Input system for controlling electronic device
An electronic device includes a display for displaying data stored on said electronic device; input means; sensing means for sensing the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device; and control means for controlling the data displayed on said display in dependence on the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device. The input means includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for directing an infrared conical beam onto the display. The sensing means can sense the elliptical eccentricity of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the angle at which it strikes the display, and can sense the area of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the distance of the input means from the display.
1. An electronic input device, comprising:
an input object;
an input area;
wherein the input object is operative to direct a geometric beam of electromagnetic radiation;
an electromagnetic radiation pattern produced on the input area by the beam directed from the input object, wherein geometrical characteristics of the pattern are a function of the spatial relationship of the input object relative to the input area;
sensing means positioned at least partially at a periphery of the input area, operative to sense and provide an output indication of at least two of position, orientation, shape, and size of the electromagnetic radiation pattern; and
processing circuitry operative to receive the output indication and provide an electronic input representing at least one of two-dimensional position, three-dimensional position, and orientation of the input object relative to the input area.
2. An electronic input device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a display providing a visually sensible output which is responsive to the input object.
3. An electronic input device according to claim 1 , wherein the input object includes a stylus having a cylindrical shape with an end that emits the electromagnetic radiation.
4. An electronic input device according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes radiation selected from the group consisting of infra red light, ultraviolet light, visible light, and collimated light.
5. An electronic input device, comprising:
an input object;
an input area;
wherein the input object is operative to direct a shaped geometric beam of electromagnetic radiation;
an electromagnetic radiation pattern produced on the input area by the beam directed from the input object;
sensing means positioned at a periphery of the input area operative to sense and provide an output indication of at least two of position, orientation, shape, and size of the electromagnetic radiation pattern; and
processing circuitry operative to receive the output indication and provide an electronic input representing at least one of two-dimensional position, three-dimensional position, and orientation of the input object relative to the input area.
6. A method for making an electronic input device, comprising:
providing an input object;
providing a physical input area;
providing a sensor array positioned at least partially circumscribing and immediately proximate the input area;
projecting electromagnetic radiation from the input object on to the input area to create an electromagnetic radiation pattern on the input area;
sensing a portion of the electromagnetic radiation by the sensor array;
providing an output indication of position and at least two of orientation, shape, and size of the sensed portion of the electromagnetic radiation; and
providing input circuitry that receives the output indication and provides an electronic input representing at least one of two-dimensional position, three-dimensional position, and orientation of the input object.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation pattern is created on the input area and includes an elliptical shape having a geometry which is a function of the location of the input object relative to the input area.
8. An electronic input device, comprising:
an input area;
an input object projecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation on the input area;
a sensor array positioned outside the input area operative to sense and provide an output indication of position and at least two of orientation, shape and size of said electromagnetic radiation on the input area produced by the input object;
wherein the electromagnetic radiation pattern includes an elliptical shape having a size that is a function of the distance of the input object relative to the input area; and
input circuitry receiving the output indication and providing an electronic input representing at least one of two-dimensional position, three-dimensional position, and orientation of the input object.
9. An electronic input device, comprising:
an input object emitting electromagnetic radiation;
an input area;
a sensor array positioned outside the input area operative to sense and provide an output indication of position and at least two of orientation, shape, and size of an electromagnetic radiation pattern on the input area produced by the input object;
input circuitry receiving the output indication and providing an electronic input representing at least one of two-dimensional position, three-dimensional position and orientation of the input object;
wherein the electronic input representing orientation includes an electronic input representing angular orientation of the input object relative to the input area; and
the input object includes a source of the electromagnetic radiation, and wherein the sensing array senses the electromagnetic radiation pattern correlating to an elliptical pattern produced by a conical beam that intersects the input area in a pattern forming the ellipse having properties that are a function of at least one of position, distance and orientation of the input object.
10. An electronic input device, comprising:
an input object directing an electromagnetic beam;
an input area;
an electromagnetic radiation pattern produced on the input area by the beam directed from the input object;
sensing means positioned at least partially at a periphery of the input area, operative to sense and provide an output indication of the area and intensity of the beam as the beam strikes the input area, thereby to determine the three-dimensional position of the input object relative to the input area; and
processing circuitry operative to receive the output indication and provide an electronic input representing the three-dimensional position of the input object relative to the input area.