Keyboard or other input device using ranging for detection of control piece movement
First Claim
1. A keyboard for providing input to a computer or other device, comprising:
- a plurality of keys, each key of the plurality being movable so as to place within a detection region a target coupled to the key, the target including a first face and a second face;
a range finder having a first sensor positioned to detect the target placed in the detection region when a key of the plurality is pressed, the range finder determining a distance from the first sensor to the first face of the target when the key of the plurality is moved to a position that reflects light from the first face of the target to the first sensor, the range finder also determining a distance from the first sensor to the second face of the target when the key of the plurality is moved to a position that reflects light from the second face of the target to the first sensor, the target being positioned such that the first face of said target is closer to the first sensor than the second face of said target; and
a controller receiving distance data from the range finder and configured to identify the moved key based upon the received distance data, the controller being configured to determine whether the key of the plurality has been pressed or released, and the controller being configured to determine a direction of key movement based on a temporal order in which distance data is received for the first and second faces of the target.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A keyboard detects press or release of keys using one or more ranging techniques. Targets are attached to keys of the keyboard. As keys are pressed or released, attached targets move into paths of distance measuring sensors. A range finder determines sensor-target distances and reports those distances to a microprocessor. Based on that distance data, the microprocessor identifies the moved keys. The keys and microprocessor are configured to determine the direction of key motion and to detect simultaneous press or release of keys in a single row or column. A slider control, and/or an integral pointing device tracking motion of a user'"'"'s finger or other object, may also be included.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A keyboard for providing input to a computer or other device, comprising:
-
a plurality of keys, each key of the plurality being movable so as to place within a detection region a target coupled to the key, the target including a first face and a second face; a range finder having a first sensor positioned to detect the target placed in the detection region when a key of the plurality is pressed, the range finder determining a distance from the first sensor to the first face of the target when the key of the plurality is moved to a position that reflects light from the first face of the target to the first sensor, the range finder also determining a distance from the first sensor to the second face of the target when the key of the plurality is moved to a position that reflects light from the second face of the target to the first sensor, the target being positioned such that the first face of said target is closer to the first sensor than the second face of said target; and a controller receiving distance data from the range finder and configured to identify the moved key based upon the received distance data, the controller being configured to determine whether the key of the plurality has been pressed or released, and the controller being configured to determine a direction of key movement based on a temporal order in which distance data is received for the first and second faces of the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a housing; a detection region located within the housing; a ranging device position to generate a signal that varies based on distances between a portion of the device and one or more objects within the detection region; at least one independently movable control piece, wherein; the at least one control piece is coupled to the housing, the at least one control piece comprising a first and a second face wherein the first face is closer to the portion of the ranging device than the second face, the at least one control piece has an attached detectable member, and the detectable member is, upon movement of the at least one control piece, repositioned within the detection region; and
a controller configured to;receive, upon movement of the at least one control piece, ranging data from the ranging device indicative of a repositioning of the detectable member, and convert the distance data into a signal corresponding to the moved at least one control piece, the controller being further configured to determine whether a control piece of the plurality has been pressed or released, and further to determine a direction of key movement based on a temporal order in which distance data is received for the first and second faces of the control piece. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification