Holographic human-machine interfaces
First Claim
1. An apparatus allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having one or more customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by the electronic or electro-mechanical device, said apparatus allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising:
- hologram means for generating a holographic image of a tangible input object of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro mechanical device;
illumination means for illuminating said hologram means to produce the holographic image;
actuation detection means for detecting selection by the operator of the holographic image, generated by said hologram means, of the tangible input object; and
signal generation means for receiving the detection of said actuation detection means and providing an input signal to the electronic or electro mechanical device thereby to produce the response, wherein said hologram means is affixed to at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A holographic HMI is described by which data and commands can be entered into computers and other electronic equipment. The holographic HMI involves no tangible physical contact between the human operator and the control elements of the HMIs because the input devices are holographic images of keys or other customarily touch-activated tangible input elements. Operator interaction with those holographic images is detected through electromagnetic means or other means, obviating the need for direct physical contact with any solid input object or surface. Such holographic HMIs comprise a hologram for generating a holographic image of a tangible input object of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro-mechanical device. An illumination device illuminates the hologram to produce the holographic image. An actuation detection device detects the selection by the operator of a holographic image, generated by the hologram, of the tangible input object, and a signal generator receives the detection of the actuation detection device and provides an input signal to the electronic or electro-mechanical device thereby to produce the response. The hologram is affixed to a transparent or translucent material.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having one or more customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by the electronic or electro-mechanical device, said apparatus allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising:
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hologram means for generating a holographic image of a tangible input object of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro mechanical device;
illumination means for illuminating said hologram means to produce the holographic image;
actuation detection means for detecting selection by the operator of the holographic image, generated by said hologram means, of the tangible input object; and
signal generation means for receiving the detection of said actuation detection means and providing an input signal to the electronic or electro mechanical device thereby to produce the response, wherein said hologram means is affixed to at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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5. An apparatus for allowing an operator to control a plurality of electronic or electro mechanical devices of the type conventionally controlled by a separate tangible control mechanism having a plurality of customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by at least one of the electronic or electro mechanical devices, the apparatus allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising:
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a hologram unit adapted to generate a plurality of holographic images each of one of the tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism for the plurality of said electronic or electro mechanical devices;
illumination means for illuminating said hologram unit to produce the plurality of holographic images;
an actuation detector unit adapted to detect selection by the operator of each of the plurality of holographic images of the tangible input devices; and
a signal generator adapted to receive the detection of said actuation detector unit and provide an input signal to the devices thereby producing the response, wherein said actuation detector and said signal generator are configured to independently produce a response by each electronic or electro mechanical device upon detection of selection of each independent one of said holographic images.
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6. A control arrangement apparatus for allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having a customarily touch-activated tangible input object physical contact with which produces a response by the device, said control arrangement allowing such control without an operator physically touching any solid object and comprising:
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a composite hologram for generating a holographic image of a plurality of tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism for the device, with the generated holographic image for producing a response by the device corresponding to that produced conventionally by the plurality of tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism, said composite hologram comprising a plurality of holograms positioned side-by-side along one axis such that each of the holographic images produced thereby represents a different portion of the tangible input objects, such that each of the holographic images can be separately viewed from a different angle relative to said one axis;
an actuation detector for detecting selection by the operator of the holographic image of each of the tangible input devices; and
a signal generator for receiving the detection of said actuation detector and providing an input signal to the device thereby to produce the response. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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14. An apparatus allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible mechanism having one or more customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by the electronic or electro-mechanical device, said apparatus allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising:
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an actuator image generating unit adapted to generate at least one of a plurality of three-dimensional images of the one or more tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro mechanical device;
an actuator detecting unit adapted to determine the selection by the operator of the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional images, generated by said actuator image generating unit, of the tangible input objects; and
a signal-generating unit adapted to receive the determination of said actuation detection means and to provide an input signal to the electronic or electro mechanical device, wherein said actuation detecting unit and signal generating unit are adapted to produce a response upon detection of selection of each three-dimensional image, and wherein said actuator image generating unit is contained in an electronic or electro mechanical device capable of projecting a three-dimensional image within physical proximity of the operator.
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15. A method of allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having one or more customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by the electronic or electro-mechanical device, said method allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising:
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an actuator image generating step of generating at least one of a plurality of three-dimensional images of the one or more tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro mechanical device;
an actuation detecting step of determining the selection by the operator of the at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional images, generated in said actuator image generating step, of the tangible input objects; and
a signal-generating step of receiving the determination from said actuation detection step and providing an input signal to the electronic or electro mechanical device, wherein said actuation detecting step and signal generating step produce a response upon detection of selection of each three-dimensional image, and wherein said actuator image generating step is capable of projecting a three-dimensional image within physical proximity of the operator.
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Specification