Claims
- 1. An input device for providing input to a portable electronic device, comprising:
a sensor, for detecting movement of a user's fingers on a work surface, and for generating a signal responsive to the detected movement; a processor, coupled to the sensor, for receiving and processing the detected signal; a port, coupled to the processor, for communicatively coupling to the portable electronic device and transmitting the processed detected signal to the portable electronic device; and a housing, for containing the sensor, the processor, and the port.
- 2. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:
a projector, contained within the housing, for projecting a keyboard guide onto the work surface.
- 3. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:
a light source, contained within the housing, for illuminating the work surface.
- 4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to form a cradle for detachably supporting the portable electronic device.
- 5. The input device of claim 4, further comprising:
a hinge, coupled to the housing, for maintaining a position for the sensor relative to the work surface, independently of variation in the position of the portable electronic device relative to the work surface.
- 6. The input device of claim 4, further comprising:
at least one support member, for supporting the housing and the portable electronic device when attached.
- 7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the support member is adjustable to vary the position and orientation of the housing.
- 8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to form a cover that is closable over a front surface of the portable electronic device.
- 9. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:
a cable, for attaching the port to the portable electronic device.
- 10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the port transmits the processed detected signal to the portable electronic device via a wireless communication medium.
- 11. The input device of claim 1, further comprising:
a display, for outputting a representation of the processed signal.
- 12. The input device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device and the input device are integrated into a single device, and wherein the housing contains both the portable electronic device and the input device.
- 13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lens having a protective coating.
- 14. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a protective shroud proximate to the lens.
- 15. The input device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a recessed opening for the lens.
- 16. The input device of claim 1, wherein the work surface is inert.
- 17. The input device of claim 1, wherein the housing is adapted to form a case that may be detachably coupled with the portable electronic device.
- 18. A portable electronic device having integrated input functionality, the device comprising:
a sensor, for detecting movement of a user's fingers on a work surface, and for generating a signal responsive to the detected movement; a processor, coupled to the sensor, for receiving and processing the detected signal as input for the electronic device; and a housing, for containing both the sensor and the processor.
- 19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:
a projector, contained within the housing, for projecting a keyboard guide onto the work surface.
- 20. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:
a light source, contained within the housing, for illuminating the work surface.
- 21. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:
a hinge, coupled to the housing, for maintaining a position for the sensor relative to the work surface, independently of variation in the position of the portable electronic device relative to the work surface.
- 22. The portable electronic device of claim 18, further comprising:
at least one support member, for supporting the housing and the portable electronic device when attached, wherein the support member is adjustable to vary the position and orientation of the housing.
- 23. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a lens having a protective coating.
- 24. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a protective shroud proximate to the lens.
- 25. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the sensor comprises a lens, and wherein the housing comprises a recessed opening for the lens.
- 26. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein the work surface is inert.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/339,234 for “Method and Apparatus for Stability and Alignment of a Portable Sensory Input Device,” filed Dec. 7, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/502,499 for “Method and Apparatus for Entering Data Using a Virtual Input Device,” filed Feb. 1, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/163,445 for “Method and Device for 3D Sensing of Input Commands to Electronic Devices,” filed Nov. 4, 1999.
[0003] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/948,508 for “Quasi-Three-Dimensional Method and Apparatus To Detect and Localize Interaction of User-Object and Virtual Transfer Device,” filed Sep. 7, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/231,184 for “Application of Image Processing Techniques for A Virtual Keyboard System,” filed Sep. 7, 2000.
[0004] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/245,925 for “Measurement of Depth from Thickness or Separation of Structured Light with Application to Virtual Interface Devices,” filed Sep. 17, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/382,899 for “Measurement of Distance in a Plane from the thickness of a Light Beam from the Separation of Several Light Beams,” filed May 22, 2002.
[0005] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/246,123 for “Method and Apparatus for Approximating Depth of an Object's Placement into a Monitored Region with Applications to Virtual Interface Devices,” filed Sep. 17, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/382,899 for “Measurement of Distance in a Plane from the thickness of a Light Beam from the Separation of Several Light Beams,” filed May 22, 2002.
[0006] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/115,357 for “Method and Apparatus for Approximating a Source Position of a Sound-Causing Event for Determining an Input Used in Operating an Electronic Device,” filed Apr. 2, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/281,314 for “A Localization System Based on Sound Delays,” filed Apr. 3, 2001.
[0007] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/187,032 for “Detecting, Classifying, and Interpreting Input Events Based on Stimuli in Multiple Sensory Domains,” filed Jun. 28, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/337,086 for “Sound-Based Method and Apparatus for Detecting the Occurrence and Force of Keystrokes in Virtual Keyboard Applications,” filed Nov. 27, 2001.
[0008] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/179,452 for “Method and Apparatus to Display a Virtual Input Device,” filed Jun. 22, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/300,542 for “User Interface Projection System,” filed Jun. 22, 2001.
Provisional Applications (8)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60339234 |
Dec 2001 |
US |
|
60163445 |
Nov 1999 |
US |
|
60231184 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
|
60382899 |
May 2002 |
US |
|
60382899 |
May 2002 |
US |
|
60281314 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
|
60337086 |
Nov 2001 |
US |
|
60300542 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (7)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09502499 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09948508 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
10245925 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
10246123 |
Sep 2002 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
10115357 |
Apr 2002 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
10187032 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |
Parent |
10179452 |
Jun 2002 |
US |
Child |
10313939 |
Dec 2002 |
US |