Photoelectric input apparatus
First Claim
1. A photoelectric input device having a housing defining an opening,a plurality of light sources supported by said housing in a row along one side of said opening,a plurality of light sources supported on said housing in a row along an adjacent side of said opening,a plurality of photosensitive devices supported in a row along a third side of said opening, anda second plurality of photosensitive devices supported on said housing in a row along the fourth side of said opening,each of said light sources defining a beam with one of the photosensitive devices supported on the opposite wall of said opening, whereby said light sources and photosensitive devices define two sets of beams each defining a surface extending between different pairs of opposite sides of said opening,means for mounting said light sources and said photosensitive device on said housing to produce said sets of beams in two separate surfaces, spaced apart along the direction normal to the plane of said opening, counting means for each of said sets for counting a number of interrupted beams in each set, and means for producing output signals indicating the number counted by each counter,and means for sensing, independently, when each of said two sets of beams has one or more beams which is interrupted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photoelectric touch input panel has a plurality of crossed light beams which are broken by an object, the position coordinates of which are identified as outputs. Two spaced apart beam surfaces are provided, and the interrelationship between the beams in the two planes is employed to distinguish between interrupting objects on the basis of their size, attitude, and velocity characteristics. The number of beams broken in any beam plane is counted to determine the relative size of the object, or to determine the center line of the interrupting object. The beams in any beam plane are selected in accordance with the relative significance of the various beams, and interrupted beams are pulsed more rapidly than non-interrupted beams. The light-emitting devices of the various beam planes are constructed as an integral unit. The control system of the touch input panel is adapted for use in monitoring the size, shape, and activity of objects within a space defined by plural beam planes, independently of the touch input panel.
108 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A photoelectric input device having a housing defining an opening,
a plurality of light sources supported by said housing in a row along one side of said opening, a plurality of light sources supported on said housing in a row along an adjacent side of said opening, a plurality of photosensitive devices supported in a row along a third side of said opening, and a second plurality of photosensitive devices supported on said housing in a row along the fourth side of said opening, each of said light sources defining a beam with one of the photosensitive devices supported on the opposite wall of said opening, whereby said light sources and photosensitive devices define two sets of beams each defining a surface extending between different pairs of opposite sides of said opening, means for mounting said light sources and said photosensitive device on said housing to produce said sets of beams in two separate surfaces, spaced apart along the direction normal to the plane of said opening, counting means for each of said sets for counting a number of interrupted beams in each set, and means for producing output signals indicating the number counted by each counter, and means for sensing, independently, when each of said two sets of beams has one or more beams which is interrupted.
Specification