Exemplary embodiments are described wherein an auxiliary sensor is removably attached to a touchscreen computing device and is communicably coupled to the device to provide additional user input to the computing device. In accordance with some embodiments, the additional user input may be used to af
Exemplary embodiments are described wherein an auxiliary sensor is removably attached to a touchscreen computing device and is communicably coupled to the device to provide additional user input to the computing device. In accordance with some embodiments, the additional user input may be used to affect how the computing device interprets and processes gestural user input from the touchscreen, or to simulate such input. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the auxiliary sensor establishes an optical path near the surface of the touchscreen and sensing user contact by observing blockage of the optical path by a user's pointing member.
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1. An apparatus comprising: a housing attachable to a computing device, the computing device having, on a first surface, both a first area implementing a touch-sensitive display and a second area that is not a touch-sensitive display, the first and second areas being present on a single flat surface
1. An apparatus comprising: a housing attachable to a computing device, the computing device having, on a first surface, both a first area implementing a touch-sensitive display and a second area that is not a touch-sensitive display, the first and second areas being present on a single flat surface of the computing device;a light-emitting element disposed at a first portion of a corner of the housing, the light-emitting element configured to transmit light along a path that is substantially parallel to, and in close proximity with, the first surface of the computing device and which crosses over the second area;a light-receiving element disposed at a second portion of the corner of the housing, the second portion being perpendicular to the first portion, the light-receiving element configured to detect whether the light transmitted from the light-emitting element has traversed the path, along the flat surface of the computing device;a detector system coupled to the light-receiving element, the detector system generating an output signal indicating whether or not light from the light-emitting element is detected as received by the light-receiving element, the output signal further being indicative of whether an object has been placed on the second area that does not include the touch-sensitive display, in the path of the light transmitted from the light-emitting element, wherein the light traverses the second area without traversing the first area; anda communication interface coupled to the computing device to communicate the output signal to the computing device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises an electrical connection between a first connector integrated with the device and a second connector integrated with the housing. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a wireless link. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector system further comprises: a sequence generator communicatively coupled to the light-emitting element, the sequence generator determining a transmitted pattern of light to be output from the light-emitting element; anda comparator having a first input coupled to the sequence generator and a second input coupled to receive, from the light-receiving element, a received pattern of light detected as received by the light-receiving element, the comparator configured to compare the received pattern of light to the transmitted pattern of light;wherein the output signal is based on whether the comparator has determined that the transmitted pattern of light matches the received pattern of light. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detector system includes an ambient light detection system, the ambient light detection system producing a signal indicating a status of ambient light interference with the detection as received at the light-receiving element. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is emitted from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element in a line-of-sight fashion. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the detector system is configured to generate the output signal, indicating that light from the light-emitting element is not detected as received by the light-receiving element, when the line of sight of the path is interrupted. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a recessed area that conforms to an outer edge of the computing device, wherein when the housing is attached to the computing device, the housing surrounds the computing device and the computing device fits within the recessed area. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication interface comprises a connector that is integrated in, and protrudes from, an inner surface of the housing, wherein the connector is hidden when the computing device is inserted into the housing. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions of the corner do not include the touch-sensitive display. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object, placed on the second area, is a finger of a user of the computing device. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top half and a bottom half that each comprise a recess to receive the computing device, wherein the top half and the bottom half slide together until joined to encompass the computing device when the computing device is inserted into the recesses of the top half and the bottom half of the housing. 13. A housing apparatus attachable to a computing device, the computing device having, on a first surface, both a first area implementing a touch-sensitive display and a second area that is not a touch-sensitive display, the first and second areas being present on a single flat surface of the computing device, the housing apparatus comprising: a light-emitting element disposed at a first portion of a corner of the housing apparatus, the light-emitting element configured to transmit light along a path that is substantially parallel to, and in close proximity with, the first surface of the computing device and which crosses over the second area;a light-receiving element disposed at a second portion of the corner of the housing apparatus, the second portion being perpendicular to the first portion, the light-receiving element configured to detect whether the light transmitted from the light-emitting element has traversed the path, along the flat surface of the computing device;a detector system coupled to the light-receiving element, the detector system generating an output signal indicating whether or not light from the light-emitting element is detected as received by the light-receiving element, the output signal further being indicative of whether an object has been placed on the second area that does not include the touch-sensitive display, in the path of the light transmitted from the light-emitting element, wherein the light traverses the second area without traversing the first area; anda communication interface coupled to the computing device to communicate the output signal to the computing device. 14. The housing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the communication interface comprises an electrical connection between a first connector integrated with the device and a second connector integrated with the housing apparatus. 15. The housing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detector system further comprises: a sequence generator communicatively coupled to the light-emitting element, the sequence generator determining a transmitted pattern of light to be output from the light-emitting element; anda comparator having a first input coupled to the sequence generator and a second input coupled to receive, from the light-receiving element, a received pattern of light detected as received by the light-receiving element, the comparator configured to compare the received pattern of light to the transmitted pattern of light;wherein the output signal is based on whether the comparator has determined that the transmitted pattern of light matches the received pattern of light. 16. The housing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the detector system includes an ambient light detection system, the ambient light detection system producing a signal indicating a status of ambient light interference with the detection as received at the light-receiving element. 17. The housing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the light is emitted from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element in a line-of-sight fashion, and wherein the detector system is configured to generate the output signal, indicating that light from the light-emitting element is not detected as received by the light-receiving element, when the line of sight of the path is interrupted. 18. A system, comprising: a housing that is attachable to a computing device that has, on a first surface: a first area implementing a touch-sensitive display, anda second area that is not a touch-sensitive display,the first and second areas being present on a single flat surface of the computing device, the housing comprising: a light-emitting element disposed at a first portion of a corner of the housing, the light-emitting element configured to transmit light along a path that is substantially parallel to, and in close proximity with, the first surface of the computing device and which crosses over the second area;a light-receiving element disposed at a second portion of the corner of the housing, the second portion being perpendicular to the first portion, the light-receiving element configured to detect whether the light transmitted from the light-emitting element has traversed the path, along the flat surface of the computing device;a detector system coupled to the light-receiving element, the detector system generating an output signal indicating whether or not light from the light-emitting element is detected as received by the light-receiving element, the output signal further being indicative of whether an object has been placed on the second area that does not include the touch-sensitive display, in the path of the light transmitted from the light-emitting element, wherein the light traverses the second area without traversing the first area; anda communication interface coupled to the computing device to communicate the output signal to the computing device. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication interface comprises an electrical connection between a first connector integrated with the device and a second connector integrated with the housing. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the detector system further comprises: a sequence generator communicatively coupled to the light-emitting element and determining a transmitted pattern of light to be output from the light-emitting element; anda comparator having a first input coupled to the sequence generator and a second input coupled to receive, from the light-receiving element, a received pattern of light detected as received by the light-receiving element, the comparator configured to compare the received pattern of light to the transmitted pattern of light;wherein the output signal is based on whether the comparator has determined that the transmitted pattern of light matches the received pattern of light.
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