Input device using tapping sound detection

• US 7,176,883 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yoneno, Kunio, Furihata, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US10/611,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-159, 345/864, 345/784, 345173-179, 345/169, 345/184, 379/93, 379/37, 235/462.45, 382/115, 709/229, 455/556, 715/864, 463/47
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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

Abstract

An input device includes: a tapping sound detector configured to detect a tapping sound made by a user to generate a tapping sound detection signal; a converter configured to convert the tapping sound detection signal into an input operation signal; and an operation signal output device configured to output the input operation signal. The operation signal output device includes a wireless transmitter.

Claims

1. An image display system comprising:

an image supply device;

an image display device configured to display an image represented by image information supplied from the image supply device; and

an input device configured to supply to the image supply device an input operation signal representing operations of a specific input device,

the input device includes;

a tapping sound detector configured to detect a tapping sound made by a user on a screen to generate a tapping sound detection signal;

a microphone detachably attached to the screen and in communication with the tapping sound detector;

a converter configured to convert the tapping sound detection signal into the input operation signal simulating an operation of a specific input device; and

an operation signal output device configured to output the input operation signal,

wherein the image supply device prohibits output of a new input operation signal from the input device for a predetermined period of time after receiving a previous input operation signal from the input device.

2. An image display system according to claim 1, wherein the image supply device keeps a position of a mark image displayed on the image display device for a predetermined period of time after a first tapping sound is detected by the tapping sound detector.

3. An image display system according to claim 1, wherein the image supply device changes appearance of an index image displayed on the image display device in response to the input operation signal.

4. An image display system comprising:

an image supply device;

an image display device configured to display an image represented by image information supplied from the image supply device; and

a pointing device configured to supply to the image display device a pointing signal indicating a position on a display screen of the image display device,

the pointing device comprising;

a position determination device configured to determine an indicated position on the display screen pointed with a pointing means by a user, to thereby generate a position signal representing the indicated position;

an acoustic input device configured to generate an input operation signal responsive to a sound made by the user, the input operation signal representing operations of a specific input device; and

a pointing signal output device configured to supply the pointing signal including the position signal and the input operation signal to the image supply device,

the acoustic input device including;

a tapping sound detector configured to detect a tapping sound made by the user on a screen on the display screen to generate a tapping sound detection signal;

a microphone detachably attached to the screen and in communication with the tapping sound detector;

a converter configured to convert the tapping sound detection signal into the input operation signal; and

an operation signal output device configured to supply the input operation signal to the pointing signal output device, wherein the input operation signal is transmitted using a transmitter and receiver,

wherein the image supply device prohibits output of a new pointing signal from the acoustic input device for a predetermined period of time after receiving a previous pointing signal from the acoustic input device.

5. An image display system according to claim 4, wherein the image supply device keeps a position of a pointer image displayed on the image display device for a predetermined period of time after a first tapping sound is detected by the tapping sound detector.

6. An image display system according to claim 4, wherein the image supply device changes appearance of an index image displayed on the image display device in response to the pointing signal.