Multifunctional integrated image sensor and application to virtual interface technology

• US 7,417,681 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VKB, Inc.
• Original Assignee: VKB, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharon, Yuval, Maor, Yaniv, Lieberman, Klony
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M
• Application Number:
  US10/823,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/156, 348/333.1, 348/373, 348/375, 463/14, 396/300, 345/168, 345/170, 345/175
• US Class Current: 348/333.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1673 Arrangements for projecting a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886

Abstract

An electronic camera including an electronic imaging sensor providing an output representing an imaged field, a first imaging functionality employing the electronic imaging sensor for taking a picture of a scene in the imaged field, a second imaging functionality employing the electronic imaging sensor for data entry responsive to user hand activity and a user-operated imaging functionality selection switch operative to enable a user to select operation in one of the first and second imaging functionalities.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a frame, a drive train and a chassis, including at least one lockable entry portal and portal unlocking functionality; and

an access control assembly for governing authorized access to said at least one lockable entry portal comprising;

at least one at least partially light transmissive user finger engagement surface accessible from outside said chassis;

an illuminator operative to illuminate at least one user finger engagement plane adjacent said at least one user finger engagement surface;

a two-dimensional imaging sensor viewing said at least one user finger engagement surface, from a location inwardly of said at least one finger engagement surface, for sensing light from said illuminator scattered by engagement of a user'"'"'s finger with said at least one finger engagement surface; and

a data entry processor receiving an output from said two-dimensional imaging sensor and providing a data entry input to said portal unlocking functionality.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said illuminator is located at a location inwardly of said at least one engagement surface.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a one-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

4. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1 and also comprising an illumination director cooperating with said illuminator for providing an illumination beam generally parallel to said at least one finger engagement surface.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said illumination director comprises a prism.

7. Access control apparatus for use with a vehicle including a chassis having at least one lockable entry portal and portal unlocking functionality and also including at least one at least partially light transmissive user finger engagement surface accessible from outside said chassis, said access control apparatus comprising:

an illuminator operative to illuminate at least one user finger engagement plane adjacent said at least one user finger engagement surface;

a two-dimensional imaging sensor viewing said at least one user finger engagement surface from a location inwardly of said at least one finger engagement surface for sensing light from said illuminator scattered by engagement of a user'"'"'s finger with said at least one finger engagement surface; and

a data entry processor receiving an output from said two-dimensional imaging sensor and providing a data entry input to said portal unlocking functionality.

8. Access control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said illuminator is located at a location inwardly of said at least one engagement surface.

9. Access control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a one-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

10. Access control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

11. Access control apparatus according to claim 7 and also comprising an illumination director cooperating with said illuminator for providing an illumination beam generally parallel to said at least one finger engagement surface.

12. Access control apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein said illumination director comprises a prism.

13. Access control apparatus for use with an enclosure having at least one lockable entry portal and portal unlocking functionality and also including at least one at least partially light transmissive user finger engagement surface accessible from outside said enclosure, said access control apparatus comprising:

an illuminator operative to illuminate at least one user finger engagement plane adjacent said at least one user finger engagement surface;

a two-dimensional imaging sensor viewing said at least one user finger engagement surface from a location inwardly of said at least one finger engagement surface for sensing light from said illuminator scattered by engagement of a user'"'"'s finger with said at least one finger engagement surface; and

a data entry processor receiving an output from said two-dimensional imaging sensor and providing a data entry input to said portal unlocking functionality.

14. Access control apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said illuminator is located at a location inwardly of said at least one engagement surface.

15. Access control apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a one-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

16. Access control apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

17. Access control apparatus according to claim 13 and also comprising an illumination director cooperating with said illuminator for providing an illumination beam generally parallel to said at least one finger engagement surface.

18. Access control apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said illumination director comprises a prism.

19. Data entry apparatus for use with at least one at least partially light transmissive user finger engagement surface, said data entry apparatus comprising:

an illuminator operative to illuminate at least one user finger engagement plane adjacent said at least one user finger engagement surface;

an illumination director cooperating with said illuminator for providing an illumination beam generally parallel to said at least one finger engagement surface;

a two-dimensional imaging sensor viewing said at least one user finger engagement surface from a location inwardly of said at least one finger engagement surface for sensing light from said illuminator scattered by engagement of a user'"'"'s finger with said at least one finger engagement surface; and

a data entry processor receiving an output from said two-dimensional imaging sensor and providing a data entry input.

20. Data entry apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said illuminator is located at a location inwardly of said at least one engagement surface.

21. Data entry apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a one-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

22. Data entry apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said at least one finger engagement surface comprises a two-dimensional array of a plurality of finger engagement surfaces.

23. Data entry apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said illumination director comprises a prism.