Method and apparatus for determining user input in a three-dimensional field

Abstract

In accordance with one implementation, a method is illustrated that allows a computing device to determine a user input. The method includes detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface. The method also includes determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface. And, the method further includes determining a user input based on the coordinates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining user input in a 3D field relative to a 2D surface, the method comprising:
 detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface;   determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface;   determining a user input based on the coordinates.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 mapping coordinates corresponding to the position of at least one of the input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface to a display surface. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the detecting one or more user input objects comprises:
 utilizing capacitive sensors in keys of a keyboard to detect the one or more user input objects. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the keys of the keyboard delineate the 2 dimensional surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 utilizing at least one camera to detect the one or more user input objects. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 utilizing optical sensors in keys of a keyboard to detect the one or more user input objects. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the keys of the keyboard delineate the 2 dimensional surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a user input comprises determining a hover event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a user input comprises determining a touch event. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 turning off a hover mode when a touch event is detected. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 displaying a user input on the display surface. 
 
     
     
         12 . One or more computer-readable storage media encoding computer-executable instructions for executing on a computer system a computer process, the computer process comprising:
 detecting one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to a 2-dimensional surface;   determining coordinates for the one or more user input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface;   determining a user input based on the coordinates.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 mapping coordinates corresponding to the position of at least one of the input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface to a display surface. 
 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 17  wherein the detecting one or more user input objects comprises:
 utilizing capacitive sensors in keys of a keyboard to detect the one or more user input objects. 
 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 utilizing at least one camera to detect the one or more user input objects. 
 
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 utilizing optical sensors in keys of a keyboard to detect the one or more user input objects. 
 
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein determining a user input comprises determining a hover event. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein determining a user input comprises determining a touch event. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 turning off a hover mode when a touch event is detected. 
 
     
     
         20 . The one or more computer-readable storage media of  claim 12  wherein the computer process further comprises:
 displaying a user input on the display surface. 
 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a 2-dimensional surface;   an object detection circuit configured to detect one or more user input objects in a 3-dimensional field relative to the 2-dimensional surface and configured to determine coordinates of one or more input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface; and   a user input detector configured to determine a user input based on the coordinates.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  and further comprising:
 a display surface; and 
 a mapper configured to map coordinates corresponding to the position of at least one of the input objects relative to the 2-dimensional surface to the display surface. 
 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the 2-dimensional surface comprises a keyboard comprising keys having capacitive sensors. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the object detection circuit comprises one or more cameras. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the object detection circuit comprises a keyboard comprising keys having optical sensors. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the user input detector is configured to determine a hover event. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the user input detector is configured to determine a touch event. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as claimed in claim  31  and further comprising a display controller configured to display user input on the display based on the coordinates. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the display controller is further configured to vary a display element characteristic based on a change in a proximity of at least one input object to the 2-dimensional surface. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the display controller is configured to vary a diameter of a circle used for the display element.