OPTICAL INPUT DEVICE
First Claim
1. An input device, comprising:
- an optical waveguide having an input surface, a back surface substantially opposite the input surface, and a side surface therebetween, the input surface having a plurality of different input locations;
one or more light sources positioned to introduce light into the optical waveguide, where a distortion of each different input location of the input surface causes a portion of light within the optical waveguide to exit from the optical waveguide at a different escape location of the side surface;
one or more imaging sensors positioned and aimed to detect an escape location of a portion of light exiting from the side surface; and
a translator to determine an input location corresponding to the escape location for each detected escape location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device includes an optical waveguide, one or more light sources, one or more imaging sensors, and a translator. The optical waveguide has an input surface, a back surface substantially opposite the input surface, and a side surface therebetween. The input surface has a plurality of different input locations. The one or more light sources are positioned to introduce light into the optical waveguide. A distortion of each different input location of the input surface causes a portion of light within the optical waveguide to exit from the optical waveguide at a different escape location of the side surface. The one or more imaging sensors are positioned and aimed to detect an escape location of a portion of light exiting from the side surface. The translator determines an input location corresponding to the escape location for each detected escape location.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device, comprising:
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an optical waveguide having an input surface, a back surface substantially opposite the input surface, and a side surface therebetween, the input surface having a plurality of different input locations; one or more light sources positioned to introduce light into the optical waveguide, where a distortion of each different input location of the input surface causes a portion of light within the optical waveguide to exit from the optical waveguide at a different escape location of the side surface; one or more imaging sensors positioned and aimed to detect an escape location of a portion of light exiting from the side surface; and a translator to determine an input location corresponding to the escape location for each detected escape location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A keyboard, comprising:
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an optical waveguide having an input surface, a back surface substantially opposite the input surface, and a side surface therebetween, the input surface having a plurality of different input locations; one or more light sources positioned to introduce light into the optical waveguide, where a distortion of each different input location of the input surface causes a portion of light within the optical waveguide to exit from the optical waveguide at a different escape location of the side surface; one or more imaging sensors positioned and aimed to detect an escape location of a portion of light exiting from the side surface; one or more keys, each key being configured to selectively distort a different input location of the input surface; and a translator to determine an input location corresponding to the escape location for each detected escape location. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of receiving user input, comprising:
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introducing light into a waveguide such that the light totally internally reflects within the waveguide, where the waveguide includes an input surface, a back surface substantially opposite the input surface, and a side surface therebetween, the input surface having a plurality of different input locations; selectively frustrating total internal reflection of the light within the waveguide by distorting the input surface at one or more of the plurality of different input locations; detecting one or more escape locations of portions of light exiting from the side surface responsive to distortion of the input surface at one or more of the plurality of different input locations; determining which of the plurality of different input locations correspond to the escape locations from which portions of the light exited.
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Specification