Input device

Abstract

An input device has a beam splitter that reflects a part of light emitted from a display surface of a display mechanism, a retroreflective material to which the light reflected by the beam splitter is incident and which reflects the incident light toward the beam splitter, a detection mechanism for detecting the user's fingertip in an aerial-image display region in which an aerial image is displayed, and a camera module disposed at a position where the aerial-image display region can be photographed. In the input device, an aerial image is formed in the aerial-image display region by the light transmitted through the beam splitter after being reflected by the retroreflective material. The camera module is disposed on a side where the beam splitter is disposed with respect to the aerial-image display region.

1 . An input device inputting information using a fingertip of a user, the input device comprising:
 a display mechanism having a display surface for displaying an image, an aerial-image forming mechanism which forms an aerial image by projecting an image displayed on the display surface into a space, a detection mechanism which detects the fingertip of the user in an aerial-image display region, which is a region in which the aerial image is displayed, and a camera module disposed at a position where the aerial-image display region is photographed, wherein   the aerial-image display region serves as an input portion for the user to input information;   the aerial-image forming mechanism includes a beam splitter that reflects a part of light emitted from the display surface and a retroreflective material to which the light reflected by the beam splitter is incident and which reflects the incident light in the same direction as a direction of the incidence toward the beam splitter;   the aerial image is formed in the aerial-image display region by light transmitted through the beam splitter after being reflected by the retroreflective material; and   the camera module is disposed on a side where the beam splitter is disposed with respect to the aerial-image display region.   
     
     
         2 . The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the display mechanism displays, on the display surface, a frame for indicating a region to which a photographed portion, in which information photographed by the camera module is recorded or displayed, is held; and   the aerial-image forming mechanism displays the frame displayed on the display surface as the aerial image in the aerial-image display region.   
     
     
         3 . The input device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the display mechanism displays a guidance on the display surface for prompting the user to hold a photographed portion, in which information photographed by the camera module is recorded or displayed, to the aerial-image display region, and the aerial-image forming mechanism displays the guidance displayed on the display surface as the aerial image in the aerial-image display region.   
     
     
         4 . The input device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the display mechanism displays on the display surface a guidance for prompting the user to hold a photographed portion, in which information photographed by the camera module is recorded or displayed, to the aerial-image display region, and the aerial-image forming mechanism displays the guidance displayed on the display surface as the aerial image in the aerial-image display region.