Patent ID: 8184003

Claim:
An object locating apparatus for signaling to a user the continuous existence of an object within a designated area that is defined by the apparatus, the apparatus configured to detect energy from the object, the apparatus comprising: at least two apertures configured to permit a controlled amount of energy therethrough and into an energy detector housing; and at least one energy detector within the energy detector housing configured to detect at least some of the energy coming through the apertures and to generate a signal that translates the detected energy into information about the location of the object within the designated area, the information comprising at least two aspects: (a) whether an object has entered or left the designated area, and (b) the moment to moment position of the object within the designated area relative to the apparatus, where the apparatus is configured so that the signal information comprising the relative position of the object is used to direct a device communicatively linked to the apparatus, and wherein the designated area is defined by the volume of space from which energy from the object can penetrate the apertures and still reach the energy detector, so that energy radiated from without the designated area has no impact on the signal generated by the energy detector.