Visual echo remote laser pointer

• US 6,094,189 A
• Filed: 04/17/1998
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Visual Echo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Galloway J. David, Ian David Storrs, Wendell A. Quillen
• Inventors: Storrs, Ian David, Quillen, Wendell A., Galloway, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,118
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/156, 345/158, 345/157, 345/173-183, 178/19.05
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/20 for imaging minute objects, e.g. light-pointer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

A remote laser pointer system that directs a worker through a situation by a skilled person(servor) controlling the laser pointer from a remotely location. The system can operate over any telephone line or wireless communication that is capable of full duplex communications. The servor can use a video camera and microphone to hear and see the remote location and can control the position of the pointed laser beam with a movable mouse and computer. The worker can wear the camera, microphone and laser pointer on a portable headset.

Claims

1. A remotely operable laser pointer instruction system comprising in combination:

a laser pointer with an adjustable pointing beam located at a first location;

a worker adjacent to the laser pointer at the first location;

a target at the first location, the pointing beam being adjustable directed to selected portions of the target at the first location, the target being adjacent to the worker; and

a control means for operating the laser pointer, the control means located at a second location remote from the first location, an operator-instructor at the second location for physically controlling the control means, the target being not adjacent to the operator-instructor, wherein the operator-instructor at the second location controls and adjusts the pointing beam being directed at the target at the first location with a computer.

2. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, wherein the laser pointer includes:

means for automatically adjusting an x-axis and a y-axis.

3. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, wherein the control means includes:

a second computer at the second location having a movable mouse where the operator-instructor at the second location viewing a screen of the laser pointer at the first location controls and adjusts the pointing beam with the moveable mouse.

4. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first microphone and a first speaker at the first location; and

a second microphone and a second speaker at the second location, wherein the operator-instructor at the second location can verbally communicate with the worker at the first location.

5. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a headset to be worn by the worker at the first location, the headset having the control means and the laser pointer both directly attached thereto.

6. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for allowing the operator-instructor to selectively turn the laser pointer on and off.

7. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 6, wherein the selective turning means includes:

a light indicator that visibly indicates whether the laser pointer is on and off.

8. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera at the first location being aimed at the target for allowing the operator-instructor to visually select the selected portions of the target with the laser pointer as an instruction aid to the worker at the first location.

9. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for allowing the operator-instructor to adjust x and y axes coordinates of the laser pointer; and

a camera at the first location being aimed at the target for allowing the operator-instructor to visually select the selected portions of the target with the laser pointer as an instruction aid to the worker at the first location.

15. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a telephone-line modem communication link between the control means and the laser pointer.

16. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

an Internet communication link between the control means and the laser pointer.

17. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a satellite communication link between the control means and the laser pointer.

20. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a satellite communication link between the control means and the laser pointer.

10. A remotely operable laser pointer instruction system comprising in combination:

a laser pointer with an adjustable pointing beam located at a first location;

a worker adjacent to the laser pointer at the first location;

a target at the first location, the pointing beam being adjustably directed to selected portions of the target at the first location, the target being adjacent to the worker;

a control means for operating the laser pointer, the control means located at a second location remote from the first location, an operator-instructor at the second location for physically controlling the control means, the target being not adjacent to the operator-instructor, wherein the operator-instructor at the second location controls and adjusts the pointing beam being directed at the target at the first location with a first computer;

a second computer at the second location having a moveable mouse so that the operator-instructor at the second location viewing a screen of the laser pointer at the first location controls and adjusts the pointing beam with the moveable mouse;

means for allowing the operator-instructor to adjust x and y axes coordinates of the laser pointer; and

a camera at the first location being aimed at the target for allowing the operator-instructor to visually identify the selected portions of the target with the laser pointer as an instruction aid to the worker at the first location.

11. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 10, further comprising:

a first microphone and a first speaker at the first location; and

a second microphone and a second speaker at the second location, wherein the operator-instructor at the second location can verbally communicate with the worker at the first location.

12. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 10, further comprising:

a headset to be worn by the worker at the first location, the headset having the control means and the laser pointer both directly attached thereto.

13. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 10, further comprising:

means for allowing the operator-instructor to selectively turn the laser pointer on and off.

14. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 13, wherein the selective turning means includes:

a light indicator that visibly indicates whether the laser pointer is on and off.

18. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 10, further comprising:

a telephone-line modem communication link between the control means and the laser pointer.

19. The remotely operable laser pointer instruction system of claim 10, further comprising:

an Internet communication link between the control means and the laser pointer.