Optical keyboard

• US 4,713,535 A
• Filed: 09/04/1985
• Issued: 12/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randy L. Rhoades
• Original Assignee: Randy L. Rhoades
• Inventors: Rhoades, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mis, David
• Application Number:
  US06/772,553
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 250/216, 250/221, 250/578, 250/234, 340/365 R, 340/365 P, 235/454, 235/460
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9629 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

An optical keyboard includes a plurality of photosensors arranged in an X-Y coordinate system where a plurality of rows represent a plurality of X-axes and a plurality of columns represent a plurality of Y-axes. Each sensor represents input to data processing means. When a beam of light is cast onto a photosensor, the photosensor is actuated to transmit a coded signal to a microprocessor board. The microprocessor board scans the array of photosensors row by row sequentially to identify the column position of an actuated photosensor. The input received from the scanning operation is converted to data and transmitted through either a serial or parallel interface to a computer. Interface circuitry converts the data to a form readable by the computer. Thus, by selectively moving a light source to desired photosensors, specific information can be transmitted to a computer for printout or for operation of other devices remotely controlled by the computer to permit the computer to be operated by individuals unable to perform manual keyboard operations.

Claims

1. Interface apparatus for a data processor comprising,

a data entry terminal including an array of photosensors,

a monitor for visually displaying data, said monitor associated with said data entry terminal,

said photosensors being positioned in a X-Y coordinate system having a plurality of rows of photosensors parallel with a X-axis and a plurality of columns of photosensors parallel with a Y-axis for identifying each photosensor by a X and Y coordinate,

said photosensors being actuated or not actuated between an active state and an inactive state in dependence upon receipt of energy from a source of energy to generate input signals,

a microprocessor board having a data input terminal,

data input lines electrically connecting said data input terminal in a first network to all of said sensors in said X-axis and in a second network to all of said photosensors in said Y-axis,

said data input terminal on said microprocessor board receiving input signals from said photosensors upon receipt of energy representing a selected X and Y coordinate in said array of photosensors,

data processing means for receiving output signals from said microprocessor board in response to said input signals from said actuated sensors as instructions to perform a task,

means associated with said data processing means for transmitting data commands through said microprocessor board for display on said monitor,

bidirectional data means connecting said data entry terminal, said microprocessor board, and said data processing means for simultaneous transfer of data between said data entry terminal and said data processing means,

means on said microprocessor board for sensing said input signals from said array of photosensors sequentially row by row parallel to said X-axis to identify said photosensors aligned with said Y-axis being actuated,

said microprocessor board including an output terminal connected to said data processing means for transmitting said output signals representing each actuated photosensor by X and Y coordinates to said data processing means, and

said data processing means in response to said output signals from said microprocessor board being operable to perform said task in response to actuation of said photosensors when exposed to a source of energy.

2. Interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

means for generating a signal indicating actuation of said photosensors when exposed to a source of energy to generate said input signals.

3. Interface apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes,

a visible signal corresponding to each of said photosensors upon actuation thereof.

4. Interface apparatus as set forth in claim 2 which includes,

an audio signal corresponding to each of said photosensors upon actuation thereof.

5. Interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said means for sensing said input signals from said array of photosensors includes a scanning circuit,

said scanning circuit being connected through said microprocessor board to said data processing means, and

said scanning circuit being operable to identify the activated photosensor by a X and Y coordinate.

6. Interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a parallel interface connecting said microprocessor board output terminal to said data processing means, and

means for receiving said output signals from said microprocessor board to generate a corresponding signal for transmission through said parallel interface to said processing means.

7. Interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a serial interface connecting said microprocessor board output terminal to said data processing means, and

means for receiving said output signals from said microprocessor board to generate a corresponding signal for transmission through said serial interface to said processing means.

8. An optical computer interface comprising,

an array of light sensitive elements positioned in a coordinate system,

said elements each being individually actuated when exposed to a light source to transmit a signal,

comparator means for comparing said signal transmitted by each of said actuated elements with a reference signal and generating an output signal corresponding to said actuated element,

scanning means for sequentially inspecting said array of elements to identify which one of said elements is being actuated and provide a coordinate for each actuated element, said coordinate being expressed in terms of an output signal,

an encoder for receiving said output signal, and

said encoder converting said output signal representing a coordinate from said scanning means to data in a format adaptable for entry to a computer for data processing.

9. An optical computer interface as set forth in claim 8 in which,

said elements are positioned in a X-Y coordinate system, and

said elements being positioned in a plurality of rows forming X-axes and in a plurality of columns forming Y-axes.

10. An optical computer interface as set forth in claim 9 in which,

said scanning means scans said rows of elements to identify the columns containing an actuated element, and comprising

an encoder for receiving from said scanning means data expressed in terms of the X-Y coordinates.

11. An optical computer interface as set forth in claim 10 in which,

said comparator means includes a plurality of amplifiers for receiving signals corresponding to the column position of the row containing an actuated element,

each of said amplifiers having an input and an output terminal representing a column position in the X-Y coordinate system of said elements, said amplifiers supplying output signals upon actuation of an element in a respective one of said rows,

an encoder connected to receive said output signals from said amplifiers,

a computer connected to receive input from said encoder, and

said encoder being operable to convert said output signals from said amplifier to said input readable by said computer.

12. A method for the optical entry of information for data processing comprising the steps of,

selectively actuating one of a plurality of photosensors in an array of photosensors,

identifying the position of each photosensor in the array when actuated by a selected coordinate,

transmitting from the photosensor upon actuation an output signal, said output signal generated from the array and corresponding to the coordinate of the actuated photosensor,

scanning the array of photosensors to identify the location of an actuated photosensor,

associating a set of coordinates with each actuated photosensor to identify the position of the output signals from the array of photosensors, and

converting the identified output signals to data input signals having a format representative of information for input to data processing means.

13. A method for the optical entry of information as set forth in claim 12 which includes,

converting the output signal from the actuated photosensor after scanning the array of photosensors to a data input signal for transmission through a serial connection to data processing means.

14. A method for the optical entry of information as set forth in claim 12 which includes,

converting the output signal from the actuated photosensor after scanning the array of photosensors to a data input signal for transmission through a parallel connection to data processing means.

15. A method for the optical entry of information as set forth in claim 12 which includes,

displaying data representing the output signals transmitted from the array of photosensors,

generating from the data processing means signals responsive to the output signals from the actuated photosensors, and

displaying data representing the signals from the data processing means.