Infrared based computer input devices including keyboards and touch pads

An infrared based touch pad for cursor movement and selection control on a computer display, comprising:

• a base connectable to a computer terminal for inputting commands to said computer terminal, said base including a unilocular area on a surface accessable by a finger of a computer operator;
• a plurality of light transmitters and light sensors positioned about the periphery of said unilocular area for sensing the presence, absence, position and movement of a finger of a computer operator in said unilocular area;
• means connected to said plurality of light transmitters and light sensors for determining a position of a finger of a computer operator within said unilocular area and a direction of movement of said finger of said computer operator within said unilocular area;
• means for sending data signals from said base to a computer terminal which direct position and movement of a cursor on said computer terminal and are indicative of a position of a finger of a computer operator within said unilocular area and a direction of movement of said finger of said computer operator within said unilocular area;
• and
• input means, separate from said unilocular area, positioned on a surface of said base for entering selection commands on said computer terminal based on said position of said cursor on said computer terminal.

An infrared based touch pad for cursor and selection control on computer display, comprising:

• a base connectable to a computer terminal, said computer terminal presenting one or more data keys, said base including a unilocular area on a surface accessable by a finger of a computer operator;
• a plurality of light transmitters and light sensors positioned about the periphery of said unilocular area for sensing the presence, absence, and position and movement of a finger of a computer operator in said unilocular area;
• means, connected to said plurality of light transmitters and sensors for determining the presence, absence, and position and movement of a finger of a computer operator in said unilocular area;
• and
• means for sending data signals from said base to a computer terminal which are indicative of
• i) a position of a finger of a computer operator within said unilocular area, and
• ii) a selection of a data key of said one or more data keys made by withdrawing said finger of said computer operator from said unilocular area when said cursor is on said data key on said computer terminal.

An infrared based computer input device, comprising:

• a base connectable to a computer terminal for inputting commands to said computer terminal, said base including a unilocular area on a surface accessable by a finger of a computer operator;
• a plurality of light transmitters and light sensors positioned about the periphery of said unilocular area for sensing the presence, absence, and position of a finger of a computer operator in said unilocular area wherein the number of light transmitters relative to light sensors is less and at least one light transmitter is paired to emit light to two or more light sensors;
• and
• means for sending data signals from said base to a computer terminal which direct movement of a cursor on said computer terminal and control selections made on said computer terminal.