Wireless input system for computer

• US 5,296,838 A
• Filed: 04/20/1992
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Digital Signal Corporation (StereoVision Imaging, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digital Signal Corporation (StereoVision Imaging, Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOLL, KARA FARNANDEZ
• Application Number:
  US07/870,955
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.02, 250/201.8, 250/227.13, 250/221, 340/706, 340/710, 340/709, 340/707, 235/472, 382/59, 359/696
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042

Abstract

A cylindrical frame is provided with an incident angle detecting section for detecting an incident angle of the light from a source of light capable of transmitting pulses and a focus detecting section having a movable lens constructed so that it detects an incident light from the source of light to control the focus position of the incident light. On the basis of the incident angle detected by the incident angle detecting section, the movable lens is caused to be directed to the source of light. Furthermore, by the focus detecting section, the focus position of light is controlled to detect the position of the movable lens. A distance from the position to the source of light is calculated.

Claims

1. A wireless input device for a computer which is capable of detecting the position of a source of incident light, such as a movable, pen-type input unit that emits light pulses, comprising:

a substantially cylindrical frame which is rotatably supported;

a light source distance detecting section mounted on said cylindrical frame for detecting a distance of the incident light source from said input device, said light source distance detecting section comprising;

(a) a lens movably mounted on said cylindrical frame for receiving the incident light from the light source;

(b) focus detecting means for detecting when the incident light received through said lens becomes focused;

(d) lens moving means coupled to said focus detecting means for controllably moving said lens to the focus position; and

(d) focus position detecting means for detecting the focus position to which said movable lens is moved, wherein the detected focus position of said movable lens has a predetermined relationship in correspondence to the distance of the light source from said lens;

an incident angle detecting section mounted on said cylindrical frame for detecting an angle at which the incident light is received by said lens, said incident angle detecting section including;

(a) a two-division photo-detector mounted on said cylindrical frame at a position for receiving incident light passing through said movable lens, said two-division photo-detector having two light detecting portions for comparatively measuring two quantities of the incident light received through said movable lens;

(b) frame rotating means for rotating the cylindrical frame to an angle position corresponding to the angle of the incident light at which a difference between the two measured quantities of the incident light is eliminated; and

(c) angle position detecting means for detecting the angle position to which said frame is rotated corresponding to the angle of the incident light; and

a calculating section for calculating the position of the source of incident light based upon the focus position of the incident light detected by said focus position detecting means and the angle position of the incident light detected by said incident angle detecting section.

2. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said focus detecting means includes a CCD line sensor for detecting the incident light received through said movable lens, and a light intercepting plate disposed between said CCD line sensor and said lens, said lens being movable relative to said light intercepting plate such that the light detected by said CCD line sensor becomes focused when said lens is moved to the focus position.

3. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said focus detecting means includes a two-division photo-detector for detecting the incident light received through said movable lens, and a knife edge disposed between said two-division photo-detector and said lens, said two-division photo-detector comparatively measuring two quantities of the incident light, and said lens being movable relative to said knife edge such that a difference between the two quantities of the incident light detected by said two-division photo-detector becomes eliminated when said lens is moved to the focus position.

4. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said frame rotating means comprises a linear motor coil attached to said cylindrical frame and coupled to an output of said two-division photo-detector comparatively measuring the two quantities of the incident light.

5. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said lens moving means comprises a cylindrical support to which said lens is attached at one end thereof, a linear motor coil attached to said cylindrical support, a yoke on which a magnet is disposed attached to said cylindrical frame and disposed so that it is in operating relationship with said coil, and said coil being coupled to an output of said focus detecting means for detecting when the incident light received through said movable lens becomes focused.

6. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said lens moving means comprises a cylindrical support to which said lens is attached at one end thereof, a linear rack attached to said cylindrical support, a pinion gear output of a motor attached to said cylindrical frame and disposed in mesh with said rack, and the motor being coupled to an output of said focus detecting means for detecting when the incident light received through said lens becomes focused.

7. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein said focus position detecting means comprises a light emitting element mounted to a support on which said movable lens is mounted, and a light-receiving, position-sensing element attached to said frame and disposed to detect the position of the light emitting element when said movable lens is moved to the focus position at which the incident light becomes focused.

8. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 7, wherein said light emitting element of said focus position detecting means is an LED, and the light-receiving, position-sensing element is a CCD line sensor.

9. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, further comprising a light dividing means mounted on said frame for dividing the light received through said movable lens into one portion which impinges on said focus detecting means of said light source distance detecting section and another portion which impinges on said two-division photo-detector of said incident angle detecting section.

10. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 9, wherein said light dividing means comprises a beam splitter.

11. A wireless input device for a computer according to claim 1, wherein the detected focus position of said movable lens is in linear proportion to the distance of the light source from said lens.

12. A wireless input device for a computer which is capable of detecting the position of a source of incident light, such as a movable, pen-type input unit that emits light pulses, comprising:

a light source distance detecting section mounted with said wireless input device for detecting a distance of the incident light source from said input device, said light source distance detecting section comprising;

(a) a lens movably mounted on said input device for receiving the incident light from the light source;

(b) focus detecting means for detecting when the incident light received through said lens becomes focused;

(d) lens moving means coupled to said focus detecting means for controllably moving said lens to the focus position; and

(d) focus position detecting means for detecting the focus position to which said movable lens is moved, wherein the detected focus position of said movable lens has a predetermined relationship in correspondence to the distance of the light source from said input device;

an incident angle detecting section mounted with said wireless input device for detecting an angle at which the incident light is received by said lens; and

a calculating section for calculating the position of the source of incident light based upon the focus position of said movable lens detected by said focus position detecting means and the angle position of the incident light detected by said incident angle detecting section,

wherein said focus detecting means includes a CCD line sensor for detecting the incident light received through said movable lens, and a light intercepting plate disposed between said CCD line sensor and said lens, said lens being movable relative to said light intercepting plate such that the light detected by said CCD line sensor becomes focused when said lens is moved to the focus position.

13. A wireless input device for a computer which is capable of detecting the position of a source of incident light, such as a movable, pen-type input unit that emits light pulses, comprising:

a light source distance detecting section mounted with said wireless input device for detecting a distance of the incident light source from said input device, said light source distance detecting section comprising;

(a) a lens movably mounted on said input device for receiving the incident light from the light source;

(b) focus detecting means for detecting when the incident light received through said lens becomes focused;

(d) lens moving means coupled to said focus detecting means for controllably moving said lens to the focus position; and

(d) focus position detecting means for detecting the focus position to which said movable lens is moved, wherein the detected focus position of said movable lens has a predetermined relationship in correspondence to the distance of the light source from said input device;

an incident angle detecting section mounted with said wireless input device for detecting an angle at which the incident light is received by said lens; and

a calculating section for calculating the position of the source of incident light based upon the focus position of said movable lens detected by said focus position detecting means and the angle position of the incident light detected by said incident angle detecting section,

wherein said focusing means includes a two-division photo-detector for detecting the incident light received through said movable lens, and a knife edge disposed between said two-division photo-detector and said lens, said two-division photo-detector comparatively measuring two quantities of the incident light, and said lens being movable relative to said knife edge such that a difference between the two quantities of the incident light detected by said two-division photo-detector becomes eliminated when said lens is moved to the focus position.