Projection keyboard

Projection keyboardFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaA projection keyboardA projection keyboard is a form of computer input device whereby the image of a virtual keyboard is projected onto a surface: when a user touches the surface covered by an image of a key, the device records the corresponding keystroke.HistoryAn optical virtual keyboard was invented and patented by IBM engineers in 1992. It optically detects and analyses human hand and finger motions and interprets them as operations on a physically non-existent input device like a surface with painted or projected keys. In that way it can emulate unlimited types of manually operated input devices (such as a mouse, keyboard, and other devices). Mechanical input units can be replaced bysuch virtual devices, potentially optimized for a specific application and for the user's physiology, maintaining speed, simplicity and unambiguity of manual data input.In 2002, Israeli start-up company Canesta developed a projection keyboard using their proprietary "electronic perception technology".The company subsequently licensed the technology to Celluon of Korea.A proposed system called the P-ISM combines the technology with a small video projector to create a portable computer the size of a fountain pen. DesignA laser projection keyboard used with a tablet.A laser or beamer projects visible virtual keyboard onto level surface. A sensor or camera in the projector picks up fingermovements[1] Software converts the coordinates to identify actions or characters.Some devices project a second (invisible infrared) beam above the virtual keyboard. The user's finger makes a keystroke on the virtual keyboard. This breaks the infrared beam and reflects light back to the projector. Thereflected beam passes through an infrared filter to the camera. The camera photographs the angle of incoming infrared light. The sensor chip determines where infrared beam was broken. Software determines the action or character to be generated.The projection is realized in four main steps and via three modules: projection module, sensor module and illumination module. The main devices and technologies used to project the image are a diffractive optical element, red laser diode, CMOSsensor chip and an infrared (IR) laser diode.Template projection (Projection module)A template produced by a specially designed and highly efficient projection element with a red diode laser is projected onto the adjacent interface surface.The template is not however involved in the detection process and it is only used as a reference for the user. In a fixed environment, the template can just as easily be printed onto the interface surface. [Reference plane illumination (Micro-illumination Module)An infra-red plane of light is generated on the interface surface. The plane is however situated just above and parallel to the surface. The light is invisible to the user and hovers a few millimeters above the surface. When a key position is touched on the surface interface, the light is reflected from the infra-red plane in the vicinity of the key and directed towards the sensormodule.Map reflection coordinates (Sensor Module)The reflected light user interactions with the interface surface is passed through an infra-red filter and imaged on to a CMOS image sensor in the sensor module. The sensor chip has a custom hardware embedded such as the Virtual Interface Processing Core and it is capable of making a real-time determination of the location from where the light was reflected. The processing core may track not only one, but multiple light reflections at the same time and it can support multiple keystrokes and overlapping cursor control inputs.Interpretation and communication (Sensor module)The micro-controller in the sensor module receives the positional information corresponding to the light flashes from the sensor processing core, interprets the events and then communicates them through the appropriate interface to external devices. By events it is understood any key stroke, mouse or touchpad control.Most projection keyboards use a red diode laser as a light source and may project a full size QWERTY keyboard. The projected keyboard size is usually 295 mm x 95 mm and it is projected at a distance of 60 mm from the virtual keyboard unit. The projection keyboard detects up to 400 characters per minute.The keyboard unit works on lithium-ion batteries and offers at least 120 minutes of continuous typing. The projection unit sizes vary but normally is not bigger than 35 mm x 92 mm x 25 mm.ConnectivityProjection keyboards connect to the computer either through Bluetooth or USB.The Bluetooth projection keyboard is a pocket-size device that projects a full-size keyboard on any flat surface.Bluetooth dongle technology enables the projection keyboard for point to multi-point connectivity with other Bluetooth devices, such as PCs, PDAs and mobile phone.How the Bluetooth projection keyboard connects to devices depends on the specific tablet, phone or computer.The connection between the USB keyboard and the device is made through a USB port, which is available on every computer and (via an adapter) other devices.UsesMost systems can function as a virtual mouse or even as a virtual piano.[No words can adequately describe quite how breathtakingly cool this i.Tech Virtual Keyboard is. Bluetooth enabled, it uses infrared to project a clear and crisp keyboard onto your desktop, and then transfers your keystrokes via wireless networking to your PDA, Pocket PC or smart phone - it sounds far too futuristic to be true. But it's very much for real, and it's awesome.This 22nd Century gadget is about half the size of your average deck of cards, sits wirelessly on any flat surface, and projects a red standard QWERTY-layout keyboard on any flat opaque surface. Using detection technology it "watches" your fingers hit the key locations it has projected, and then sends the keystrokes through to your PDA, smart phone or pocket PC via Bluetooth.The projected keyboard is highly visible even in strong light (though it does of course look spectacularly cool in the dark). It's highly portable as well, though it will make you look a bit of a lunatic at the local, as you will look like you're typing on nothing more than the pub table (which also raises some serious health and safety concerns), and you will of course be interrupted every fourteen seconds with someone coming over and wanting to know where they can get one.There is no cooler keyboard in the known universe.Features* Infrared Projector Keyboard - projects a keyboard template onto any flat opaque surface.* Runs off mains or battery (2 hour run time per charge).* Works with laptops, PC's, Windows Mobile, Palm OS5 and Smartphone (device must have Bluetooth enabled!).* Main unit has sound effects control, intensity of projector keyboard, time out settings (to conserve battery life), key sensitivity.Specifications:* PC Windows 2000 or Windows XP required for installation of drivers onto PDA or other handheld device.* Keyboard drivers for PDA or other handheld device or smartphone will be transferred from your PC.* Detection Rate - Up to 400 characters per minute.* Detection Algorithm - Multiple keystroke support.* Effective Keystroke - Approximately 2mm.* Battery Capacity - 120 minutes continuous typing.Contents:* Infrared keyboard projector* Carry case for projector* Mains adaptor* 2 x mini-format CD-Rom's for driver installation* Instruction manual/quick start guide.Human factor dimensionHand dimension 1Hand dimension 2.。