Whiteboard imaging system

• US 20050180597A1
• Filed: 03/31/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Sinclair, Michael J., Simard, Patrice Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B43L 1/00 Repeatedly-usable boards or tablets for writing or drawing drawing-boards B43L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

An image capturing system is installable in a room separate from a writing surface and a second area. The image capturing system is adapted to take visual images of the writing surface and second area and identify information written thereon.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium including instructions readable by a computer which, when implemented, cause the computer to process images from a writing surface by performing the steps of:

generating image data from a visual sensor adapted to provide the image data corresponding to sensed visual images of a writing surface and a second area spaced apart from the writing surface, wherein the sensed visual images each comprise successive linear array portions;

receiving the image data from the visual sensor using an image processor coupled to the visual sensor, the image processor adapted to identify information provided on the writing surface apart from the writing surface and further adapted to identify information provided on the second area apart from the second area;

accessing stored reference visual images using the image processor coupled to a storage device, the reference visual images corresponding to each of the writing surface and the second area to identify information provided on the writing surface and the second area, wherein the image processor is adapted to identify an area requiring reimaging, and wherein the image processor controls the visual sensor to obtain at least one second visual image corresponding to the at least one portion of the writing surface or the second area, if reimaging is required, and wherein the processor is adapted to combine the first-mentioned visual images with the at least one second visual image.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the storage device stores processing values comprising a first processing value and a second processing value, and wherein the image processor processes the image data of the first writing surface using the first processing value, and wherein the image processor processes the image data of the second area using the second processing value.

3. The computer readable medium claim 2, wherein the visual sensor includes a zoom lens, and wherein the first processing value relates to a first setting of the zoom lens and the second processing value relates to a second setting of the zoom lens.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the visual sensor comprises a sensing device having a plurality of sensing elements.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, wherein the sensing device comprises a linear array of sensing elements.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the visual sensor comprises a sensing device adapted to scan the writing surface and the second area.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 5, and further comprising receiving a sensing element control value for each sensing element for each successive linear array portion of the images.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the visual sensor is disposed above the writing surface or within the room to sense images of the writing and the second area spaced apart from the writing surface.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the visual sensor is mounted to a ceiling or a wall of the room.

11. A computer readable medium including instructions readable by a computer which, when implemented, cause the computer to obtain information provided on a writing surface and a second area spaces apart from the writing surface in a room by performing the steps of:

receiving at least one sensed visual image from each of the writing surface and the second area with the image capturing system located at a location in the room remote from the writing surface and the second area, wherein the sensed visual images comprise successive linear array portions of the visual images;

identifying information of the received sensed visual images from the writing surface and the second area, wherein identifying information includes identifying information as a function of reference visual images of the writing surface and the second area;

receiving at least one reimaged visual image from each of the writing surface and the second area to obtain at least one second visual image; and

combining the first-mentioned at least one visual image with the second at least one visual image, wherein identifying includes detecting at least one area of the writing surface and the second area requiring reimaging.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein receiving at least one sensed visual image comprises receiving sensed visual images that are compensated for distortion of the visual images.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein identifying includes comparing a first visual image to a second visual image.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein receiving at least one sensed visual image comprises initiating sensing of a visual image with a switch movable relative to the second location.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein receiving at least one sensed visual image comprises selectively directing an image capturing system to obtain the visual images of each of the writing surface and the second area.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, and further comprising providing image data corresponding to the visual images of each of the writing surface and the second area, storing a first processing value and a second processing value, and processing the image data using the first processing value and the second processing value as a function of direction of the image capture system toward the writing surface and the second area, respectively.