Patent ID: 8907894

Claim:
A touchless pointing device to control a computer in a sterile environment wherein a user controls with a digit, hand gesture, or stylus but does not directly contact the pointing device for operation, comprising: a frame having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first planar area between the top and bottom edges containing a polygonal opening therethrough, and a compartment adjacent the bottom edge, the compartment having a front wall defining a second planar area, wherein the second planar area is substantially parallel to the first planar area; a support adjacent the top edge to incline the frame; at least a first and a second infrared emitter/detector assemblies disposed in the compartment and aimed at the polygonal opening of the frame, projecting and detecting a flashing infrared signal within a first detection region defined by the polygonal opening containing x and y axes and in between the first and second planar areas for a z axis; at least a third and a fourth infrared emitter/detector assemblies contained within the compartment aimed through apertures at the bottom of the frame to define second and third detection regions proximate the apertures; a lens and filter adapted to at least the first and second emitter/detector assemblies; a digital signal processor connected to the infrared emitter/detector assemblies, wherein a flashing reflection from the digit, hand gesture or stylus is received simultaneously by the emitter/detector assemblies, and processed by the digital signal processor to detect the presence, two-dimensional position, and motion of the digit, hand gesture or stylus within the first detection region; and a power and signal cable connecting the computer to the digital signal processor.