Computer input system and method of using same

Claim 2

An interactive optical input system for position control of equipment produced images, said equipment produced images including information images, comprising: visualization projection means for causing an equipment produced image to be projected onto a remote viewing surface; means for generating a position control image upon said surface; light sensing means for scanning the equipment produced image and the position control image on the remote viewing surface, said light sensing means including means for determining light sensing coordinate values for said position control image; means for storing predetermined reference coordinate values; signal processing means responsive to the predetermined reference coordinate values and to the determined light sensing coordinate values for the position control image for converting the light sensing coordinate values for said position control image to equipment coordinate values; means responsive to said equipment coordinate values of the position control image for generating a signal indicative of a positioning control command when said position control image is sequenced on and off; and whereby the command and the location of the position control image relative to said information image causes the equipment produced images to be modified.

Claim 3

An interactive optical input system according to claim 1, wherein the information images include menu images, wherein said signal is further indicative of a positioning point command when said position control image is sequenced on and off, and whereby the command and the location of the position control image relative to said menu images causes the equipment produced images to be modified.

Claim 4

An interactive optical input system according to claim 1, wherein the information images include button images, wherein said signal is further indicative of a positioning click command when said position control image is sequenced on and off, and whereby the command and the location of the position control image relative to said button images causes the equipment produced images to be modified.

Claim 5

An interactive optical input system according to claim 1 wherein said signal is further indicative of a positioning drag command when said position control image is sequenced on and off and whereby the command and the location of the position control image relative to the equipment produced image causes the information image to be displayed at the location of the position control image.

Claim 6

An interactive optical input system according to claim 1, further including: means for determining the corners of the equipment produced image; and means responsive to said corner determining means for modifying the equipment produced image.

Claim 7

An input system according to claim 5 wherein the visualization projection means includes a computer means for generating the equipment produced image and wherein the modifying means includes another computer means for facilitating the modification of the equipment produced image.

Claim 8

An input system according to claim 5 wherein the visualization projection means further includes a liquid crystal display means for generating the equipment generated image to be projected.

Claim 9

An input system according to claim 5 wherein said position control image generating means includes a wand means for generating a beam of light to produce the position control image on said surface.

Claim 10

An input system according to claim 5 wherein the light sensing means is a charge coupled device.

Claim 11

An input system according to claim 5 wherein the modifying means modifies the equipment produced image to provide selective ones of POINT, CLICK and DRAG subroutines.

Claim 12

An input system according to claim 1, further including: means for determining if the position control image has been detected within a particular time, and means responsive to said determining means for calibrating the operation of the light sensing means in sensing the position control image if the position control image has not been detected within the particular time.

Claim 13

An input system according to claim 11, further including: means for providing a reference level for distinguishing the position control image from the equipment produced image, the reference level means being responsive to the determinations from the calibrating means for adjusting the reference level if the position control image has not been detected within the particular time.

Claim 14

An input system according to claim 12 wherein the position control image determining means provides a raster scan in a plurality of successive horizontal lines and wherein the reference level means includes a means for initially providing a maximum level, then for providing a first particular level indicating the detection of light by the light sensing means, then for providing a second particular level indicating the detection of light in each of the successive horizontal lines and then for providing the reference level at a particular value between the first and second particular levels.

Claim 15

An input system according to claim 11, further including means for determining the extremities of the equipment produced image to facilitate the conversion of the light sensing coordinate values to equipment coordinate values.

Claim 16

An interactive optical input system according to claim 1, further including: means operatively coupled to the light sensing means for distinguishing the position control image from the equipment produced image means for determining the coordinates of the boundaries of the equipment produced image sensed by the light sensing means and means for converting the coordinates of the position control image in accordance with the coordinates of the boundaries of the equipment produced image.

Claim 17

An input system according to claim 15, further including means responsive to the coordinates from the boundary determining means and the position control image converting means for modifying the equipment produced image.

Claim 18

An input system according to claim 16, wherein the equipment produced image modifying means is operative to modify the equipment produced image to provide selective ones of POINT, CLICK and DRAG subroutines.

Claim 19

An input system according to claim 15, wherein the equipment produced image modifying means is operatively coupled to the distinguishing means for preventing other data from being converted by said position control image converting means when the light sensing coordinate values determining means determines the coordinates of the position control image distinguished by the distinguishing means.

Claim 20

An interactive optical input system according to claim 1, further including: means for distinguishing the position control image from the equipment produced image means for determining the coordinates of the extremities of the equipment produced image; and means responsive to the coordinates of the extremities for modifying the equipment produced image.

Claim 21

An input system according to claim 19, wherein the modifying means is operative to modify the equipment produced image in accordance with selective ones of POINT, CLICK and DRAG subroutines.

Claim 22

An input system according to claim 19, further including means for calibrating the operation of the distinguishing means when the distinguishing means does not distinguish the position control image from the equipment produced image within a particular period of time.

Claim 23

An input system according to claim 19, further including means for preventing the extremity determining means from determining the coordinates of the extremities again, and for preventing the modifying means from modifying the equipment produced image in response to the position control image.

Claim 24

An input system according to claim 19, further including means for verifying the coordinates of the extremities in accordance with the provision of the position control image at the extremities of the equipment produced image.

Claim 25

An input system according to claim 5, wherein said position control image generating means includes means for providing the position control image on the surface.

Claim 26

An input system according to claim 11, wherein said position control image generating means includes means for providing the position control image on the surface.

Claim 27

An input system according to claim 15, wherein said position control image generating means includes means for providing the position control image on the surface.

Claim 28

An input system according to claim 19, wherein said position control image generating means includes means for providing the position control image on the surface.

Claim 31

A method according to claim 28, wherein the information images include menu images and said signal is further indicative of a positioning point command when said position control image is sequenced on and off, the method further including causing the equipment produced images to be modified in response to the positioning point command and the location of the position control image relative to said menu images.

Claim 32

A method according to claim 28, wherein the information images include button images and said signal is further indicative of a positioning click command when said position control image is sequenced on and off, the method further including causing the equipment produced images to be modified in response to the positioning click command and the location of the position control image relative to said button images.

Claim 33

A method according to claim 28, wherein said signal is further indicative of a positioning drag command when said position control image is sequenced on and off, the method further including causing an information image to be displayed at the location of the control image in response to the positioning drag command and the location of the position control image.

Claim 34

A computer input system, comprising: visual image projection means for causing a displayed calibration image to be projected onto a remote viewing surface, said calibration image including at least one high intensity reference area; light sensing means for scanning the calibration image on the remote viewing surface and for determining light sensing coordinate values for said high intensity reference area; means for converting the light sensing coordinate values for said high intensity reference area to equipment coordinate values for said high intensity reference area; means for calculating scaling factors based on the light sensing coordinate values of the high intensity reference area with prestored reference coordinate values for said high intensity reference area; means for storing said scaling factors; and means responsive to the stored scaling factors for converting subsequently determined light sensing coordinate values to equipment coordinate values for said high intensity reference area during normal operation of the system.

Claim 35

A computer input system, comprising: visual image projection means for causing a displayed calibration image to be projected onto a remote viewing surface, said calibration image including at least one high intensity reference area; light sensing means for scanning the calibration image on the remote viewing surface and for determining light sensing coordinate values for said high intensity reference area; means for converting the light sensing coordinate values for said high intensity reference area to equipment coordinate values for said high intensity reference area; means for calculating scaling factors based on the light sensing coordinate values of the high intensity reference area with prestored reference coordinate values for said high intensity reference area; means for storing said scaling factors; and means responsive to the stored scaling factors for converting subsequently determined light sensing coordinate values to equipment coordinate values for said high intensity reference area during normal operation of the system.

Claim 36

A computer input system according to claim 32, wherein said visual image projection means includes display means.

Claim 37

A computer input system according to claim 33, wherein said visual image projection means further includes projection means for projecting the calibration image onto said remote viewing surface.

Claim 38

A computer input system according to claim 32, wherein said light sensing means is charge couple means.

Claim 39

An input system according to claim 32, wherein said light sensing means is charge couple means for generating a video signal indicative of the presence of said calibration image; said charge couple means including signal level means for controlling generating a detection signal in response to said calibration image only; and timing means for generating synchronizing signals to synchronize the detection signal with a series of recurring video signals for helping to calibrate the system.

Claim 40

A computer input system according to claim 35, wherein said charge couple means is a charge couple device.

Claim 41

A computer input system according to claim 32, further including: image projecting equipment; wherein said calibration image is defined by a plurality of X, Y equipment coordinate values; said light sensing means including scanning means for generating a video signal including a horizontal scan line signal and a vertical scan line signal for helping to define a detected image defined by a plurality of x, y light sensing coordinate values; said X, Y equipment coordinate values and said x, y light sensing coordinate values having substantially different values from one another; signal processing means responsive to said video signal for generating data signals to be supplied to the equipment; calibrating means for determining whether said signal processing means has been calibrated to generate as part of said data signals an equipment coordinate signal indicative of the X, Y equipment coordinate values of at least a portion of the calibration image generated by the equipment; said calibrating means generating a calibration signal when it determines that said signal processing means has not been calibrated; visual image corner intensification means for causing the luminance level to be intensified at each corner coordinate of the calibration image to a sufficient luminance level relative to the remaining portion of the calibration image so that only the luminance level of each respective corner of the calibration image is sufficient for causing said signal processing means to store x, y light sensing coordinate values for each one of the detected corner coordinates of the calibrated image; wherein said means for calculating scaling factors is responsive to said stored x, y light sensing coordinate values and to said calibration signal for generating said scaling factors to convert x, y light sensing coordinate values to X, Y equipment coordinate values; means for setting a calibration flag indicative that said scaling factors have been determined; communication means responsive to said calibration flag for enabling said signal processing means to communicate to the computer that the calibration process is completed; whereby the video signals received by said signal processing means, during each time frame interval after calibration process is completed, are scaled to X, Y equipment coordinate values and communicated to the equipment for visual image changing purposes.

Claim 42

A computer input system according to claim 38, further comprising: signal conversion means responsive to said video signal for generating a reference signal, said signal conversion means being coupled to an adjustable reference voltage for causing said reference signal to be adjustable between a maximum value and a minimum value for calibrating purposes; initialization means responsive to the equipment for generating a vertical retrace synchronizing flag signal for enabling said signal processing means to synchronize its operation during the occurrence of each vertical blanking interval associated with the calibration image; comparator means responsive to said video signal and said reference signal for supplying an electrical signal to said signal processing means to facilitate the discrimination of said calibration image from background light; position detector means responsive to said calibration signal and to said vertical retrace synchronizing flag signal for determining whether or not said electrical signal has been received by said signal processing means during any frame period between vertical blanking intervals, said electrical signal being indicative of the detection of light by said light sensing means; detection adjustment means for generating an adjustment signal when it determines that said signal processing means has not received said electrical signal; reference voltage adjustment means responsive to said adjustment signal to cause the adjustable reference voltage to be decreased a sufficient amount to enable said signal processing means to just detect light reflecting from said remote viewing surface; said reference voltage adjustment means further including determination means for generating a saturation signal when a determination is made that said electrical signal is received by said signal processing means on every horizontal scan line of said light sensing means; said saturation signal being indicative that the reference level voltage established by said reference voltage adjustment means is so low that all ambient light and all image light from the displayed visual image generated by the computer is detected for processing by said signal processing means; said reference voltage adjustment means includes means for storing an initial reference voltage level signal indicative of that reference voltage level which is sufficient to enable said signal processing means to just process light reflecting from said remote viewing surface; said reference voltage adjustment means further including means for storing a saturation reference voltage level signal indicative of that reference voltage level which is sufficient to enable said signal processing means to process light on every generated horizontal scan line of said light sensing means; said reference voltage adjustment means further responsive to said saturation signal to cause the adjustable reference voltage to be decreased a sufficient amount to enable said signal processing means to process said electrical signal on every horizontal scan line of said light sensing means; reference means responsive to said means for storing an initial reference voltage signal and to said means for storing a saturation voltage level signal for generating a detection signal indicative of a reference voltage level midway between said initial reference voltage signal and said saturation voltage level signal; said detection signal having a value dependent upon ambient lighting conditions, projector lamp voltage, and light dispersion due to the distance between said light sensing means and the remote viewing surface; said visual image projection means including auxiliary light generating means for causing said high intensity reference area to be superimposed on the calibration image generated by the equipment; threshold means for causing said reference voltage adjustment means to generate a threshold voltage level signal indicative of a reference voltage value for enabling the signal processing unit to detect only light generated by said auxiliary light generating means; and wherein said auxiliary light generating means is incandescent light generating means or infrared light generating means.

Claim 43

An input system according to claim 38, wherein said calibrating means comprises: position detection means for establishing a horizontal position signal indicative of the width of the detected calibration image; microprocessor means for establishing a vertical position signal indicative of the height of the detected calibration image and for scaling said horizontal position signal and said vertical position signal into a surface coordinate signal; and said microprocessor means being electrically coupled to the equipment for permitting said microprocessor means to transfer said surface coordinate signal to the equipment.

Claim 44

An input system according to claim 40, wherein said position detecting means comprises: horizontal counter means coupled to said timing generator for developing a horizontal coordinate reference data signal indicative of a pixel location of the detected calibration image; and latching means for storing the horizontal position of the beginning of the detected calibration image in a given scan line and the horizontal position of the end of the detected calibration image in the same scan line.

Claim 45

An input system according to claim 39, wherein said auxiliary light generating means is a light emitting diode.

Claim 46

An input system according to claim 39, wherein said auxiliary light generating means is a laser pointer.

Claim 47

A input system according to claim 35, wherein said light sensing means is television camera means.

Claim 48

An optical input system according to claim 32, wherein said visual image projection means includes information projection means for projecting visual images onto the remote viewing surface, said visual images indicative of equipment information; wherein said light sensing means generates an electrical signal indicative of equipment information; signal conversion means responsive to said electrical signal for generating an information signal, said signal conversion means being coupled to a reference voltage for signal control purposes; signal processing means coupled to said information signal for generating data control signals to be supplied to equipment to change the equipment information; calibration means for determining whether said signal conversion means has been calibrated for system lighting conditions, said system lighting conditions including variable ambient lighting conditions, distance variables between said information projection means and the remote viewing surface, and variable background lighting conditions for the information projection means; said calibration means generating a calibration signal when it determines that said signal conversion means has not been calibrated; reference voltage adjustment means responsive to said calibration signal for automatically adjusting the potential level of said reference voltage for system lighting conditions so that information signals generated by said signal conversion means corresponds substantially to the equipment information supplied by the equipment; means responsive to said reference voltage adjustment means for setting a calibration flag indicative that said signal conversion means has been calibrated; and communication means responsive to said calibration flag for enabling said signal processing means to communicate said data control signals to said computer.

Claim 49

A computer input system according to claim 32, further including: means for determining the coordinates of the extremities of the calibration image; and means for verifying the coordinates of the extremities in accordance with the provision of the high intensity reference area at the extremities.

Claim 50

An input system according to claim 46, wherein the calculating means is responsive to the coordinates of the extremities determined by the determining means for converting the light sensing coordinate values to equipment coordinate values.

Claim 51

An input system according to claim 46, further including: means for providing a reference to help distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image, means for distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image in accordance with such reference, and means for adjusting the reference when the distinguishing means fails to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image within a particular period of time.

Claim 52

An input system according to claim 48, wherein said visual image projection means further includes means for displaying an equipment produced image on said surface, the system further including means for modifying the equipment produced image in accordance with the scaling factors.

Claim 53

A computer input system according to claim 32, further including: means for providing a reference for distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image; means for distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image; and means for recalibrating the reference if the high intensity reference area is not distinguished from the calibration image within a particular time period.

Claim 54

An input system according to claim 49, wherein the reference constitutes a first particular reference and wherein the determining means provides a scan in a plurality of horizontal lines progressively displaced in a vertical direction and wherein the reference providing means includes means for determining a second particular level at which the light sensing means just senses light from the high intensity reference area and the calibration image, the determining means includes means for determining a third particular level at which the light sensing means senses light in every horizontal line in the scan, and wherein the reference providing means includes means for providing the first particular reference at a particular value between the second and third particular levels.

Claim 55

An input system according to claim 50, further including means for determining the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image, and means for converting the high intensity reference area coordinates in accordance with the calibration boundary coordinates.

Claim 56

An input system according to claim 51, further including means for determining the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image, means for converting the high intensity reference area coordinates in accordance with the calibration image coordinates, and means for modifying the equipment produced image in accordance with the converted coordinates provided by the converting means.

Claim 57

A computer input system according to claim 32, further including: means for distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image, means for determining the coordinates of the extremities of the calibration image, said light sensing coordinate converting means including means for converting the high intensity reference area coordinates in accordance with the coordinates of the calibration image extremities; and means for inhibiting the converting of the high intensity reference area coordinates.

Claim 58

An input system according to claim 54, wherein said visual image projection means includes means for displaying an equipment produced image on said surface, the system further including means for receiving the converted coordinates of the high intensity reference area and for modifying the equipment produced image in accordance with such converted coordinates.

Claim 59

An input system according to claim 54, further including means for storing the determinations by the light sensing means of the coordinates of the high intensity reference area, and means for clearing the determination storing means of any storage of coordinates upon the reception by the receiving means of the converted coordinates of the high intensity reference area.

Claim 60

An input system according to claim 54, further including means for providing a reference level for distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image, the light sensing means being operative to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image in accordance with the reference level, and means for recalibrating the reference level when the distinguishing means fails to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image within a particular time interval.

Claim 61

An input system according to claim 56, further including means for providing a first reference level above which light reflected from the surface is not sensed by the light sensing means and at which light is initially sensed by the light sensing means, the light sensing means being operative to sense the calibration image and the high intensity reference area on consecutive lines, means for scanning in the successive horizontal lines the calibration image and the high intensity reference area, means for providing a second reference level at which light is detected in every horizontal line by the light sensing means, means for providing a third reference level at a particular value between the first and second reference levels, the distinguishing means being operative to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image in accordance with the third reference level.

Claim 62

An input system according to claim 58, further including means for obtaining an operation of the first reference level means in providing the first reference level, the said reference level means in providing the second reference level and the third reference level means in providing the third reference level when the distinguishing means fails to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image within a particular time.

Claim 63

An input system according to claim 46, wherein said visual image projection means includes means for providing the high intensity reference area on the surface.

Claim 64

An input system according to claim 50, wherein said visual image projection means includes means for providing the high intensity reference area on the surface.

Claim 65

An input system according to claim 54, wherein said visual image projection means includes means for providing the high intensity reference area on the surface.

Claim 66

An input system according to claim 32, further comprising: light generating means for generating said high intensity reference area to illuminate a portion of said calibration image.

Claim 67

An input system according to claim 63, wherein said light sensing means is charge couple means for generating a video signal indicative of the presence of said high intensity reference area on the calibration image; said charge couple means including signal level means for controlling generating a detection signal in response to said high intensity reference area only; and timing means for generating synchronizing signals to synchronize the detection signal with a series of recurring video signals for helping to produce the calibration image.

Claim 68

An input system according to claim 63, further including video signal generating equipment to generate the calibration image, wherein said visual image projection means includes display means, said display means being electrically coupled to the video signal generating equipment for displaying the calibration image, said calibration image being produced by the video signal generating equipment.

Claim 69

A computer input system according to claim 65, wherein said display means is liquid crystal display means.

Claim 70

A computer input system according to claim 66, wherein said liquid crystal display means is a liquid crystal display panel.

Claim 71

A computer input system according to claim 65, wherein said display means is a video monitor.

Claim 72

An input system according to claim 65, wherein said visual image projection means further includes projection means for projecting the calibration image onto said viewing surface.

Claim 73

A computer input system according to claim 69, wherein said projection means is an overhead projector.

Claim 74

An input system according to claim 63, wherein said light generating means is infrared light generating means.

Claim 75

A computer input system according to claim 65, wherein said charge couple means is a charge couple device.

Claim 76

An input system according to claim 65, wherein said timing means includes: a timing generator for producing said synchronizing signals; a resonator for producing clock signals having a predetermined time interval; and a high voltage drive electronic unit coupled to said timing generator for producing high voltage timing signals to drive said charge couple means.

Claim 77

An input system according to claim 73, wherein said predetermined time interval can be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the voltage level of said video signal; and wherein said charge couple means includes a video amplifier for generating said video signal.

Claim 78

An input system according to claim 74, wherein said means for converting includes: position detecting means for establishing a horizontal position signal indicative of the width of the detected control image; microprocessor means for establishing a vertical position signal indicative of the height of the detected control image and for scaling said horizontal position signal and said vertical position signal into a surface coordinate signal; and said microprocessor means being electrically coupled to the video signal generating equipment for permitting said microprocessor means to transfer said surface coordinate signal to said video generating equipment.

Claim 79

An input system according to claim 63, wherein said light generating means is a light emitting diode.

Claim 80

An input system according to claim 63, wherein said light generating means is a laser pointer.

Claim 81

An input system according to claim 75, wherein said position detecting means comprises: horizontal counter means coupled to said timing generator for developing a horizontal coordinate reference data signal indicative of a pixel location of the detected control image; and latching means for storing the horizontal position of the beginning of the detected control image in a given scan line and the horizontal position of the end of the detected control image in the same given scan line.

Claim 84

A method according to claim 79, further including: using an information projection means to project a visual image onto the remote viewing surface; generating an electrical signal in response to the projected visual image indicative of equipment information; using signal conversion means for generating an information signal, said signal conversion means being coupled to a reference voltage for signal control purposes; generating data control signals to be supplied to equipment to change the equipment information; determining whether said signal conversion means has been calibrated for system lighting conditions, said system lighting conditions including variable ambient lighting conditions, distance variables between the information projection means and the remote viewing surface, and variable background lighting conditions for the information projection means; responding to said calibration signal for automatically adjusting the potential level of said reference voltage for system lighting condition so that the information signal generated by said signal conversion means corresponds substantially to the equipment information supplied by the equipment; setting a calibration flag indicative that said signal conversion means has been calibrated; and responding to said calibration flag for enabling said signal processing means to communicate said data control signals to said computer.

Claim 85

A method according to claim 79, further including: sensing the calibration image and the high intensity reference area; determining the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image; and converting the coordinates of the high intensity reference area to the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image.

Claim 86

A method as set forth in claim 81, further including: displaying an equipment generated image on the surface; and modifying the equipment generated image in accordance with the converted coordinates of the high intensity reference area.

Claim 87

A method as set forth in claim 82, wherein the equipment generated image is modified in accordance with POINT, DRAG and CLICK subroutines.

Claim 88

A method as set forth in claim 81 wherein the high intensity reference area is distinguished from the calibration image after the high intensity reference area and the calibration image have been sensed and before the coordinates of the high intensity reference area are determined.

Claim 89

A method as set forth in claim 84 wherein a reference level is provided to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image within a particular period of time after the calibration image and the high intensity reference area are sensed.

Claim 90

A method as set forth in claim 85 wherein the reference level is recalibrated if the high intensity reference area is not distinguished from the calibration image within the particular period of time after the calibration image and the high intensity reference area are sensed.

Claim 91

A method according to claim 79, further including: sensing the calibration image and the high intensity reference area; providing a reference level to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image; distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image in accordance with the reference level; and recalibrating the reference level if the high intensity reference area is not distinguished from the calibration image within a particular time after the calibration image and the high intensity reference area are sensed.

Claim 92

A method as set forth in claim 87 wherein the calibration image is formed in a plurality of lines in an image sensor, and the reference level is determined by determining a first level at which any light in the image sensor is just able to be sensed and by determining a second level at which light is able to be sensed in each line in the image sensor and by providing the reference level at a particular value between the first and second levels.

Claim 93

A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein the reference level is initially determined before the high intensity reference area is distinguished from the calibration image and wherein the reference level is recalibrated when the high intensity reference area is not distinguished from the calibration image within a particular time after the initial calibration to determine the reference level.

Claim 94

A method as set forth in claim 87 wherein the coordinates of the high intensity reference area are determined and the coordinates of the extremities of the calibration image are determined and an equipment generated image provided on the surface is modified in accordance with the positioning of the high intensity reference area relative to the extremities of the calibration image.

Claim 95

A method as set forth in claim 89 wherein the coordinates of the high intensity reference area are determined and the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image are determined and the coordinates of the high intensity reference area are converted to the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image and an equipment generated image is modified in accordance with the converted coordinates of the high intensity reference area.

Claim 96

A method according to claim 79, further including: sensing the calibration image and the high intensity reference area; determining the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image; providing the high intensity reference area at the corners of the boundaries of the calibration image; and verifying the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image in accordance with the the high intensity reference area at the corners of the boundaries of the calibration image.

Claim 97

A method as set forth in claim 92, further including converting the coordinates of the high intensity reference area in accordance with the determinations of the coordinates of the boundaries of the calibration image.

Claim 98

A method as set forth in claim 92, further including modifying an equipment generated image provided on the surface in accordance with the converted coordinates of the high intensity reference area.

Claim 99

A method as set forth in claim 94 wherein the modification of the equipment generated image provided on the surface include POINT, CLICK and DRAG subroutines.

Claim 100

A method as set forth in claim 92, further including: providing a reference level to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image, and calibrating the reference level if the high intensity reference area is not distinguished from the calibration image within a particular time.

Claim 101

A method according to claim 79, further including: sensing the calibration image and the high intensity reference area; distinguishing the high intensity reference area from the calibration image; determining the coordinates of the corners of the calibration image; determining the coordinates of the high intensity reference area; and using the coordinates determined for the high intensity reference area and the corners of the calibration image to modify an equipment generated image displayed on the surface.

Claim 102

A method as set forth in claim 97, further including disposing the high intensity reference area at the corners of the calibration image and determining the coordinates of the high intensity reference area at such positions to verify the coordinates determined for the corners of the calibration image.

Claim 103

A method as set forth in claim 97, further including: providing a reference level, using the reference level to distinguish the high intensity reference area from the calibration image, and adjusting the reference level if the high intensity reference area is not distinguished from the calibration image within a particular time.

Claim 104

A method as set forth in claim 97, further including inhibiting the conversion of any other coordinates after the high intensity reference area is distinguished from the calibration image and until the equipment generated image is modified.