IP Library Granted Patent US 9,841,848
Granted Patent B2
US 9,841,848 · App. 14/739,189 · Granted Dec 12, 2017

Input device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,841,848
App. No.
14/739,189
Granted
Dec 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input device includes an irradiation component that emits scanning light relative to an input region of a projected image, a light receiver that receives reflected light of the scanning light to output detection signal, a detector that detects an input operation relative to the input region based on the detection signal from the light receiver; and a controller that sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light from the irradiation component based on the input region.

Claims (52)

1. An input device comprising:

a projector that projects projection light that forms an image with an input region on a predetermined area;

an irradiator that emits scanning light relative to the predetermined area, the scanning light being different from the projection light;

a light receiver that receives reflected light of the scanning light to output detection signal;

a detector that detects an input operation relative to the input region based on the detection signal from the light receiver; and

a controller that controls the irradiator to emit the scanning light at different emission patterns according to an arrangement of the input region within the image, the controller further controlling the irradiator to irradiate the input region in a predetermined direction, with the predetermined direction including a first direction and a second direction that is opposite in a scanning direction, and to turn off the scanning light at a scan line along either the first direction or the second direction in the input region.

2. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light, the irradiation parameter including at least one of an irradiation region of the irradiator, a frame rate relative to the input region, velocity of the scanning light, and spot size of the scanning light.

3. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to emit the scanning light on at least the input images.

4. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light based on an arrangement of the input images.

5. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being arranged in the first direction of the input region, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to emit the scanning light along the scan line that passes through a center of the input images that are arranged in the first direction of the input region.

6. The input device according to claim 5 , wherein

the scan line extends parallel to the first direction of the input region.

7. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being arranged in rows that extend in the first direction of the input region and are arranged in the second direction of the input region that intersects with the first direction, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to prevent the scanning light from moving in the second direction of the input region while emitting the scanning light along the first direction of the input region.

8. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light based on size of the input images.

9. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, and

the controller sets spot size of the scanning light as an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to correspond to size of the input images.

10. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being arranged in the first direction of the input region, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to continuously emit the scanning light on the input images while the scanning light moving through the input images in the first direction of the input region.

11. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being spaced apart in the first direction of the input region, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to intermittently emit the scanning light according to positions of the input images while the scanning light moving through the input images in the first direction of the input region.

12. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being arranged in rows with different pitches therebetween.

13. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being arranged in the first direction of the input region, with the input images being at least partially offset with respect to each other in the second direction of the input region that intersects with the first direction.

14. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the input region has input images for the input operation, with the input images being arranged in rows, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light not to emit the scanning light between the rows.

15. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the image further has a video region that is different from the input region, and

the controller sets an irradiation parameter of the scanning light to emit the scanning light only on the input region.

16. The input device according to claim 15 , wherein

the image is based on an application that accepts the input operation.

17. The input device according to claim 1 , wherein

the irradiator includes a light emitter that emits the scanning light, and a scanner that moves the scanning light.

18. The input device according to claim 17 , wherein

the irradiator further includes an optical component that adjust spot size of the scanning light.

19. The input device according to claim 17 , wherein

the scanner includes a scanning mirror that reflects the scanning light towards the input region.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: FUNAI GROUP CO., LTD
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 073121/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (F/K/A FE-TECH CO., LTD.)
To: FEC IP LLC
Reel/Frame 073121/0883 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2015
From: NISHIOKA, KEN
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 035837/0033 →