Method and apparatus for calibrating an optical computer input system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Optical input system calibration apparatus for facilitating alignment with an image reflected from a viewing surface, comprising:
- a housing;
a single light sensing device for detecting the image reflecting from the viewing surface;
said light sensing device being adapted to be positioned in general alignment with a rectangularly shaped image reflecting from the viewing surface, said rectangularly shaped image being defined by four corner portions;
universal mounting means mounted to said housing for supporting said light sensing device and for permitting it to be moved to an adjusted position relative to the viewing surface so that the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface is detected;
means responsive to said light sensing device for generating electrical signals indicative which ones of the corner portions are detected from the image reflecting from the viewing surface;
alignment means responsive to said electrical signals for determining direction movements required to detect currently undetected corner portions of the reflect image, in any;
microprocessor means responsive to said alignment means for causing alignment signals to be generated, said alignment signals being indicative of movement directions for repositioning said light sensing device to a corrected position so it receives substantially the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus facilitates the alignment and light sensitivity adjustment of an optical computer input system, which includes a user generated light directed onto a screen bearing a computer generated image, to convey information to the computer interactively by the user, even in a darkened room. The system discriminates between the user generated image, and the computer generated image. Devices facilitate the proper alignment of the system with the screen, as well as proper light sensitivity adjustments.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1. Optical input system calibration apparatus for facilitating alignment with an image reflected from a viewing surface, comprising:
-
a housing; a single light sensing device for detecting the image reflecting from the viewing surface; said light sensing device being adapted to be positioned in general alignment with a rectangularly shaped image reflecting from the viewing surface, said rectangularly shaped image being defined by four corner portions; universal mounting means mounted to said housing for supporting said light sensing device and for permitting it to be moved to an adjusted position relative to the viewing surface so that the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface is detected; means responsive to said light sensing device for generating electrical signals indicative which ones of the corner portions are detected from the image reflecting from the viewing surface; alignment means responsive to said electrical signals for determining direction movements required to detect currently undetected corner portions of the reflect image, in any; microprocessor means responsive to said alignment means for causing alignment signals to be generated, said alignment signals being indicative of movement directions for repositioning said light sensing device to a corrected position so it receives substantially the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28)
-
-
21. Optical input system calibration apparatus for facilitating alignment with an image reflected from a viewing surface, comprising:
-
a single light sensing device for detecting the presence of light produced from an image reflecting from the viewing surface; means for mounting said single light sensing device for universal movement relative to said viewing surface; detecting means for determining whether the entire reflected image from the viewing surface can be detected and for generating a plurality of electrical signals indicative of the direction of any miscalibration; and indicating means responsive to said signals for providing indications of miscalibration directions when the entire reflected image on the viewing surface can not be detected to indicate the direction of movement of said sensing device so that it can be adjusted positionally until it detects substantially the entire reflected image. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
29. A method for aligning an optical computer input system comprising:
-
using a light sensing device for detecting the presence of light reflecting from a viewing surface; generating electrical signals indicative of the height and width of the image reflecting from the viewing surface; determining whether said light sensing device is sufficiently aligned relative to the reflected image to receive substantially the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface; and causing alignment signals to be generated, said alignment signals being indicative of movement directions for repositioning said light sensing device to a corrected position so it receives substantially the entire image reflecting from the viewing surface. - View Dependent Claims (30)
-
-
31. Optical input system calibration apparatus for facilitating alignment with an image reflected from a viewing surface, comprising:
-
light sensing means for detecting the reflected image; means for determining the width and height of a detected image on the viewing surface; means for storing image detection signals indicative of the width and the height of said detected image; means for comparing the stored signals with another set of signals indicative of the width and height of a projected image on the viewing surface; computing means for determining the peripheral boundaries of said detected image; and means responsive to said means for comparing and to said computing means for generating left, right, up and down signals indicative of light sensing means movement directions, so that the entire peripheral boundaries of the reflected image can be detected by suitable movement to a corrected position of said light sensing means.
-
-
32. A method for aligning image detection means to receive a given image reflected from a viewing surface, comprising:
-
determining the width and height of a detected image on the viewing surface; storing image detection signals indicative of X and Y distance values for the width and the height of said detected image; comparing the stored signals with another set of signals indicative of the width and the height of a projected image on the viewing surface; determining the peripheral boundaries of said detected image; generating left, right, up and down signals indicative of movement directions, so that the entire peripheral boundaries of the reflected image can be detected by suitable movement to a corrected position of a light sensing device, whereby the entire width and height of the given image can be detected.
-
Specification