Apparatus and method for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations
First Claim
1. Apparatus for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations arranged in a generally two-dimensional array comprising:
- an illuminator, disposed adjacent a first edge of said two-dimensional array and generating radiation which illuminates a generally planar imaginary curtain disposed in front of said plural adjacent item locations;
at least one detector, disposed adjacent said first edge of said array and alongside said illuminator, and sensing said radiation reflected from a hand traversing said imaginary curtain generally at any location on said curtain; and
location determination circuitry responsive to at least one output of said at least one detector for associating a sensed position of said hand with respect to one of said plural adjacent item locations.
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Abstract
Apparatus for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations arranged in a generally two-dimensional array including an illuminator, disposed adjacent a first edge of the two-dimensional array and generating radiation which illuminates a generally planar imaginary curtain disposed in front of the plural adjacent item locations, at least one detector, disposed adjacent the first edge of the array and sensing the radiation reflected from a hand traversing the imaginary curtain generally at any location on the curtain and location determination circuitry responsive to at least one output of the at least one detector for associating a sensed position of the hand with respect to one of the plural adjacent item locations.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Apparatus for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations arranged in a generally two-dimensional array comprising:
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an illuminator, disposed adjacent a first edge of said two-dimensional array and generating radiation which illuminates a generally planar imaginary curtain disposed in front of said plural adjacent item locations; at least one detector, disposed adjacent said first edge of said array and alongside said illuminator, and sensing said radiation reflected from a hand traversing said imaginary curtain generally at any location on said curtain; and location determination circuitry responsive to at least one output of said at least one detector for associating a sensed position of said hand with respect to one of said plural adjacent item locations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for monitoring hand propinquity to plural adjacent item locations arranged in a generally two-dimensional array, the method comprising:
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using an illuminator for generating radiation which forms a generally planar imaginary curtain disposed in front of said plural adjacent item locations; using at least one detector alongside said illuminator for sensing said radiation reflected from a hand traversing said imaginary curtain generally at any location on said curtain; and associating a sensed position of said hand with respect to one of said plural adjacent item locations based on said sensing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification