The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 27, 1996
Bruce A Reichlen, Acton, MA (US);
Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method associate each of a plurality of computer applications with a corresponding physical location external to the computer and display a given one of the applications when the user focuses attention on the physical location associated with that application. Preferably the display as a view window in a graphical user interface, and the user has means for moving that window relative to the given application. The computer can be a portable and display device can be head mounted. Preferably an input device enables the user to interact with the given application, and preferably the physical locations bring to mind their associated applications. In some embodiments, an identifier, such as a bar code or a coded transmitter, is placed near each of the physical locations to help detect when the user focuses attention on that particular location. The invention also provides a head mounted unit which projects a visual image to the user wearing it. The unit also includes an object detector for generating a signal when pointed at certain objects. The object detector is mounted so a user wearing the unit can point the detector by moving his or her head. Preferably the unit includes a see through window so the user can see his or her physical surroundings. The invention also provides for a computer which includes a display, a device for generating a display object on the display, such as a cursor, and a motion sensor for causing the display object to move within the display in response to motion of the display.