Initial calibration of a location sensing whiteboard to a projected display

• US 20010032057A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polyvision Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Polyvision Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Randall G., Martell, Timothy J.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032057A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment

Abstract

The present invention is a method and system for initial calibration of a location sensing electronic whiteboard. The electronic whiteboard is connected to a personal computer, which is coupled to a computer projector for projecting an image onto the surface of the electronic whiteboard. In the exemplary embodiment, the surface of the electronic whiteboard contains a calibration icon. Once the user touches the calibration icon on the electronic whiteboard surface, a dialog box appears in the projected image containing one or more calibration point, which in the exemplary embodiment, are located at the intersection of two red lines. Once a touches are detected on the surface of the electronic whiteboard, the location of the detected touch is used as the calibration points to relate positions on the whiteboard to positions on the display of the computer.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating positions between a location sensing electronic device and an electronic device coupled to a display device, comprising the steps of:

projecting an image onto a surface of a location sensing electronic device;

detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point on the surface of the location sensing electronic device; and

calculating a relationship between the predefined calibration point on the surface of the location sensing electronic device and a position on the display device.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point comprises detecting selection of an actual button the surface of the location sensing electronic device.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point comprises detecting selection of an actual button on an exterior frame of the location sensing electronic device.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point comprises detecting selection of an projected button on the surface of the location sensing electronic device.

5. A method of calibrating positions between the surface of a location sensing electronic whiteboard and the display of a personal computer, comprising the steps of:

projecting an image onto a surface of a location sensing electronic whiteboard;

detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point on the surface of the location sensing electronic whiteboard; and

calculating a relationship between the predefined calibration point on the location sensing electronic whiteboard and a position on the display of the personal computer.

6. The method of

claim 5

, wherein detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point comprises detecting selection of an actual button the surface of the location sensing electronic whiteboard.

7. The method of

claim 5

, wherein detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point comprises detecting selection of an actual button on an exterior frame of the location sensing electronic whiteboard.

8. The method of

claim 5

, wherein detecting a touch at a predefined calibration point comprises detecting selection of an projected button on the surface of the location sensing electronic whiteboard.

9. A system for calibrating positions between the surface of a location sensing electronic device and a display device coupled to an electronic device, comprising:

a location sensing electronic device comprising a location sensing surface and an exterior frame;

an electronic device comprising a display device, and coupled to a projection device and the location sensing electronic device;

a projection device coupled to the electronic device comprising means for projecting an image on the location sensing electronic device;

wherein a predefined location on the location sensing device is programmed to calibrate positions between the surface of a location sensing electronic device and the display of an electronic device.

10. The system of

claim 9

, wherein the predefined location is a projected button on the surface of the location sensing device.

11. The system of

claim 9

, wherein the predefined location is an actual button on the surface of the location sensing device.

12. The system of

claim 9

, wherein the predefined location is an actual button on the exterior frame of the location sensing device.

13. A system for calibrating positions between the surface of an electronic whiteboard and the monitor of a personal computer, comprising:

an electronic whiteboard comprising a touch sensitive surface and an exterior frame;

a personal computer coupled to a projection device, a monitor, and the electronic whiteboard; and

a projection device coupled to the personal computer comprising means for projecting an image on the electronic whiteboard;

wherein a predefined location on the electronic device is programmed to calibrate positions between the surface of the electronic whiteboard and the monitor coupled to the personal computer.

14. The system of

claim 13

, wherein the predefined location is a projected button on the surface of the electronic whiteboard.

15. The system of

claim 13

, wherein the predefined location is an actual button on the surface of the electronic whiteboard.

16. The system of

claim 13

, wherein the predefined location is an actual button on the exterior frame of the electronic whiteboard.