US5914783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detecting the location of a light source
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1997-03-24
•
Granted: 1999-06-22
•
Expires: 2017-03-24
Abstract
Abstract In an audio/visual computer-generated presentation system in which materials presented to an audience through projection of the material to a screen, the position of a remotely-generated spot from a laser illuminator is detected by a so-called sensor which is positioned to detect light from the spot which is diffusely reflected off the screen along the portion of the optical path between the computer-driven light modulator and the screen, with the sensing of the position of the spot at the time of the generation of a selection signal being used to change the on-screen material. The on-axis sensor for detecting the light spot eliminates speed and accuracy problems associated with off-axis CCD camera detection, while at the same time providing a presenter with a robust method of selecting computer-generated material to be presented.
Inventors
- 👤 John Barrus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/0386; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/783; G01S3/784; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; G01S5/00; G01S5/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
In an audio/visual computer-generated presentation system in which material is presented to an audience through the projection of the material to a screen by modulation of light from a light source using a modulator interposed in the light path between said light source and said screen, with a portion of said path being that portion between said modulator and said screen, apparatus for changing on-screen material comprising; user directable means for projecting a highly defined point of light on said screen at a position determined by said user; means for detecting the position of said point of light on said screen including a sensor for detecting light diffusely reflected from said screen along said portion of said light path; a wireless transmitter collocated with said projecting means for generating a signal other than the light itself, said signal representing a wireless transmitted signal; a selection detector for generating a selector signal responsive to the receipt of said wireless transmitted signal; and, means responsive to both the detected position of said point of light and said selection signal for changing the material projected onto said screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
In an audio/visual computer-generated presentation system in which material is presented to an audience through the projection of the material to a screen by modulation of light from a light source using a modulator interposed in the light path between said light source and said screen, with a portion of said path being that portion between said modulator and said screen, apparatus for changing on-screen material comprising; user directable means for projecting a highly defined point of light on said screen at a position determined by said user; means for detecting the position of said point of light on said screen including a sensor for detecting light diffusely reflected from said screen along said portion of said light path; a wireless transmitter collocated with said projecting means for generating a signal other than the light itself, said signal representing a wireless transmitted signal; a selection detector for generating a selector signal responsive to the receipt of said wireless transmitted signal; and, means responsive to both the detected position of said point of light and said selection signal for changing the material projected onto said screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said modulator reflects light from said light source to said screen and wherein said sensor detects light reflected by said modulator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said material includes an icon, the selection of which causes a change in said material, and further including means for generating a selection signal and means responsive to said selection signal and said position of said point of light illuminating said on-screen icon for detecting the coincidence of the position of said point of light with said icon and for changing said material projected on screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said projecting means includes a laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said modulator includes an array of ON-OFF positionable mirrors, wherein said sensor includes a detector for receiving light from said mirrors when a mirror is in an OFF position and wherein said means for detecting the position of said point of light includes scanning means for switching each of said mirrors to its OFF position at a predetermined time, thereby to permit correlation of detector output with a particular mirror and thus a particular position of said point of light on said screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5502459A
Cited
US5515079A
Cited
US5138304A
Cited
US5394183A
Cited
US5502568A
Cited
US5654741A
Cited
US5502514A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-06-21 | 2002-12-21 | 2003-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-21 | 2006-12-21 | 2007-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-21 | 2010-12-21 | 2011-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |