Patent ID: 6710770
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: G06F,G06K

Abstract:
A method to obtain information from an interaction of at least one user-object with a virtual input device defined on a device plane, the method comprising the following steps:(a) generating with a fan beam a plane of light substantially parallel to and spaced-above said device plane a distance sufficiently small such that penetration of said plane of light by said at least one user-object is equivalent to interactingly touching a virtual input device position on said device plane; (b) using a single sensor that acquires data representing a single image at a given time to determine from light reflected from said plane of light if and when at least a portion of said at least one user-object penetrates said plane of light and thus interactingly touches a position on said device plane; and (c) for each contact with said device plane determined to occur at step (b) determining contact position relative to said single sensor; wherein a function of said virtual input device associated with each contact position determined at step (c) is ascertainable.