Abstract: An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating an array of receiver devices as a phased array. The receiver devices are in a fixed mutual relationship within a zone and each receiver device comprises a photovoltaic element. The method involves receiving a signal from within the zone at a plurality of the receiver devices to generate a plurality of received signals and processing the received signals using at least one phase difference therebetween. The method also involves directing a beam of light from a unit located within the zone to the photovoltaic elements, thereby providing power to said receiver devices. The invention extends to an array of transmitter devices and to an array of both transmitter and receiver devices.

Abstract: An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body.

Abstract: An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of operating an array of receiver devices as a phased array. The receiver devices are in a fixed mutual relationship within a zone and each receiver device comprises a photovoltaic element. The method involves receiving a signal from within the zone at a plurality of the receiver devices to generate a plurality of received signals and processing the received signals using at least one phase difference therebetween. The method also involves directing a beam of light from a unit located within the zone to the photovoltaic elements, thereby providing power to said receiver devices. The invention extends to an array of transmitter devices and to an array of both transmitter and receiver devices.

Abstract: An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body.

Abstract: An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body.

Abstract: An input device comprises a plurality of optical vibration sensors mounted in a common housing. Each optical vibration sensor comprises a diffractive optical element; a light source arranged to illuminate the diffractive optical element such that a first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element and a second portion of light is reflected from the diffractive optical element; and a photo detector arranged to detect an interference pattern generated by said first and second portions of light. The optical vibration sensor is configured so that in use, after the first portion of light passes through the diffractive optical element, the first portion of light is reflected from a reflective surface onto the photo detector. The input device is placed in contact with a surface of a solid body, and an object is brought into physical contact with the surface of the solid body, thereby causing vibrations in the solid body.

Abstract: An optical accelerometer arrangement (20) comprises an array of optical accelerometers (26) attached to a common structure (22). Each of the optical accelerometers (26) provides a signal indicative of displacement of a measurement mass (6) as a result of an acceleration along a given axis applied to the common structure (22). The arrangement (20) also comprises a processor (31a) configured to determine an estimate of the acceleration using the signals provided by the accelerometers (26). The arrangement (20) may be attached to an object (40; 46; 0; 52) which also comprises a gyroscope (44) and/or a camera (48).

Abstract: A portable electronic device comprises means 4 for transmitting ultrasonic signals 8, means 6 for receiving ultrasonic signals 12 reflected from an input object 10, and means for processing received ultrasonic signals to determine an input to the device. The device is configured to reduce the transmission power of the ultrasonic signals transmitted by the transmitting means in the event that: the device determines that a reflection 16 from an object 14 other than the input object meets a predetermined criterion; or if an event is detected which indicates that the user is or will be using a function of the device which does not support touchless interaction.

Abstract: An electronic device comprising a touch-sensitive surface and a touchless detecting system for detecting movement of a finger towards the surface. The device is configured to associate said movement with a predicted touch on said surface and to issue a report of said predicted touch.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a transmitter 6 for transmitting ultrasonic signals, a receiver 8 for receiving reflections 20 of said ultrasonic signals, wherein the device is adapted to control a function thereof in dependence on said received reflections, the device further comprising means for providing to a user an indication 14 of the presence of signals or noise which could interfere with said reflections.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touchless user interface comprising: transmitting means 7 for transmitting signals, receiving means 9a-9f for receiving reflected signals after reflection of said signals from an input object, processing means for determining information regarding the position and/or movement of the input object from the reflected signals to provide a user input to the device; and a screen 2 for displaying a graphical object 4, 6 having one or more associated interactions with which a user can interact with said graphical object 4, 6 through a said user input. The device is arranged so that the signals transmitted by the transmitting means 7 and/or the reflected signals processed by the processing means are determined by the location of the graphical object 4, 6 on the screen 2 and/or by the interaction(s).

Abstract: An electronic device having a touchless user interface for providing at least one input to the device, said touchless user interface comprising at least one ultrasound transmitter arrangement arranged to transmit ultrasonic signals and at least one ultrasound receiver arrangement arranged to receive reflections of said ultrasonic signals from an input object, wherein the device further comprises a substantially continuous outer surface portion, wherein said outer surface portion comprises at least one localised zone 30? having a greater compliance for moving in response to impingement by said ultrasonic signals or reflections such that said localised zone 30? forms part of said transmitter arrangement and/or said receiver arrangement.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a transmitter arranged to transmit an acoustic signal. It also has a receiver, for receiving acoustic energy comprising a reflection of the acoustic signal from an input object. It generates an electronic received signal from the received acoustic energy. The apparatus has processing means arranged to: (i) analyze at least a portion of the received signal to determine a linear combination of basis functions which represents an interference component in the received signal; (ii) use the determined linear combination to attenuate interference within the received signal, to give a post-attenuation signal; and (iii) use the post-attenuation signal to determine a user input to the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a front surface comprising a display screen; a rear surface; at least one ultrasonic transmitter; and at least one ultrasonic receiver. The device may be configured to transmit signals from the transmitter and to receive the signals at the receiver after reflection from an input object and to use the reflected signals to characterise the motion of said input object for controlling a function of the device. At least one of the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver is disposed on the rear surface of the device. The device may be configured to transmit signals from the transmitter and to receive the signals at the receiver after reflection from a user's hand and to use the reflected signals to detect one of a predetermined set of gestures carried out adjacent to the device when the device is placed on its rear surface on a flat supporting surface.

Abstract: An electronic device having a touchless user interface for providing at least one input to the device, said touchless user interface comprising at least one ultrasound transmitter arrangement arranged to transmit ultrasonic signals and at least one ultrasound receiver arrangement arranged to receive reflections of said ultrasonic signals from an input object, wherein the device further comprises a substantially continuous outer surface portion, wherein said outer surface portion comprises at least one localised zone 30? having a greater compliance for moving in response to impingement by said ultrasonic signals or reflections such that said localised zone 30? forms part of said transmitter arrangement and/or said receiver arrangement.

Abstract: A user input to a system is processed by receiving reflections of signals from a moving input object. Information relating to the direction of movement of the input object and information relating to the speed of the input object are determined from the reflections. Continual sensory feedback is provided to the user, controlled by a parameter that is repeatedly updated based on the direction and speed of the input object. When no new determination of information relating to the speed or direction of the input object has been made since a previous update, a time-dependent change is made to the parameter.

Abstract: Motions, positions or configurations off, for example a human hand can be recognised by transmitting a plurality of transmit signals in respective time frames; receiving a plurality of receive signals; determining a plurality of channel impulse responses using the transmit and receive signals; defining a matrix of impulse responses, with impulse responses for adjacent time frames adjacent each other; and analysing the matrix for patterns corresponding to the motion position or configuration.

Abstract: Motions, positions or configurations off, for example a human hand can be recognized by transmitting a plurality of transmit signals in respective time frames; receiving a plurality of receive signals; determining a plurality of channel impulse responses using the transmit and receive signals; defining a matrix of impulse responses, with impulse responses for adjacent time frames adjacent each other; and analyzing the matrix for patterns (22) corresponding to the motion position or configuration.