New Patent filed by Apple reveals laser projected keyboard & depth perception system

The patent is described as a depth perception system and laser projection. PatentlyApple highlighted the story earlier yesterday with several possiblities of using cameras and a laser source to determine the distance of an object and implement various applications based on detection of depth. PatentlyApple also described how Apple could use the invention for laser projected keyboard applications (as pictured below):   “In this example, the iMac is able to detect a user approaching it and activate a particular program, application, awake from sleep or power save mode, and the like… In patent FIG. 12, we see a user positioned in front of this future iMac such that the first and second beams 206a, 206b may at least partially intersect the user. The iMac’s updated iSight Camera will be able to determine the distance that the user is from iMac. The depth perception system increases the sensitivity of user detection for the iMac so that it could make a distinction between the user and an occupied chair… In Apple’s patent...