Camera-based multi-touch mouse
First Claim
1. A multi-touch input device comprising:
- a base;
a working surface with an inside and an outside, the working surface disposed over the base forming a cavity between the base and the inside of the working surface;
a light source integral to the multi-touch input device;
a curved mirror disposed in the cavity;
a camera focused on the curved mirror;
a mechanism operable to provide movement data corresponding to movement of the multi-touch input device; and
an interface configured to send the movement data and multi-touch data to a computer system via the interface,wherein;
the curved mirror is operable to receive light reflected or scattered by multiple objects outside of the working surface onto the curved mirror and to further reflect the light into the camera,the camera is operable to receive the light reflected from the curved mirror, andthe multi-touch input device is operable to process the light reflected or scattered by the multiple objects and reflected by the curved mirror to the camera to provide the multi-touch data that is sent to the computer system via the interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Technologies for a camera-based multi-touch input device operable to provide conventional mouse movement data as well as three-dimensional multi-touch data. Such a device is based on an internal camera focused on a mirror or set of mirrors enabling the camera to image the inside of a working surface of the device. The working surface allows light to pass through. An internal light source illuminates the inside of the working surface and reflects off of any objects proximate to the outside of the device. This reflected light is received by the mirror and then directed to the camera. Imaging from the camera can be processed to extract touch points corresponding to the position of one or more objects outside the working surface as well as to detect gestures performed by the objects. Thus the device can provide conventional mouse functionality as well as three-dimensional multi-touch functionality.
80 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-touch input device comprising:
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a base; a working surface with an inside and an outside, the working surface disposed over the base forming a cavity between the base and the inside of the working surface; a light source integral to the multi-touch input device; a curved mirror disposed in the cavity; a camera focused on the curved mirror; a mechanism operable to provide movement data corresponding to movement of the multi-touch input device; and an interface configured to send the movement data and multi-touch data to a computer system via the interface, wherein; the curved mirror is operable to receive light reflected or scattered by multiple objects outside of the working surface onto the curved mirror and to further reflect the light into the camera, the camera is operable to receive the light reflected from the curved mirror, and the multi-touch input device is operable to process the light reflected or scattered by the multiple objects and reflected by the curved mirror to the camera to provide the multi-touch data that is sent to the computer system via the interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A device comprising:
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a base; a working surface with an inside and an outside, the working surface disposed over the base forming a cavity between the base and the inside of the working surface, wherein the working surface is a diffuse surface; a curved mirror disposed within the cavity and above the base; a camera focused on the curved mirror; a light source of infrared light integral to the device, wherein the infrared light from the light source; reflects off of multiple objects positioned outside the working surface, is received by the curved mirror, and is then reflected from the curved mirror to the camera; an infrared pass filter operable to filter non-infrared light reflected by the curved mirror to the camera; a mechanism operable to provide movement data corresponding to movement of the device; and an interface configured to send the movement data and multi-touch data to a computer system via the interface, wherein; the camera is operable to receive the infrared light reflected by the curved mirror, and the device is operable to process the infrared light reflected by the multiple objects and the curved mirror to the camera to provide the multi-touch data that is sent to the computer system via the interface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A multi-touch input device comprising:
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a base; a working surface with an inside and an outside, the working surface disposed over the base forming a cavity between the base and the inside of the working surface, wherein the working surface is a diffuse surface; a toroidal mirror; a conical mirror; a camera disposed in the cavity and focused on the conical mirror; a light source of light integral to the device, wherein light from the light source is scattered by an object in optical contact with the working surface; a mouse mechanism operable to provide conventional mouse movement data corresponding to movement of the multi-touch input device; and an interface configured to provide the conventional mouse movement data and multi-touch data to a computer system via the interface, the multi-touch data corresponding to the object; wherein; the toroidal mirror is operable to receive the light and reflect the light to the conical mirror; the conical mirror is operable to reflect the light to the camera, and the multi-touch input device is operable to process the light reflected by the object, the toroidal mirror, and the conical mirror to the camera to provide the multi-touch data that is sent to the computer system via the interface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification