Integrated Wireless Pointing Device, Terminal Equipment with the Same, and Pointing Method Using Wireless Pointing Device

• US 20080036739A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobisol, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Korea Electronics Technology Institute (Government of South Korea), Mobisol, Inc.
• Inventors: Chung, Kyoung, Yong, Dong, Juh, Sung, Hwang, Kyu
• Application Number:
  US11/596,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036739A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0338 Fingerprint track pad, i.e. fingerprint sensor used as pointing device tracking the fingertip image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor

Abstract

A wireless pointing device, a terminal equipment with the same, and a pointing method using the wireless pointing device are disclosed. A disclosed wireless pointing device includes a lighting means, an image acquisition area, an image formation means, a light receiving means, a movement detection means, and a wireless communication means. The subject is the surface of a finger, a lattice pattern or a perceivable pattern. One example wireless pointing device is combined with a fingerprint sensor to collect a user'"'"'s fingerprint during operation of the pointing device and compare the fingerprint with an existing registered fingerprint without a separate fingerprint authentication procedure. A disclosed wireless pointing method includes displaying and activating menu items requiring a settlement service and personal information if a user'"'"'s fingerprint is identical with a registered fingerprint, and deactivating menu items requiring a settlement service and personal information if a user'"'"'s fingerprint is not identical with a registered fingerprint.

Claims

1. A wireless pointing device comprising:

a lighting means for illuminating a subject;

an image acquisition area for acquiring an image through the light illuminated;

an image formation means for forming an image on an opposite side by condensing the light reflected from the image acquisition area;

a light receiving means for converting the image formed by the image formation means into electric signals;

a movement detection means for detecting change in movement of the image using output from the light receiving means; and

a wireless communication means for transferring data of the movement detection means,

wherein the subject is the surface of a finger, a lattice pattern, or any perceivable patterns.

2. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint comparison means for comparing a fingerprint image transferred from the light receiving means when the subject is the surface of a finger, and a wireless communication means which transmits data of the movement detection means and a fingerprint comparison means.

3. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the wireless communication means is one of radio frequency, bluetooth, wireless LAN, IrDA (Infrared Data Association), and ultrasound.

4. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the lighting means is one of a light emitting diode, a laser diode, and an organic electro-luminescence.

5. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the image acquisition area is a transparent member or virtual plane which is formed at a predetermined distance from the image formation means.

6. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the image formation means is a spherical lens, an aspheric lens, or a lens utilizing holographic optical elements.

7. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, further comprising a light guide structure for guiding the light emitted from the lighting means to the subject.

8. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the light receiving means is a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor.

9. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 2, wherein the light receiving means, the movement detection means, and the fingerprint comparison means are integrated into a single IC chip.

10. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the image acquisition area and the image formation means are integrally combined.

11. A wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1, wherein the pointing device further comprises a contact sensor which turns on a light source and enables operation only when the subject touches the contact sensor.

14. A keyboard comprising integrally the wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1.

15. The keyboard as defined by claim 14, wherein the wireless pointing device further comprises a fingerprint comparison means for comparing fingerprint images transferred from the light receiving means.

16. The keyboard as defined by claim 15, wherein the fingerprint comparison means transmits data to a wireless communication means.

17. The keyboard as defined by claim 14, wherein the keyboard further comprises a selection button which is integrally combined with the wireless pointing device and uses a secondary battery as a main power source.

18. A joystick comprising integrally the wireless pointing device as defined by claim 1.

19. The joystick as defined by claim 18, wherein the wireless pointing device further comprises a fingerprint comparison means for comparing fingerprint images transferred from the light receiving means.

20. The joystick as defined by claim 19, wherein the fingerprint comparison means transmits data to a wireless communication means.

21. The joystick as defined by claim 18, wherein the joystick further comprises a selection button which is integrally combined with the wireless pointing device and uses a secondary battery as a main power source.

12. A wireless pointing method comprising the steps of:

acquiring and sampling a fingerprint image by using a wireless pointing device having a fingerprint identification function;

computing displacement data of the sampled fingerprint image;

estimating coordinates of a pointer using the displacement data; and

moving the pointer based on the coordinates,

wherein the wireless pointing method further comprises (a) comparing the features of the fingerprint image acquired by a wireless pointing device with the same of an existing registered fingerprint image;

(b) selectively displaying menu items according to the result of the step (a); and

(c) selecting a desired menu item among the menu items displayed in the step (b) using the wireless pointing device.

13. The pointing method as defined by claim 12, wherein the step (b) displays whole information if minutiae of a user'"'"'s fingerprint are identical to minutiae of a registered fingerprint and selectively displays menu items if not.