Pointer for interactive display system

• US 20060219692A1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Promethean Limited (Best Assistant Education Group Co.)
• Original Assignee: Promethean Limited (Best Assistant Education Group Co.)
• Inventors: Unsworth, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/360,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20060219692A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/390
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

There is disclosed a pointing device for use with an interactive surface, the pointing device comprising a coil for producing an electromagnetic field which couples into the interactive surface, the pointing device being arranged, in use, to be attached to a finger.

Claims

1. A pointing device for use with an interactive surface, the pointing device comprising a coil for producing an electromagnetic field which couples into the interactive surface, the pointing device being arranged, in use, to be attached to a finger.

2. The pointing device according to claim 1 including a receptacle arranged, in use, to be attached to a finger.

3. The pointing device according to claim 2 wherein the receptacle is a finger-receiving receptacle, and the coil is attached to said receptacle.

4. The pointer according to claim 2 wherein the receptacle is a thimble shaped element.

5. The pointer according to claim 4 wherein the thimble shaped element has an open end for protrusion, in use, of a finger tip.

6. The pointer according to claim 4 wherein the thimble shaped element has a closed end for contact, in use, with a whiteboard surface.

7. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the coil is wound such that the coil provides a receptacle for a finger.

8. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the device includes a contact point for contact with a whiteboard.

9. The pointing device according to claim 8 wherein the contact point includes a finger cover.

10. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein in use a finger tip of a user is exposed, for contact with a whiteboard surface.

11. The pointing device according to claim 2 wherein the pointer is provided with a coil around the receptacle.

12. The pointing device according to claim 2 wherein the pointer has a coil attached to the receptacle.

13. The pointing device according to claim 2 wherein the pointer has a coil adjacent to the receptacle.

14. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the pointer has buttons disposed on a housing thereof.

15. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the coil is a drive coil.

16. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the coil forms an inductor of a tuned circuit.

17. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein an electromagnetic field produced in the interactive surface couples into the coil.

18. The pointing device according to claim 17 wherein the electromagnetic field coupled into the coil induces a voltage or current in the coil.

19. The pointing device according to claim 1 further comprising one or more buttons thereon.

20. The pointing device according to claim 19 wherein at least one button is mounted on the side of the pointer and depressed by a radial force.

21. The pointing device according to claim 19 wherein at least one button is mounted on the tip of the pointer and depressed by an axial force.

24. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the coil resonates responsive to an induced voltage or current from the electromagnetic field produced by one or more drive coils of the interactive display.

25. The pointing device according to claim 24 wherein the pointer is a passive device.

26. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the coil resonates responsive to a drive signal.

27. The pointing device according to claim 26 wherein the pointer is an active device.

28. The pointing device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic field produced by the coil induces a voltage or current in one or more sense coils of the interactive display.

22. A pointing device for use with an interactive surface, the pointing device comprising a receptacle for receiving a finger of a user, and a coil of a tuned circuit.

23. The pointing device according to claim 22 wherein the coil is wound around, or wound adjacent to, the receptacle.