Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to operation control systems and methods thereof and, particularly, to an operation control system using infrared rays and a method thereof. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Infrared touch screens are widely applied in electronic devices. When the infrared touch screen is touched by an object, an infrared ray emitted by an infrared emitter is blocked, then an electronic device including the infrared touch screen determines which infrared receiver has not received the infrared ray, to determine which point has been touched, and executes a corresponding function. A shortcoming with the infrared touch screen is that physical contact must be made with the screen to cause the electronic device to execute a function, thus the user must be physically close to the screen, which may be harmful to the user&#39;s eyes if the electronic device is operated for a relatively long time. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an operation control system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the operation control system as  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an operation control method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The embodiments of the present disclosure are now described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0010]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , an operation control system  1  includes an operation device  10  and an electronic device  20 . The operation device  10  may be worn on a wrist, on the head, or on a finger. In the embodiment, the operation device  10  is worn on a wrist. 
         [0011]    The operation device  10  includes an infrared emitter  11 . The electronic device  20  includes a display unit  21 , a number of analog infrared receivers  22 , and a first processor  23 . The infrared receivers  22  are uniformly arranged in the display unit  21 . In the embodiment, the infrared receivers  22  are arranged within a rectangle. Each infrared receiver  22  corresponds to a light spot on the screen, which can be energized when one infrared ray emitted from the infrared emitter  11  strikes it. 
         [0012]    The infrared emitter  11  emits infrared rays from the operation device  10 , the electronic device  20  must be located within the emitting range of the infrared emitter  11 . When one infrared ray reaches the display unit  21 , the particular infrared receiver  22  which corresponds to the light spot on the display unit  21  receives the infrared ray and generates a signal. For simplicity, hereinafter, the particular light spot activated or energized by the infrared ray is named as the touched spot. 
         [0013]    The first processor  23  is electrically connected to the infrared receivers  22  to receive signals from the infrared receivers  22 , and may determine the location of the infrared receiver  22  which generated the signal, to determine the touched spot on the display unit  21 . The first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function based on signals from the first and subsequent touched spots. 
         [0014]    In the embodiment, the operation device  10  further includes a first wireless communication unit  12 , a motion sensor  13 , and a second processor  14 . The electronic device  20  further includes a second wireless communication unit  24 . 
         [0015]    The motion sensor  13  is to sense the acceleration and direction of movement(s) of the operation device  10 . 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, the direction of movement of the operation device  10  is established according to the strength of the signals from one or more of the infrared receiver  22 . When the first processor  23  determines that the signals are gradually becoming stronger, the first processor  23  determines that the device  10  is moving toward the display unit  21 . When the first processor  23  determines that the signals are gradually becoming weaker, the first processor  23  determines that the device  10  is moving further away from the display unit  21 . 
         [0017]    The first wireless communication unit  12  communicates with the second wireless communication unit  24 . 
         [0018]    In a first embodiment, the second processor  14  transmits the sensed acceleration and direction of movement of the operation device  10  to the electronic device  20  through the first wireless communication unit  12  and the second wireless communication unit  24 . In a second embodiment, the second processor  14  only transmits the sensed acceleration to the electronic device  20 . 
         [0019]    The first processor  23  further determines whether the status of the touched spot is unchanged within a preset period. 
         [0020]    When the first processor  23  determines that the output of the infrared receiver  22  which generated the signal has not changed substantially within the preset period, the first processor  23  determines that the touched spot is still the focus of a user&#39;s intention. The first processor  23  further determines whether the acceleration sensed within the preset period is greater or smaller than a preset value. If equal or smaller, the first processor  23  determines that the operation device  10  has not moved. If greater, the first processor  23  determines that the operation device  10  has moved, and seeks data as to the direction of movement of the operation device  10  from the motion sensor  13 , or determines the direction of movement of the operation device  10  according to variations in the strength of the signals from the infrared receiver  22  corresponding to the touched point or points. When the operation device  10  is simply moved towards the display unit  21  within the preset period, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, a left click operation. When the operation device  10  within the preset period is first moved toward the display unit  21 , then away, and then toward the display unit  21  again, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, a double-click operation. 
         [0021]    When the first processor  23  determines that the infrared receiver  22  which generated the signal changes within the preset period, the first processor  23  determines that the touched spot has changed, and then the first processor  23  tracks the touched spots (a touch track) according to the sequence of signals from the infrared receivers  22 . 
         [0022]    In the embodiment, when the touch track is not in the shape of an arc, the first processor  23  determines whether a previous function executed by the electronic device  20  corresponds to a left click operation. If yes, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a further alternative function, such as for example, a drag operation. If no, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a different function, such as for example, moving a cursor. 
         [0023]    In the embodiment, when the touch track is in the shape of an arc, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, a right click operation. In an alternative embodiment, when the touch track is an arc from left to right, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, zoom in. When the arc is from right to left, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, zoom out. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of an operation control method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is shown. The operation control method is applied to the operation control system  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
         [0025]    In step S 301 , the first processor  23  determines whether the infrared receiver  22  which generated the signal changes within a preset period to determine whether the status of the touched spot changes within a preset period. When the touched spot is unchanged within the preset period, the procedure goes to step S 302 . When the touched spot changes in the preset period, the procedure goes to step S 304 . 
         [0026]    In step S 302 , the first processor  23  receives data as to acceleration of the movement detected by the motion sensor  13 , and determines whether the acceleration of the movement is greater than a preset value. If yes, the procedure goes to step S 303 . If not, the procedure ends at step S 302 . 
         [0027]    In step S 303 , the first processor  23  obtains the direction of movement within the preset period from the motion sensor  13  or determines the direction of movement within the preset period according to variations in the strength of the signals from the infrared receiver  22  corresponding to the touched spot, and controls the electronic device  20  to execute the corresponding function according to the determined direction of movement. In the embodiment, when the operation device  10  within a preset period simply moves toward the display unit  21 , the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, a left click operation. When the operation device  10  within a preset period is toward the display unit  21 , away from the display unit  21 , and then toward the display unit  21  again, the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, to a double-click operation. 
         [0028]    In step S 304 , the first processor  23  determines whether the touched track within a preset period is in the shape of an arc. If yes, the procedure goes to step S 305 . If no, the procedure goes to step S 306 . 
         [0029]    In step S 305 , the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, a right click operation. 
         [0030]    In step S 306 , the first processor  23  determines whether the previous function executed by the electronic device  20  corresponds to a left click operation. If yes, the procedure goes to step S 307 . If no, the procedure goes to step S 308 . 
         [0031]    In step S 307 , the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, a drag operation. 
         [0032]    In step S 308 , the first processor  23  controls the electronic device  20  to execute a function, such as for example, moving a cursor operation. 
         [0033]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

Technology Category: 3