Digital camera cursor control by sensing finger position on lens cap
US6608648B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/631
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An array of photosensors, used for imaging in a digital camera, is used to detect pressure, for example pressing by a finger, on an attached lens cap. The location of the pressure may be used to directly position a cursor, or the location of the pressure may be used to control direction of movement of a cursor. The lens cap is designed so that pressure on an outer layer changes reflectance or color of an area on an inner layer. For example, an inner layer may be translucent and dark and separated by a gap from a light colored outer layer. When the outer layer is pressed against the inner layer, the area of contact has an increased reflectance. Alternatively, the inner layer may be transparent, and a colored liquid may separate the inner layer from a light colored outer layer. When the outer layer is pressed against the inner layer, the area where all the liquid is displaced has the color of the outer layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.