Optical keyboard
US4713535A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 1985 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K17/9629
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical keyboard includes a plurality of photosensors arranged in an X-Y coordinate system where a plurality of rows represent a plurality of X-axes and a plurality of columns represent a plurality of Y-axes. Each sensor represents input to data processing means. When a beam of light is cast onto a photosensor, the photosensor is actuated to transmit a coded signal to a microprocessor board. The microprocessor board scans the array of photosensors row by row sequentially to identify the column position of an actuated photosensor. The input received from the scanning operation is converted to data and transmitted through either a serial or parallel interface to a computer. Interface circuitry converts the data to a form readable by the computer. Thus, by selectively moving a light source to desired photosensors, specific information can be transmitted to a computer for printout or for operation of other devices remotely controlled by the computer to permit the computer to be operated by individuals unable to perform manual keyboard operations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.