US Patent 7176905 Electronic device having an image-based data input system

Electronic devices having image-based data input systems are described. In one aspect, an electronic device includes a window, multiple indicia, an image sensor, and a data input processor. The window has a contact surface with an input region. The multiple indicia are viewable in the input region of the contact surface. The image sensor is constructed and arranged to produce image signals corresponding to images of the input region. The data input processor is coupled to the image sensor and is operable to produce input signals based on image signals produced by the image sensor and a mapping between areas of the input region images and locations of the input indicia.