INTERACTIVE DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD, USING A DETECTION CAMERA AND OPTICAL POINTER

• US 20110109554A1
• Filed: 07/03/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optinnova Co.
• Original Assignee: Optinnova Co.
• Inventors: Boissier, Alain
• Application Number:
  US13/002,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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

Abstract

In an interactive display device and method, a video projector projects an image on a screen. An optical pointer includes a mouse click signal input button and a light source emitting a light beam for pointing to the screen to form a light mark. A detection camera acquires an image from the screen and detects an image from the light mark. A processing system calculates the position of the light mark in the detected image. The optical pointer includes: a contact or proximity detector capable of detecting a contact between one end of the optical pointer and the screen and generating a light mark presence signal; and moreover a radio transmitter capable of transmitting a light mark presence signal to a processing system. The treatment system compared the respective signals for detecting a light mark and light mark presence to deduce therefrom a validation signal for the light mark.

Claims

1. An interactive display device comprising:

a screen (24),

a video projector (4) capable of projecting an image to the screen (24),

an optical pointer (26) comprising a mouse-click signal inputting button and a light source (33) capable of emitting a pointing light beam toward the screen to form a light mark (15) on the screen (24),

a detection camera (11) capable of acquiring an image of the screen and of detecting an image of the light mark,

a processing system (27) capable of generating a light mark detection signal and of calculating the position of the light mark (15) in the detected image,

characterized in that;

the optical pointer (26) comprises, on the one hand, a contact or proximity detector capable of detecting a contact or a proximity between an end of the optical pointer (26) and the screen (24), and of generating a light mark presence signal and, on the other hand, a radio transmitter (29),

the processing system (27) comprises a radio receiver (28),

the radio transmitter (29) being capable of transmitting to the radio receiver (28), on the one hand, a signal of validation of a mouse-click signal emitted by the optical pointer and, on the other hand, a light mark presence signal,

the processing system (27) being capable of deducing a signal of validation of said light mark from the combination of the light mark detection signal and the light mark presence signal.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) comprises a button for controlling the light source (33) capable of controlling the emission and interruption of a pointing light beam.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) comprises a light source (33) and an optical guide (35) capable of guiding a light beam between said source (33) and an end of the optical pointer (26), to form a pointing light beam.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the detector of contact or proximity between the optical pointer (26) and the screen (24) is an optical contact or proximity detector capable of detecting a projection of the light mark on the screen (24).

5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) and the processing system (27) comprise respectively a radio transmitter-receiver capable of communicating bidirectional radio signals between the processing system and the optical pointer (26).

6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) is provided with a sound or buzzer alert means controlled by the radio link, to communicate alert messages to an operator.

7. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of optical pointers (26) capable of generating a plurality of light marks on a same screen (24), each optical pointer (26) comprising an identification means, and in that the processing system comprises an identification system capable of individually detecting and/or activating each optical pointer (26).

14. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) comprises a light source (33) and an optical guide (35) capable of guiding a light beam between said source (33) and an end of the optical pointer (26), to form a pointing light beam.

15. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) and the processing system (27) comprise respectively a radio transmitter-receiver capable of communicating bidirectional radio signals between the processing system and the optical pointer (26).

16. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) and the processing system (27) comprise respectively a radio transmitter-receiver capable of communicating bidirectional radio signals between the processing system and the optical pointer (26).

17. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the optical pointer (26) and the processing system (27) comprise respectively a radio transmitter-receiver capable of communicating bidirectional radio signals between the processing system and the optical pointer (26).

18. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of optical pointers (26) capable of generating a plurality of light marks on a same screen (24), each optical pointer (26) comprising an identification means, and in that the processing system comprises an identification system capable of individually detecting and/or activating each optical pointer (26).

19. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of optical pointers (26) capable of generating a plurality of light marks on a same screen (24), each optical pointer (26) comprising an identification means, and in that the processing system comprises an identification system capable of individually detecting and/or activating each optical pointer (26).

20. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of optical pointers (26) capable of generating a plurality of light marks on a same screen (24), each optical pointer (26) comprising an identification means, and in that the processing system comprises an identification system capable of individually detecting and/or activating each optical pointer (26).

8. An interactive display method comprising the following steps of:

projecting to a screen (24) a video image coming from a video projector (4),

emitting a pointing light beam toward the screen (24) to form a light mark (15) on this screen by means of an optical pointer (26) comprising a mouse-click signal inputting button,

acquiring an image of the projection screen and detecting an image of the light mark (15),

calculating the position of the light mark (15) in the detected image and generating a light mark detection signal,

characterized in that it comprises the following steps of;

detecting a contact or a proximity between an end of the optical pointer (26) and the screen (24),

transmitting a light mark presence signal by means of a radio link (29) between the optical pointer (26) and the processing system (27),

comparing the respective signals of light mark presence and light mark detection to generate a signal of validation of said light mark or a signal of device operation anomaly.

9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the transmission of a radio signal is triggered following the emission of a light beam to form a light mark (15) on the screen (24).

10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises a step of comparing a radio signal received following the emission of a light mark (15) with a signal of light mark detection by the camera (11) to detect a device operation anomaly.

11. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the detection of an anomaly causes the display of a visual message (41 and 45) in the projected image and/or the emission of a sound signal

12. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the image acquisition by means of the camera (11) is synchronized with the emission of a light beam to form a light mark (15), by means of a radio signal delivered by the processing system (27) to the optical pointer (26).

13. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the image acquisition by means of the camera (11) is triggered firstly when the optical pointer (26) generates no light mark (15) and secondly when the optical pointer generates a light mark (15), and in that it comprises a step of subtracting images with and without light mark (15) so as to improve the detection of said light mark.