US 11,733,808 B2
Object detector based on reflected light
Stefan Johannes Holmgren, Sollentuna (SE); Sairam Iyer, San Jose, CA (US); Tom Richard Berglind, Alvsjö (SE); Karl Erik Patrik Nordström, Huddinge (SE); Lars Bertil Sparf, Vällingby (SE); Per Carl Sture Rosengren, Täby (SE); Erik Anders Claes Rosengren, Stockholm (SE); John Elis Gösta Karlsson, Märsta (SE); Björn Thomas Eriksson, Tynningö (SE); Björn Alexander Jubner, Spånga (SE); Remo Behdasht, Lane Cove (AU); Simon Greger Fellin, Sigtuna (SE); Robin Kjell Åman, Spånga (SE); and Joseph Shain, Stockholm (SE)
Assigned to Neonode, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Neonode Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/385,260.
Application 14/880,231 is a division of application No. 14/312,787, filed on Jun. 24, 2014, granted, now 9,164,625, issued on Oct. 20, 2015.
Application 17/385,260 is a continuation of application No. 16/739,142, filed on Jan. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,073,948.
Application 16/739,142 is a continuation of application No. 15/990,587, filed on May 25, 2018, granted, now 10,534,479, issued on Jan. 14, 2020.
Application 15/990,587 is a continuation of application No. 14/880,231, filed on Oct. 11, 2015, granted, now 10,004,985, issued on Jun. 26, 2018.
Application 14/312,787 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2014/040112, filed on May 30, 2014.
Application 14/312,787 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/140,635, filed on Dec. 26, 2013, granted, now 9,001,087, issued on Apr. 7, 2015.
Application 14/140,635 is a continuation of application No. 13/732,456, filed on Jan. 2, 2013, granted, now 8,643,628, issued on Feb. 4, 2014.
Application 14/312,787 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/775,269, filed on Feb. 25, 2013, granted, now 8,917,239.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/828,713, filed on May 30, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/838,296, filed on Jun. 23, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/846,089, filed on Jul. 15, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/929,992, filed on Jan. 22, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/972,435, filed on Mar. 31, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/986,341, filed on Apr. 30, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/713,546, filed on Oct. 14, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0349569 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06F 3/042 (2006.01); G01S 17/48 (2006.01); G01J 1/04 (2006.01); G01J 1/42 (2006.01); G06F 3/03 (2006.01); G06F 1/16 (2006.01); G06F 3/04883 (2022.01); G06F 3/0488 (2022.01); G06F 3/02 (2006.01); G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); G01S 17/88 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); A63F 13/26 (2014.01); A63F 13/355 (2014.01); A63F 13/92 (2014.01); G01S 17/04 (2020.01); A63F 13/21 (2014.01); A63F 13/213 (2014.01); A63F 13/31 (2014.01); A63F 9/24 (2006.01); G06F 3/01 (2006.01); A63F 13/211 (2014.01); A63F 13/33 (2014.01); A63F 13/428 (2014.01)
CPC G06F 3/0421 (2013.01) [A63F 9/24 (2013.01); A63F 13/21 (2014.09); A63F 13/213 (2014.09); A63F 13/26 (2014.09); A63F 13/31 (2014.09); A63F 13/355 (2014.09); A63F 13/92 (2014.09); G01J 1/0411 (2013.01); G01J 1/42 (2013.01); G01S 7/4811 (2013.01); G01S 7/4813 (2013.01); G01S 7/4815 (2013.01); G01S 17/04 (2020.01); G01S 17/48 (2013.01); G01S 17/88 (2013.01); G06F 1/169 (2013.01); G06F 3/017 (2013.01); G06F 3/021 (2013.01); G06F 3/0219 (2013.01); G06F 3/0304 (2013.01); G06F 3/03547 (2013.01); G06F 3/0428 (2013.01); G06F 3/0488 (2013.01); G06F 3/04883 (2013.01); A63F 13/211 (2014.09); A63F 13/33 (2014.09); A63F 13/428 (2014.09); A63F 2009/245 (2013.01); G06F 1/1616 (2013.01); G06F 2203/04809 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor for a control panel presenting a plurality of controls for user input, comprising:
a housing mounted along an edge of the panel;
a one-dimensional array of alternating light emitters and detectors mounted in said housing, comprising:
a plurality of light pulse emitters for projecting light out of said housing along an in-air detection plane over the panel; and
a plurality of light detectors for detecting reflections of the light projected by said emitters, reflected by an object in the detection plane;
a plurality of lenses mounted and oriented in said housing relative to said emitters and said detectors in such a manner that each light detector receives maximum light intensity when light enters a corresponding lens at a particular angle, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, when the object is located at a specific position in the detection plane, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses at the particular angle to the detector of that pair, the specific position being associated with that emitter-detector pair; and
a processor connected to said emitters and to said detectors, for synchronously co-activating emitter-detector pairs, and configured to determine locations on the panel, each location being mapped to a position in the detection plane that is associated with an emitter-detector pair, by a mapping of the panel to the detection plane.