Abstract: In a sensory input system that detects movement of a user's fingers on an inert work surface, two or more input modes (for instance, keyboard and mouse) are provided within an overlapping or coextensive physical space. Depending on the currently active mode, the invention interprets the finger motions as input according to one of the input modes. Automated and/or manual mode-switching are provided.

Abstract: A light-generated input interface is provided using a combination of components that include a projector and a sensor. The projector displays an image corresponding to an input device. The sensor can be used to detect selection of input based on contact by a user-controlled object with displayed regions of the projected input device. An intersection of a projection area and an active sensor area on a surface where the input device is to be displayed is used to set a dimension of an image of the input device.

Abstract: A signature capture device includes a CPU that executes a routine to losslessly compress signature data in realtime such that decompression recovers a legally acceptable replica of the original signature. Digital data representing the pixel start point of a signature run is stored in preferably 10-bit or 9-bit format, and is then reduced to a common lower format of 9-bit or 8-bits. Subsequent data points within a run are reduced to the same common lower format and are compared to the common lower format version of the start point data. The differential between the start point and the adjacent second point is calculated and encoded with 4-bits if possible, or with 8-bits otherwise. The differential between the third point and second point is calculated and encoded with 4-bits or 8-bits, as required, and so on, within the run. A run is initiated by a pen-down status, or if a present run exceeds a predetermined length, or if a differential can no longer be encoded with 4-bits and requires 8-bit encoding.