Input control for apparatuses

• US 20060055672A1
• Filed: 09/13/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Original Assignee: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forsching E.V.
• Inventors: Schenk, Harald, Krocker, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/225,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055672A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0423 using sweeping light beams, e.g. using rotating or vibrating mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• 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

Abstract

A device for controlling an apparatus depending on a position or movement of an object in a control region includes a light-beam mover for moving a light-beam in the control region depending on a light-beam motion signal to guide the light-beam over the control region, different positions or positional changes of the object or several objects in the control region being associated to different reactions in the apparatus, a light sensor for detecting a reflected light-beam to generate a sensor output signal depending on the reflected light-beam, and a control signal generator which is formed to generate, depending on the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal a control signal for the apparatus which is formed to cause a reaction in the apparatus associated to a position or positional change in the control region defined by the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal.

Claims

1. A device for controlling an apparatus depending on a position or movement of an object in a control region, comprising:

a light-beam mover for moving a light-beam in the control region depending on a light-beam motion signal to guide the light-beam over the control region, different positions or positional changes of the object or several objects in the control region being associated to different reactions in the apparatus;

a light sensor for detecting a reflected light-beam to generate a sensor output signal depending on the reflected light-beam; and

a control signal generator formed to generate, depending on the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal, a control signal for the apparatus formed to cause a reaction in the apparatus associated to a position or positional change in the control region which is defined by the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal;

wherein the light-beam mover and the light sensor are arranged at a side of the control region where the object may be introduced into the control region.

2. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal generator is formed to compare a temporal course of the sensor output signal to a temporal course of the light-beam motion signal and cause a reaction in the apparatus from this.

3. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light-beam mover is pivotally arranged at a fixed location opposite the control region.

4. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light sensor is arranged at a fixed location opposite the control region.

5. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 3, comprising:

another light-beam mover which is pivotally arranged at a fixed location opposite the control region and is spaced apart from the light-beam mover, for moving another light-beam in the control region depending on another light-beam motion signal to place the other light-beam successively at different positions in the control region;

another light sensor-for detecting another reflected light-beam to generate another sensor output signal depending on the other reflected light-beam; and

a control signal generator which is formed

to generate a first two-dimensional image of the control region depending on the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal and generate a second two-dimensional image of the control region depending on the other light-beam motion signal and the other sensor output signal;

to generate a three-dimensional image which is reduced in shadowing from a superposition of the first and the second two-dimensional images onto each other; and

to generate, from the three-dimensional image, a control signal for the apparatus formed to cause a reaction in the apparatus which is associated to a three-dimensional position or positional change of the object in the control region which is defined by the superposition of the first and the second two-dimensional images onto each other.

6. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other light sensor is arranged at a fixed location opposite the control region.

7. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other light-beam mover is arranged at a side of the control region facing away from the light-beam mover.

8. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light-beam mover includes a reflector, the position or orientation of which is controllable by an actor formed to be controlled by the light-beam motion signal such that the light-beam may be placed successively at different positions in the control region.

9. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light-beam motion signal includes an oscillating signal.

10. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control signal generator performs a measurement of a run-time required by the light-beam to move from the light-beam mover to the light sensor.

11. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light-beam mover and the light sensor are integrated in one element.

12. The device for controlling an apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positions in the control region are arranged in the form of rows or columns.

13. A computer mouse including a device for controlling an apparatus depending on a position or movement of an object in a control region comprising a light-beam mover for moving a light-beam in the control region depending on a light-beam motion signal to guide the light-beam over the control region, different positions or positional changes of the object or several objects in the control region being associated to different reactions in the apparatus;

a light sensor for detecting a reflected light-beam to generate a sensor output signal depending on the reflected light-beam; and

a control signal generator formed to generate, depending on the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal, a control signal for the apparatus formed to cause a reaction in the apparatus associated to a position or positional change in the control region which is defined by the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal;

wherein the light-beam mover and the light sensor are arranged at a side of the control region where the object may be introduced into the control region.

14. A keyboard including a device for controlling an apparatus depending on a position or movement of an object in a control region comprising a light-beam mover for moving a light-beam in the control region depending on a light-beam motion signal to guide the light-beam over the control region, different positions or positional changes of the object or several objects in the control region being associated to different reactions in the apparatus;

a light sensor for detecting a reflected light-beam to generate a sensor output signal depending on the reflected light-beam; and

a control signal generator formed to generate, depending on the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal, a control signal for the apparatus formed to cause a reaction in the apparatus associated to a position or positional change in the control region which is defined by the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal;

wherein the light-beam mover and the light sensor are arranged at a side of the control region where the object may be introduced into the control region.

15. A method for controlling an apparatus depending on a position or movement of an object in a control region, comprising the steps of:

moving a light-beam in the control region depending on a light-beam motion signal to guide the light-beam over the control region by a light-beam mover, different positions or positional changes of the object or several objects in the control region being associated to different reactions in the apparatus;

detecting a reflected light-beam in a light sensor and generating a sensor output signal depending on the reflected light-beam; and

generating a control signal for the apparatus in dependence on the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal to cause a reaction in the apparatus associated to a position or a positional change in the control region which is defined by the light-beam motion signal and the sensor output signal;

wherein the light-beam mover and the light sensor are arranged at the side where the object may be introduced into the control region.