Method and apparatus for a virtual display/keyboard for a PDA

• US 6,266,048 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Carau, Frank P. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackman, Anthony J.
• Application Number:
  US09/141,400
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/168, 345/7, 345/8, 345/169, 341/22, 708/142-146
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1639 the display being based on projection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• 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

Abstract

An improved computer or PDA with a projected display onto a substantially flat, white surface to create a virtual computer screen display and a projected keyboard onto the substantially flat, white surface and a laser sensor projected over the keyboard and parallel to the substantially flat, white surface to create a virtual keyboard. The virtual display and virtual keyboard permit the computer or PDA to be substantially smaller than typical computers or PDA'"'"'s, while also permitting a relatively normal size display and keyboard/user input area.

Claims

1. A display/keyboard of a hand-held personal digital assistant comprising:

a virtual display projected from said personal digital assistant by means of a Digital Micro mirror Display positioned within said personal digital assistant onto a substantially flat, light colored surface located remotely from said personal digital assistant;

a virtual keyboard projected from said personal digital assistant by means of a Digital Micro mirror Display positioned within said personal digital assistant onto said substantially flat, light colored surface, whereby said virtual display and said virtual keyboard comprise an area which is larger than the area of any surface on said personal digital assistant; and

two laser sensors projected across said virtual keyboard and substantially parallel to said substantially flat, light colored surface, wherein said laser sensors are intercepted over a virtual key of said virtual keyboard thereby creating input, and said personal digital assistant processes said input as if a physical key on a physical keyboard had been selected.

2. A method for creating a virtual display and keyboard for a hand-held personal digital assistant, comprising the following steps:

a) projecting a virtual display of data representative of a personal digital assistant display from a top edge of said hand-held personal digital assistant onto a substantially flat, light colored surface located remotely from said hand-held personal digital assistant, said virtual display comprising an area which is larger than the area of any surface on said hand-held personal digital assistant;

b) projecting a virtual keyboard from said top edge of said hand-held personal digital assistant onto said substantially flat, light colored surface, said virtual keyboard comprising an area which is substantially larger than the area of any surface on said personal digital assistant;

c) projecting a plurality of laser beams from a bottom edge of said hand-held personal digital assistant at an angle to one another across said virtual keyboard, said laser beams being projected substantially parallel to and slightly above said substantially flat, light colored surface;

d) sensing when said laser beams are intercepted over a virtual key of said virtual keyboard thereby creating input; and

e) processing said input within said hand-held personal digital assistant as if a physical key on a physical keyboard had been selected.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the projecting steps are accomplished by means of a Digital Micro mirror Display positioned within said hand-held personal digital assistant.

4. A hand-held personal digital assistant, comprising:

a) a Digital Micro mirror Display positioned within said hand-held personal digital assistant, said Digital Micro mirror Display comprising;

i) a virtual display projected from a top edge of said hand-held personal digital assistant onto a substantially flat, light colored surface, said virtual display comprising an area which is larger than the area of any surface on said hand-held personal digital assistant; and

ii) a virtual keyboard projected from said top edge of said hand-held personal digital assistant onto said substantially flat, light colored surface, said virtual keyboard comprising an area which is substantially larger than the area of any surface on said personal digital assistant;

b) a plurality of laser sensors positioned within said personal digital assistant at a bottom edge thereof, said laser sensors comprising laser beams projected therefrom at an angle to one another across said virtual keyboard, substantially parallel to and slightly above said substantially flat, light colored surface, said laser sensors being adapted to sense when said laser beams are intercepted over a virtual key of said virtual keyboard, thereby creating input, said input being processed by said hand-held personal digital assistant as if a physical key on a physical keyboard had been selected.