A method and system are disclosed for recognizing an object, the method including emitting one or more arranged patterns of infrared rays (IR) from an infrared emitter towards a projection region, the one or more arranged patterns of infrared rays forming unique dot patterns; mapping the one or more arranged patterns of infrared rays on the operation region to generate a reference image; capturing an IR image and a RGB image of an object with a wearable device, the wearable device including an infrared (IR) camera and a RGB camera; extracting IR dots from the IR image and determining a match between the extracted IR dots and the reference image; determining a position of the RGB image on the reference image; and mapping the position of the RGB image to a coordinate on the projection region.

Pointing device like mouse or joystick comprises camera for capturing the display screen and image processing means for recognizing and tracking the pointing cursor icon or mark from the captured image and producing the pointing signal. The pointing device of present invention can be used with any type of display without and additional tracking means like ultra sonic sensor, infrared sensor or touch sensor. The pointing device of present invention includes mark outputting portion, camera portion for capturing the said mark outputting portion and image processing portion for recognizing the said mark outputting portion from the captured image and producing the pointing signal.

An interim charging system includes a docking station and a case for a mobile device. The case is magnetically secured to the docking station. The docking station includes a power source and a charger that charges the mobile device in the case.

In some aspects, the disclosure is directed to methods and systems for an advanced computer input device with a rotational degree of freedom (z.sub.rot) in addition to two translation degrees of freedom (x and y), in an easy and intuitive fashion. A plurality of independent position sensors may be arranged on a lower surface of the computer input device, each determining a direction and velocity of motion of the input device when in use. The detected directions and velocities may be compared to determine whether a rotational motion of the input device has been applied as opposed to (or in addition to) a translation.

An optical computer mouse senses movement by detecting the variations in intensity of reflected primary colors from a surface over which the mouse is moved. The surface is illuminated by a plurality of colors of light. An image sensor is formed from an array of photodiodes covered with a color filter array that matches the primary colors of the lights and is used to detect intensity of reflected light of the primary colors from the surface on which the optical computer mouse rests. Variations in the intensity of at least one of the primary colors of reflected light are used to determine movement by the computer mouse. Both the intensity of the individual lights and sensitivity of the array of photo diodes are controlled by a controller.

A learning support system includes: an electronic pen, a writing medium position instruction tool, a position detection apparatus, and a display apparatus. The electronic pen is capable of recording handwriting and transmitting a position instruction signal. The position detection apparatus determines a position of a note provided with the writing medium position instruction tool on a position detection sensor incorporated in a desk mat based on a placement position instruction signal from the writing medium position instruction tool, converts coordinates of coordinate information corresponding to handwriting recorded on the note by the electronic pen, and displays an image corresponding to the handwriting recorded on the note on a display terminal and a teacher terminal in a mode recorded on the note. The learning support system enables an educator to determine a situation of a learner to contribute to an increase effectiveness of learning.

A surface including: multiple data pages, wherein each data page includes: multiple optically detectable marks indicating boundaries of the data page; and an array of data cells, wherein a location of an optically detectable mark in a data cell of the array of data cells encodes information and adjacent data pages use different encoding patterns such that an encoded value would be represented by a first pattern of marks on a first data page and the same encoded value would be represented by a second, different pattern of marks on a second data page.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser for use in an optical module for measuring distances and/or movements, using the self-mixing effect. The semiconductor laser comprises a layer structure including an active region (3) embedded between two layer sequences (1, 2) and further comprises a photodetector arranged to measure an intensity of an optical field resonating in said laser. The photodetector is a phototransistor composed of an emitter layer (e), a collector layer (c) and a base layer (b), each of which being a bulk layer and forming part of one of said layer sequences (1, 2). With the proposed semiconductor laser an optical module based on this laser can be manufactured more easily, at lower costs and in a smaller size than known modules.

A sensor controller, which is connected to sensor electrodes and detects positions of one or more active pens based on charge induced on the sensor electrodes, includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the sensor controller to: detect an approach of one of the one or more active pens using the sensor electrode; pair with the one of the one or more active pens with the approach of the one of the one or more active pens detected and update pairing state information indicative of a pairing state of each of the one or more active pens that is paired with the sensor controller; and transmit the pairing state information from the sensor electrodes to the one or more active pens via an uplink signal used as a reference for time synchronization.

A surface navigation device for a computer or similar graphical display and methods for implementing its operation. The device moves sensitively and precisely over a surface such as a desktop and operator generated changes in its position relative to targetable objects on that desktop arranged about the circumference of a pseudo-circle are described in terms of a lumped motion vector. The motion vector is decomposed into a translational and rotational part by metrical and topological methods. The device communicates each part of the decomposed motion quickly and accurately to a computer screen or other display where it may implement the motion of a cursor or it may be used to manipulate objects having a 3D character by providing them with translational and rotational motions. The rotational parameter generated by the device may also be used independently to trigger some computer action.