Method And Device for Input Of Information Using Visible Touch Sensors
First Claim
1. A system for operating a virtual input device using a surface, comprising:
- a sensor configured to change a visible characteristic thereof in response to contacting a surface;
a camera for capturing an image of a field of view that includes the sensor;
a display for displaying a virtual input device;
at least one processor configured to;
determine from the captured image a relative location of the sensor within the field of view,overlay onto the virtual input device a visual indicator of the sensor at a location on the display that corresponds to the determined relative location, anddetermine from the image when the visible characteristic changes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for manual input of information into computing device using a camera and visible touch sensors. An image of a virtual input device is displayed on a screen, and the positions of the visible touch sensors, recorded by the video camera, are overlaid on the image of the virtual input device, thus allowing the user to see the placement of the touch sensors relative to the keys or buttons on the virtual input device. The touch sensors change their appearance upon contact with a surface, and the camera records their position at the moment of change. This way information about the position of intended touch is recorded. Touch sensors can be binary (ON-OFF) or may have a graded response reflecting the extent of displacement or pressure of the touch sensor relative to the surface of contact.
41 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A system for operating a virtual input device using a surface, comprising:
-
a sensor configured to change a visible characteristic thereof in response to contacting a surface; a camera for capturing an image of a field of view that includes the sensor; a display for displaying a virtual input device; at least one processor configured to; determine from the captured image a relative location of the sensor within the field of view, overlay onto the virtual input device a visual indicator of the sensor at a location on the display that corresponds to the determined relative location, and determine from the image when the visible characteristic changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of operating a virtual input device using a surface, comprising:
-
placing sensor in a field of view of a camera, wherein the sensor is configured to change a visible characteristic thereof in response to contacting a surface; contacting the sensor to the surface to change the visible characteristic; capturing an image of a field of view using a camera; displaying a virtual input device on a display; determining from the captured image a relative location of the sensor within the field of view; overlaying onto the virtual input device a visual indicator of the sensor at a location on the display that corresponds to the determined relative location; determining from the image when the visible characteristic changes; and activating a portion of the virtual input device proximate to the visual indicator in response to the determined visible characteristic change. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification