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:
Nov. 07, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 17, 1997
Shunichi Numazaki, Kanagawa, JP;
Miwako Doi, Kanagawa, JP;
Akira Morishita, Tokyo, JP;
Naoko Umeki, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroki Miura, Kanagawa, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki, JP;
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for generating information input which are capable of realizing a direct command type information input scheme by which the gesture or the motion can be inputted easily. The apparatus has a timing signal generation unit for generating a timing signal; a lighting unit for emitting a light whose intensity vary in time, according to the timing signal generated by the timing signal generation unit; and a reflected light extraction unit having a sensor array for detecting a reflected light from a target object resulting from the light emitted by the lighting unit, in synchronization with the timing signal generated by the timing signal generation unit, so as to obtain a spatial intensity distribution of the reflected light in a form of a reflected light image indicative of an information input related to the target object, in separation from an external light that is illuminating the target object.