Display With An Optical Sensor

• US 20120120038A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: McCarthy, John P., Suggs, Bradley Neal, Campbell, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,274,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A display system can include a panel 110. The panel 110 can include a perimeter 117 and can display images on a front side. A bezel 170 can extend from the perimeter of the panel. The display system can include a designated area 140 on the bezel. A three dimensional optical sensor 115 can generate information to determine if an object is in contact with the designated area on the bezel.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a panel including a perimeter to display images on a front side;

a bezel extending from the perimeter of the panel;

a designated area on the bezel; and

a three dimensional optical sensor to generate information that determines if an object is in contact with the designated area on the bezel.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second three dimensional optical sensor to determine if an object is in contact with a second designated area located in a field of view of the second three dimensional optical sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an indication of a function to be performed if contact is made between the object and the designated area.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the three dimensional optical sensor is attached outside of the perimeter of the panel.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the indication of the function is a pattern generated from a light source on the bezel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the designated area can perform multiple functions, wherein the indication of the function can change.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the function of the designated area is selected from one of a scroll wheel, a slider bar, and a button.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the three dimensional optical sensor is selected from the group consisting of a time of flight sensor, a structured light sensor, focus sensor, and a defocus sensor.

9. A method comprising:

detecting a designated area on a display bezel with a three dimensional optical sensor;

determining from information provided by the three dimensional optical sensor if an object is less than a contact distance from the designated area; and

performing a function if the object is within a programmed contact distance of the designated area.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising generating the information from a group consisting of time of flight information, structured light information, focus depth information and defocus depth information.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the function is selected from one of controlling the volume, controlling the display brightness, and controlling multimedia functions.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising associating an indicator on the bezel with the function.

13. A computer readable medium comprising instructions that if executed cause a processor to:

receive information from a three dimensional optical sensor;

determine from the depth information if an object is contacting a designated area of a bezel, wherein the object is determined to be contacting the display system if the object is less than a contact distance from the display system; and

perform a function associated with the designated area of the bezel.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions to continue to generate the function until the object is no longer less than the contact distance.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13 further comprising instructions to generate a second function associated with the designated area of the bezel if the object is less than the contact distance for more than a programmed period of time.