Handheld Optical Pointer for Printed Page Interaction

The patent replaces traditional mechanical touchscreen interaction with an optical pointing system using a laser beam. The laser pointer allows children to indicate locations on printed pages without requiring manual dexterity for touchscreen operations or understanding of complex interface sequences. The beam visually indicates the selected location, providing intuitive interaction.

The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary between the laser pointer and the page content. The camera captures images of the page, and computer vision algorithms process these images to identify the location indicated by the laser beam. This intermediary system translates the optical pointing action into actionable data without requiring direct mechanical interaction with the content.

The system performs preliminary actions by capturing multiple images in sequence before final processing. The camera takes a series of images as the laser beam moves across the page, and these pre-captured images are then processed to identify the final selected location. This approach allows for more accurate analysis without requiring real-time processing of every frame.

The patent implements a dwell time threshold that allows the system to skip processing during rapid movement phases. When the laser beam moves quickly across the page, the system does not process every image frame. Instead, it focuses processing on frames where the beam remains stationary or moves slowly, identifying these as the likely selected locations. This reduces unnecessary processing time while maintaining accuracy.