User interfaces allow humans to interact with computer systems. One common user interface involves using a “mouse”-type input device to control a position of a cursor on a display of a computer system. Other types of input devices include trackballs that can be rotated to control a position of a cursor on a screen, touchpads and touch screens that can be physically touched by a user to control the position of a cursor on a screen, and joysticks that can be pushed to control the position of a cursor on a screen. While these are all important ways of interfacing to a computer system, it is desirable to provide additional ways of providing an user interface.
In one embodiment, an input device is provided. The input device has, for example, a substrate, an array of optical sensors disposed on the substrate, and an array of conductive traces disposed on the substrate. The optical sensor array includes, for example, at least a first optical sensor defining at least one row element and at least one column element. The conductive trace array includes, for example, at least a first conductive trace defining a row signal pathway and at least a second conductive trace defining a column signal pathway. The array of optical sensors generate signals on the array of conductive traces upon excitation by electromagnetic radiation.
The following includes definitions of exemplary terms used throughout the disclosure. Both singular and plural forms of all terms fall within each meaning:
“Signal”, as used herein includes, but is not limited to, one or more electrical signals, analog or digital signals, one or more computer instructions, a bit or bit stream, or the like.
“Logic”, synonymous with “circuit” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, hardware, firmware, software and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s). For example, based on a desired application or needs, logic may include a software controlled microprocessor, discrete logic such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmed logic device. Logic may also be fully embodied as software.
“Optical sensor” includes, but is not limited to, any device or circuit or combination of devices or circuits in which incident light regulates the response of the device(s) or circuit(s). For example, optical sensors can include phototransistors, photodiodes, photocells, photocell relays, or photodetectors.
“Substrate” includes, but is not limited to, any underlying support, foundation, or physical material on which a circuit is fabricated and can include, for example, ceramic, glass, plastic, semiconductor and ferrite.
“Transparent” as used herein includes, but is not limited to, for example, having the property of transmitting light without appreciable scattering or absorption so that bodies or objects lying beyond are seen clearly; allowing the passage of a specified form of radiation; or fine or sheer enough to be seen through.
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A display 114 may be a Cathode Ray Tube, liquid crystal display or any other similar visual output device. An input device 150 is also provided and serves as an user interface to the system. As will be described in more detail, input device 150 may be a light sensitive panel for receiving commands from an user such as, for example, navigation of a cursor control input system. Input device 150 interfaces with the computer system's I/O such as, for example, USB port 138. Alternatively, input device 150 can interface with other I/O ports.
Secondary Bridge 118 is an I/O controller chipset. The secondary bridge 118 interfaces a variety of I/O or peripheral devices to CPU 102 and memory 108 via the host bridge 106. The host bridge 106 permits the CPU 102 to read data from or write data to system memory 108. Further, through host bridge 106, the CPU 102 can communicate with I/O devices on connected to the secondary bridge 118 and, and similarly, I/O devices can read data from and write data to system memory 108 via the secondary bridge 118 and host bridge 106. The host bridge 106 may have memory controller and arbiter logic (not specifically shown) to provide controlled and efficient access to system memory 108 by the various devices in computer system 100 such as CPU 102 and the various I/O devices. A suitable host bridge is, for example, a Memory Controller Hub such as the Intel® 875P Chipset described in the Intel® 82875P (MCH) Datasheet, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference.
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The BIOS ROM 120 includes firmware that is executed by the CPU 102 and which provides low level functions, such as access to the mass storage devices connected to secondary bridge 118. The BIOS firmware also contains the instructions executed by CPU 102 to conduct System Management Interrupt (SMI) handling and Power-On-Self-Test (“POST”) 122. POST 102 is a subset of instructions contained with the BIOS ROM 102. During the boot up process, CPU 102 copies the BIOS to system memory 108 to permit faster access.
The super I/O device 128 provides various inputs and output functions. For example, the super I/O device 128 may include a serial port and a parallel port (both not shown) for connecting peripheral devices that communicate over a serial line or a parallel pathway. Super I/O device 108 may also include a memory portion 130 in which various parameters can be stored and retrieved. These parameters may be system and user specified configuration information for the computer system such as, for example, an user-defined computer set-up or the identity of bay devices. The memory portion 130 in National Semiconductor's 97338VJG is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) memory portion. Memory portion 130, however, can be located elsewhere in the system.
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Substrate 204 also includes an array of conductive traces associated with a first or source of voltage level and an array of conductive traces associated with a second or ground voltage level, which also are connected to pixels 206.
Pixel 206 is representative of all of the pixels on input device 150 and one embodiment thereof is shown in more detail in
In particular, optical sensors 300 and 302 can act as open circuits that do not conduct electricity or signals between their terminals when they are in their normal or unexcited state. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy such as, for example, when light of a particular wavelength or wavelengths is incident on the sensors, they act as closed circuits that conduct electricity or signals between their terminals. The electromagnetic energy causing this effect can be light in the visible or invisible (e.g., infra-red) spectrum. Alternatively, optical sensors 300 and 302 can be fabricated to work in the reverse manner with respect to incident electromagnetic energy.
Optical sensor 300 includes two terminals. A first terminal is connected to a Row N node 304. The Row N node 304 is part of the array of conductive traces on substrate 204 that represent row information. The Row N node 304 is also connected to one side of a pull-up resistor, which is in turn connected to the array of conductive traces associated with the first voltage level V. As shown, the Row N node 304 can represent any row of substrate 204 (i.e., N=1, 2, 3, . . . etc.) A second terminal of optical sensor 300 is connected to the array of conductive traces associated with the second or ground voltage level. Optical sensor 302 is similarly constructed, except that its first terminal is connected to a Column M node 306. The Column M node 306 is part of the array of conductive traces on substrate 204 that represent column information. As shown, the Column M node 306 can represent any column of substrate 204 (i.e., M=1, 2, 3, . . . etc.)
In operation, optical sensors 300 and 302 are normally in their open circuit state (i.e., not conducting) when not excited by electromagnetic energy of the proper wavelength(s). Hence, Row N node 304 and Column M node 306 will be at the first voltage level V. Upon excitation by electromagnetic energy of the proper wavelength(s), optical sensors 300 and 302 will change to their closed circuit states (i.e., conducting) and cause Row N node 304 and Column M node 306 to be at the second or ground voltage level. This excitation can occur, for example, by shining an optical pointer or laser pointer device upon a portion of substrate 204 and, hence, on one or more pixels 206. Upon a loss of excitation, optical sensors 300 and 302 will revert back to their open circuit state (i.e., not conducting) and cause Row N node 304 and Column M node 306 to be at the first voltage level V.
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Independent of whether input panel 150 is incorporated within display 114 or external thereto, system 100 (
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While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, the input device 150 can integrated into the fabrication of a display so as to reside on a common substrate with the display elements. Thereby, a pixel can include a combination or optical or light-emitting elements and optical sensing elements. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.