Patent Abstract:
A headset comprises an arrangement and a display. The arrangement is situated at least partially on a head of a user. The display is coupled to the arrangement and capable of displaying a pointing device to the user. The headset is coupled to a mobile device which includes a sensor. When the mobile device is moved, the sensor detects a direction of the movement to generate corresponding direction data. The display displays to the user a corresponding movement of the pointing device which is determined as a function of the corresponding direction data.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a user interface for a head mounted display. Specifically, movements performed with the user interface are translated for a pointing device of the display. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A mobile unit may be used in a variety of environments. The mobile unit is utilized without a need to be connected to an external power supply. In order to maximize productivity with the mobile unit, a large workspace is beneficial. The mobile unit may be equipped with various accessories such as a headset in order to increase the workspace. The headset may provide a user with an audio input and an audio output component. Furthermore, the headset may include a head-mounted display so that the user is not required to view a display of the mobile unit. The head-mounted display may function substantially similar to the display of the mobile unit. For example, the head-mounted display may be equipped with a pointing device. The pointing device may be controlled using a mouse or a joystick. However, this approach restricts the mobility offered by the mobile unit. If the mobile unit is hand-held the other free hand is required to use the control device. If the mobile unit is mounted, at least one hand is required to use the control device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a headset comprising an arrangement and a display. The arrangement is situated at least partially on a head of a user. The display is coupled to the arrangement and capable of displaying a pointing device to the user. The headset is coupled to a mobile device which includes a sensor. When the mobile device is moved, the sensor detects a direction of the movement to generate corresponding direction data. The display displays to the user a corresponding movement of the pointing device which is determined as a function of the corresponding direction data. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a first view of a headset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a second view of the headset of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows components of a mobile unit used with the headset of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled system of components including the headset of  FIG. 1 , the mobile unit of  FIG. 3  and a module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5   a  shows a first movement of the mobile unit of  FIG. 3  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5   b  shows a first translation of the first movement of  FIG. 5   a  on a head-mounted display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6   a  shows a second movement of the mobile unit of  FIG. 3  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6   b  shows a second translation of the second movement of  FIG. 6   a  on a head-mounted display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7   a  shows a third movement subsequent to the second movement of  FIG. 6   a  of the mobile unit of  FIG. 3  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7   b  shows a third translation of the third movement of  FIG. 7   a  on a head-mounted display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe a user interface for a head-mounted display. Specifically, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may utilize a motion or inertial sensor disposed in the interface device to detect a motion that is translated into a movement of a pointing device shown on the display. The interface device may be embodied in a hand-held MU or an accessory thereto. The user interface, the head-mounted display, the sensor, the MU, and the accessory will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a first view of a headset  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The headset  100  may be any device capable of being worn on a user&#39;s head where components of the headset are used to perform a functionality. For example, the headset  100  may be for a voice functionality. The headset  100  may also be configured to include additional functionalities such as displaying data to the user. The headset  100  may be a stand alone unit or may be used in conjunction with other electronic devices. For example, the headset  100  may be coupled to an MU so that data may be exchanged between the headset  100  and the MU. The coupling may be, for example, a wired connector from the headset  100  with a jack that plugs into a port of the MU. The headset  100  may include a head band  105 , an audio output  110 , a stabilizer  115 , a boom  120 , an audio input  125 , an extender  130 , a head-mounted display  135 , and an input/output (I/O) port  140 . 
         [0016]    The head band  105  may be a supporting mechanism to allow the headset  100  to be used hands-free. The head band  105  may rest on a top surface of a user&#39;s head. The head band  105  may be partially elastic so that the head band  105  may flex to conform to the top surface of the user&#39;s head. The head band  105  may be manufactured, for example, of a semi-elastic polymer with a spring metal interior. The stabilizer  115  may be a padding disposed at a first end of the head band  105 . The padding may provide a comfortable end to the head band  105 . Because the ends of the head band  105  partially squeeze (e.g., to securely hold the head set  100  on the user&#39;s head), the stabilizer  115  may allow the comfortable use of the headset  100 . It should be noted that the headset  100  including the head band  105  and the stabilizer  115  is only exemplary. The headset  100  may include an ear clip so that the headset  100  may be worn on a user&#39;s ear. In such an embodiment, the head band  105  and the stabilizer  115  may be unnecessary. 
         [0017]    The audio output  110  may be, for example, a speaker. The audio output  110  may be disposed at a second end of the head band  105 . The audio output  110  may include a cushion substantially similar to the stabilizer  115 . Again, because the ends of the head band  105  partially squeeze, the cushion of the audio output  110  may provide the comfortable wearing of the headset  100 . When the headset  100  is placed in a proper orientation on the user&#39;s head, the audio output  110  may be disposed around a user&#39;s ear. Furthermore, the stabilizer  115  may be disposed slightly above a user&#39;s other ear. 
         [0018]    The boom  120  may be a flexible extension where a first end of the boom  120  is attached to the second end of the head band  105  or the audio output  110 . A second end of the boom  120  may be attached to the audio input  125 . The audio input  125  may be, for example, a microphone. The flexibility of the boom  120  may allow a user to orient the headset  100  so that the audio input  125  is disposed around a user&#39;s mouth. The audio input  125  may include a foam coat so that sounds received by the audio input  125  may be filtered. The first end of the boom  120  may be coupled to the second end of the head band  105  or the audio output  110  with a rotator. In this embodiment, the audio output  125  may be rotated in an upward position when not being used. The audio output  125  may be deactivated, thereby conserving power. Voice data received by the audio input  125  may include voice commands relating to the components of the headset  100 . For example, the voice commands may activate/deactivate the head-mounted display  135 . In another example, the voice commands may relate to the MU. 
         [0019]    The extender  130  may be another flexible extension where a first end of the extender  130  is attached to the head band  105 . As illustrated, the extender  130  is disposed on a right side of the head band  105 . However, it should be noted that the extender  130  may be disposed on a left side of the head band  105  above the audio output  110 , depending on a preference of the user. A second end of the extender  130  may be attached to the head-mounted display  135 . The flexibility of the extender  130  may allow the user to orient the head-mounted display  135  over an eye of the user. The head-mounted display  135  may be clear so that a user may view data thereon or view beyond the head-mounted display  135 . The head-mounted display  135  may also occlude. The first end of the extender  130  may be coupled to the head band  105  with a rotator. In this embodiment, the head-mounted display  135  may be rotated in an upward position when not being used. The head-mounted display  135  may be deactivated, thereby conserving power. 
         [0020]    The I/O port  140  may be a device to connect the headset  100  to, for example, an MU. The I/O port  140  may be configured to receive a connector from the MU. It should be noted that the use of the I/O port  140  is only exemplary. The headset  100  may not include an actual I/O port  140 . Instead, the headset  100  may be equipped with a connector and a jack to be received by a port of the MU. The I/O port  140  may also enable a wireless connection to be established with the MU. In the exemplary embodiment where a wireless connection is used, the headset  100  may include its own processor, memory, transceiver, antenna, etc. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a second view of the headset  100  of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the second view illustrates an orientation of the audio output  110 , the audio input  125 , and the head-mounted display  135  when worn by the user. As discussed above, the audio output  110  may be disposed around the user&#39;s ear. The audio input  125  may be disposed around the user&#39;s mouth. The head-mounted display  135  may be disposed around the user&#39;s eye. As illustrated, the audio output  110  and the head-mounted display  135  are disposed to be worn on a right side of a user&#39;s face. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows components of an MU  200  used with the headset  100  of  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The MU  200  may be any portable electronic device that utilizes a portable power supply (e.g., battery, capacitor, super capacitor, etc.). For example, the MU  200  may be a laptop, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a cell phone, a scanner, an RFID device, etc. The MU  200  may include a processor  205 , a memory  210 , an input/output arrangement (I/O)  215 , a sensor  220 , and a battery  225 . 
         [0023]    The processor  205  may be a central computing component that operates the MU  200 . The memory  210  may store data related to the MU  200 . The data may pertain to programs installed on the MU  200 , functionalities associated with the MU  200 , etc. In addition, as will be discussed below, the data may also include configuration data relating to inputs received by the sensor  220 . Specifically, the configuration data may indicate how a pointing device of the head-mounted display  135  moves in accordance to the inputs. 
         [0024]    The battery  225  may be a portable power supply that provides energy to the MU  200 . As discussed above, the MU  200  may be any electronic device that utilizes a portable power supply. The battery  225  may be a rechargeable battery such as a nickel cadmium (Ni—Cd), a nickel hydride (Ni—H), a lithium ion, etc. It should be noted that the battery  225  may be removed from the MU  200 . While removed, the battery  225  may be recharged separately from the MU  200 . The battery  225  may also provide energy to any accessory connected to the MU  200  including the headset  100 . 
         [0025]    The I/O  215  may be connected to at least one port disposed on a periphery of the MU  200 . The I/O  215  may be configured to establish an electrical connection between an accessory and the MU  200 . For example, as discussed above, the headset  100  may include a connector with a jack. The jack may be received in one of the ports of the MU  200 . The I/O  215  may recognize the reception and establish the electrical connection between the MU  200  and the headset  100 . As will be discussed below, other accessories may be connected to the MU  200 . It should be noted that the I/O  215  may establish the electrical connection in other manners. For example, the I/O  215  may be a BlueTooth interface that wirelessly communicates with the I/O of the headset  100 . Thus, the headset  100  may be wirelessly coupled to the MU  100 . 
         [0026]    The sensor  220  may be a motion or inertial sensor that is configured to detect a direction that the MU  200  is moved and/or determine an angle or orientation that the MU  200  is positioned. When the MU  200  is connected to the headset  100 , the direction in which the MU  200  is moved may be translated by the sensor  220  or the processor  205  into a corresponding movement of the pointing device on the head-mounted display  135 . For example, if the MU  200  is moved left, the pointing device is also moved to the left. In another example, if the MU  200  is moved down and right, the pointing device is also moved down and right. The sensor  220  may consist of, for example, an accelerometer. A user may activate the sensor  220  when requiring a user interface for the pointing device. Activation may be achieved by various methods such as pressing a button, a voice command, a specific gesture recognized by the MU  200  through processing the data provided by the sensor  220 , etc. That is, a separate user interface such as a mouse, a stylus, etc. is not required to move the pointing device of the head-mounted display  135 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an assembled system of components including the headset  100  of  FIG. 1 , the MU  200  of  FIG. 3  and a module  300  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As discussed above, the headset  100  may be electrically connected to the MU  200 . Furthermore, the headset  100  may be equipped with a connector (extending from the port  140 ) that has a jack disposed on a distal end. The jack may be received by a port that is connected to the I/O  215  of the MU  200 . Also, as discussed above, a module  300  or accessory may be electrically connected to the MU  200 . The module  300  may be connected to the MU  200  in a substantially similar manner as the headset  100 . 
         [0028]    The module  300  may be any electronic device that provides an additional functionality. For example, the module  300  may be a data capture device such as a barcode scanner (e.g., one-dimensional, two-dimensional, color, etc.), a laser scanner, an imager, a camera, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, etc. In another example, the module  300  may be a communications device such as a transceiver (if the MU  200  is not equipped with such a functionality). The module  300  may be coupled to the MU  200  using any of the above described manners for coupling the MU  200  to the headset  100  such as a wired connection, a wireless connection, etc. 
         [0029]    According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the MU  200  may be wearable. That is, the MU  200  may be coupled to a mount such as a wrist mount, a finger mount, a waist mount, etc. The module  300  may also be wearable. For example, the module  300  may be a ring scanner that is worn on a finger. The MU  200  and the module  300  may also be hand-held devices that are held in a user&#39;s hand. It should be noted that the module  300  may be absent in the assembled system. That is, the module  300  may be an optional component that may be added to the system of the MU  200  and the headset  100 . Thus, the MU  200  may only be coupled to the headset  100 . 
         [0030]    The module  300  may also include a processor, a memory, a battery, an I/O, and a sensor. In another exemplary embodiment, the module  300  does not include a memory or a battery as data may be stored in the memory  210  of the MU  200  and power may be provided by the battery  225  of the MU  200 . The I/O of the module  300  may be coupled to the MU  200 . The processor of the module  300  may be less complex than the processor  205  of the MU  200  as the processor of the module  300  need only execute the functionality provided thereby. The module  300  may also include the sensor that is substantially similar to the sensor  220  of the MU  200 . Thus, the module sensor may provide the movement data that is translated into the corresponding movement of the pointing device of the head-mounted display  135 . When the module  300  provides the movement data, the MU  200  may not be equipped with the sensor  220  as it is redundant. Furthermore, when the module  300  provides the movement data, the MU  200  may be fixedly worn, for example, on a waist mount. 
         [0031]    In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the MU  200  and the module  300  may be equipped with the sensor (not shown). The sensor of the module  300  may be substantially similar to the sensor  220  of the MU  200 . When the module  300  is present, the sensor of the module  300  may override the sensor  220  of the MU  200 . For example, when the module  300  is connected to the MU  200 , the sensor  220  may be deactivated while the sensor of the module  300  is activated. In another example, the type of mount may determine activation or deactivation of the sensor. When a waist mount is connected to the MU  200 , the MU  200  may recognize that the MU  200  is likely to remain fixed in position. Thus, the MU  200  may deactivate the sensor  220 . 
         [0032]    It should be noted that the use of the module  300  is only exemplary. The module  300  may provide an additional functionality to the MU  200 . However, the MU  200  may come equipped with the functionality provided by the module  300 . Thus, the module  300  may represent providing a functionality that is not available to the MU  200 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5   a  shows a first movement of the MU  200  of  FIG. 3  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the MU  200  is hand-held, in particular, being held in a right hand of the user. The headset  100  (not shown) is worn on the user&#39;s head with the head-mounted display  135  disposed over the user&#39;s right eye. The MU  200  and the headset  100  may be coupled and the sensor  220  may be activated. The MU  200  may be moved in any planar direction. The first movement involves moving the MU  200  down in the direction d 1 . It should be noted that the use of the MU  200  is only exemplary. As discussed above, the module  300  may also include the sensor. Thus, the MU  200  may be worn, while the module  300  is hand-held or worn, for example, on the user&#39;s wrist or finger. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5   b  shows a first translation of the first movement of  FIG. 5   a  on the head-mounted display  135  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5   b  shows a view of how the user sees the head-mounted display  135 . As discussed above, the head-mounted display  135  may include a pointing device  135   a.  It should be noted that the illustration of the first translation assumes that the point device  135   a  was originally located in a central position on the head-mounted display  135 . The first movement of  FIG. 5   a  is in the direction d 1 . The direction d 1  is measured by the sensor  220  as going straight downward. Thus, this movement may be translated into a straight downward movement of the pointing device  135   a.    
         [0035]      FIG. 6   a  shows a second movement of the MU  200  of  FIG. 3  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the MU  200  is hand-held, in particular, being held in a right hand of the user, while the headset  100  (not shown) is worn on the user&#39;s head with the head-mounted display  135  disposed over the user&#39;s right eye. The MU  200  and the headset  100  may be electrically connected and the sensor  220  may be activated. The second movement involves moving the MU  200  upward and to the right in the direction d 2 . It should again be noted that the use of the MU  200  is only exemplary and the movement may be of the module  300 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6   b  shows a second translation of the second movement of  FIG. 6   a  on the head-mounted display  135  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 6   b  shows a view of how the user sees the head-mounted display  135 . As discussed above, the head-mounted display  135  may include the pointing device  135   a.  It should again be noted that the illustration of the second translation assumes that the point device  135   a  was originally located in a central position on the head-mounted display  135 . The second movement of  FIG. 6   a  is in the direction d 2 . The direction d 2  is measured by the sensor  220  as going upward and to the right. Thus, this movement may be translated into an upward and to the right movement of the pointing device  135   a.    
         [0037]      FIG. 7   a  shows a third movement subsequent to the second movement of  FIG. 6   a  of the MU  200  of  FIG. 3  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the third movement relates to moving the MU  200  upon moving the MU  200  in the direction d 2 . The third movement involves moving the MU  200  down in the direction d 3 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7   b  shows a third translation of the third movement of  FIG. 7   a  on the head-mounted display  135  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7   b  shows a view of how the user sees the head-mounted display  135 . In this exemplary embodiment, the pointing device  135   a ′ was originally located in an upper right corner of the head-mounted display  135 . The third movement of  FIG. 6   a  is in the direction d 3 . The direction d 3  is measured by the sensor  220  as going straight downward. Thus, this movement may be translated into a downward movement of the pointing device  135   a  from the position last seen in  FIG. 6   b.    
         [0039]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention enable a user to utilize a pointing device for a head-mounted display without requiring a use of both hands of the user. For example, if the MU is hand-held, a touch pad or stylus may be necessary to move the pointing device. Thus, one hand may hold the MU while the other hand uses the interface to move the pointing device. The sensor disposed in the MU and/or the module of the exemplary embodiments allow the pointing device to be moved with a single hand. As discussed above, a movement of the MU or the module itself translates into the movement of the pointing device. 
         [0040]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention also enable a user to utilize a pointing device for a head-mounted display without requiring the user to move the user&#39;s head. For example, if the MU is hand-held, a touch pad or stylus may be necessary to move the pointing device. In each of these cases, the user is required to look down at the MU in order to use the pointing device. With the sensor integrated in the MU  200  or module  300 , the user does not need to look away from the head-mounted display. 
         [0041]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6