INPUT UNIT AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20090217191A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Joo, Young Hwan, SHIN, Yun Sup, Jung, Yung Woo
• Application Number:
  US12/364,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20090217191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

Provided are an input unit and a control method thereof. According to an embodiment of the input unit and the control method thereof, relationship information between the end of an input member and the end of the shadow of the input member, generated by a light source, are recognized through image processing, and is used to detect if an input is made by the input member.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an input unit, the method comprising:

forming an input pattern;

capturing an image of an input member over the input pattern;

first determining relationship information between a portion of the input member and a portion of a shadow of the input member using the captured image;

second determining whether the input member falls in a contact range of the input pattern based on the relationship information; and

executing a command based on the second determination result.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the relationship information includes at least one of the following:

a distance between the portion of the input member and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

a distance between a point on the input pattern that corresponds to the portion of the input member, and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

an angle between the portion of the input member and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

a velocity or acceleration of the input member; and

a velocity or acceleration of the shadow of the input member.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact range of the input pattern includes a direct contact of the input member to the input pattern.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the contact range of the input pattern includes positioning of the input member over the input pattern with a predetermined distance therebetween.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input member includes a finger or a stylus, and the portion of the input member is an end of the input member.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first determining step comprises:

correcting the captured image to convert the image into an inversely operated and normalized image; and

detecting a position of the converted and normalized image.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first determining step comprises:

setting a shadow searching region; and

detecting position information of the portion of the shadow by analyzing the set shadow searching region.

8. A method for controlling an input unit including a light generation unit and a light receiving unit, the method comprising:

projecting an input pattern using the light generation unit;

receiving an image and a shadow of an input member over the input pattern using the light receiving unit;

selectively switching at least one of the light generation unit and the light receiving unit based on a mode of the input unit;

determining whether the input member falls in a contact range of the input pattern using information of the received image and shadow of the input member; and

performing an operation based on the determination result.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the information of the received image and shadow of the input member includes at least one of the following:

a distance between a portion of the input member and a portion of the shadow of the input member;

a distance between a point on the input pattern that corresponds to the portion of the input member, and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

an angle between the portion of the input member and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

a velocity or acceleration of the input member; and

a velocity or acceleration of the shadow of the input member.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the contact range of the input pattern includes a direct contact of the input member to the input pattern.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the contact range of the input pattern includes positioning of the input member over the input pattern with a predetermined distance therebetween.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the determining step comprises:

correcting the received image to convert the image into an inversely operated and normalized image; and

detecting a position of the converted and normalized image.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the determining step comprises:

setting a shadow searching region; and

detecting position information of a portion of the shadow by analyzing the set shadow searching region.

14. An input unit comprising:

a pattern generator configured to project an input pattern onto a surface;

an image receiver configured to capture an image of an input member over the input pattern; and

an image processor configured to first determine relationship information between a portion of the input member and a portion of a shadow of the input member using the captured image, and to second determine whether the input member falls in a contact range of the input pattern based on the relationship information,

whereby a command based on the second determination result can be executed.

15. An input unit comprising:

at least one light generation unit configured to project an input pattern onto a surface;

a light receiving unit configured to receive an image and a shadow of an input member over the input pattern;

a switch configured to selectively switch at least one of the light generation unit and the light receiving unit based on a mode of the input unit; and

an image processor configured to determine whether the input member falls in a contact range of the input pattern using information of the received image and shadow of the input member,

whereby an operation based on the determination result can be performed.

16. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a wireless communication system or another device;

an input unit configured to receive an input, and including

a pattern generator configured to project an input pattern onto a surface,

an image receiver configured to capture an image of an input member over the input pattern, and

an image processor configured to determine relationship information between a portion of the input member and a portion of a shadow of the input member using the captured image, to determine whether the input member falls in a contact range of the input pattern based on the relationship information, and to decide if the input is made based on these determinations;

a display unit configured to display information including the input received by the input unit; and

a storage unit configured to store the input pattern.

17. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the relationship information includes at least one of the following:

a distance between the portion of the input member and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

a distance between a point on the input pattern that corresponds to the portion of the input member, and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

an angle between the portion of the input member and the portion of the shadow of the input member;

a velocity or acceleration of the input member; and

a velocity or acceleration of the shadow of the input member.

18. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the contact range of the input pattern includes a direct contact of the input member to the input pattern.

19. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the contact range of the input pattern includes positioning of the input member over the input pattern with a predetermined distance therebetween.

20. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the input member includes a finger or a stylus, and the portion of the input member is an end of the input member.

21. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the image processor is configured to correct the captured image to convert the image into an inversely operated and normalized image, and to detect a position of the converted and normalized image.

22. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the image processor is configured set a shadow searching region, and to detect position information of the portion of the shadow by analyzing the set shadow searching region.

23. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the pattern generator comprises:

at least one light source configured to emit light; and

a filter including a pattern for generating the input pattern, and allowing the light from the lens to filter through so as to project an image of the input pattern onto the surface.