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 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 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.

An interactive display system is described. An example interactive display system includes a laser plane generator that includes laser pane generating device. The generator further includes a laser oriented to emit a beam of infrared light towards the laser plane generating device, which transforms the beam into a plane of infrared light. The plane generating device may be or include a cone mirror, rod lens, or other optical device that can transform a laser beam into a line or plane. The system further includes an imaging device senses the infrared light produced by the laser and detect a reflection produced by an object that breaks the plane of infrared light.

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.

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, an information handling system comprises a scanning system to scan one or more component wavelength beams into a combined multi-component beam in a first field of view, and a redirecting system to redirect one or more of the component wavelength beams into a second field of view. A first subset of the one or more component wavelength beams is projected in the first field of view and a second subset of the one or more component wavelength beams is projected in the second field of view. The first subset may project a visible image in the first field of view, and user is capable of providing an input to control the information handling system via interaction with the second subset in the second field of view.

A scanned beam 3D sensing system includes smart infrared pulsing to detect objects in a field of view. Infrared laser light pulses are emitted at a first density in a field of view and reflections are detected. Times of flight of the infrared laser light pulses are measured to determine if an object is in the field of view. The density of the infrared pulses may be increased based on various factors. The higher density infrared pulses may be scanned in a region of interest that is a subset of the field of view. Power consumption is reduced by reducing the density of laser pulses when possible.

Laser scanning devices and methods are described that provide for improved touch detection. The laser scanning devices and methods determine if an object is touching a touch surface by determining if a halo region having corresponding locally high amplitude signals is proximate to the object. The presence of such a halo region can confirm that the object is touching surface and not just hovering above the surface. Furthermore, the presence of the halo region can confirm object touching even for objects having significantly different sizes. As one example, the determined presence of the halo region can be used to reliably determine that a human finger is touching the surface even though human fingers can have significantly different sizes.

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.

Systems and methods for implementing touchscreen displays that utilize a transmitter system to dynamically scan at least one light beam across a surface of interest such that substantially every point in a region above the surface of interest is dynamically scanned by a light beam from two directions, a receiver system to receive and detect the at least one dynamically scanned light beams, and a processor configured to determine locations of contact are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a transmitter system that includes dynamic transmitters, which may be in the form MEMS micromirrors used in conjunction with infrared semiconductor lasers.