An apparatus and method for measuring a contact pressure and a method of manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a material layer configured to provide a light path along which incident light travels to a subject being in contact with the material layer; a spectrum analyzer configured to detect light emitted from the material layer and perform a light absorption spectrum analysis on the detected light to determine an intensity of the detected light; and a pressure calculator configured to determine the contact pressure of the subject based on the determined intensity.

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.

A MEMS device includes a platform carried by a frame via elastic connection elements configured to enable rotation of the platform about a first axis. A bearing structure supports the frame through first and second elastic suspension arms configured to enable rotation of the frame about a second axis transverse to the first axis. The first and second elastic suspension arms are anchored to the bearing structure through respective anchorage portions arranged offset with respect to the second axis. A stress sensor formed by first and second sensor elements respectively arranged on the first and second suspension arms is positioned in proximity of the anchorage portions, on a same side of the second axis, in a symmetrical position with respect to the first axis.

A measuring device for determining a pressure map during application of pressure to at least one measurement layer between a first pressure body and a second pressure body the measuring device comprising: (i) at least one transmitter located on one peripheral edge of the measurement layer for emission of signals in the form of electromagnetic waves along a first signal route which runs through the measurement layer and at least one other signal route which runs through the measurement layer, and (ii) at least one receiver located on the peripheral edge for reception of the signals of the first signal route and other signal route(s), which signals are sent by the transmitter through the measurement layer and can be changed when pressure is applied. Furthermore this invention relates to a corresponding method.

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.

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.

A spatial coordinate identification device includes a detection light source that emits a detection light that scans a detection boundary plane defined in space, an optical sensor that detects a reflected light of the detection light reflected by an indicator when the indicator enters a detection region extending from the detection boundary plane to the detection light source, and a controller. The controller stores virtual touch surface defining information that defines a position of a virtual touch surface based on the detection boundary plane, and identifies, in response to the detection of the reflected light, a position of a boundary point that is an intersecting point of the indicator and the detection boundary plane, and an approach amount by which the indicator has entered the detection region.

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.

Disclosed herein are techniques for determining the position of a light beam on a beam shaping device. A feature can be formed on the beam shaping device to affect at least a portion of a light beam when the feature is illuminated by the light beam. When the light beam is directed onto the feature on the beam shaping device, a feature detection signal may be generated by a detector in response to detecting at least the portion of the light beam affected by the feature that has been illuminated by the light beam. The position of the light beam on the beam shaping device at a time instant can then be determined based, at least in part, on the feature detection signal.

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.