Virtual input device

• US 6,313,825 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Timothy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Duc Q
• Application Number:
  US09/221,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-158, 345/160, 345/163
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An input device for a computer detects movement of an object, such as a finger, within a selected field of space, and across the boundaries of the selected space. The input device is used to input commands into a computer, such as to control movement of a cursor over a display device or to mark certain portions of information displayed on the computer monitor. Directional transducers receive reflections of transmitted energy from an object in the field, and provide signals to an interpreter which maps the signals to control movement of the cursor or other device on the computer monitor. The input device includes an interpreter for detecting movements within the selected input space. Certain or selected detected movements within or through the input space are interpreted as input commands for controlling aspects of the computer.

Claims

1. An input device for a computer comprising:

a transmitter for producing energy;

a first directional receiver for receiving reflected energy from at least one selected field in space defining a volume having an adjustable boundary;

a second directional receiver for receiving reflected energy from said at least one selected field in space;

a clock for determining the difference in time between producing a first amount of energy from the transmitter and receiving the first reflected energy from the transmitter at the first directional receiver and receiving the first reflected energy from the transmitter at the second directional receiver,

the clock also determining the difference in time between producing the wave from the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the first directional receiver and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the second directional receiver;

a comparator for determining the difference in time between producing the first wave front at the transmitter and receiving the first reflected wave front at the first receiver, and producing the second wave front at the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front at the first receiver;

an interpreter for detecting movements within the at least one selected field and mapping the detected movements to control inputs to the computer which include cursor movement on a computer monitor; and

at least one input space defined by the at least one selected field and movable to any desired position within the physical range of the transmitter.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter produces ultrasonic energy.

3. The input device of claim 2 wherein the first directional receiver and the second directional receiver receive reflected ultrasonic energy from the at least one selected field in space.

4. The input device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter produces infrared light energy.

5. The input device of claim 1 wherein the reflected energy is reflected from a selected field positioned at a distance from said first and second receivers.

7. The input device of claim 3 wherein the first directional receiver comprises two ultrasonic receivers, and the second directional receiver comprises two ultrasonic receivers.

8. The input device of claim 3 wherein the first directional receiver comprises two ultrasonic receivers, and the transmitter for producing energy is positioned near the two ultrasonic receivers of the first directional receiver.

9. The input device of claim 1 wherein the device is used with a computer keyboard and wherein the input space is positioned over the keys of the keyboard.

10. The input device of claim 1 wherein the device is used with a computer keyboard and wherein the input space is positioned beside the keyboard.

11. The input device of claim 1 wherein the device enables the input space so that an operator can input commands to the computer using one hand.

22. The input device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of input spaces movable to any desired position within the physical range of the transmitter.

23. The input device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter comprises a finger cot including at least one light emitting diode.

24. The input device of claim 1 further comprising a second input space having an adjustable boundary, the second input space defined by a second selected field in space movable to any desired position within the physical range of the transmitter.

6. An input device for a computer comprising:

a transmitter for producing energy;

a first directional receiver for receiving reflected energy from a selected field in space;

a second directional receiver for receiving reflected energy from the selected field;

a clock for determining the difference in time between producing a first amount of electromagnetic energy from the transmitter and receiving the first reflected energy from the transmitter at the first directional receiver and receiving the first reflected electromagnetic energy from the transmitter at the second directional receiver,

the clock also determining the difference in time between producing the wave from the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the first directional receiver and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the second directional receiver;

a comparator for determining the difference in time between producing the first wave front at the transmitter and receiving the first reflected wave front at the first receiver, and producing the second wave front at the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front at the first receiver; and

an interpreter for detecting movements within the selected field and mapping the detected movements to control inputs to a computer which include cursor movement on a computer monitor.

12. A computer comprising:

a processing unit;

a bus communicatively coupled to the processing unit;

memory communicatively coupled to the bus;

an input device communicatively coupled to said bus, said input device further comprising;

a transmitter for producing energy to a volume;

a first receiver for reflected energy from the volume;

a second receiver for reflected energy from the volume, said processing unit being programmed to define at least one selected input area from the volume, the at least one input area having an adjustable boundary and being movable to any desired position within the physical range of the transmitter, said processing unit also being programmed to map movements within the at least one selected input area to input commands;

a clock for determining the difference in time between producing a first amount of energy from the transmitter and receiving the first reflected energy from the transmitter at the first receiver and receiving the first reflected energy from the transmitter at the second receiver,

the clock also determining the difference in time between producing the wave from the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the first receiver and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the second receiver;

a comparator for determining the difference in time between producing the first wave front at the transmitter and receiving the first reflected wave front at the first receiver, and producing the second wave front at the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front at the first receiver; and

an interpreter for detecting movements within the input area and mapping the detected movements to control inputs to the computer which include cursor movement on a computer monitor.

13. The computer of claim 12 further comprising a computer monitor screen having a cursor thereon, said input device for controlling the marking areas on the computer monitor screen.

14. The computer of claim 13 further comprising a keyboard communicatively coupled to said bus, said input device defining an input area adjacent the keyboard.

15. The computer of claim 13 further comprising a keyboard communicatively coupled to said bus, said input device defining an input area proximate the keys of the keyboard.

16. The computer of claim 12 further comprising a keyboard communicatively coupled to said bus, said input device attached to the keyboard and defining an input area proximate the keyboard.

18. The method for inputting data of claim 16 wherein the defined input space is adjacent the computer keyboard.

19. The method for inputting data of claim 18 wherein the defined space is over the keys of the computer keyboard.

20. The method for inputting data of claim 18 wherein the defined space is adjacent the short side of the computer keyboard.

21. The method for inputting data of claim 18 further comprising the step of mounting a transducer for detecting movement onto the computer keyboard.

17. A method for inputting data to a computer, said computer including a computer keyboard and a computer monitor, said method comprising the steps of:

defining at least one input space proximate a computer keyboard, the at least one input space having an adjustable boundary and being movable to any desired position proximate the computer keyboard;

providing an input device for the computer, the input device comprising;

a transmitter for producing energy;

a first directional receiver for receiving reflected energy from the input space;

a second directional receiver for receiving reflected energy from the input space;

a clock for determining the difference in time between producing a first amount of energy from the transmitter and receiving the first reflected energy form the transmitter at the first directional receiver and receiving the first reflected energy from the transmitter at the second directional receiver, the clock also determining the difference in time between producing the wave from the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the first directional receiver and receiving the second reflected wave front from the transmitter at the second directional receiver;

a comparator for determining the difference in time between producing the first wave front at the transmitter and receiving the first reflected wave front at the first receiver, and producing the second wave front at the transmitter and receiving the second reflected wave front at the first receiver; and

an interpreter for detecting movements within the selected field and mapping the detected movements to control inputs to a computer which include cursor movement on a computer monitor;

detecting movement within the input space;

mapping particular movements within the space as inputs to the computer; and

mapping particular movements across the boundaries of the input space as inputs to the computer.