed. However, in order to increase the sensitivity,
the present embodiment uses the micro control unit to increase or
reduce the magnitude of the output signal by a ratio in a manner
similar to those shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B.
[0043] Please refer to FIG. 7B, which is a flow chart showing steps
of a method for sensing range and sensitivity adjustment according
to a fourth embodiment of the invention, and the interactive system
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is used as illustration. The
characteristic of this fourth embodiment is that: the inertial
sensors used in the inertial sensing apparatus are all configured
with only one sensing range, and the sensitivity can be changed
either by adjusting the threshold value of the interactive console
or by changing the magnitude of the output signal by a ratio. The
proceeding of step 60 to step 62 of this fourth embodiment is
similar to the proceeding of step 50 to step of the third
embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, and thus is not described further
herein. When the flow proceeds to step 63 where a switch signal is
detected by the micro control unit 212, the flow proceeds to step
64. At step 64, an evaluation is made for determining whether to
change the sensitivity at the interactive console 20 or to change
the sensitivity at the inertial sensing apparatus 21; if the
process of changing sensitivity at the inertial sensing apparatus
21 is selected, then the flow proceeds to perform step 65 to step
66 if the process of changing sensitivity at the interactive
console 20 is selected, then the flow proceeds to step 67. As the
process of step 65 to step 66 is performed similar to the step 54
to step 55 shown in FIG. 7A, they are not described further herein.
At step 67, the micro control unit 212 issues an adjustment signal
through the transceiving module 213 to the operation station 200 of
the interactive console 20 for controlling an application program
executing on the operation station 200 to adjust the threshold
value.
[0044] In all the aforesaid embodiments, the switch signals are all
issued from the switch unit configured in the inertial sensing
apparatus. However, the switch signal can be issued from the
interactive console instead of the inertial sensing apparatus.
Nevertheless, no matter the switch signal is issued from the
interactive console or the inertial sensing apparatus, as soon as
it is received by the micro control unit, the micro control unit
will start to perform an evaluation for changing sensing range and
sensitivity.
[0045] Moreover, the inertial interactive system shown in FIG. I
and FIG. 2 is a multimedia interactive system, however, it can be a
simple inertial sensing exercise device, such as a step counter and
a counter for counting hula hoop rolling, but is not limited
thereby. Please refer to FIG. 8, is a block diagram depicting an
interactive motion apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
of the invention. In FIG. 8, the interactive motion apparatus 7
comprises a switch unit 70, a micro control unit 71, an inertial
sensing module 72 and a motion module 73, in which the functions
and structures of the switch unit 70, the micro control unit 71,
and the inertial sensing module 72 are all the same as those 210,
211, and 212 shown in FIG. 2, and thus are not described further
herein. The motion module 73 can be a step counter and a counter
for counting hula hoop rolling, and so on, which functions similar
to the interactive console 20 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the
motion module can perform an evaluation to determine whether to
count or not according to the output signal generated from the
micro control unit 71 by the processing of inertial sensing
parameter transmitted from the inertial sensing module 72. Taking a
step counter for instance, if the acceleration of a march does not
exceed a specific threshold value defined in the step counter, such
match will not be counted, otherwise, it is counted. It is noted
that all the methods illustrated in the aforesaid embodiments for
adjusting sensing range and sensitivity can all be used in this
interactive motion apparatus for adapting the same for user of
every age group.
[0046] To sum up, the present invention relates to a method for
adjusting sensing range and sensitivity and an inertial interactive
apparatus and system using thereof, capable of basing on personal
requirements of a user to dynamically adjust the sensing range and
sensitivity of inertial sensors configured in the inertial
interactive system for facilitating the interaction between the
user and a program executing in the inertial interaction system
[0047] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
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