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Determination unit for determining, through detecting information associated with external object, whether or not external object will use functional apparatus or who is external object, so as to provide appropriate service

  • US 5,822,077 A
  • Filed: 11/07/1996
  • Issued: 10/13/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A determination unit, used in a functional apparatus, for determining whether or not an external object will use said functional apparatus, said determining unit comprising:

  • detecting means for detecting a number of positions of said external object over a time;

    determining means for interpolating said detected positions for generating interpolated movements with respect to said functional apparatus, and determining based on said interpolated movements whether or not said external object will approach said functional apparatus so as to commence use of said functional apparatus and whether or not said external object will depart said functional apparatus so as to end the use of said functional apparatus; and

    service providing means for providing a service which is appropriate based on the determination performed by said determining means, said functional apparatus having a input/display unit for inputting to said functional apparatus specifications concerning usage of said functional apparatus, by an external object wherein said input/display unit is also for displaying information associated with said functional apparatus, in response to said determining means determining that an external object will use said functional unit, said service providing means then changing, prior to said external object reaching said functional apparatus, a condition of said input/display unit from a no-input condition to an input condition, wherein the external object can input specifications concerning usage of said functional apparatus through said input/display unit in said input condition whereas the external object cannot input specifications concerning usage of said functional apparatus through said input/display unit in said no-input condition.

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