Importance

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Abstract

A convenient predetermined rectangular passive area is converted into a touch screen suitable for feeding X and Y cartesian coordinate data into a computer by employing ambient light as the medium to sense positioning of a pointer brought near to any desired coordinate location of the touch screen. Such 'pointer' can be a stylus, rod, dowel, finger, pencil, or similar relatively long, slim element readily movable by hand and capable of reflecting a significant proportion of incident ambient light or of creating sharp shadows. The passive area can be any selected rectangular area of suitable size in space or in the air, or on or near an inert panel of plywood, hardboard, sheetrock, or flat wall, etc., or in a region located before a video or tracking screen, selection chart or informational items, for example, a passive custom keyboard. When the pointer comes near this touch screen, respective rays of its reflected or shadowed ambient light enter at least two optical sensing units mounted proximate to (but outside of) at least two adjacent corners of the touch screen. Each unit concentrates a field of vision spanning the screen area, with limited height, onto a line array of photosensors to interpret the angles A and B of detected changes in light intensity levels. X and Y are then determined by intersection of angles A and B using trigonometric procedures. The rugged touch screen method and system advantageously work over wide ranges of sizes of rectangular areas.

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First Claim