Apparatus and method for inputting reflected light image of a target object

• US 6,714,247 B1
• Filed: 03/16/1999
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Morishita, Akira, Numazaki, Shunichi, Matsunaga, Yoshiyuki, Doi, Miwako, Umeki, Naoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Whipkey, Jason
• Application Number:
  US09/268,645
• Time in Patent Office: 1,841 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 348/164, 348/370, 348/371, 348/343, 348/342, 348/344, 348/361, 348/340, 348/335, 348/262, 378/98.12
• US Class Current: 348/370
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042

Abstract

An area image sensor outputs the difference between charges received by light-receiving cells arranged in an array pattern. A system controller generates a timing signal for generating a pulse or modulation signal. A control signal generator generates a control signal for separately controlling the light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of the area image sensor on the basis of the timing signal from the system controller. A light emitting controller controls a light source to generate light, the intensity of which changes on the basis of the timing signal from the system controller. A reflected light image processor extracts a reflected image of an object from the difference outputted from the area image sensor.

Claims

1. An information input apparatus comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally, the image sensor comprising light-receiving cells configured to pick up a visible light image;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the timing signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a pass filter for passing only light emitted by said light emitter;

a cut filter for intercepting light emitted by said light emitter; and

means for selecting one of the pass filter and the cut filter upon passing light to be sensed.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein said control signal generator selectively outputs a first control signal for controlling said area image sensor to sense a reflected light image of the object, and outputs a second control signal for controlling said area image sensor to sense a light image by the light other than the reflected light.

2. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally, the first cells and the second cells of the image sensor bung configured to function as cells configured to pick up a visible light image;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the timing signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a pass filter for passing only light emitted by said light emitter;

a cut filter for intercepting light emitted by said light emitter; and

means for selecting one of the pass filter and the cut filter upon passing light to be sensed.

3. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally, the image sensor comprising light-receiving cells configured to pick up a visible light image;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the timing signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a pass filter for passing only light emitted by said light emitter;

a cut filter for intercepting light emitted by said light emitter; and

switching means for selecting one of said pass filter and said cut filter in synchronism with the timing signal from said timing signal generator.

4. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light,

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally, the first cells and the second cells of the image sensor being configured to function as cells configured to pick up a visible light image;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the timing signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a pass filter for passing only light emitted by said light emitter;

a cut filter for intercepting light emitted by said light emitter; and

switching means for selecting one of said pass filter and said cut filter in synchronism with the timing signal from said timing signal generator.

5. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the tinning signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a second image sensor including light-receiving cells configured to pick up a visible light image;

light splitting section for splitting light into the object reflected light and the light other than the object reflected light;

a selector for selecting whether the light is to be passed or intercepted on optical paths of the split light beams; and

a synthesizing section for synthesizing the two light beams split by said light splitting section.

6. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the timing signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a second image sensor including light-receiving cells configured to pick up a visible light image;

a light splitting section configured to split light into the object reflected light area the light other than the object reflected light, the light splitting section having an element for selecting one of a state wherein only a light source wavelength is passed and a state wherein only visible tight is passed,

a selector configured to select whether the light is to be passed or intercepted on optical paths of the split light beams; and

a synthesizing section configured to synthesize the two light beams split by said light splitting section.

7. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the tuning signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells;

a second image sensor including light-receiving cells configured to pick up a visible light image; and

a light splitting section configured to split light into the object reflected light and the light other than the object reflected light, the light splitting section including

a first element configured to select one of a state wherein only a light source wavelength is passed and a state wherein all light components are passed,

a second element configured to select one of a state wherein only visible light is passed and a state wherein all light components are passed,

a selector configured to select whether the light is to be passed or intercepted on optical paths of the split light beams, and

a synthesizing section configured to synthesize the two light beams split by said light splitting section.

8. An information input apparatus, comprising:

a light emitter for irradiating an object with light;

an image sensor comprising first cells configured to pick up at an emission time and second cells configured to pick up at a non-emission time, said first and second cells arranged two-dimensionally;

a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal comprised of a pulse signal or a modulation signal for controlling an intensity of light of said light emitter;

a control signal generator for generating a control signal for individually controlling light-receiving timings of the light-receiving cells of said area image sensor on the basis of the tinning signal from said timing signal generator;

a detection means for detecting a difference in accumulated electrical charges between a cell of the first cells and a corresponding cell of the second cells; and

a second image sensor including light-receiving cells configured to pick up a visible light image.