COMPUTER INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20140340305A1
• Filed: 05/16/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Seong, Sangmin, Kim, Namil, Kim, Sunghan, Lee, Seokbaek, Chun, Sungchul
• Granted Patent: US 9,531,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 7/40 Conversion to or from variable length codes, e.g. Shannon-Fano code, Huffman code, Morse code
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 7/4025 constant length to or from Morse code conversion

Abstract

An auxiliary input device for use in inputting a user signal to a computer is provided. The computer auxiliary input device includes an infrared ray transmitter configured to transmit an infrared ray signal to a left eyeball and a right eyeball of a user. A reflected light sensor configured to measure a change in an amount of light reflected from the left eyeball and the right eyeball. A controller configured to detect the change in the amount of light reflected from each of the eyeballs from the reflected light sensor, generate Morse code alphabets based on the detected change, and convert the Morse code alphabets into a character string to be transmitted to the computer. A computer communication unit is configured to provide the character string converted by the controller to the computer.

Claims

1. An auxiliary input device for use in inputting a user signal to a computer, the auxiliary input device comprising:

an infrared ray transmitter configured to transmit an infrared ray signal to a left eyeball and a right eyeball of a user;

a reflected light sensor configured to measure a change in an amount of light reflected from the left eyeball and the right eyeball;

a controller configured to detect the change in the amount of light reflected from each of the eyeballs from the reflected light sensor, generate Morse code alphabets based on the detected change, and convert the Morse code alphabets into a character string to be transmitted to the computer; and

a computer communication unit configured to provide the character string converted by the controller to the computer.

2. The auxiliary input device of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary input device is attached to an eyeglass frame, and the infrared ray transmitter and the reflected light sensor are mounted on eyeglass temples for transmitting infrared rays to the eyeballs and detecting the infrared rays reflected from the eyeballs.

3. An auxiliary input device for use in inputting a user signal to a computer, the auxiliary input device comprising:

switches configured to provide two different key inputs;

a controller configured to converts the key inputs into Morse code alphabets which are long and short signals, and converts the Morse code alphabets into a character string to be transmitted to the computer; and

a computer communication unit configured to provide the character string converted by the controller to the computer.

4. The auxiliary input device of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary input device comprises:

a first module configured to detect one key input and to transmit a key signal input received from a second module; and

the second module including the first controller, the computer communication unit, and a communication unit configured to receive a key input signal from the first module, the second module being configured to detect and transmit a key input signal from the second module to the controller.

5. A computer input system comprising:

a computer configured to receive Morse code alphabets corresponding to a keyboard input and a mouse input from a computer auxiliary input device (auxiliary input device) as a user input signal based on a predetermined communication method; and

the auxiliary input device configured to transmit the user input signal to the computer,

wherein the auxiliary input device includes;

an infrared ray transmitter configured to transmit an infrared ray signal to a left eyeball and a right eyeball;

a reflected light sensor configured to measure a change in an amount of light reflected from the left eyeball and the right eyeball;

a controller configured to detect the change in the amount of light reflected from each of the eyeballs from the reflected light sensor, generate Morse code alphabets based on the detected change, and convert the Morse code alphabets into a character string; and

a computer communication unit configured to provide the character string converted by the controller to the computer.

6. The computer input system of claim 5, wherein the auxiliary input device is attached to an eyeglass frame, and

the infrared ray transmitter and the reflected light sensor are mounted on eyeglass temples for transmitting infrared rays to the eyeballs and detecting the infrared rays reflected from the eyeballs.

7. A computer input system comprising:

a computer configured to receive Morse code alphabets corresponding to a keyboard input and a mouse input from a computer auxiliary input device (auxiliary input device) as a user input signal based on a predetermined communication method; and

the auxiliary input device configured to transmit the user input signal to the computer,

wherein the auxiliary input device includes;

switches configured to provide two different key inputs;

a controller configured to convert the key inputs into Morse code alphabets which are long and short signals, and convert the Morse code alphabets into a character string to be transmitted to the computer; and

a computer communication unit configured to provide the character string converted by the controller to the computer.

8. The computer input system of claim 7, wherein the auxiliary input device comprises:

a first module configured to detect one key input and to transmit a key signal input received from a second module, and

the second module including the first controller, the computer communication unit, and a communication unit configured to receive a key input signal from the first module, the second module being configured to detect and transmit the other one remaining signal to the controller.

9. A method of receiving a user input from an auxiliary input device and processing the user input, the method comprising:

converting, by the auxiliary input device, two different inputs into Morse code alphabets which are long and short signals;

converting, by the auxiliary input device, the Morse code alphabets into a character string to be transmitted to the computer;

interpreting, by the computer, the received character string as a command previously stored to correspond to the Morse code alphabets; and

driving the computer in response the command interpreted by the computer.