The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 03, 1996
Philippe P Piernot, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Marcos R Vescovi, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Jonathan R Cohen, San Francisco, CA (US);
Rafael Granados, Berkeley, CA (US);
Golan Levin, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Justin Willow, Stanford, CA (US);
Interval Research Corporation, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A computer input system and method is described which includes a spatial reference member having a body with a first surface and an opposing second surface. The spatial reference member separates a first spatial region including the first surface from a second spatial region including the second surface. A physical object is movable within the first spatial region. Optical indicia tracks the physical object through the body. The optical indicia is observable from the second spatial region. An optical detector positioned in the second spatial region tracks the optical indicia and develops signals which may serve as inputs to a computer. The object may emit a signal which is tracked by the optical detector.