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

• US 7,453,511 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Morishita, Akira, Numazaki, Shunichi, Matsunaga, Yoshiyuki, Doi, Miwako, Umeki, Naoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHIPKEY, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US10/644,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,916 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 348/164, 348/370, 348/371, 348/342, 348/343, 348/344, 348/361, 348/340, 348/335, 348/262
• US Class Current: 348/342
• 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 method comprising:

irradiating an object with light;

picking up, using an image sensor, at an emission time, picking up at a non-emission time, and picking up a visible light image;

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

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

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

passing using a filter only light emitted by said light emitter;

intercepting light emitted by said light emitter; and

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

2. An information input method, comprising:

irradiating an object with light;

picking up, using an image sensor, at an emission time, picking up at a non-emission time, and picking up a visible light image;

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

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

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

passing using a filter only light emitted by said light emitter;

intercepting light emitted by said light emitter; and

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

3. An information input method, comprising:

irradiating an object with light;

picking up, using an image sensor, at an emission time, and picking up at a non-emission time;

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

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

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

picking up a visible light image;

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

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

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

4. An information input method, comprising:

irradiating an object with light;

picking up, using an image sensor, at an emission time and picking up at a non-emission time;

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

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

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

picking up a visible light image;

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

selecting one of a state wherein only a light source wavelength is passed and a state wherein only visible light is passed;

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

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

5. An information input method, comprising:

irradiating an object with light;

picking up, using an image sensor, at an emission time and picking up at a non-emission time;

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

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

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

picking up a visible light image;

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

selecting one of a state wherein only a light source wavelength is passed and a state wherein all light components are passed;

selecting one of a state wherein only visible light is passed and a state wherein all light components are passed;

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

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