Remote optical display designator
First Claim
1. A remote designator apparatus for identifying locations on a display area, comprising:
- a faceplate means having a diffusing surface on one face thereof forming an image plane;
a source means for directing a beam of electromagnetic energy to the diffusing surface of said faceplate means;
photoresponsive means disposed at the perimeter of said faceplate for receiving electromagnetic energy scattered along said faceplate by said diffusing surface; and
means coupled to said photoresponsive means for providing an output signal indicating the location on said diffusing surface impinged by the incident beam of electromagnetic energy from said source means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical designator system employs a remote source of electromagnetic energy, such as a small hand-held infrared LED or the like, to generate an identifying beam which is directed to the same faceplate through which a displayed image is viewed. A diffuser medium is disposed at the image plane along the rear surface of the faceplate and scatters the incident beam of electromagnetic energy toward orthogonal pairs of photodetectors located adjacent to the edges of the faceplate. The output signals from the photodetectors are presented to a normalizer circuit which compensates for intensity variations of the source of electromagnetic energy into the faceplate. Therefore, the output signal from each normalizer circuit varies in a relationship which is proportional to the distance between the photodetectors at which the incident beam strikes the diffuser medium. The remote energy source is preferably modulated with a waveform which is discernible both from background ambient light and that of the displayed image. Optical and electrical filters associated with the photodetectors insure that normalizer circuits respond only to electromagnetic energy from the remote source.
26 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A remote designator apparatus for identifying locations on a display area, comprising:
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a faceplate means having a diffusing surface on one face thereof forming an image plane; a source means for directing a beam of electromagnetic energy to the diffusing surface of said faceplate means; photoresponsive means disposed at the perimeter of said faceplate for receiving electromagnetic energy scattered along said faceplate by said diffusing surface; and means coupled to said photoresponsive means for providing an output signal indicating the location on said diffusing surface impinged by the incident beam of electromagnetic energy from said source means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification