Apparatus and method for inputing data

Claim 2

An input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light adjacent to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light; and a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane.

Claim 3

The input device of claim 1 , further comprising an input template in the reference plane.

Claim 4

The input device of claim 2 , wherein said template is a flat surface having a template of an input device printed thereon.

Claim 5

The input device of claim 2 , wherein said template is an image of an input device selected from a group consisting of a keyboard and a pointer.

Claim 6

The input device of claim 2 , wherein said template is selected from a group consisting of light projected onto a solid surface, a holographic image, and a spherical reflection.

Claim 7

The input device of claim 2 , further comprising a projector positioned to project an image of said template.

Claim 8

The input device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is selected from a group consisting of a two-dimensional matrix type light sensor and a one dimensional array type light sensor.

Claim 9

The input device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor senses light selected from a group consisting of visible light, coherent light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light.

Claim 10

The input device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional light sensor.

Claim 11

The input device of claim 9 , wherein said sensor and said at least one additional sensor are oriented in the same direction.

Claim 12

The input device of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane.

Claim 13

The device of claim 1 , wherein said circuit determines position of an object by performing an operation selected from a group consisting of binocular disparity and triangulation.

Claim 14

The input device of claim 1 , wherein said light source produces light selected from a group consisting of visible light, coherent light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light.

Claim 15

The device of claim 1 wherein said light source provides a plane of light that is at an acute angle with respect to said reference plane.

Claim 16

The device of claim 1 wherein said light source provides a plane of light that is parallel to said reference plane.

Claim 17

The device of claim 1 , wherein said light source is selected from a group consisting of an incandescent lamp, a fluorescent lamp, and a laser.

Claim 18

The device of claim 1 , wherein said light source and said sensor are oriented in the same direction.

Claim 19

The device of claim 1 , further comprising projection glasses responsive to said circuit.

Claim 20

The device of claim 18 , wherein said projection glasses project an image of an input template in the reference plane.

Claim 21

The device of claim 1 , further comprising an index light source for projecting onto a surface at least one index mark to align an input template.

Claim 22

The input device of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device responsive to said circuit.

Claim 23

The input device of claim 1 , wherein said circuit produce an output signal indicative of an input provided by a user, and further comprising an electronic device responsive to the output signal from said circuit.

Claim 24

In combination, an input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, and an electronic device, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light adjacent to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light; a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane and producing an output signal indicative of the input; and an electronic device responsive to the output signal from said circuit.

Claim 25

In combination, an input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, and an electronic device, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light adjacent to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light; a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane and producing an output signal indicative of the input; and an electronic device responsive to the output signal from said circuit.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 , further comprising providing an input template in the reference plane.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 , further comprising calibrating the input device.

Claim 30

The method of claim 26 , wherein calibrating includes: prompting the user to provide input at a position on the reference plane; determining a position of input provided by the user; and orienting the reference plane so that the position of the input for which the user was prompted corresponds to the position of the input provided by the user.

Claim 31

The method of claim 27 , wherein the reference plane is defined as an input device selected from a group consisting of a keyboard and a pointer.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27 , wherein: the reference plane is defined as a keyboard; prompting includes prompting the user to enter a character on the keyboard; and orienting includes orienting the reference plane so that the position of the character for which the user was prompted corresponds to the position of the input provided by the user.

Claim 33

The method of claim 27 , wherein: prompting includes prompting the user for a plurality of inputs, each having a position on the reference plane; determining includes determining a position for each input provided by the user; and orienting includes orienting the reference plane so that the position of each of the inputs for which the user was prompted corresponds to the position of each of the inputs provided by the user.

Claim 34

The method of claim 30 , wherein determining includes: providing a source of light; sensing light at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane; generating at least one signal indicative of sensed light; and determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane from the at least one signal indicative of the sensed light.

Claim 35

The method of claim 24 , wherein determining a position of an object includes performing an operation selected from a group consisting of binocular disparity and triangulation.

Claim 36

The method of claim 24 , further comprising producing an output signal indicative of the input.

Claim 37

The method of claim 33 , further comprising providing an electronic device responsive to the output signal.

Claim 38

An input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light, the light source being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light, the light sensor being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane; and a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane.

Claim 39

An input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light, the light source being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light, the light sensor being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane; and a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane.

Claim 40

In combination, an input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, and an electronic device, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light, the light source being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light, the light sensor being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane; a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane and producing an output signal indicative of the input; and an electronic device responsive to the output signal from said circuit.

Claim 41

In combination, an input device for detecting input with respect to a reference plane, and an electronic device, comprising: a light source providing a plane of light, the light source being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane, wherein the light source does not project an input template onto the reference plane; a light sensor positioned to sense light reflected from the plane of light, the sensor at an acute angle with respect to the reference plane, and generating a signal indicative of sensed light, the light sensor being located remote from a position at which input is to be detected relative to the reference plane; a circuit responsive to said light sensor for determining a position of an object with respect to the reference plane and producing an output signal indicative of the input; and an electronic device responsive to the output signal from said circuit.