Computer interface device

• US 5,990,865 A
• Filed: 01/06/1997
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matthew Davis Gard
• Original Assignee: Matthew Davis Gard
• Inventors: Gard, Matthew Davis
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/778,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 345/174, 345/358
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16

Abstract

A user'"'"'s movements are detected by a capacitive system having one or more conductors. The output from the conductors is amplified and compared to a table of stored output. Thus, the device can eliminate the need to touch a control surface. The control surface such as a computer mouse could be eliminated in favor of merely sensing a user'"'"'s hand movement. Likewise, the array of conductors could be placed in a panel that could be mounted on a wall. Such panels could be used in a factory to sense the movement of workers or a machinery. Indeed, the movements could be analyzed and warnings sounded if a collision is predicted.

Claims

1. A control device for translating a user'"'"'s non-tactile movement into a control action comprising:

(a) a surface connected to a first conductor for sensing the user'"'"'s non-tactile movement within a first plane along a first axis of the surface;

(b) a second conductor connected to said surface, said second conductor being used for sensing the user'"'"'s non-tactile movement within a second plane along a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis of the surface;

(c) a third conductor connected to said surface, said third conductor being used for sensing the user'"'"'s non-tactile movement within a third plane along a third axis, perpendicular to the first and second axis of the surface;

(d) means for translating the sensed movement into three-dimensional vector data; and

(e) means for correlating said three-dimensional vector data into control movement.

2. The control device of claim 1 wherein said translating means comprises circuitry to determine the change in voltage in the dielectric area of said first, second, and third conductors.

3. The control device of claim 1 wherein said translating means comprises circuitry to measure the change in the frequency of said first, second, and third conductors.

4. The control device of claim 3 wherein said translating means further comprises heterdoyning said frequency with a fixed oscillator.