Time-of-flight sensor with rotating mirror for stylus location
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional whiteboards and chalkboards are not easily integrated with electronic information displays, require specialized writing surfaces, and information written on them is difficult to capture electronically for computerized processing or display, making it costly to add touch input capabilities to large displays.
Innovation Solution
A system using a time-of-flight sensor with multiple sensing elements and a rotating mirror to sweep a field of view across a planar surface, allowing for the determination of an object's location through electrical circuitry processing range images to identify and calculate the object's position, which can be adapted to existing electronic displays without the need for costly touchscreens or complex setups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch input capabilities are added to large displays using traditional touchpads or capacitive sensing, then touch sensitivity is improved, but cost increases proportionally with screen area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical and capacitive touch sensing systems with an optical detection system using time-of-flight sensors. This substitution eliminates the need for costly touch-sensitive layers and hardware across the entire display surface, achieving touch input capability through optical measurement of stylus position and pressure without requiring the display itself to be touch-sensitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical sensing system positioned between the user and the display. Instead of making the display surface itself touch-sensitive, the system uses time-of-flight sensors and light reflection off the stylus to detect writing actions, transferring the touch sensitivity function from the display to an external optical measurement system.
2Ease of operation
If traditional whiteboards or chalkboards are used for writing, then writing capability is provided, but electronic capture of written information is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the time-of-flight sensors continuously monitor stylus position and writing actions, and this information is immediately translated into electronic signals that can be captured and processed by a computer. The system provides real-time feedback about writing motions, enabling seamless conversion of physical writing into digital information without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual process of transcribing whiteboard content with electronic systems by using optical sensors to automatically detect and capture writing actions. The time-of-flight measurement system substitutes for human observation and manual data entry, directly converting physical writing motions into electronic information that can be stored and processed.
3Loss of information
If electronic scanning capability is added to whiteboards, then electronic capture is improved, but the scanning mechanism must span the entire whiteboard and be costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical scanning mechanisms with stationary optical sensors. Instead of requiring a physical scanner to move across the whiteboard surface, the system uses time-of-flight sensors that can detect stylus position and writing actions from a fixed position through optical measurement, eliminating the need for large-scale mechanical scanning infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional scanning approach (requiring mechanical movement across the surface) to a three-dimensional optical measurement approach. The time-of-flight sensors measure distance and position in three-dimensional space, allowing electronic capture without mechanical scanning by utilizing the vertical dimension and light propagation characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a cost-effective and space-efficient method to capture written input on any planar surface, enabling electronic display of writing motions without physically marking the surface, and can be adapted to existing electronic displays, reducing the need for expensive touch input capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A time-of-flight sensor having multiple sensing elements that provide a field of view for the time-of-flight sensor
Implementation Method 2
a mirror attached to the shaft for reflecting the field of view of the time-of-flight sensor across the planar surface
Data Source
AI summary
A system for determining a location of an object on a planar surface includes a time-of-flight sensor having sensing elements that provide a field of view for the time-of-flight sensor. The system also includes a mirror attached to the shaft of a motor for reflecting the field of view of the time-of-flight sensor across the planar surface. The system also includes electrical circuitry configured to receive range images from the time-of-flight sensor as the field of view is swept across the planar surface and process the range images to identify the object in at least one of the range images. The electrical circuitry is also configured to calculate a location of the object on the planar surface relative to the motor based on an angle of the shaft associated with the at least one range image and based on a distance of the object from time-of-flight sensor.