Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Camera View into a Three Dimensional Computer-Generated Virtual Environment

摘要

Motion sensors on a portable computing device are used to control a camera view into a three dimensional computer-generated virtual environment. This allows the user to move the portable computing device to see into the virtual environment from different angles. For example, the user may rotate the portable computing device about a vertical axis toward the left to cause the camera angle in the virtual environment to pan to the left. Likewise, rotational motion about a horizontal axis will cause the camera to move up or down to adjust the vertical orientation of the user's view into the virtual environment. By causing the view in the virtual environment that is shown on the display to follow the movement of the portable computing device, the display of the portable computing device appears to provide a window into the virtual environment which provides an intuitive interface to the virtual environment.