Abstract:
An optical input apparatus is provided and includes an input device for providing data and control signals to a computer; and at least one object sensing module disposed on a top of the input device and each including an optical sensor and a light source. The light source is capable of emitting light upward divergently to create a virtual sensing space above.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to computer input devices and more particularly to an optical input apparatus. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Computers are widely used by people through out the world. In computing, an input device is any peripheral used to provide data and control signals to, for example, a computer. Examples of input devices include keyboards, mice, scanner, digital cameras, and joysticks. 
         [0005]    There is a typical touch panel comprising a transparent capacitive sensing medium adapted to detect multiple touches that occur at a same time and at distinct locations on a plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of a location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each touch wherein the transparent capacitive sensing medium includes a first layer having a plurality of transparent first conductive lines electrically isolated from one another; and a second layer spatially separated from the first layer and having a plurality of transparent second conductive lines electrically isolated from one another, the second conductive lines being positioned transverse to the first conductive lines, the intersection of transverse lines being positioned at different locations on the plane of the touch panel, each second conductive line being operatively coupled to a capacitive monitoring circuitry; and wherein the capacitive monitoring circuitry is adapted to detect changes in charge coupling between the first and second conductive lines 
         [0006]    Notwithstanding the prior art, the invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an optical input apparatus optical input apparatus comprising an input device for providing data and control signals to a computer; and at least one object sensing module disposed on a top of the input device and each including an optical sensor and a light source; wherein the light source is capable of emitting light upward divergently to create a virtual sensing space above. 
         [0008]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an optical input apparatus according to the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of the invention with the object sensing module disposed on top of a mouse; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of the invention with the object sensing modules disposed on top of a keyboard. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an optical input apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an input device  10 , an object sensing module  20 , a signal processing unit  21 , a signal identifying unit  30 , a switching unit  40 , and a transmission unit  50 . Each of the above components will be discussed in detail below. 
         [0013]    The input device  10  is implemented as a mouse  101  for indicating what it is pointing to on the screen. 
         [0014]    The object sensing module  20  is disposed on a top of the mouse  101  and includes an optical sensor (not shown) and a light source (not shown) which is a light-emitting diode (LED). Alternatively, the light source is capable of emitting invisible light such as infrared (IR) or ultra red light if interference from day light is not desired. The emitted light is directed upward divergently so that an object (e.g., the hand) in a space (i.e., virtual sensing space) above the object sensing module  20  by a predetermined distance range can be sensed by the object sensing module  20 . In detail, the hand in the space may deflect light impinged thereon toward the object sensing module  20 . The deflected light is received by the optical sensor of the object sensing module  20  and converted into a control signal being representative a homogeneous coordinate including a first horizontal distance (e.g., X-axis), a second horizontal distance (e.g., Y-axis) perpendicular to the first horizontal distanced, and a vertical distance (e.g., Z-axis). The control signal is then sent to the signal processing unit  21  which in turn processes the control signal to translate into a motion of a pointer on a display. Preferably, the optical sensor of the object sensing module  20  is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor which is capable of sensing object(s) in a wide angle. 
         [0015]    The signal identifying unit  30  is electrically connected to the input device  10  and the signal processing unit  21  respectively and configured to identify whether the control signal is a hand touching signal or a signal of sensing the hand above. 
         [0016]    The switching unit  40  is electrically connected to the signal identifying unit  30  and configured to switch an operation mode of the input device  10  to either a hand touching mode or a hand sensing mode. In detail, after switching the switching unit  40  to the hand touching mode the signal identifying unit  30  identifies the control signal as a hand touching signal of the input device  10  and sends same to the transmission unit  50 . Alternatively, after switching the switching unit  40  to the hand sensing mode the signal identifying unit  30  identifies the control signal as a signal of sensing the hand of the input device  10  and sends same to the transmission unit  50 . 
         [0017]    The transmission unit  50  is electrically connected to the signal identifying unit  30  and configured to receive the hand touching signal or the signal of sensing the hand prior to sending to a computer  60  for further processing. Finally, a pointer (e.g., cursor) moves on the display based on the result of the processing. The transmission unit  50  is a wireless Bluetooth transmitter or a wire Universal Serial Bus (USB) transmitter. All above components are powered by a battery (not shown) and such is conventional technology. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an optical input apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The characteristics of the second preferred embodiment are substantially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment except the following: The input device  10  is implemented as a keyboard  102  for keying alphanumerical data. Three object sensing modules  20 A are provided on a top surface of the keyboard  102 . Likewise, the emitted light is directed upward divergently so that an object (e.g., the hand) in a virtual sensing space above the object sensing module  20 A by a predetermined distance range can be sensed by the object sensing module  20 A. The switching unit  40  is configured to switch the operation mode of the keyboard  102  to either a hand touching mode or a hand sensing mode. Alternatively, the input device  10  is implemented as a touchpad (not shown) in another preferred embodiment. 
         [0019]    It is envisaged by the invention that two hands are allowed to manipulate the input device or activate the object sensing module from above. 
         [0020]    While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.