Virtual data input device

• US 6,611,252 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pineapple34, LLC
• Original Assignee: TREE Frog Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: DuFaux, Douglas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US09/572,349
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/173, 345/174, 345/169, 345/175, 345/170, 345/172, 341/20-21, 341/22, 341/31, 400/472, 400/479, 250/227.22, 250/221, 250/224, 178/18.01, 178/18.09, 178/19.05
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

A virtual data input device to optically interface with an operator to detect the position of objects within a particular input zone, i.e., an area in which the operator may interact to enter character data into associated computing equipment. Each character data corresponds to a unique arrangement and position of the objects within the input zone, e.g., operator'"'"'s fingers on a virtual keyboard. The input device includes a source of optical sensor light illuminating the input zone with sensor light, which reflects off the operator'"'"'s fingers. The data input device also includes an optical detector to receive the reflected sensor light as a reflected light pattern representing the position of the operator'"'"'s fingers within the input zone. The optical detector converts the reflected light pattern to an electrical signal representing the particular character data. A microprocessor then receives the electrical signal and correlates the electrical signal to character data.

Claims

1. A virtual data input device optically interfacing with an operator to detect the positions of a plurality of objects within an input zone to allow the operator to enter data into associated electronic equipment, wherein each of the positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone corresponds to a unique selection of data to be entered into the electronic equipment, the input device comprising;

a source of optical sensor light illuminating the input zone with sensor light, the sensor light reflecting off the plurality of objects in a direction generally toward the input device;

an optical detector arranged to receive the reflected sensor light as a reflected light pattern representing the positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone, the optical detector converting the reflected light pattern to an electrical signal representing the positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone; and

a microprocessor that receives the electrical signal from the optical detector and is programmed to correlate the electrical signal to the unique selection of data based on the positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone.

2. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the selection of data comprises character data.

3. The virtual data input device of claim 2 further comprising an image generator that projects an optical image of an input device having discrete sub-images at unique positions within the optical image that represent different character data that may be selected for input into the electronic equipment, and wherein each discrete sub-image is selected based upon a unique combination of positions of the plurality of the objects within the input zone.

4. The virtual data input device of claim 3 wherein the image generator comprises a light generator positioned to emit visible light and a deflective optical element designed to form the optical image.

5. The virtual data input device of claim 4 wherein the deflective optical element comprises a stencil designed to allow light to pass through portions of the stencil and wherein the light generator is positioned to emit visible light through the portions of the stencil such that the light passed through the stencil forms the optical image.

6. The virtual data input device of claim 5 wherein the light generator emits visible light having a wavelength sufficiently different than the wavelength of the light emitted by the source of optical sensor light.

7. The virtual data input device of claim 3 wherein the optical image represents a keyboard.

8. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the source of optical sensor light is ambient light surrounding the operator.

9. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the source of optical sensor light comprises a light emitting device adapted to emit light in a direction toward the objects sufficiently diverged to cover the input zone.

10. The virtual data input device of claim 1 further comprising a collecting lens adapted to collect the reflected sensor light to form substantially parallel beams of light that may be detected by the optical detector.

11. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the source of optical sensor light illuminates the input zone with light having a predetermined wavelength and wherein the optical detector is adapted to receive only light having the predetermined wavelength.

12. The virtual data input device of claim 11 wherein the source of optical sensor light illuminates the input zone with light outside of the visible spectrum.

13. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor executes an algorithm to determine which of the character data is selected.

14. The virtual data input device of claim 13 wherein the microprocessor compares the received electrical signal to a stored database of character data signals to correlate the received electrical signal to the selected character data.

15. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the one or more objects comprise one or more fingers of an operator of the device.

16. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the source of optical sensor light illuminates the input zone with light outside of the visible spectrum.

27. The virtual data input device of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to allow the operator to establish a reference position within the input zone for the initial position of the plurality of objects and to then correlate the electrical signal to the unique selection of data with respect to the reference position.

17. A method of detecting positions of a plurality of objects within an input zone to allow an operator to enter data into electronic equipment, the data corresponding to unique positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a reference position to associate an initial position of the objects within the input zone;

associating a plurality of positions of the objects within the input zone to unique data;

providing a source of optical sensor light;

illuminating the input zone with the source of optical sensor light such that the sensor light reflects off the objects;

receiving the reflected sensor light as a reflected light pattern representing the positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone;

converting the reflected light pattern to an electrical signal;

correlating the electrical signal to the unique selection of data based on the positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone; and

inputting the selected data into the electronic equipment.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the selection of data comprises character data.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of projecting an optical image within the input zone having discrete sub-images at unique positions within the optical image that represent different character data that may be selected for input into the electronic equipment, and wherein each discrete sub-image is selected based upon unique positions of the plurality of objects within the input zone.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the optical image is projected by allowing light to pass through portions of a deflective optical element.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the projected optical image represents a keyboard.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of providing a source of optical sensor light comprises the step of using ambient light surrounding the operator.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of providing a source of optical sensor light comprises the step of emitting light in a direction toward the objects sufficiently diverged to cover the input zone.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of illuminating the input zone with the source of optical sensor light comprises the step of illuminating the input zone with light having a predetermined wavelength and wherein the step of receiving the reflected light comprises the step of receiving only light having the predetermined wavelength.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of correlating the electrical signal to the unique selection of character data comprises the step of comparing the received electrical signal to a stored database of character data signals to correlate the received electrical signal to the selected character data.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein the objects within the input zone comprises one or more fingers of an operator.