Hybrid human-interface device

• US 8,760,403 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Lin, Cho Yi, Chang, Yen Min, Lai, Hung Ching, Yu, Chia Hsin, Wu, Chih Yen, Yang, Feng Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolotin, Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US13/928,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20130285907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-178, 178 1801- 1811
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• 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

The present invention discloses a hybrid human-interface device including an optical navigation module and a pointing module. The optical navigation module is configured to replace the conventional buttons of a convention pointing device, such as an optical mouse or a trackball mouse or TV controller. The optical navigation module is configured to sense gestures of at least one object operated by a user to activate commands associated with particular programs running on the host. Since the optical navigation module is only configured to sense gestures of the object but not the movement of the hybrid human-interface device relative to a surface, the resolution thereof is aimed to be sufficiently high enough for sensing gestures and no need to be relatively high.

Claims

1. A hybrid human-interface device, for being operated by a user on a work surface and result in relative movement between the hybrid human-interface device and the work surface, the hybrid human-interface device comprising:

a first module configured to sense a movement of the hybrid human-interface device relative to the work surface;

a vertical wall inside the hybrid human-interface device;

a second module, comprising;

a light source configured to emit light; and

an image sensor disposed on the vertical wall and having a field of view parallel to a bottom surface of the hybrid human-interface device, and configured to capture an image containing at least one light spot formed by at least one object operated by the user reflecting the light emitted by the light source directly to the image sensor;

a scattering layer configured to scatter the light emitted from the light source and/or the light reflected from the object;

a processor configured to identify a relative distance between the object and the light source according to the variation of the light spot of the image and to generate a positional signal of the object;

wherein the scattering layer is configured to reduce the intensity of the reflected light from the finger to the image sensor.

2. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first module is an optical navigation module or a mechanical navigation module.

3. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second module further comprises an operation field for placing the object, and the scattering layer is placed between the operation field and the light source.

4. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scattering layer is made by coating an optical scattering material on at least one surface thereof.

5. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scattering layer is made by etching at least one surface thereof to form a plurality of recesses.

6. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scattering layer is made by forming a plurality of protuberances on at least one surface thereof.

7. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scattering layer is made with a plurality of particles inside.

8. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 4, wherein an area of the coating has a diameter from 10 μ

m to 100 μ

m.

9. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to emit the light with a particular wavelength, and the second module further comprises a filter to filter out light with wavelengths other than the particular wavelength.

10. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first module comprises an image sensor, and the resolution of the image sensor of second module is lower than the resolution of the image sensor of first module.

11. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the recesses have a diameter from 10 μ

m to 100 μ

m.

12. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protuberances have a diameter from 10 μ

m to 100 μ

m.

13. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the particles have a diameter from 10 μ

m to 100 μ

m.

14. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a light blocking member between the light source and the image sensor.

15. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 3, wherein an included angle between the vertical wall and the operation field is between 70-110 degrees.

16. A hybrid human-interface device, for being operated by a user on a work surface and result in relative movement between the hybrid human-interface device and the work surface, the hybrid human-interface device comprising:

a first module configured to navigate a pointer or a cursor on a host device;

a vertical wall inside the hybrid human-interface device;

a second module, comprising;

a light source configured to emit light; and

an image sensor disposed on the vertical wall and having a field of view parallel to a bottom surface of the hybrid human-interface device, and configured to capture an image containing at least one light spot formed by at least one object operated by the user reflecting the light emitted by the light source directly to the image sensor;

a scattering layer configured to scatter the light emitted from the light source and/or the light reflected from the object;

a processor configured to identify a relative distance between the object and the light source according to the variation of the light spot of the image and to generate a positional signal of the object, and the positional signal is adapted and associated with the first module to trigger a command;

wherein the scattering layer is configured to reduce the intensity of the reflected light from the finger to the image sensor.

17. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a light blocking member between the light source and the image sensor.

18. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second module further comprises an operation field for placing the object and having an included angle with respect to the vertical wall between 70-110degrees.

19. A hybrid human-interface device, for being operated by a user on a work surface and result in relative movement between the hybrid human-interface device and the work surface, the hybrid human-interface device comprising:

a first module configured to sense a movement of the hybrid human-interface device relative to the work surface;

a vertical wall inside the hybrid human-interface device;

a second module, comprising;

an operation field located only on a top front portion of the hybrid human-interface device and having an included angle with respect to the vertical wall between 70-110 degrees;

a light source configured to emit light toward the operation field;

an image sensor disposed on the vertical wall and having a field of view covering the operation field, and configured to capture an image containing at least one light spot formed by at least one object operated on the operation field reflecting the light emitted by the light source directly to the image sensor; and

a processor configured to position the at least one object according to the at least one light spot in the image.

20. The hybrid human-interface device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a light blocking member between the light source and the image sensor.