A method and apparatus for inputting data for an electronic data entry device are provided. In one embodiment, identification of an input object such as the particular fingers of a user that are used to actuate a key region is performed. The symbol associated with the actuated key region and the finger (or other input object) used is determined. In other embodiments, virtual input devices with interfaces such as QWERTY style keyboards, phone keypads, and multi-touch capable touchpads or tablets are provided in input regions. One or more video capturing devices remotely acquire actuation information from the input regions during data entry. User inputted symbols or functions are determined based on the actuations, their locations and identified input object sets that caused the actuations.

An input device includes an optical sensor which senses an object on a plane where the emitted light travels, an optical member which changes a path of the light emitted from the optical sensor, and a processing unit which performs input processing based on sensing results of the optical sensor; the optical sensor and the optical member form a first sensing surface consisting of a planar region in which the light emitted from the optical sensor travels and a second sensing surface that is farther from the optical sensor than the first sensing surface, and the processing unit performs the input processing based on a first sensing result of the optical sensor on the first sensing surface and a second sensing result of the optical sensor on the second sensing surface.

A system for interacting with a screen without touching it, comprising a source of radiating energy directed into a predefined area, at least one directionally sensitive sensor that detects the radiation when it's reflected off of an object within the predefined area, and a processor that calculates position and motion information of the object and generates therefrom image information, which it sends to a screen where it is displayed.

Provided are an electronic device and an operation method thereof according to embodiments. The electronic device according to an embodiment includes an optical module configured to radiate light to an object and to detect a distance to the object from the electronic device by using light reflected from the object. The electronic device further includes a processor configured to determine touch information and/or gesture information of the object based on information about the detected distance to the object.

A system for interacting with a screen without touching it, comprising a source of radiating energy directed into a predefined area, at least one directionally sensitive sensor that detects the radiation when it's reflected off of an object within the predefined area, and a processor that calculates position and motion information of the object and generates therefrom image information, which it sends to a screen where it is displayed.

A method and apparatus for inputting data for an electronic data entry device are provided. In one embodiment, identification of an input object such as the particular fingers of a user that are used to actuate a key region is performed. The symbol associated with the actuated key region and the finger (or other input object) used is determined. In other embodiments, virtual input devices with interfaces such as QWERTY style keyboards, phone keypads, and multi-touch capable touchpads or tablets are provided in input regions. One or more video capturing devices remotely acquire actuation information from the input regions during data entry. User inputted symbols or functions are determined based on the actuations, their locations and identified input object sets that caused the actuations.

A method is described for generating a visible image on a projection surface, in the course of which visible light is emitted from a first laser resonator, the visible light is deflected in the direction of the projection surface with the aid of a deflection element, in particular a micromirror, in order to generate the image, and a light spot of visible light is generated on the deflection element, and invisible light is emitted from a second laser resonator, and a light ring is generated on the deflection element from the invisible light, which enlarges the light spot.

A projection system emits light pulses in a field of view and measures properties of reflections. Properties may include time of flight and return amplitude. Foreground objects and background surfaces are distinguished, distances between foreground objects and background surfaces are determined based on reflections that are occluded by the foreground objects and other properties of the projection system.

An optical system including multiple lenses to receive respective laser beams, and including a combiner (an optical device) to receive the laser beams from the multiple lenses and to combine the laser beams into a single beam. The optical assembly includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror to reflect the single beam from the combiner and provide a reflected beam as an exit beam through a window to an object. The optical assembly includes a single-pixel photodetector to collect light reflected from the object.

An irradiation optical system includes a uniformizing section and an irradiation lens section. The uniformizing section brings in-plane distribution of light emitted from a light source, close to uniform in-plane distribution. The irradiation lens section diffuses the light in a predetermined direction. The in-plane distribution of the light is brought close to the uniform in-plane distribution by the uniformizing section. The irradiation lens section includes, in order from the light source, a first cylindrical lens and a second cylindrical lens each having negative refractive power in the predetermined direction.