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AssigneeVKB Inc.
InventorsKlony Lieberman, Yuval Sharon, Eyal Naimi, Yaniv Maor, Mattan Tsachi, Amiram Levy, Boas Arnon, Amichai Turm
Estimating the term…
A data input device and method including an illuminator (106) operative to illuminate at least one engagement plane (102) by directing light along the at least one engagement plane, a two-dimensional imaging sensor (112) viewing the at least one engagement plane from a location outside the at least one engagement plane for sensing light from the illuminator (106) scattered by engagement of a data entry object (110) with the at least one engagement plane and a data entry processor receiving an output from the two-dimensional imaging sensor (112) and providing a data input to utilization circuitry.
A data input device comprising:
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said illuminator comprises:
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said two-dimensional imaging sensor comprises a solid state imaging sensor.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said two-dimensional imaging sensor is located on the opposite side of a transparent engagement surface from said at least one engagement plane, whereby the presence of said data entry object at said at least one engagement plane causes light from said illuminator to be scattered and to pass through said transparent engagement surface so as to be detected by said two-dimensional imaging sensor.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein a transparent engagement surface is coextensive with said at least one engagement plane, whereby touching engagement of said data entry object with said transparent engagement surface causes light from said illuminator to be scattered and to pass through said transparent engagement surface so as to be detected by said two-dimensional imaging sensor.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein:
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said illuminator provides a non-uniform intensity distribution.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and also comprising a data entry object speed sensor operative to sense the speed with which said data entry object approaches said engagement plane.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claim and wherein said illuminator directs light, Which is emitted from a point source through a large solid angle into a flat radially directed beam extending along said engagement plane, said beam having a relatively narrow spread in a direction perpendicular to said engagement plane.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said two-dimensional imaging sensor comprises an angle-compensated interference filter.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said data entry processor is operative to map locations on said two-dimensional image sensor to data entry functions.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said data entry processor comprises the following functionality:
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said data entry processor is operative to determine the “center of gravity” of pixel values of pixels in said two-dimensional image sensor.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said data entry processor comprises the following functionality:
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and also comprising a digital signature generator receiving an input from said data entry processor including intensity, position and timing outputs and employs said outputs to provide a digital signature.
A data input device comprising:
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein at least said engagement plane is associated with a pull-down tray in a vehicle.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims 171 and wherein at least said two-dimensional detector and illuminator are associated with a camera.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein at least said engagement plane is associated with a game board.
A data input device according to any of the preceding claims and wherein at least said engagement plane is associated with a musical instrument.
An angle-compensated interference filter comprising a plurality, of thin films, each being of non-uniform thickness, formed onto a dome shaped transparent substrate having an axis of :symmetry, wherein said plurality of thin films have a thickness which is selected to vary such that the thickness of the plurality of thin films traversed by light beams impinging onto a given point located along said axis of symmetry is generally identical irrespective of the angular relationship between the light beam and the axis of symmetry.
A data input method comprising:
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-103 and wherein said illuminating employs an illuminator light-source and a spatial light modulation element operative to receive light from said illuminator light source and to direct light along said at least one engagement plane.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-110 and wherein said processing correlates said output from said two-dimensional imaging sensor with said at least one visually sensible data entry matrix.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-110 and wherein said projecting employs a diffractive optical element which receives light from a diode laser via a collimating lens.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-113 and wherein said projecting employs an integrally formed beam splitter and diffractive optical elements.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-117 and wherein said projecting employs a plurality of different diffractive optical elements, each of which typically corresponds to a different matrix configuration, which are selectably positionable along a projection light path.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-118 and wherein said projecting employs a diffractive optical element having a multiplicity of diffraction orders selected to provide a matrix configuration which has a relatively low maximum diffraction angle.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-118 and wherein said projecting employs a diffractive optical element having a multiplicity of diffraction orders selected to provide a keyboard configuration which has a generally trapezoidal configuration.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-120 and wherein said projecting employs a diffractive optical element having, a multiplicity of diffraction orders selected to compensate for geometrical distortions inherent in the operation of said diffractive optical element, particularly at high diffraction angles.
A data input method according to any of claims 908-121 and wherein and projecting employs a diffractive optical element having a multiplicity of diffraction orders selected to compensate for geometrical distortions occasioned by a highly oblique angle of projection.
A data input method according to any of claims 98-122 and wherein in aid projecting light from a pair of point light sources is combined by beam combiner, such that two light beams emerge from said beam combiner and appear to originate in a single virtual light source positioned behind said beam combiner.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-127 and wherein said two-dimensional imaging sensor is located on the opposite side of a transparent engagement surface from said at least one engagement plane, whereby the presence of said data entry object at said at least one engagement plane causes light from said illuminator to be scattered and to pass through said transparent engagement surface so as to be detected by said two-dimensional imaging sensor.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-128 and wherein a transparent engagement surface is coextensive with said at least one engagement plane, whereby touching engagement of said data entry object with said transparent engagement surface causes light from said illuminator to be scattered and to pass through said transparent engagement surface so as to be detected by said two-dimensional imaging sensor.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-130 and wherein:
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-131 and wherein said illuminating provides a non-uniform intensity distribution.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-133 and also comprising sensing the speed with which said data entry object approaches said engagement plane.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-136 and wherein said illuminating directs light, which is emitted from a point source through a large solid angle, into a flat radially directed beam extending along said engagement plane, said beam having a relatively narrow spread in a direction perpendicular to said engagement plane.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-139 and wherein said two-dimensional imaging sensor comprises an angle-compensated interference filter.
A data input method according to any of claims 138-143 and wherein said dome shaped transparent substrate is configured such that uniform evaporation of film material thereonto from a location spaced therefrom produces said plurality of thin films each being of non-uniform thickness which is selected to vary such that the thickness of the plurality of thin films traversed by light beams impinging onto a given point located along said axis of symmetry is generally identical irrespective of the angular relationship between the light beam and the axis of symmetry.
A data input method according to any of the preceding-claims 97-144 and wherein said processing is operative to map locations on said two-dimensional image sensor to data entry functions.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-146 and wherein said processing comprises the following:
A data input method according to any of claims 143-149 and wherein said pixel total is maintained for each keystroke region in a keystroke region accumulator table.
A data input method according to any of claims 143-150 and wherein said company employs a keystroke region threshold table.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 143-152 and wherein said pixel function comprises adding the pixel values of a plurality of pixels in said keystroke region.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 143-152 and wherein said pixel function comprises adding the pixel values of said plurality of pixels in said keystroke region and subtracting therefrom pixel values of a plurality of pixels in a keystroke region border outside said keystroke region.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 143-152 and wherein said pixel function comprises adding the pixel values of said plurality of pixels in said keystroke region, ignoring the pixel values of a plurality of pixels in a first keystroke region border outside said keystroke region and subtracting pixel values of a plurality of pixels in a second keystroke region border, outside said first keystroke region border.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-155 and wherein said processing is operative to determine the “center of gravity” of pixel values of pixels in said two-dimensional image sensor.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-156 and wherein said processing comprises the following:
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-163 and also comprising a digital signature generator receiving an input from said data entry processor including intensity, position and timing outputs and employs said outputs to provide a digital signature.
A data input method comprising:
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 161-167 and wherein said data entry processor comprises the following:
A data input method according to any of claims 164-170 and wherein said comparing employs a keystroke region threshold table.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-171 and wherein at least said engagement plane is associated with a pull-down tray in a vehicle.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-171 and wherein said receiving and processing are associated with a camera.
A data input method according to any of the preceding claims 97-171 and wherein said receiving and processing are associated with a home entertainment system.
A method for filtering light comprising employing an angle-compensated interference filter comprising employing a plurality of thin films, each being of non-uniform thickness, formed onto a dome shaped transparent substrate having an axis of symmetry, wherein said plurality of thin films have a thickness which is selected to vary such that the thickness of the plurality of thin films traversed by light beams impinging onto a given point located along said axis of symmetry is generally identical irrespective of the angular relationship between the light beam and the axis of symmetry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.