Contactless operation of devices using a pointing apparatus

1. A system for contactless operation of a device, comprising:

an electromagnetic pointing apparatus, comprising at least one electromagnetic signal emitter configured to emit a radar signal;

at least three receivers configured to receive the radar signal emitted by the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter; and

a processor configured to:

determine a pointing target of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus relative to the device based on the received radar signal; and

trigger a function of the device based on the determined pointing target of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to compare the radar signal with a reference signal.

3. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an electromagnetic signal emitter associated with the device configured to emit a trigger signal to cause the electromagnetic pointing apparatus to emit the radar signal from the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to perform a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) method for determining a distance between the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus and the at least three receivers.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus further comprises at least a second signal emitter configured to emit a second radar signal and/or a sensor for determining an inclination of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus;

wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus is further configured to determine a pointing axis of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus further comprises:

at least one push-button; and

a modulator configured to modulate information on the radar signal emitted by the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter in response to actuation of the at least one push-button.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus further comprises a fingerprint scanner and/or a communication device configured to communicate with a fingerprint sensor wearable under a glove of an operator.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least three receivers are arranged at the device or arranged remotely relative to the device with a defined spatial relationship thereto.

9. A method for contactless operation of a device, comprising:

emitting, by at least one electromagnetic signal emitter of an electromagnetic pointing apparatus, a radar signal;

receiving, by at least three receivers, the radar signal emitted by the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter;

determining, by a processor, a pointing target of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus relative to the device based on the received radar signal; and

triggering, by the processor, a function of the device based on the determined pointing target of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

comparing the radar signal with a reference signal.

11. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

emitting, by an electromagnetic signal emitter associated with the device, a trigger signal to cause the electromagnetic pointing apparatus to emit the radar signal from the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter.

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

performing, by the processor, a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) method for determining a distance between the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus and the at least three receivers.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus further comprises at least a second signal emitter configured to emit a second radar signal and/or a sensor for determining an inclination of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus; and

wherein the method further comprises: determining, by the electromagnetic pointing apparatus, a pointing axis of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus further comprises at least one push-button and a modulator; and

wherein the method further comprises: modulating, by the modulator, information on the radar signal emitted by the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter in response to actuation of the at least one push-button.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic pointing apparatus further comprises a fingerprint scanner and/or a communication device configured to communicate with a fingerprint sensor wearable under a glove of an operator.

16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the at least three receivers are arranged at the device or arranged remotely relative to the device with a defined spatial relationship thereto.

17. One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums having processor-executable instructions stored thereon for contactless operation of a device, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, facilitate performance of the following:

emitting, by at least one electromagnetic signal emitter of an electromagnetic pointing apparatus, a radar signal;

receiving, by at least three receivers, the radar signal emitted by the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter;

determining, by a processor, a pointing target of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus relative to the device based on the received radar signal; and

triggering, by the processor, a function of the device based on the determined pointing target of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums according to claim 17 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, further facilitate performance of the following:

comparing the radar signal with a reference signal.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums according to claim 17 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, further facilitate performance of the following:

emitting, by an electromagnetic signal emitter associated with the device, a trigger signal to cause the electromagnetic pointing apparatus to emit the radar signal from the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediums according to claim 17 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, further facilitate performance of the following:

performing, by the processor, a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) method for determining a distance between the at least one electromagnetic signal emitter of the electromagnetic pointing apparatus and the at least three receivers.