Wii Style 3D Remote Controller Patent by Apple

Apple may be developing Wii style remote controller that would allow for control of movement with its motion sensing capability. This way, users would be able to interact with and manipulate items on screen via movement and pointing presumably through the use of accelerometer and optical sensor technology.

The invention (US Patent 20080106517) is known as the “3D remote control system employing absolute and relative position detection.” According to Apple “the present invention can include three-dimensional remote control systems that can detect an absolute location to which a remote control is pointing in first and second orthogonal axes and an absolute position of the remote control in a third orthogonal axis.” Furthermore, by combining “absolute and relative position detection, remote control systems of the present invention can track remote controls more precisely than systems that only employ absolute position detection.”

The invention also includes methods for zooming in and zooming out of an image shown on a display. The patent application also mentions wireless capabilities, similar to Nintendo Wii remote controller:

In one embodiment of the present invention, console 40 can communicate with remote control 16 using cable 44 and/or one or more wireless communication protocols….  wherein the remote control is configured to communicate with at least one other electronic device using one or more wireless communication protocols.

Furthermore, Apple patent also states that remote control system may include optional console that can perform some or all of the processing for controller.