초록 ▼

A holographic HMI allows data and commands to be entered into electronic equipment. The HMI involves no tangible physical contact between the human operator and the control elements because the input devices are holographic images of keys or other customarily touch-activated tangible input elements.

A holographic HMI allows data and commands to be entered into electronic equipment. The HMI involves no tangible physical contact between the human operator and the control elements because the input devices are holographic images of keys or other customarily touch-activated tangible input elements. Operator interaction is detected through electromagnetic means, obviating the need for direct physical contact with any solid input object or surface. Such HMIs generate a holographic image of a tangible input object of the tangible control mechanism. An illumination device illuminates the hologram to produce the holographic image. An actuation detection device detects the selection by the operator of a holographic image, and a signal generator receives the detection of the actuation detection device and provides an input signal to the electronic or electro-mechanical device thereby to produce the response. The hologram is affixed to a transparent or translucent material.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having one or more customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having one or more customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by the electronic or electro-mechanical device, said apparatus allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising: hologram means for generating a holographic image of a tangible input object of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro-mechanical device; illumination means for illuminating said hologram means to produce the holographic image; actuation detection means for detecting selection by the operator of the holographic image, generated by said hologram means, of the tangible input object; and signal generation means for receiving the detection of said actuation detection means and providing an input signal to the electronic or electro-mechanical device thereby to produce the response, wherein said hologram means is affixed to at least one of a transparent material and a translucent material, and the actuation detection means comprises emission/detection means for producing and receiving electromagnetic radiation, said emission/detection means being positioned on a side of said hologram means opposite the operator and being positioned to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation toward the holographic image and through said material to which said hologram means is affixed. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said transparent material and said translucent material is selected from glass, acrylic, and plastic. 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one mirror so as to alter said illumination means light path to position one or more holographic image on an edge of a screen that is employed to present information to the operator. 4. An apparatus for allowing an operator to control a plurality of electronic or electro-mechanical devices of the type conventionally controlled by a separate tangible control mechanism having a plurality of customarily touch-activated tangible input objects, physical contact with which produces a response by at least one of the electronic or electro-mechanical devices, the apparatus allowing such control without the operator physically touching any solid object and comprising: a hologram unit adapted to generate a plurality of holographic images, each comprising the tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism for a corresponding one of the plurality of the electronic or electro-mechanical devices; an illuminator adapted to illuminate said hologram unit to produce the plurality of holographic images; an actuation detector adapted to detect selection by the operator of each of the plurality of holographic images of the tangible input devices; and a signal generator adapted to receive the detection of said actuation detector and provide an input signal to the devices thereby producing the response, wherein said actuation detector and said signal generator are configured to independently produce a response by each electronic or electro-mechanical device upon detection of selection of each independent one of said holographic images, and the actuation detector comprises an emitter/detector that produces and receives electromagnetic radiation, said emitter/detector being positioned on a side of said hologram unit opposite the operator and being positioned to transmit and receive electromagnetic radiation toward the holographic images and through said hologram unit. 5. A control arrangement apparatus for allowing an operator to control an electronic or electro-mechanical device of the type conventionally controlled by a tangible control mechanism having a plurality of customarily touch-activated tangible input objects positioned on a plurality of portions thereof, physical contact with which produces a response by the device, said control arrangement allowing such control without an operator physically touching any solid object and comprising: a composite hologram for generating a holographic image of the plurality of tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism for the device, with the generated holographic image for producing a response by the device corresponding to that produced conventionally by the plurality of tangible input objects of the tangible control mechanism, said composite hologram comprising a plurality of holograms positioned side-by-side along one axis such that each of the holographic images produced thereby represents a different portion of the tangible control mechanism, such that each of the holographic images can be separately viewed from a different angle relative to said one axis; an actuation detector for detecting selection by the operator of the holographic image of each of the tangible input devices; and a signal generator for receiving the detection of said actuation detector and providing an input signal to the device thereby to produce the response, wherein the actuation detector detects the selection using electromagnetic radiation that passes through the composite hologram. 6. A control arrangement apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said composite hologram consists of a plurality of holograms positioned side-by-side along a second axis generally perpendicular to said one axis such that each of the holographic images represents a different portion of the tangible input objects, such that each of the holographic images presented by said composite hologram can be separately viewed from a different angle relative to said second axis. 7. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said hologram means generates a plurality of holographic images, each of one of a plurality of tangible input objects, and wherein said actuation detection means is capable of detecting which of said plurality of holographic images is selected by the operator. 8. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one mirror interposed between said hologram means and said illumination means so as to shorten the physical distance between said hologram means and said illumination means and nevertheless produce the holographic image. 9. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said hologram means includes a lens with convergent properties. 10. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one lens interposed between said hologram means and said illumination means so as to shorten the physical distance between said hologram means and said illumination means and nevertheless produce the holographic image. 11. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said signal generation means also generates at least one of an audible signal and a visible signal to indicate to the operator that the actuation detection means has detected selection of the holographic image by the operator. 12. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said illumination means comprises a reconstructing light source located at the edge of the material to which said hologram means is affixed. 13. An apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, wherein said hologram unit generates a plurality of holographic images, each of one of a plurality of tangible input objects, and wherein said actuation detector is capable of detecting which of said plurality of holographic images is selected by the operator. 14. An apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, further comprising at least one mirror interposed between said hologram unit and said illuminator so as to shorten the physical distance between said hologram unit and said illuminator and nevertheless produce the holographic image. 15. An apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, wherein said hologram unit includes a lens with convergent properties. 16. An apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, further comprising at least one lens interposed between said hologram unit and said illuminator so as to shorten the physical distance between said hologram unit and said illuminator and nevertheless produce the holographic image. 17. An apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, wherein said signal generator also generates at least one of an audible signal and a visible signal to indicate to the operator that the actuation detector has detected selection of the holographic image by the operator. 18. An apparatus as in claim 4 or 5, wherein said illuminator comprises a reconstructing light source located at the edge of a material to which said hologram unit is affixed.