Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/0304—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
  • G02B5/122—Reflex reflectors cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type
  • G02B5/124—Reflex reflectors cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet

Definitions

• the invention uses retro-reflected light having a fixed component and a
• FIG. 1 shows two users inputting data to an information system.
• FIG. 2 shows light retro-reflected from a retro reflector in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 shows light retro-reflected from a sequent retro reflector in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 shows a retro reflector on a card.
• FIG. 5 shows a finger acting as a retro reflector and retro reflector parts
• the data input apparatus is used with an information system indicated by
• the data input apparatus comprises an imager
• the retro reflector is on the person in the example of FIG. 1, the
• retro reflector can be connected to the person in various ways such as by being
• the retro reflector Throughout use for data input, the retro reflector remains connected to the
• Adjacent here means that the retro-reflected light is within the field of
• beam incident on the imager can be made precisely coaxial by using beam
• splitting devices and this also is included in the meaning of "adjacent" here.
• Detect here means that the imager locates the retro reflected light
• the retro-reflected light has a fixed component indicated for example by
• FIG. 2 depicts retro-reflected light seen by the imager.
• the retro-reflected light 41 in FIG. 2 which depicts retro-reflected light seen by the imager.
• reflected light also has a variable component which is varied by the person.
• variable component is indicated by the path 37 along
• a second retro reflector part 35 being first positioned to be seen 45 by the unager and later being positioned to be not visible to the
• variable component - A multiplicity of distinct variations of the variable component -
• variable component meaning of a variable component is distinct from the case where a person moves
• the imager When, in a time interval, the imager detects the variable component, the
• imager inputs a signal to the information system.
• variable component corresponds to
• variable component is a start
• the start configuration could be mapped by
• the imager as a start signal causing the information system to start 51 a trace
• the imager as a stop signal causing the information system to stop 52 the trace
• Start and stop signals to start the trace and to stop the trace could also be
• the information system need not visually display the trace, as the trace
• the trace could be data used or stored by the information system.
• the trace could be in
• a second imager with light source could be used to help
• the imager detects the fixed component, 41 for
• the imager inputs an identity signal to the information system.
• the imager inputs a sequent identity signal to the information
• the fixed components 41 and 71 are distinct, and thus the sequent
• identity signal is distinct from the identity signal.
• the sequent retro-reflected light also has a sequent variable component
• One example of the sequent variable component is
• the imager and later being positioned to be not visible to the imager.
• the imager inputs a sequent signal to the information system.
• sequent signal comprises data identifying the series of positions along the
• the sequent signal can cause the
• variable component are varied by distinct persons and can be distinct.
• An imager can distinguish retro-reflected light - 45 and 41 for example -
• FIG. 1 the retro reflector is shown as a retro-reflecting disc attached to
• Retro-reflecting objects can be attached to each of the fingers and to
• embossments for example - produce very high signal to noise ratios and can be
• a retro reflector on a card 87 which can be held by a person is depicted in
• FIG. 4 A variable component is produced when the person obscures - with
• fixed component comprises a set of retro-reflecting parts 85.
• a retro reflector can be attached to a persons gear - head gear for example
• An information system can attach an identifying label to
• selected traces can be displayed and can be color coded. Paths of players in a
• a retro reflector can be attached to a first aircraft transporting a person so
• FIG. 5 for example - can be used in place of the retro reflector 31 though a
• a fixed component - such as the retro-reflecting stripes 85A around a
• the signal to noise ratio provided by a retro reflector can be increased.
• a retro reflector can reflect a first electromagnetic radiation
• the imager can be more sensitive to the first electromagnetic radiation
• the light source can be modulated at a first frequency and the imager
• a scanner can be added.
• the scanner can be an imager scanner scanning
• the imager over a light source illuminated can be a light scanner scanning the
• generate inputted data can be incorporated in the imager itself so that the imager
• the information system is part of the imager while it is
• Variations of the variable component - such as range and speed of motion
• the apparatus can be utilized interactively. For example, in response to a
• information system can communicate to each of the persons a person specific path from the location of each of the persons to a part of the territory sought by
• the data processor can locate the retro reflector relative to a target object.
• the target object position can be determined by another retro reflector data input
• the target object could be a game animal and this would enable
• the target object could be another person and this
• the fixed component the variable component, the identity signal, and the signal

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
• Image Input (AREA)
• Image Processing (AREA)
• Audible And Visible Signals (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=21741177

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (14)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2000
  • 2000-03-21 WO PCT/US2000/007538 patent/WO2001071397A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-03-21 JP JP2001569530A patent/JP2003528382A/ja active Pending
  • 2000-03-21 KR KR1020027012409A patent/KR20020092393A/ko not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-03-21 EP EP00919515A patent/EP1275017A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-03-21 CN CNB008193533A patent/CN1237354C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-03-21 AU AU2000240189A patent/AU2000240189A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-03-21 BR BR0017178-6A patent/BR0017178A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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