Patent US5909210A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5909210A
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US
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Keyboard-compatible optical determination of object's position
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1997-03-20
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2017-03-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of determining an object's position and associated apparatus provides positional information in a form that may be conveniently communicated to a computer to calculate the object's position. In a preferred embodiment, representatively incorporated in a computer keyboard, a method of determining an object's position includes forming an optical grid of reflected beacons and detecting an obstruction of the reflected beacons. The preferred embodiment apparatus utilizes a single light source and a single light sensor to detect an object's position in two dimensions.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Knox
- 👤 John R. Masters
- 👤 Kevin F. Clancy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/042; G06F3/0421; G06F3/0423; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A user input subsystem, comprising: a single light source, and a beacon generator which is optically coupled to said light source to generate an oscillating beacon therefrom; an optical train, including a beacon separator which diverts at least a portion of said beacon to thereby separates light from said light source into first and second oscillating beacons, and additional elements which direct said first and second beacons through different axes of a light grid; one or more retroreflectors which retroreflect said first and second beacons; and a sensor which senses retroreflected portions of said first and second beacons; whereby the output of said sensor provides information about the instantaneous position of an obstruction, such as a fingertip, which may be positioned within said light grid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A user input subsystem, comprising: a single light source, and a beacon generator which is optically coupled to said light source to generate an oscillating beacon therefrom; an optical train, including a beacon separator which diverts at least a portion of said beacon to thereby separates light from said light source into first and second oscillating beacons, and additional elements which direct said first and second beacons through different axes of a light grid; one or more retroreflectors which retroreflect said first and second beacons; and a sensor which senses retroreflected portions of said first and second beacons; whereby the output of said sensor provides information about the instantaneous position of an obstruction, such as a fingertip, which may be positioned within said light grid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said optical train includes reflectors made of a reflective angle film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said retroreflectors are made of a micro corner cube film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The subsystem of claim 1, wherein light from said light source passes through a beam splitter, and said sensor is optically coupled to said retroreflectors through said beam splitter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said light source is a diode laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A user input subsystem, comprising: a keyboard; a single light source, and a beacon generator which is optically coupled to said light source to generate an oscillating beacon therefrom; an optical train, including a beacon separator which diverts at least a portion of said beacon to thereby separates light from said light source into first and second oscillating beacons, and additional elements which direct said first and second beacons through different axes of a light grid which is positioned above said keyboard; one or more retroreflectors which retroreflect said first and second beacons; and a sensor which senses retroreflected portions of said first and second beacons; wherein said sensor and the keyboard are both connected to provide output signals indicating user inputs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A user input subsystem, comprising: a keyboard; a single light source, and a beacon generator which is optically coupled to said light source to generate an oscillating beacon therefrom; an optical train, including a beacon separator which diverts at least a portion of said beacon to thereby separates light from said light source into first and second oscillating beacons, and additional elements which direct said first and second beacons through different axes of a light grid which is positioned above said keyboard; one or more retroreflectors which retroreflect said first and second beacons; and a sensor which senses retroreflected portions of said first and second beacons; wherein said sensor and the keyboard are both connected to provide output signals indicating user inputs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subsystem of claim 6, wherein said optical train includes reflectors made of a reflective angle film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subsystem of claim 6, wherein said retroreflectors are made of a micro corner cube film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The subsystem of claim 6, wherein light from said light source passes through a beam splitter, and said sensor is optically coupled to said retroreflectors through said beam splitter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subsystem of claim 6, wherein said light source is a diode laser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
A user input subsystem, comprising: a single light source positioned to emit a collimated light beam; a beacon generator which generates an oscillating beacon from said light beam; a beacon separator which diverts a portion of said oscillating beacon to thereby separate said oscillating beacon into first and second beacon components; an optical train which directs said first and second beacon portions through different axes of a light grid; two retroreflectors which retroreflect said first and second beacon portions; and a sensor which senses retroreflected portions of said first and second beacons; whereby the output of said sensor provides information about the instantaneous position of an obstruction, such as a fingertip, which may be positioned within said light grid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
A user input subsystem, comprising: a single light source positioned to emit a collimated light beam; a beacon generator which generates an oscillating beacon from said light beam; a beacon separator which diverts a portion of said oscillating beacon to thereby separate said oscillating beacon into first and second beacon components; an optical train which directs said first and second beacon portions through different axes of a light grid; two retroreflectors which retroreflect said first and second beacon portions; and a sensor which senses retroreflected portions of said first and second beacons; whereby the output of said sensor provides information about the instantaneous position of an obstruction, such as a fingertip, which may be positioned within said light grid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subsystem of claim 11, wherein said optical train includes reflectors made of a reflective angle film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subsystem of claim 11, wherein said retroreflectors are made of a micro corner cube film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The subsystem of claim 11, wherein light from said light source passes through a beam splitter, and said sensor is optically coupled to said retroreflectors through said beam splitter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subsystem of claim 11, wherein said light source is a diode laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The subsystem of claim 1, wherein said beacon separator also reflects a portion of said oscillating beacon back toward said sensor, without passage through said grid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The subsystem of claim 6, wherein said beacon separator also reflects a portion of said oscillating beacon back toward said sensor, without passage through said grid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The subsystem of claim 11, wherein said beacon separator also reflects a portion of said oscillating beacon back toward said sensor, without passage through said grid.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-05-31 | 2002-11-30 | 2003-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-05-31 | 2006-11-30 | 2007-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-05-31 | 2010-11-30 | 2011-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |