Portable sensory input device

• US 20030132921A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canesta Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Canesta Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Spare, James D., Torunoglu, Ilhami Hasan, Van Meter, Michael A., Tomasi, Carlo, Bamji, Cyrus, Shivji, Shiraz M.
• Application Number:
  US10/313,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20030132921A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/06 Systems determining position data of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/8083 determining direction of source
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0221 Arrangements for reducing keyboard size for transport or storage, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F3/0216 takes precedence; for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1666
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/228 of three-dimensional handwriting, e.g. writing in the air

Abstract

An input device provides input to a portable electronic device. The device detects movement of a user'"'"'s fingers on an inert work surface, and transmits signals representing the detected input to the electronic device. The input device can take any of several forms, including a cradle or protective cover that attaches to the electronic device, or a separate unit that transmits signals to the electronic device via a wired connection or wireless connection. In an embodiment, techniques are employed to properly position the input device despite user adjustment to the position of the electronic device. In an embodiment, further techniques are employed to maximize the stability of the input device and to protect its components from damage.

Claims

1. An input device for providing input to a portable electronic device, comprising:

a sensor, for detecting movement of a user'"'"'s fingers on a work surface, and for generating a signal responsive to the detected movement;

a processor, coupled to the sensor, for receiving and processing the detected signal;

a port, coupled to the processor, for communicatively coupling to the portable electronic device and transmitting the processed detected signal to the portable electronic device; and

a housing, for containing the sensor, the processor, and the port.

2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a projector, contained within the housing, for projecting a keyboard guide onto the work surface.

3. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source, contained within the housing, for illuminating the work surface.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to form a cradle for detachably supporting the portable electronic device.

5. The input device of claim 4, further comprising:

a hinge, coupled to the housing, for maintaining a position for the sensor relative to the work surface, independently of variation in the position of the portable electronic device relative to the work surface.

6. The input device of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one support member, for supporting the housing and the portable electronic device when attached.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the support member is adjustable to vary the position and orientation of the housing.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to form a cover that is closable over a front surface of the portable electronic device.

9. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cable, for attaching the port to the portable electronic device.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the port transmits the processed detected signal to the portable electronic device via a wireless communication medium.

11. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a display, for outputting a representation of the processed signal.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device and the input device are integrated into a single device, and wherein the housing contains both the portable electronic device and the input device.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lens having a protective coating.

14. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a protective shroud proximate to the lens.

15. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a recessed opening for the lens.

16. The input device of claim 1, wherein the work surface is inert.

17. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to form a case that may be detachably coupled with the portable electronic device.

18. A portable electronic device having integrated input functionality, the device comprising:

a sensor, for detecting movement of a user'"'"'s fingers on a work surface, and for generating a signal responsive to the detected movement;

a processor, coupled to the sensor, for receiving and processing the detected signal as input for the electronic device; and

a housing, for containing both the sensor and the processor.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

a projector, contained within the housing, for projecting a keyboard guide onto the work surface.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

a light source, contained within the housing, for illuminating the work surface.

21. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

a hinge, coupled to the housing, for maintaining a position for the sensor relative to the work surface, independently of variation in the position of the portable electronic device relative to the work surface.

22. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one support member, for supporting the housing and the portable electronic device when attached, wherein the support member is adjustable to vary the position and orientation of the housing.

23. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a lens having a protective coating.

24. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a protective shroud proximate to the lens.

25. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a recessed opening for the lens.

26. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the work surface is inert.