Input device which emits and/or reflects optical electromagnetic radiation for use on a display screen

• US 7,719,519 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Blythe, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, III; Robert E
• Application Number:
  US11/166,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20060290674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-178, 348744-789, 359/443, 359/453, 359/456, 359/457, 359/460
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• 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

Embodiments of an input device are disclosed.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a body configured to be positioned against a display screen; and

a hand interaction structure associated with the body and configured such that different optical electromagnetic radiation is given off and directed through the display screen based upon interaction with a hand, wherein the hand interaction structure comprises wells configured to receive digits and to be selectively blocked by the digits, wherein the different optical electromagnetic radiation is given off and directed through the display screen based upon different blocking of the wells by the digits.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hand interaction structure comprises a pressure sensor configured to interact with at least one of a base of a palm or a digit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand interaction structure includes a plurality of translucent portions corresponding to a single digit and configured to be selectively blocked by the single digit and wherein the device further comprises a light emitting diode configured to emit optical electromagnetic radiation differently based upon what translucent portions are blocked by the digit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to reflect optical electromagnetic radiation based upon interaction of a person'"'"'s hand with the hand interaction structure.