Optically based machine input control device
OwnerStephen William McCahon, Paul B. Lundquistinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A non-contact optically based apparatus for measuring the motion of a diffusely reflecting surface. The motion measurements and signals derived therefrom are used to provide input control signals to a computer or other electronic control systems requiring a human tactile or other control. The apparatus includes a unique optical sensor which senses both the magnitude and direction of the motion of a surface, relative to the apparatus, by measuring the motion of the pattern generated by illuminating the diffusely reflecting surface with a light source.
Claims40
A device for producing a signal for controlling an apparatus by moving a reflecting surface relative to the device, comprising:
- a light source for illuminating the moving reflecting surface;
- a sensor for receiving from the moving reflecting surface a corresponding moving pattern of light and producing a sensor electrical signal related to the movement of said pattern, said sensor comprising a photo-emf material having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon for detecting electrical current caused by differential emf generated by the motion of said pattern received by said sensor;
- and
- an interface circuit for producing from said sensor electrical signal said control signal to control the apparatus.
A device for producing a signal for controlling an apparatus by moving the device over a diffusely reflecting surface, comprising:
- a case;
- a support member for movably supporting said case on the surface;
- a coherent light source disposed within said case for illuminating the surface;
- and
- a sensor disposed within said case for receiving from said surface, by moving said case thereover, a corresponding moving speckle pattern of light and producing a sensor electrical signal related to said movement of said pattern for controlling the apparatus, said sensor comprising a photo-emf material having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon for detecting electrical current caused by differential emf generated by the motion of said pattern received by said sensors so as to produce said electrical signal.
A device for producing a signal for controlling an apparatus, comprising:
- a case for movably supporting a ball for rotation;
- a coherent light source for illuminating a surface of said ball;
- a sensor for receiving from said surface, by rotating said ball, a corresponding moving speckle pattern of light that has been caused to move by rotation of said ball and producing a sensor electrical signal related to said movement of said pattern for controlling the apparatus, said sensor comprising a photo-emf material having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon for detecting electrical current caused by differential emf generated by the motion of said pattern received by said sensors so as to produce said electrical signal.
A human-machine interface method for controlling an apparatus by moving a hand, comprising:
- moving the hand while illuminating the surface of the hand;
- receiving from the surface of the hand a corresponding changing distribution of irradiance;
- and
- producing a sensor electrical signal related to said changing distribution of irradiance for controlling an apparatus by detecting a differential emf in a material illuminated by said changing distribution of irradiance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.