Input devices operable by reflected light
OwnerYong Yaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical input apparatus including light sources, light receiving areas, and processing circuits. The light from the sources can be reflected by fingers into the receiving areas where the incident light can trigger electrical signals. The processing circuits can process the signals and transmit corresponding data entry or pointing information to host computer or other electronic systems. The light receiving areas can be arranged and assigned functions to perform keyboard and mouse functions. Additional touch/pressure-triggered switch can be included to assist selection of keys. This invention enables fast and touchless operation of keyboard and mouse that avoid repetitive strain injuries and pains. It also enables fast and more convenient use of small size keyboard.
Claims18
An input apparatus to computers and other electronic systems, comprising:
- (a) distributed light sensitive areas that will generate electrical signals upon local light incident of certain wave lengths;
- (c) light emitting areas from which said light can be reflected by a reflector of a finger or pen style stick into said light sensitive areas and generate said signals.(b) circuits that processes said signals and transmit data entry or pointing information to said host computers or electronic systems;
A method for entering information into a computer and other electronic systems, comprising the means of:
- (a) providing distributed light sensitive areas that will generate electrical signals upon local light incident of certain wave lengths;
- (b) providing light of said wave length that can be reflected by a reflector of a finger or other pen style stick into said light sensitive areas to generate said signals;
- (c) providing circuits that process said signals, and transmit corresponding data entry or pointing information to said host computer or other electronic systems.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.