Generating signals representative of sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprisingan array of sensitive pixel elements configured to generate signals related to sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user, andan optical system to concentrate light from a light source across more than one sensitive pixel element of the array,the signals from the sensitive pixel elements of the array on which the light is concentrated being useful to compute a position of the light source, with a sub-pixel resolution representative of the concentrated light on the array of sensitive pixel elements and to determine the position of the light source based on the sub-pixel resolution, which is a higher resolution than the resolution of the array of sensitive pixel elements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An array of sensitive pixel elements is configured to generate signals representative of sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user, and an optical system concentrates light from a light source across a section of the array of sensitive pixel elements, the signals being useful to compute a subpixel measurement of a position of the light source.
141 Citations
65 Claims
-
1. An apparatus comprising
an array of sensitive pixel elements configured to generate signals related to sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user, and an optical system to concentrate light from a light source across more than one sensitive pixel element of the array, the signals from the sensitive pixel elements of the array on which the light is concentrated being useful to compute a position of the light source, with a sub-pixel resolution representative of the concentrated light on the array of sensitive pixel elements and to determine the position of the light source based on the sub-pixel resolution, which is a higher resolution than the resolution of the array of sensitive pixel elements.
-
50. An apparatus comprising
an array of sensitive pixel elements configured to generate signals related to sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user, the array being characterized by a plane defined by the sensitive pixel elements, an axis through the sensitive pixel elements, and a center point between equal sets of the sensitive pixel elements, and a lens to concentrate light from a light source onto the array of sensitive pixel elements, the lens being characterized by an axis through its center and positioned with its axis offset from the center point of the array, the signals from the sensitive pixel elements of the array on which the light is concentrated being useful to compute a position of the light source, with a sub-pixel resolution representative of the concentrated light on the array of sensitive pixel elements and to determine the position of the light source based on the sub-pixel resolution, which is a higher resolution than the resolution of the array of sensitive pixel elements.
-
52. An apparatus comprising
an array of sensitive pixel elements configured to generate signals related to sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user, the array being characterized by a plane defined by the sensitive pixel elements, an axis through the sensitive pixel elements, and a center point between equal sets of the sensitive pixel elements, and a lens to concentrate light from a light source onto the array of sensitive pixel elements, the lens having a curved surface and a flat surface, and positioned such that the flat surface is not parallel to the plane of the array, the signals from the sensitive pixel elements of the array on which the light is concentrated being useful to compute a position of the light source, with a sub-pixel resolution representative of the concentrated light on the array of sensitive pixel elements and to determine the position of the light source based on the sub-pixel resolution, which is a higher resolution than the resolution of the array of sensitive pixel elements.
-
57. An apparatus comprising
a writing surface, an array of sensitive pixel elements configured to generate signals related to sensed light that is associated with writing being done by a user, a lens to concentrate light from a light source in a shape other than a spot onto the array of sensitive pixel elements, and a reflective surface positioned to reflect light from the light source onto the lens, when the light source is near the writing surface, the signals from the sensitive pixel elements of the array being useful to compute a position of the light source, with a sub-pixel resolution representative of the concentrated light on the array of sensitive pixel elements and to determine the position of the light source based on the sub-pixel resolution, which is a higher resolution than the resolution of the array of sensitive pixel elements.
-
59. A method comprising
using two optical sensors separated by a lateral distance to generate a set of signals usable to reconstruct a position of a light source that is associated with a writing instrument being used by a user, and using the signals to compute a measurement of a position in two dimensions of the light source near a writing surface, in which using the optical sensors includes using an optical system to concentrate light from the light source in a shape other than a spot onto an array of sensitive pixel elements, and in which the reconstructed position of the light source has a sub-pixel resolution representative of the concentrated light on the array of sensitive pixel elements, the sub-pixel resolution being a higher resolution than the resolution of the array of sensitive pixel elements.
Specification