WO1994015315A1

WO1994015315A1 - System for optional control of functions of a pc

Info

Publication number: WO1994015315A1
Application number: PCT/EP1993/003679
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Weixler
Original assignee: Bernhard Weixler
Priority date: 1992-12-23
Filing date: 1993-12-23
Publication date: 1994-07-07
Also published as: EP0676072A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a system designed and configured to allow the very severely disabled (for example) to initiate and direct predetermined functions and in particular to work with computers, PCs and the like. The system comprises a light pointer (101) and a menu field (4) from which selections are made with the light pointer and through which the selection of individual menu items (135) is detected. A specially designed mouth contact unit (111, 211) is disclosed for the use of persons whose disabilities require it.

Description

"System for the optional control of functions of a PC"

The present invention relates to a system for selectively controlling functions of a PC by a person with an optical beam indicator with which at least one controllable optical beam is to be emitted.

DE-A 41 29 602 discloses a device for data input with a selection device for selecting at least one information unit that can be displayed in the area of a display device, in which the display device is formed from a projection unit and a projection surface that maps the information unit and can be arranged spatially separate from the projection unit . A brightness detector evaluating a brightness distribution in the area of the projection surface is arranged in the area of the projection unit.

Such a beam indicator can be used by a person working on a personal computer, but requires a projection unit and an information unit with which the information can be positively projected onto a projection surface. Such a device can therefore only be used where, for example, a lecturer can make explanations in front of a larger auditorium and enter data using the beam pointer on the projection surface which represents a positive image, for example a screen.

According to the invention, the beam indicator is intended to advantageously replace the known mouse with which the cursor on the screen of the personal computer is known to be controlled. The optical beam pointer is used to initiate and have certain functions performed. This can be done, for example, in such a way that the person using the beam pointer points with the visible light beam at certain predetermined locations on the surface or the like and thus gives the command to perform the desired function. The latter can also be carried out, for example, with a second parallel, for example also non-visible, in particular infrared optical signal beam from the beam pointing device. This corresponds to the use of the mouse, with which the cursor is controlled in a personal computer and certain defined fields of a menu field are controlled or clicked on with the cursor. This work can also be carried out with a beam pointer with only a single (visible) beam but with corresponding multiple functions.

The invention relates to a further, particularly interesting application for such an optical beam pointer, namely the use by a disabled person with respect to the arms, such as a thalidomide victim, for whom the use of the conventional mouse is difficult or even impossible or for which the medical recommendation applies not to overload the arm joints by continuous manual work.

However, the invention can also be used by non-disabled persons, with the operator, e.g. B. seated in a comfortable armchair, the spot of the beam pointer guided by hand on a suitable surface and used to control the cursor.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, preferably for a group of disabled people, in particular for disabled people who, for whatever reason, cannot use their arms and / or hands (at times) to create an aid with which such people are able to control functions and functional processes, in particular a computer, be it in the context of employment, and / or be able to do so, for example to make the stay in a sick bed more pleasant or to be as independent as possible from helping staff.

This problem is solved with the features of claim 1 and further refinements and developments of the invention emerge from the dependent ^'üchen forth.

The invention is based on the idea that a beam pointer can also be controlled with the head, for example, even by a bedridden (hospital) patient and even by a correspondingly disabled person. This handicapped person is given a headband to which such a light-weight beam pointer is attached. As otherwise by hand, this person is then able to direct the beam emitted by the beam pointer onto a suitably selected surface by means of head movements. This can be, for example, the wall surface or ceiling surface of a room. This area represents the (graphical) user surface or screen area of a computer with its menu field elements, but preferably also an image of the keyboard (keyboards) of the computer and, if appropriate, additionally provided menu areas for other functions as already mentioned above. In the area of this surface, surface elements are therefore provided or defined, which are the menu field elements of the user interface of the screen, the individual ones Represent control elements / keys of the keyboard and possibly elements of other menu areas for selective control with the beam pointer.

The beam pointer can be a device with battery power supply, where mains power supply should be avoided for various reasons. All relevant data processing devices are included in the term “computer”, PC or the like.

For example, with the function keys provided on the beam pointer or, if necessary, with the aid of a specially provided mouth contact, the person is able (according to the click of a mouse) to also give control commands to the beam pointer, to activate it and to give the optical beam defined signals (analogous to clicking the mouse). Also in the above Patent application describes how such an optical beam pointer is to be used in connection with a menu area, in comparison to the use of a mouse of a personal computer. The content of the older application P 42 33 237 is hereby also part of this application.

The optical beam pointer system includes a position (and signal) detector with which it is ascertained or detected which surface element of the (projection / wall) surface of the (only) represented PC screen, operating elements (keys of the Keyboard) and / or, if necessary, an additional menu field with the beam pointer is currently being driven, and which activations have been ordered with the modulation of the beam. The position detector thus delivers an output signal, which is to be used as a command signal and is forwarded to corresponding control circuits which initiate or trigger functions based on generated control signals. If an area element representing a control element or a key of the keyboard has been actuated with the pointer beam, then the (associated) output signal emitted by the position detector then causes the (by pressing a key of the beam pointer or by actuating the one with the beam pointer coupled mouth contact) triggered control command that this control element / the corresponding key is activated or "operated". The character of one of the alphanumeric keys or punctuation keys is then written, or a reset, an up / down or the like. Or the function of one of the function keys, the return key and the like is triggered. Likewise, one of the other functions can be initiated by beam pointer actuation of a respective one of the elements of the further menu field, such as, for example, the switching on and off of a lighting and the like mentioned above and / or the stepwise operation to be carried out by the bedridden patient without outside help and / or continuous control of the inclination of, for example, the head part, the foot part and the like of his bedside. Bedridden patients appreciate being offered such a self-service option.

The functions of the elements of the further menu field can also be functions programmed into the PC, so that this further menu field can then be dispensed with as an independent object without loss of functionality.

As already mentioned, e.g. in the case of use in the work / hospital room, the user interface of the PC, the area of the operating elements of the keyboard and any further menu field may be a respective area of a wall area or the like. The position detector mentioned is adjusted to these surface areas so that it

(in addition to the "click signal") can provide uniquely assigned location coordinates with respect to the point of impact of the beam in its output signal. For the person / patient working with the invention, the field of the keyboard and the menu field can be, for example, a picture hanging on the wall with the pictograms, for example for "lifting the head part of the bed", switching on the light, opening / closing blinds and the like . The person can sight the respective key / the desired menu field element with the optical beam pointer and click with the key of the beam pointer / the mouth contact and the desired function is carried out. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in using the position detector connected to a projector. Using this projector, a slide can be projected as an image onto the specified wall, the image of the slide containing the keypad and / or (only) the menu field with its pictograms and / or other symbols. This means that there is no special adjustment effort for the surface elements and the detector to one another, which is necessary in the simpler embodiment in order to arrange the projection detector adjusted to the intended keypad / menu field. Such a combination of position detector and projector ensures permanent self-adjustment.

It can also be provided that the projector mentioned in connection with the position detector comprises a slide changing device in order to increase the variety of options for the user of the system according to the invention. Changing slides can e.g. also activated with the beam pointer by means of its button or by means of mouth contact, e.g. a search run can also be controlled.

The activation of the optical light pointer mentioned above can be triggered in the invention, for example, by actuating a contact to be actuated directly or indirectly with the mouth. In the tightly encapsulated mouth contact to be placed in the mouth, there can be an electrical, for example piezoelectric pressure contact to be actuated, for example with the teeth, the tongue or the like. Preferably (for safety reasons) an indirect contact device working with an intermediate pneumatic power transmission is used. This pneumatic device can even be one for blowing and sucking. Two "stable" distinguishable active switching states can thus be realized. In particular for the control of field elements of the keys of the keyboard, ie of individual alphanumeric and punctuation and the like keys, it is advantageous to provide such "polarized" contact switch functions in accordance with the usual double assignment of such keys. For example, with the pneumatic switch mentioned above, the By blowing in or sucking the mouth contact, the operator can effect one or the other of the two possible "active" contacts. This means that the writing of the upper or lower case letters can be triggered without activating the shift key.

With the double-active switch, a distinction can also be made between the simple and the double-click, as are known from the mouse.

Particular constructive designs of a mouth contact to be used are described in more detail below.

Insofar as the mouth contact is mentioned here, it can also be replaced by any other adapted contact or button which, if appropriate, also has the further developments described below and can be operated more appropriately / conveniently by the operator concerned with her disability . For example, this can also be a contact that can be operated with the foot.

A particular advantage of the invention is that this contact need only be a single contact / switch function.

According to a first variant of the invention, the operator of the system according to the invention is able to work with only the beam pointer, the position detector and the image visible on the (wall) surface, if this is also the user interface or the respective one Image of the screen of the PC. So this still requires the projection of this image onto the surface. The PC is used for electronic data processing and its usual screen can be omitted or located somewhere away from the person.

A second, preferred variant of the invention provides that the Person instead of a projection of the screen image on the wall surface has the usual screen device in front of him. You can then directly observe the current image of the computer screen device and, if necessary, an additional menu field integrated into the screen image (discussed above for additional functions). In principle, the "image" of the keyboard can also be integrated into the image of the screen by software. Unless a special measure and / or a specially adapted screen device (for example with a larger area than usual) is used / used, the resultant for the actual user interface can be used

Reduction of the available screen area and the need for special software to be disadvantageous. A special embodiment of the present invention therefore provides, additionally adjacent to the conventional conventional screen device, e.g. arranged to provide a special illuminated display as an image of the conventional keyboard (keyboards). This illuminated display can also (additionally) be equipped with functioning keys, as will be described in more detail below.

Working with such a device according to the invention, corresponding to the second variant, with a screen device and a luminous display proceeds as follows. With the optical beam pointer, the operator selectively and successively controls individual surface elements or locations of the surface on the (wall) surface described above. The person can do this without having to observe this area (directly). Therefore, the beam of the beam pointer need not be visible for this control. The person can namely observe the moving or instantaneous beam spot of the optical beam pointer indirectly by means of the reproduction (depending on) on the screen of the PC or on the illuminated display. On the illuminated display provided adjacent to the screen, the person can thus follow the activation of corresponding surface elements in the illustration of the keyboard. Accordingly, for this second variant it is unnecessary that boundaries and pictograms of the surface elements are visible on the wall surface, for example projected there. The position detector transmits the position and movement of the beam spot controlled on the (wall) surface to the computer and the usual image of the stationary or moving cursor is displayed on the screen. If the beam spot hits a surface element representing a key on the keyboard, a light source that corresponds to the surface element hit by the pointer beam lights up on the illuminated display corresponding to the keyboard at the location of that key. When the light source of the button desired by the person lights up, the person recognizes that he has now activated the correct button, without having to look at the (wall) surface. By contacting (clicking) with, for example, the mouth contact, the person "confirms" the desired activation and the key thus activated is activated. The letter in question is thus written, for example, which then becomes visible as such in the area of the screen (as in a conventional image of the computer screen). The control of the keyboard image by means of the beam pointer, which has been moved with the head, for example, thus replaces the direct pressing of the (letter) key (which would be impossible for the person due to his disability).

Since there is generally enough large contiguous area available on a wall or on the ceiling of a room, the entire field of surface elements can be designed to be relatively large, so that the individual menu field surface elements can also be large. This makes it easier for the person, e.g. patients lying in bed, targeting a desired surface element with its head movement or the like using the beam pointer easily and nevertheless reliably.

The position detector to be used in connection with the invention can be a coordinate camera, for example a coordinate CCD camera with corresponding imaging optics. Such a CCD camera is usually a sensor with which the area to be detected is scanned in two dimensions. This sensor supplies an image sequence with a maximum frequency largely determined by the CCD device of the camera. The above-mentioned modulation clock sequences or frequencies of the radiation of the beam pointer as the already mentioned modulation of this radiation are preferably selected asynchronously to the frame rate of the CCD device of the camera. But there can also be synchronism. At least as a rule, the modulation frequency is selected to be several times lower than the frame rate of the position detector scanning the menu area.

The modulation of the optical radiation mentioned can be a keying or clocking in accordance with an at least almost 1002 modulation. Modulation in the form of an impressed sine wave and the like can also be provided. Different information can be an amplitude modulation, e.g. imprinted sine waves, and differ in mutually different sequences or clock frequencies, or different (sine) modulation frequencies are provided for this. Modulation according to the multiplex method can also be provided. However, a type of modulation can also be used, in which the variation in the shape of the radiation spot on the impingement surface carries the modulation information. The spot can vary in size depending on the modulation, its shape can change, e.g. from a point to a line and vice versa or the position of its shape can also be changed, e.g. vertical and horizontal position of a line-shaped radiation spot. All of these types of modulation are additionally detected by the position detector, which records the position coordinates of the radiation spot, and are supplied as an output signal to further processing circuits.

A device with position sensor diodes (PSD) is also suitable as a position detector. CCD line sensors can also be used together with cylindrical lenses in a crossed position, for example, for this position detection of a light spot. Such devices allow the detection of the location in the x and y directions. Such diodes, in conjunction with a downstream evaluation electronics, deliver a photocurrent at the output connections which corresponds to the The location of a radiation spot imaged on the position sensor diodes is proportional.

A high resolution can be achieved if e.g. Not only is the existence of a radiation spot of the beam pointer according to the invention detected, but the center of gravity of the radiation spot is also determined with the aid of a computer as the location to be detected.

Further explanations of the invention are given with reference to the attached figures.

FIG. 1 shows a (overview) representation of a system according to the invention of the invention, which is already older (claimed here) with the new developments of this invention.

Figure 2 shows a first mouth contact.

Figure 3 shows a further developed mouth contact.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a system according to the invention with the beam pointer used and position detector 2, as has already been shown in part in the older (not previously published) application P 42 43 956.6. With 7 the imaging optics of the position detector 2 is designated. The parallel beams 5 and 6 of the beam pointer 101 hit with their substantially congruent beam spot 134 on a surface element 135 of a surface 4, which e.g. can be the aforementioned wall surface of the room. This (wall) surface 4 is used as a menu field, e.g. visible as a hung picture panel, with its pictograms or the like. As already mentioned above, this menu field 4 can be projected there by means of a projector 102. For this purpose, the projector has projection optics 107.

In the present invention, this menu field 4 comprises one of the user interface / screen area 301 of the computer corresponding portion 4a, a portion 4b corresponding to the keyboard and possibly a portion 4c with additional field elements (corresponding to menu field 4 of the older invention). The portion 4c can also be (software) integrated part of the portion 4a, ie the user interface of the PC, as already mentioned above.

FIG. 3 also shows (with dashed lines) a changed orientation of the beam pointer 101, the beam 5/6 of which then strikes a surface element (135) of the field portion 4a that is being targeted at this time and which represents the screen 301.

3 in FIG. 1 denotes an electronic position / modulation signal processing system. This receives the output signals of the position detector 2, which include the position coordinates and also the modulation information of the beam spot 134 of the beam pointer 101. The position detector 2 and this position / modulation signal processing system 3 can advantageously also be constructed as a single structural unit which contains these two functions. 31 denotes the data processing hardware part of the computer to which the processing system 3 transmits the data of the information which the position detector 2 records during operation. A corresponding connecting line is designated by 131. The location of the hardware part 31 can be chosen practically arbitrarily, e.g. This hardware part 31 can be a device unit with the screen device 301 still to be described.

Designated at 102 is a projector which is preferably fixedly / rigidly connected to the position detector 2 and whose projection axis 102 'is aligned with the axis 2' of the detection of the position detector 2 such that the self-adjustment described above as a development of the invention is achieved, ie the projected menu field 4 and the detection surface of the position detector are (always) adjusted sufficiently congruently. The already mentioned field part 4b corresponds to the keyboard or the keyboard of the PC. As described earlier for the additional field elements, the image 250 of such a keyboard, for example as an image on the wall surface, can be attached in the field portion 4b. When using a projector 102 as described above, but it will be advantageous that image of such a keyboard in the ^'field portion 4b hineinzuprojizieren (which is in turn secured tuning the self). The actuation of a button 251 shown in the field portion 4b by means of the beam 5/6 of the beam pointer 101 is detected by the position detector 2. If you are working with two beams 5/6, you can first target the (image of) the button 251 with the visible beam 5. If the beam spot 134 then lies on this key 251 ', the selected key 251' is definitely actuated by activating (possibly the second parallel beam 6) the beam pointer 101, this being triggered, for example, by mouth contact 111. This is detected by the position detector 2 and the corresponding output signal is sent to the position / modulation signal processing system 3. This then leads to the corresponding key on the keyboard being activated in the PC and, for example, the letter e being written (and visible on the screen 301). The same applies to all other keys of the keyboard 250.

For targeting a single key 251 of the keyboard shown in the field portion 4b by means of the beam of the beam pointer, it can also be provided that the mapping of the keyboard itself gives direct feedback to the operator. For example, the individual field elements of the keyboard shown in the field portion 4b can be luminescent, for which purpose a beam of adapted wavelength of the beam pointer 101 must be provided. There is where the beam spot 134 strikes the image of the keyboard at the moment

Luminescent lights can be seen. It can also be provided that, instead of a passive luminescence system, such a system is provided which actively emits visible radiation when the beam spot 134 hits it and is fed by the supply voltage supplied there. The single field element / The button 251 shown can be equipped with a detector for the incident beam spot 134 and a light source actuated by it. The position detector detects the beam spot 134 and (despite ongoing feedback to the operator as a result of the luminescence occurring) only then sends a signal to the processing system when the operator has given the activation signal, ie the click has taken place.

These configurations described for the keys 251 shown can also be provided for the other field elements 135 of the surface 4.

The conventional mouse can advantageously be replaced with a beam pointer as used here according to the invention. The extremely disabled person with regard to the execution of hand movements can be e.g. on the head by means of an optical beam pointer 101 held by a headband 113 and by means of the mouth contact 111 (211 according to FIG. 3), in accordance with the above statements, to enable the functions already described in detail. It can work on a computer, i.e. manage a job that is satisfactory and fulfilling for this person.

Just as the slides mentioned can be projected with the pictograms onto the intended menu field, the entire screen content of a computer (according to the first variant described above) can be continuously projected onto the field portion 4a on which the person, the optical beam pointer 101 leading, controls the cursor of the PC and triggers the click with the mouth contact. Working with this version then proceeds as described above.

A second variant of the invention has already been mentioned above, in which it is provided that the operator controlling the beam pointer 101 has one or the screen 301 of the PC used in front of him visible. On this screen 301, the person can observe the cursor that the person is using as usual when working with a PC The help of the beam controls 5/6 of the beam pointer 101, this control of the menu area 4, on the position detector 2 and the processing system 3 is transmitted to the hardware portion of the PC signally ^'. The operator no longer needs to track the beam spot 134 on the wall.

For example, the field portion 4c of the additional field elements described above can be reproduced on the screen 301 in software as a menu bar.

In principle, it is also possible to make the control of the field portion 4b, ie the image 250 of the keyboard, visible on the screen 301 via the position detector and with the aid of corresponding software in the PC. However, since on the one hand additional new software expenditure would have to be carried out for this purpose and also the size of the screen area then available for working with the PC and corresponding to the user interface is reduced, a phantom keyboard 302 is alternatively preferably provided in addition to the screen 301. The name "Phantom" keyboard is chosen to make the constructive difference to the conventional keyboard recognizable and to avoid confusion. As can be seen in FIG. 1, this phantom keyboard can be arranged, for example, above the screen (device) 301. This phantom keyboard 302 includes an operator-visible mapping of a conventional keyboard mapping alphanumeric keys, punctuation keys, return keys, function keys and the like. The activation of the image 250 of the keyboard of the field portion 4b (and the transmission by means of the position detector 2), which takes place in this second variant with the beam 5/6 of the beam pointer 101 (and the transmission by means of the position detector 2), is tracked in the event of the presence of the phantom keyboard 302 (without to look at a keyboard image of the field portion 4b). In this case, there is also no need for optical feedback with luminescence and the like from the field component 4b as described for variant 1. To report back to the operator, the illustrated keys 303 of the phantom keyboard 302 are each provided, for example, with a luminescence diode or a corresponding light source. If the keys of the keyboard image 250 of the field portion 4b are aimed at with the beam 5/6 of the beam pointer 101, the key lights up at the same time

(Illustration of a) key 303 'on the illuminated display of the phantom keyboard 302, which corresponds to the key 251' and on which the beam spot 134 is striking at the moment. If the desired key of the phantom keyboard 302 lights up, the operator only needs to activate the beam pointer, e.g. with the mouth contact, and the function of this button is activated, e.g. the letter e is written and visible as such on the screen 301.

A further embodiment of the phantom keyboard 302 can also include real key functions. One application for such a configuration is one in which e.g. a training course is carried out, in which the person to be trained (disabled) works as described above, but a teacher can actually press a key by hand on the phantom keyboard designed in this way. This is expedient because, in the system according to the invention, the actual presence of a conventional keyboard with mechano-electrical keys is not necessary, so the effort for such a keyboard is eliminated here. Such a further configuration of the phantom keyboard is inexpensive, since the teacher does not have to meet the usual technical requirements for the operating properties, service life and the like for the use case to be considered here.

To control the light sources of the keys 303, the phantom keyboard 302 is connected, for example, to the hardware part 31. If the phantom keyboard 302 also has functional keys, the usual cable connection (not shown) between a keyboard (keyboard) and the PC is also provided. As already described in the older (not prepublished) invention (P 42 43 956.6), the optical beam pointer 101 of FIG. 2 is designed or shaped such that it can be attached, for example, to the headband 113 (FIG. 1). Again with 111 in FIG. 2, a mouth contact connected by means of an electrical line 112 to the beam pointer 101 at the point 116 of the beam pointer is designated. Functionally, this mouth contact corresponds to a button on the beam pointer of the above-mentioned older, not previously published application. With the hand-operated beam pointer, more than one key or key function can be provided and used. Additional key functions correspond, for example, to the second (or further) keys of a known mouse, which allows multiple functions to be triggered or executed. In the present invention, however, a mouth contact already described above is provided for disabled users, the structural details of which will be described below.

For the invention, preferably a pressure-sensitive piezo button can also be provided as the mouth contact 111, with which, in particular, these multiple button functions can be triggered. A piezo key supplies an analog piezo signal (which exists for at least a certain period of time) depending on the pressure exerted. With the aid of a plurality of adjustable threshold values of a comparator, differently generated piezo signal values can be brought into a step-by-step assignment, each step corresponding to one of the key functions. If a specific comparator stage is addressed, the switching signal corresponding to the respective function is generated by means of the evaluation. A time delay is preferably provided for the generation of this switching signal, which enables the operator, ie the user of this mouth contact, to safely control a desired comparator stage, ie to exert a suitable pressure on the mouth contact. In particular, this can also be made visible to this person, namely by making a display visible at a selected point in the menu field, which display actuates the pressure that is currently being exerted Comparator level of the operator visually. The desired level must then be maintained, for example, by briefly stopping the pressure exerted, whereupon the evaluation electronics responds with a time delay and triggers the signal of the desired level (equivalent to pressing a mouse button function). The above-mentioned projector is used in particular for the visual display.

Pressing the mouth contact activates the radiation (s) 5, 6 of the optical beam pointer, e.g. Switching on the beam, which may also necessarily be visible in accordance with the above statements, for sighting and for activating the modulation of this beam or a second optical beam which may be provided.

FIG. 3 shows a mouth contact 211 as it can be used advantageously as a preferred further development of a detail of the system of the invention. 211 ′ denotes a mouthpiece which can be advantageously used by the person working with the system to control the beam pointer 101 (and thus the computer to be operated) corresponding to the click of a mouse. The mouthpiece is specially designed for sucking and pneumatically pushing air out of or into the hose 212 as described above. Preferably, e.g. A means (such as an airtight and moisture-proof but elastic membrane) is already provided in this mouthpiece 211 * in order to prevent damage caused by moisture and the occurrence of an infection source (by simple disinfection).

Respective pneumatic negative pressure and positive pressure in the hose line 212 generated by the person is, according to one embodiment, transferred to a transducer 210 known in principle with a pressure chamber 215 and a switch contact membrane 216. This converter is used to convert the pneumatic force into electrical contact. According to the two "polarities" suction and pressure, two different "polarized" contact options a and b (with contactless middle position). The transducer 210 can be connected to the beam pointer 101 or is expediently (as indicated in FIG. 3) already installed in the beam pointer, so that at the point 213 only the hose 212 (with the mouthpiece 211 'connected to it) has to be connected.

Instead of the piezo button and the transducer 210, a measuring bridge with at least one strain gauge or the like can preferably be used. In such a measuring bridge, the pressure-dependent switching threshold can be optionally set electrically.

Claims

Expectations

1. System for the optional control of functions of a PC by a person; with an optical beam pointer (101), with which at least one controllable optical beam (5, 6) is to be emitted, which is actuated by the person by actuating a

Control contact with optionally predeterminable keying / modulation is to be keyed / modulated, and a position detector (2), the position detector (2) being arranged in such a way that it has an opposite surface to be covered with the optical beam (5, 6) (4) can capture, by means of the beam spot (134) of the optical beam (5, 6) of the beam pointer

(101) a position (135) of this surface (4) is to be controlled and by means of the

Position detector (2) the location coordinates of this position are to be detected and thus can be determined, each of a plurality of intended positions (135) having a specific one

Function is assigned and the execution of the selected function is realized in the PC by means of the output signal of the position detector (2) and a screen (device) (301) is provided for the operator for observing the cursor of the current user interface.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the surface (4) comprises at least one area / field portion (4a), which is to be controlled with the beam pointer (101) as the menu field (4a)

User interface / the screen (301) of a computer / PC (31) is assigned, and in which the position detector (2) supplies the computer / PC (31) with respective detection signals with respect to the respectively controlled positions / field elements (135) and the cursor in the computer / PC (31) is controlled in accordance with the detection signals.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface (4) comprises an area / field portion (4b) which corresponds to the keypad of a PC keyboard, individual positions / field elements of the area / field part (4b) individual Keys correspond to the keyboard, and in which the detection (2) is selected using the beam pointer (101) Position / field element (251) activates the function of the corresponding key on the PC keyboard.

4. System according to claim 3, in which in the area / field portion (4b) an image (250) of the represented

Keyboard is provided.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein the field elements of the individual keys (251) of the illustration (250) of the keyboard are equipped with devices which, when the individual key (251) is sighted / activated by means of the beam (5, 6) of the beam pointer (101) are illuminating.

6. System according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a phantom keyboard (302) is provided, one for the

Operator has visible image of a keyboard of a computer / PC, this image having the images (303) of the individual keys of the keyboard, this phantom keyboard (302) with the position detector (2) and its signal processing (3) in terms of signals and it itself is designed such that the beam pointer (101) on the field portion (4b) of the

Area (4) controlled field elements can be observed on the phantom keyboard (302), the function of the key corresponding to a controlled field element being triggered by activating the beam of the beam pointer (101).

7. System according to claim 6, in which the imaged keys (303) of the phantom keyboard (302) are designed as keys (303 ') which can be activated by the position detector (2) and the signal processing (3), the lighting up when activated of a respective field element of the field portion (4b) of the surface (4) by means of the beam pointer (101).

8. System according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the phantom keyboard (302) is designed such that the individual keys (303) thereof are formed with an effective key function.

9. System according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the intended for the operator beam pointer (101) is to be attached to a headband / glasses (113) that the operator to control with the beam pointer (101) by head movement execute on the

Head is put on.

10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a (the) control contact of the beam pointer (101) is designed as a mouth contact (111, 211), which is connected to the beam pointer (101) by means of electrical / pneumatic line (112, 212). connected is.

11. System according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the mouth contact (111) is designed so that it can be set in several levels with the mouth for distinguishable from each other

Switching functions is to be brought.

12. System according to claim 10 or 11, (1 11) contains a pressure-sensitive piezo key for emitting a signal with differently high signal levels adjustable by means of the mouth.

13. System according to claim 10 or 1 1, (211) with a mouthpiece (211 ') and a device for pneumatic power transmission (212), and a pneumatic / electrical converter (210) is equipped, the converter (210) by Pneumatic function exerted by the mouthpiece (211 ') is to be switched, and the transducer (210) is electrically functionally connected to the beam pointer (101) for controlling it.

14. System according to claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece (21 1 ') is designed so that optional blowing into this and air intake can be carried out in such a way that overpressure and underpressure on the transducer (210) via a hose (212) is transmitted, the converter (210) being designed as a switch with two active switch contacts and a contactless middle position, so that two different switch contacts can be closed by blowing and sucking.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece (211 ') is designed so that optional blowing into this and air intake can be carried out on it in such a way that overpressure and underpressure are transmitted to the transducer (210) via a hose (212) is, wherein the converter is a pressure sensor with switching function.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the mouthpiece (21 1 ') is designed so that optional blowing into this and air intake can be carried out on this in such a way that over a hose (212) overpressure and underpressure to the transducer (210) is transmitted, the converter being a pressure-sensitive measuring bridge with a switching function.

17. The system of claim 15 or 16, wherein the sensitivity of the switching function is optionally adjustable.

18. System according to at least one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a (the) control contact of the beam pointer (101) is designed as a contact to be actuated with the foot.

19. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control contact of the beam pointer (101) is a contact triggered by an acoustic transmitter.

20. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the optionally predetermined modulation of the optical beam (5, 6) is carried out by acoustic modulation.

21. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the function of the control contact of the beam pointer (101) is fulfilled by changing from one surface portion to another of the surface portions (4a, 4b, 4c).