Cordless digital graphics input device

• US 4,550,250 A
• Filed: 11/14/1983
• Issued: 10/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HEI Incorporated Victoria MN 55386 A Corporation of
• Original Assignee: HEI, Inc.
• Inventors: Mueller, Wayne A., Schuette, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Westin, Edward P.
• Application Number:
  US06/551,147
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 250/203 R, 250/203 S, 250/221, 250/237 R, 340/701-703, 340/707-711, 356/141, 356/147, 356/152, 356/375, 178/18
• US Class Current: 250/208.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A cordless graphics input device system for use with a computer. The device comprises an infrared emitting module useable on any surface adjacent a detector having a pair of patterned concave sensors. Coordinate information is determined via a detector contained microprocessor relative to the sensed analog position data.

Claims

1. A photo-optic sensor system for producing positional data relative to the location of a point light source comprising:

a hand positionable omnidirectional point light source;

an opaque screen having first and second optically transparent slits formed therethrough at spaced-apart location which first and second planes of light may pass;

first and second light guides mounted in the respective paths of said first and second light planes, each having an opaque mask thereon defining a plurality of patterned openings upon which said planes of light impinge;

first and second sensor means coupled to said respective first and second light guides for producing at least a reference output and a positionally proportional output relative to said point light source; and

processing means responsive to said reference and positionally proportional outputs for producing the Cartesian coordinates of said point light source.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said point light source includes means for selectively controlling the duty cycle of said point light source.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said processing means include means for decoding the duty cycle of said point light source and producing an output indicative thereof.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of openings of said first and second light guides is of a shape complimentary to another of said plurality of openings of said first and second light guides.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the openings of said first and second light guides is a window of continuously changing height along a length dimension thereof.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the openings of said first and second light guides is a window of generally constant height.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said light guides include an opaque divider between each of said patterned openings.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processing means includes means for determining the positional coordinates of said point light source relative to one another and the respective angles A and B formed therewith as said respective first and second light planes impinge upon said first and second light guides.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said processing means includes means for determining X, where ##EQU1## and where D is the distance between said first and second slits.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for determining Y, where Y=X TAN A or Y=TAN B (D-X).

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for ensuring that said point light source is in range, before said processing means determines the coordinate position of said point light source.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said point light source is manipulatable upon any surface relative to said detector so long as said light impinges upon said patterned openings on said first and second light guides and sensors.

13. A sensor system for producing positional coordinate data comprising:

a cordless hand movable light source;

a detector module having an opaque screen and at least two parallel and spaced-apart transparent slits formed therein and through which planes of light from said source may pass, sensor means disposed behind said slits for detecting the intensities of the respective light planes relative to a reference and means responsive to each of said detected intensities for determining the angle of incidence of said light planes, whereby the positional coordinates of said light source relative to said detector module are determined.