INTERACTIVE INPUT SYSTEM AND ARM ASSEMBLY THEREFOR

• US 20110032216A1
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: HOS, WIEBE, Keenan, Vaughn E.
• Application Number:
  US12/817,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• 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

Abstract

An interactive input system comprises a display unit having a display surface, a bezel disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of a region of interest proximate at least a portion of said display surface and having an inwardly facing surface and an elongate arm assembly configured to be mounted to the display unit. The arm assembly supports imaging devices thereon and is longitudinally extendable to position the imaging devices at spaced locations relative to the display surface such that the fields of view of the imaging devices encompass the region of interest.

Claims

1. An interactive input system comprising:

a display unit having a display surface;

a bezel disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of a region of interest proximate at least a portion of said display surface and having an inwardly facing surface; and

an elongate arm assembly configured to be mounted to the display unit, said arm assembly supporting imaging devices thereon and being longitudinally extendable to position the imaging devices at spaced locations relative to the display surface such that the fields of view of the imaging devices encompass the region of interest.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the arm assembly comprises a body configured to be mounted to the display unit and at least one moveable arm received by the body, the arm being longitudinally slideable relative to the body.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the arm assembly comprises two moveable arms received by the body, the arms being longitudinally slidable relative to the body in opposite directions, each of the arms supporting a respective one of the imaging devices.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the arm assembly comprises one moveable arm received by the body and one fixed arm extending from the body in a direction opposite to the direction of sliding movement of the moveable arm.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein each of said imaging devices is accommodated within a housing adjacent a distal end of the respective arm.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein each housing comprises an aperture through which the imaging device looks.

7. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller unit mounted on the arm assembly.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the controller unit is mounted either within the interior of the at least one moveable arm, within the body or on the body.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one imaging device mounted on the display unit and having a field of view at least encompassing the region of interest.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bezel comprises a plurality of nested bezel segments that are slideably adjustable relative to each other.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising alignment means to facilitate proper positioning of said imaging devices.

12. An arm assembly configured to be mounted to a display unit, said arm assembly supporting imaging devices thereon and being longitudinally extendable to position the imaging devices at spaced locations relative to a display surface of said display unit such that the fields of view of the imaging devices look generally across said display surface.

13. An arm assembly according to claim 12 comprising a body configured to be mounted to the display unit and at least one moveable arm received by the body, the arm being longitudinally slideable relative to the body.

14. An arm assembly according to claim 13, comprising two moveable arms received by the body, the arms being longitudinally slidable relative to the body in opposite directions, each of the arms supporting a respective one of the imaging devices.

15. An arm assembly according to claim 13 comprising one moveable arm received by the body and one fixed arm extending from the body in a direction opposite to the direction of sliding movement of the moveable arm.

16. An arm assembly according to claim 14 wherein each of said imaging devices is accommodated within a housing adjacent a distal end of the respective arm.

17. An arm assembly according to claim 16 wherein each housing comprises an aperture through which the imaging device looks.

18. An arm assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a controller unit mounted thereon.

19. An arm assembly according to claim 18, wherein the controller unit is mounted either within the interior of the at least one moveable arm, within the body or on the body.

20. An arm assembly according to claim 12 further comprising alignment means to facilitate proper positioning of said imaging devices.

21. A kit for an interactive input system comprising:

a plurality of bezel segments configurable to form a reflective bezel for surrounding at least a portion of the periphery of a region of interest adjacent at least a portion of a display unit; and

an elongate arm assembly configured to be mounted to the display unit, said arm assembly supporting imaging devices thereon and being longitudinally extendable to position the imaging devices at spaced locations relative to the display surface such that the fields of view of the imaging devices encompass the region of interest.