Input device
First Claim
1. A virtual data entry device comprising:
- an illuminator generating a generally planar beam of light; and
an impingement sensor assembly operative to sense at least one location of impingement of said planar beam of light by at least one object, said impingement sensor assembly comprising;
at least one optical element arranged to receive light from said planar beam reflected by said at least one object, said at least one optical element having optical power in a first direction such that it focuses light at at least one focus line location, which said at least one focus line location is a function of the location of said at least one object relative to said at least one optical element; and
at least one multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through said at least one optical element, wherein the distribution of said light detected by said multi-element detector among multiple elements thereof indicates said location of said at least one object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual data entry device including an illuminator generating a generally planar beam of light and an impingement sensor assembly operative to sense at least one location of impingement of the planar beam of light by at least one object, the impingement sensor assembly including at least one optical element arranged to receive light from the planar beam reflected by the at least one object, the at least one optical element having optical power in a first direction such that it focuses light at at least one focus line location, which the at least one focus line location is a function of the location of the at least one object relative to the at least one optical element and a multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through the at least one optical element, wherein the distribution of the light detected by the multi-element detector among multiple elements thereof indicates the location of the at least one object.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A virtual data entry device comprising:
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an illuminator generating a generally planar beam of light; and
an impingement sensor assembly operative to sense at least one location of impingement of said planar beam of light by at least one object, said impingement sensor assembly comprising;
at least one optical element arranged to receive light from said planar beam reflected by said at least one object, said at least one optical element having optical power in a first direction such that it focuses light at at least one focus line location, which said at least one focus line location is a function of the location of said at least one object relative to said at least one optical element; and
at least one multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through said at least one optical element, wherein the distribution of said light detected by said multi-element detector among multiple elements thereof indicates said location of said at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A virtual data entry device comprising:
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an illuminator generating a generally planar beam of light generally parallel to a generally flat surface which is at least partially light reflecting; and
an impingement sensor assembly operative to sense at least one location of impingement of said planar beam of light by at least one object, said impingement sensor assembly comprising;
at least one optical element arranged to receive light from said planar beam reflected by said at least one object directly and indirectly via said surface; and
a two-dimensional multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through said at least one optical element, wherein the spatial separation on said detector of said light detected by said multi-element detector which was reflected directly from said at least one object and said light which was reflected via said surface thereof indicates distance said at least one object and location on said detector of said light reflected directly and indirectly from said at least one object indicates the azimuthal location of said at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for data entry comprising:
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utilizing an illuminator to generate a generally planar beam of light; and
sensing at least one location of impingement of said planar beam of light by at least one object, using an impingement sensor assembly comprising;
at least one optical element arranged to receive light from said planar beam reflected by said at least one object, said at least one optical element having optical power in a first direction such that it focuses light at at least one focus line location, which said at least one focus line location is a function of the location of said at least one object relative to said at least one optical element; and
a multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through said at least one optical element, wherein the distribution of said light detected by said multi-element detector among multiple elements thereof indicates said location of said at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for data entry comprising:
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utilizing an illuminator for generating a generally planar beam of light generally parallel to a generally flat surface which is at least partially light reflecting; and
sensing at least one location of impingement of said planar beam of light by at least one object, using an impingement sensor assembly comprising;
at least one optical element arranged to receive light from said planar beam reflected by said at least one object directly and indirectly via said surface; and
a two-dimensional multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through said at least one optical element, wherein the spatial separation on said detector of said light detected by said multi-element detector which was reflected directly from said at least one object and said light which was reflected via said surface thereof indicates distance said at least one object and location on said detector of said light reflected directly and indirectly from said at least one object indicates the azimuthal location of said at least one object. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification