Input apparatus

• US 5,883,616 A
• Filed: 02/24/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.), Yokohama City Rehabilitation Corporation
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.), Yokohama City Rehabilitation Corporation
• Inventors: Hatakeyama, Takuro, Koizumi, Yoshiki, Uchio, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US08/805,390
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 340/825.319, 340/825.19, 273/148 B, 273/310, 200/1 R
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0308 comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen

Abstract

An input apparatus that allows those who are severely physically handicapped for example to enter characters with comparative ease and minimizes the chance of making error entries. The input apparatus comprising: an optical signal transmitter constituted to be worn on the head of an operator and having a plurality of light-emitting elements for transmitting an optical signal and a breath-operated switch; an image display device on which a cursor is shown; and an optical signal receiver connected to the image display device and having a single light-receiving element for receiving the optical signal and a data processor; wherein the optical signal transmitter, when worn on the operator head, transmits, on the optical signal, a data signal containing switch data to be generated when the breath-operated switch is operated, the optical signal receiver generates coordinate data from positional data indicating a shift of the operator head from a predetermined position in the optical signal transmitter and switch data contained in the data signal according to a reception state of the optical signal coming from the optical signal transmitter and supplies the generated coordinate data to the image display device, and the image display device moves a display position of the cursor according to the positional data contained in the coordinate data and selects a display capability according to the switch data contained in the coordinate data.

Claims

1. An input apparatus comprising:

an optical signal transmitter constituted to be worn on the head of an operator and having a plurality of light-emitting elements for transmitting an optical signal and a breath-operated switch, said breath operated switch having at least two ports, one of said ports being used when the operator breaths out therethrough to activate said breath-operated switch, and another of said ports being used when the operator breaths in therethrough to activate said breath-operated switch;

an image display device on which a cursor is shown; and

an optical signal receiver connected to said image display device and having a single light-receiving element for receiving said optical signal and a data processor;

wherein said optical signal transmitter, when worn on the operator head, transmits, on said optical signal, a data signal containing switch data to be generated when said breath-operated switch is operated, said optical signal receiver generates coordinate data from positional data indicating a shift of the operator head from a predetermined position in said optical signal transmitter and switch data contained in said data signal according to a reception state of said optical signal coming from said optical signal transmitter and supplies the generated coordinate data to said image display device, and said image display device moves a display position of said cursor according to the positional data contained in said coordinate data and selects a display capability according to the switch data contained in said coordinate data.

2. The input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements are more than one light-emitting elements of which light axes have inclinations different from each other and said plurality of light-emitting elements are driven sequentially.

3. An input apparatus comprising:

a first optical signal send/receive device constituted to be worn on the head of an operator and having a single light-receiving element for receiving a transmitted light, a breath-operated switch, a data processor, and a light-emitting element for transmitting an optical signal;

an image display device on which a cursor is shown; and

a second optical signal send/receive device connected to said image display device and having a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting lights in a plurality of directions and a light-receiving element for receiving said optical signal;

wherein, based on the light transmitted from said second optical signal send/receive device, said first optical signal send/receive device, when worn on the operator head, generates coordinate data from positional data indicating a shift of the operator head from a predetermined position and switch data generated by operating said breath-operated switch and transmits, on said optical signal, the generated coordinate data, and said second optical signal send/receive device supplies the coordinate data contained in said optical signal coming from said first optical signal send/receive device to said image display device, and said image display device moves a display position of said cursor according to the positional data contained in said coordinate data and selects a display capability according to the switch data contained in said coordinate data.

4. The input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of light-emitting elements on the second optical signal send/receive device are more than one light-emitting elements of which light axes have inclinations different from each other.

6. The input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image display device displays a keyboard of which keys are allocated with characters and symbols, said cursor moves on said keyboard according to said positional data, and said breath-operated switch is operated when said cursor has reached a desired character or symbol to enter the same for forming a sentence.

5. An input apparatus comprising:

an optical signal transmitter constituted to be worn on the head of an operator and having a plurality of light-emitting elements for transmitting an optical signal and a breath-operated switch;

an image display device on which a cursor is shown; and

an optical signal receiver connected to said image display device and having a single light-receiving element for receiving said optical signal and a data processor;

wherein said optical signal transmitter, when worn on the operator head, transmits, on said optical signal, a data signal containing switch data to be generated when said breath-operated switch is operated, said optical signal receiver generates coordinate data from positional data indicating a shift of the operator head from a predetermined position in said optical signal transmitter and switch data contained in said data signal according to a reception state of said optical signal coming from said optical signal transmitter and supplies the generated coordinate data to said image display device, and said image display device moves a display position of said cursor according to the positional data contained in said coordinate data and selects a display capability according to the switch data contained in said coordinate data; and

wherein said image display device displays a keyboard of which keys are allocated with characters and symbols, said cursor moves on said keyboard according to said positional data, and said breath-operated switch is operated when said cursor has reached a desired character or symbol to enter the same for forming a sentence.