Virtual key pad for optical scanning apparatus

• US 5,996,894 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co. Ltd. (FIT Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Compeye Corporation
• Inventors: Tu, Ke-Shun, Chen, Jui-Ming, Yin, Tang-Kai
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/046,731
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 235/472.01, 235/462.01, 235/462.15, 235/462.16, 235/462.25, 235/462.26, 235/462.43, 395/500, 395/800, 345/166
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5016 User-machine interface; Display panels; Control console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/10 using flat picture-bearing surfaces H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0422 Media holders, covers, supports, backgrounds; Arrangements to facilitate placing of the medium H04N2201/0406 - H04N2201/0412, H04N2201/0434 take precedence

Abstract

Virtual key pads assigned to correspond to function commands conventionally executed in response to operating real key pads, are scanned by an optical scanning apparatus for recognizing if they have been touched by user or which among them have/has been touched, and for executing the function commands corresponded by that/those which was/were touched, whereby the virtual key pads act as real key pads, thereby real key pads are no longer necessary. Also a cover-mat with virtual key pads and more than one window thereon is suggested to conveniently adapt a scanning apparatus to various applications.

Claims

1. A virtual key pad to be scanned by an optical scanning apparatus for performing the functions of a real key pad, is characterized by that:

said virtual key pad is assigned to correspond to a function command which performs the function of said real key pad, and is formed on a scanning plate of said optical scanning apparatus to be scanned by said optical scanning apparatus for recognizing if said virtual key pad has been touched by a user, said function command is executed in case said virtual key pad has been touched, whereby the function of said real key pad is performed in response to that said virtual key pad has been touched, thereby said virtual key pad acts as said real key pad.

2. The virtual key pad according to claim 1 being formed on said scanning plate by halftone printing technology.

3. The virtual key pad according to claim 1 being formed on said scanning plate by sticking a thin film on said scanning plate.

4. The virtual key pad according to claim 1 being formed on said scanning plate by sticking on said scanning plate a thin film made of paper.

5. The virtual key pad according to claim 1 being formed on said scanning plate by sticking on said scanning plate a thin film made of plastic.

6. The virtual key pad according to claim 1 being formed beside a scanning window of said scanning plate.

7. A virtual key pad to be scanned by an optical scanning apparatus for performing the functions of a real key pad, is characterized by that:

said virtual key pad is assigned to correspond to a function command which performs the function of said real key pad, and is formed on a cover-mat lying on a scanning plate of said optical scanning apparatus, to be scanned by said optical scanning apparatus for recognizing if said virtual key pad has been touched by a user, said function command is executed in case said virtual key pad has been touched, whereby the function of said real key pad is performed in response to that said virtual key pad has been touched, thereby said virtual key pad acts as said real key pad.

8. The virtual key pad according to claim 7 being formed on said cover-mat which is made of paper.

9. The virtual key pad according to claim 7 being formed on said cover-mat which is made of plastic.

10. The virtual key pad according to claim 7 being formed beside a scanning window of said scanning plate.

11. The virtual key pad according to claim 7 being formed on said cover-mat which comprises more than one scanning window.

12. The virtual key pad according to claim 7 being formed by caving said cover-mat.

13. The virtual key pad according to claim 7 being formed by printing said cover-mat.

14. An optical scanning apparatus comprising:

a scanning plate for placing an object to be scanned;

a scanning head for scanning said object placed on said scanning plate; and

at least one virtual key pad assigned to correspond to a function command, and formed on said scanning plate to be scanned by said scanning head for recognizing if said virtual key pad has been touched by users, and for executing said function command in case said virtual key pad has been touched.

15. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said scanning plate is a glass plate.

16. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said virtual key pad is formed on said glass plate by halftone printing technology.

17. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said virtual key pad is formed by sticking a thin film on said glass plate.

18. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said virtual key pad comprises virtual identification code key pads and virtual function key pads, said virtual identification code key pads for determining usage authority, and commands combinations for said virtual function key pads.

19. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said scanning plate comprises a scanning window beside which said virtual key pad is formed.

20. An optical scanning apparatus comprising:

a scanning plate;

a cover-mat on said scanning plate, having at least one virtual key pad thereon to correspond to function commands; and

a scanning head for scanning said virtual key pad for recognizing if said virtual key pad has been touched by users, and for executing said function commands in case said virtual key pad has been touched.

21. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said cover-mat is made of material selected from among paper and plastic.

22. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said virtual key pad is formed by caving said cover-mat.

23. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said virtual key pad is formed by leaving blank frames among the background printed on said cover-mat.

24. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said virtual key pad comprises virtual identification code key pads and virtual function key pads, said virtual identification code key pads for determining usage authority and commands combinations for said virtual function key pads.

25. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said cover-mat comprises more than one scanning window for enclosing objects to be scanned.

26. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said virtual key pad is formed beside said scanning window.

27. An optical scanning apparatus for scanning objects placed on a scanning track thereof, is characterized by that:

at least one virtual key pad assigned to correspond to a specific command, is placed on said scanning track to be scanned for recognizing if said virtual key pad has been touched by users, and for executing said specific command in case said virtual key pad has been touched.

28. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 27 comprising a scanning window beside which said virtual key pad is placed.