Interactive communication systems

• US 20050280636A1
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polyvision Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Polyvision Corporation (Steelcase Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hildebrandt, Peter W., Watson, James D., Dunn, Michael H., Wilson, Scott E., Hutchinson, Ian G., Anderson, Brent W., Meissner, Richard, Hofmann, Neal A., Ashford, Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,750,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1605 Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

The present invention includes interactive communication systems that incorporate several beneficial embodiments including an interactive tray system, an electronic presentation messaging system, an interactive podium, and a key drive system. The interactive tray system enables a single, transferable interactive unit to be fastened to a communication medium, turning into a fully interactive medium. The electronic presentation messaging system enables the e-mailing of presentations and notes to and from components of the interactive communication system. The interactive podium increases conventional podium mobility, enabling both the presenter, and podium, to move and be moved about the room without attention to wired connections. The key drive system replaces the conventional Y-connector of the key drive technology by effectively integrating the key drive in the device, thus only having one connector, and eliminating the need to change connectors from the key drive, to the USB connector, upon software driver loading.

Claims

1. A device enabling a non-interactive presentation surface to be used in an interactive communication system, the device comprising:

a sensor system adapted to sense an instrument in proximity to the non-interactive presentation surface, the sensor system providing location data of the instrument to a tracking system calibrating a processing device with the instrument via the location data,

wherein the device is positioned in proximity to a bottom edge of the non-interactive presentation surface.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation system adapted to limit the amount of dust falling on the device.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation system adapted to reduce the temperature of the non-interactive presentation surface.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation system adapted to reduce the temperature of the device.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation system to ventilate the device, and a shielding system adapted to reduce the amount room light interference on the sensor system.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a ventilation system to ventilate the device, and a shielding system adapted to reduce the amount of heat interference on the sensor system.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is centrally positioned on the bottom edge of the non-interactive presentation surface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor system comprises at least one infrared sensor.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor system is a non-camera based sensor system.

10. An interactive tray system enabling a non-interactive presentation surface to be used in an interactive communication system, the interactive tray system comprising:

a tray;

an infrared sensor system adapted to sense with infrared an instrument in proximity to the non-interactive presentation surface, the sensor system providing location data of the instrument to a tracking system in communication calibrating a processing device from the location data with the instrument via the location data,

wherein the tray is positioned in proximity to a bottom edge of the non-interactive presentation surface,

wherein the tray is subject to interference radiation.

11. The interactive tray system of claim 10, further comprising a ventilation system adapted to reduce the amount of dust falling on to the tray.

12. The interactive tray system of claim 11, wherein the ventilation system reduces the temperature of the surface of the non-interactive presentation surface.

13. The interactive tray system of claim 11, wherein the ventilation system reduces the temperature of the tray.

14. The interactive tray system of claim 10, wherein the interactive tray system is centrally positioned on the bottom of the non-interactive presentation surface by a releasable, removable clamping mechanism.

15. The interactive tray system of claim 10, further comprising a shielding system adapted to reduce the interference radiation.

16. The interactive tray system of claim 10, wherein the interactive tray system further comprises a tray adapted to hold a plurality of styli.

17. An interactive communication system comprising:

a non-interactive presentation surface selected from the group consisting of a plasma screen, and a liquid crystal display screen;

a tray adapted to attach to the non-interactive presentation surface;

a processing device in communication with the tray;

a infrared sensor system adapted to sense with infrared an instrument in proximity to the non-interactive presentation surface;

a tracking system calibrating the processing device with the instrument via the location data;

wherein the tray is positioned in proximity to a bottom edge of the non-interactive presentation surface.

18. The interactive communication system of claim 17, further comprising a ventilation system adapted to blow a stream of air up and over the non-interactive presentation surface.

19. The interactive communication system of claim 17, further comprising a shielding system adapted to reduce interference on the sensor system.

20. The interactive communication system of claim 19, wherein the shielding system comprises at least one slit, wherein the slit controls a plane in the sensor system.