AN ARRANGEMENT FOR THE OPTICAL REMOTE CONTROL OF APPARATUS

Abstract: The object of the invention is an arrangement of the optical remote control of apparatus, for example, a data terminal, an on-line bill payment terminal, movement surveillance equipment or similar, using, for example, the palm of the hand or a finger as a control. The arrangement includes a light transmitter part (1), in which there are several sources of light (2), a first collector member (3), through which the light from each of the sources of light (2) of the transmitter part (1) travels to the presumed keyboard (4), in which a keyboard layout is arranged. Each presumed key (5) in the keyboard layout is connected to at least one source of light (2) in the transmitter part (1), the image of which source of light (2) is visible at the location of the relevant presumed key (5). The arrangement also includes a light receiver part (6), a second collector member (7), through which the light coming from the keyboard (or, more precisely, the image of the source of light at the key in question) travels to the receiver part (6), and a processor, which monitors and/or controls the operation of the light transmitter part (1). Each source of light (2) is timed to light up in turn as part of a group and/or separately, so that when the finger or palm of the hand is at the position of a presumed key (5), the light coming from the source of light (2) is reflected from it through the second collector member (7) to the receiver part (6), when the processor recognizes the moment when the various sources of light (2) are on and, on the basis of the data relating to the moment of reception of the light arriving at the receiver (6), recognizes which key is in operation.

Description: An arrangement for the optical remote control of apparatus The object of the invention is an arrangement for the optical remote control of apparatus, such as an information terminal, on-line bill payment terminal, movement surveillance equipment, or similar, by using as the controlling device the palm of the hand or a finger or a separate, hand-held controlling device. The object of the invention is to facilitate the optical remote control of different processor controlled apparatus, so that the said apparatus can be used through glass, for example, by touching the positions of the keys located on the outer surface of the glass. This kind of arrangement is suitable for use in the windows of various types of shops, for example, when the apparatus could contain different kinds of information about the products on sale and the raw materials and production methods used etc. An optical keyboard according to the invention is also suitable for use in diverse on¬ line bill payment terminals and movement monitoring equipment. An arrangement according to the invention is characterized by the features presented in identifying part 1 of the Patent Claims. In what follows the invention is described making references to the accom¬ panying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the principle of an arrangement according to the invention Figures 2 to 4 show diagrammatically different alternatives for the practical realization of an arrangement according to the invention In accordance with Figure 1 , an arrangement according to the invention comprises a transmitter part 1 , from which light is transmitted through a collector member 3 to the presumed keyboard 4, and a receiver part 6 to which the light coming from the keyboard 4 is directed through the collector member 7. Light coming from the transmitter part 1 reflects onto the receiver 6 only when a finger or a palm or similar controlling member has been placed on a certain key on the pattern of keys on the keyboard. The pre¬ sumed keyboard 4 can be located on the outer surface of a single or multi¬ layered pane of glass but any other material through which light can pene¬ trate could also be used. In principle, the presumed keyboard 4 can be formed without any solid surface, when the key pattern could be produced by e.g. the hologram technique. In this context, presumed keyboard and presumed keys mean that the keyboard has been formed optically, for example on the outer surface of glass, by transmitting the image of a source of light onto the desired position on the keyboard, the pattern of which has been marked on the relevant surface with an adhesive label or similar, so that the user knows which position to press with a finger to produce the desired dialling pattern. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the transmitter part 1 is formed by several light sources 2, which could, for example, be LEDs operating in the infrared radiation zone. Light transmitted by the LEDs 2 travels through the collector member 3 onto the presumed keyboard 4, the key pattern 8 of which has been marked by attaching an appropriate adhesive label on the outer surface of the window pane or similar surface. The key pattern 8 contains the required number of keys 5 arranged advantageously into a matrix which, in the shown embodiment, contains three vertical rows 9-11 and seven horizontal rows 12-18. The key pattern 8 can, for example, have number keys running in one direction and arrow keys in another. A lens or a hole in a board, for example, can be used as the collecting member 3. The board in question could advantageously be the front wall of the case 20 which, advantageously, contains both the transmitter part 1 and the receiver part 6. Each key 5 of the key pattern 8 connects with its own LED 2, so that the light transmitted by the LED 2 in question reflects in respect of the key connected with it through a second collecting member 7 to the receiver part 6 only when the key in question is pressed with a finger or a similar control¬ ling member. An elongated gap or cylindrical lens act advantageously as the second collecting member 7. The receiver part 6 contains advanta- geously a separate receiver 6 a -6 c for each vertical row 9-11 of the key pattern 8. The operation of the LEDs 2 has been timed for example so that each LED is on separately, one at a time, so that when a given receiver 6 a -6 c detects light, the processor connected with the arrangement indicates whether any of the light sources 2 belonging to the same row are lit at the same time, thereby providing information on whether it was a 'correct' identification or an error message. For the recognition of a LED, the proces¬ sor uses information connected with the moment of time the different LEDs are on and the moment of time the light coming to the receiver 6 a - 6 c is received. The LEDs 2 can also be arranged to come on as groups, for example, a vertical row at a time, so that when the receiver detects light from a particular row, the processor identifies the LED in question for example so that the LEDs of the row in question are arranged to come on one at a time , and the processor can determine which LED is on at the moment the light is detected. The recognition of the LEDs can also be realized so that after the reception of the light in the receiver the LEDs are lit up one horizontal row at a time. Figure 3 shows a similar arrangement to Figure 2, in which essentially round holes in the front panel of the case 20 act as the collecting members 3 and 7. Furthermore, in this embodiment each light transmitter 2 corre¬ sponds with its own receiver, which receivers have been advantageously connected with each other in vertical rows. Figure 4 show one other embodiment, in which the transmitter part 1 and the receiver part 6 have been placed inside the case 20 so that the light coming from the transmitter part 1 reflects via a concave mirror 3 onto the presumed keyboard so that when a finger is placed on a certain key, the light continues to reflect via the concave mirror 7 to the receiver 6. In accordance with the Figures, the rays of light coming from the transmitter part 1 travel diagonally in relation to the presumed keyboard 4, whereas the rays of light going from the keyboard 4 to the receiver 6 travel at essentially right-angles to the keyboard. This transmission of light in a direction which differs from the direction it is received makes the locating of the presumed keyboard in the desired position (at the desired distance from the case 20) relatively easy. Furthermore, it produces the illusion that the glass or corresponding surface upon which the keyboard is located is, in itself, touch sensitive, i.e., to dial the desired series, the user must press a finger clearly against the surface which contains the keyboard.

Claims: Claims 1. An arrangement for the optical remote control of apparatus, for example, a data terminal, an on-line bill payment terminal, movement surveillance equipment or similar, using, for example, the palm of the hand or a finger as a control, characterized in that the arrangement includes a light transmit¬ ter part (1 ), in which there are several sources of light (2), a first collector member (3), through which the light from each of the sources of light (2) of the transmitter part (1) travels to the presumed keyboard (4), in which a keyboard layout is arranged, when each presumed key (5) in the keyboard layout is connected to at least one source of light (2) in the transmitter part (1), the image of which source of light (2) is visible at the location of the relevant presumed key (5), a light receiver part (6), a second collector member (7), through which the light coming from the keyboard (or, more precisely, the source of light's image at the key in question) travels to the processor of the receiver part (6), which monitors and/or controls the operation of the light transmitter part (1 ), each source of light (2) being timed to light up in turn as part of a group and/or separately, so that when the finger or palm of the hand is at the position of a presumed key (5), the light coming from the source of light (2) is reflected from it through the second collector member (7) to the receiver part (6), when the processor recognizes the moment when the various sources of light (2) are on and, on the basis of the data relating to the moment of reception of the light arriving at the receiver (6), recognizes which key is in operation. 2. An arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the key¬ board layout comprises a matrix of vertical (9, 10, 11) and horizontal rows (12 - 18), in which a receiver (6 a, 6 b, 6 c) is dedicated to each vertical row (9 -11 ), so that when light corresponding to a certain vertical row (9 - 11 ) is observed by a receiver (6 a - 6 c), the processor states whether one of the sources of light (2) belonging to that row has lit up at the same moment, so that it is known whether this is a 'correct' identification or an error message. 3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sources of light are LED's transmitting infrared radiation, and that the receiver (6 a - 6 c) is an infrared-sensitive detector. 4. An arrangement according any of the above claims, characterized in that the first collector member (3) is a hole or lens, and that the second collector member (7) is a elongated gap or cylindrical lens. 5. An arrangement according any of the above claims, characterized in that the transmitter part (1 ), the first collector member (3), the second collector member (7) and the receiver part (6) are located in a common case (20), which is at a distance from the presumed keyboard (4). 6. An arrangement according to any of the above claims, characteπzed in that the presumed keyboard (4) is arranged on the outer surface of a display window or other corresponding transparent surface, the transmitter part / receiver part arrangement being located inside at a distance from the inner surface of the above window/surface. 7. An arrangement according to any of the above claims, characterized in that the transmitter part (1) is located in such a way that the rays of light coming from the sources of light (2) travel at an angle to the keyboard (4), and that the receiver part (6) is in turn located to receive rays of light coming from the keyboard (4) at essentially right-angles.

Inventors: MAULA KYOESTI VEIJO OLAVI, MAULA, KYOESTI, VEIJO, OLAVI
Applicants: MAULA KYOESTI VEIJO OLAVI, MAULA, KYOESTI, VEIJO, OLAVI
Application year: 1997
Main classification: H03K17
IPC codes: H03K17