Interactive projector device

• US 8,686,975 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Krishnakumar, Karthikeyan, D'Alessio, Samuel, Pratt, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): REGN, MARK W
• Application Number:
  US12/845,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 345179-183, 353/122
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits

Abstract

An interactive device includes a first sensor, a first button, an accelerometer, a processor, and a transmitter. The first sensor is configured to receive coordinate information from a coordinate projection of a projector. The first button is configured to transmit an erase signal when the first button is pressed. The accelerometer is configured to provide angle information for the interactive device. The processor is in communication with the first sensor, with the first button, and with the accelerometer. The processor configured to receive the coordinate information from the first sensor, to receive the erase signal from the first button, to receive the angle information from the accelerometer, and to generate erase information based on the coordinate information, the erase signal, and the angle information. The transmitter is in communication with the processor, and is configured to transmit a delete request including the erase information received from the processor to the projector.

Claims

1. An interactive device comprising:

a first sensor configured to receive coordinate information from a coordinate projection received directly from a projector;

a first button configured to transmit a first erase signal when the first button is pressed;

a second sensor configured to be placed in physical communication with a projection surface, and to receive second coordinate information from the coordinate projection of the projector reflected off the projection surface, and to transmit second coordinate information when the second sensor is pressed, wherein the second sensor is a nib extending from the interactive device;

an accelerometer configured to provide angle information of the interactive device;

a processor in communication with the first sensor, with the first button, with the second sensor, and with the accelerometer, the processor configured to receive the coordinate information from the first sensor, to receive the erase signal from the first button, to receive the angle information from the accelerometer, to generate first erase information based on the coordinate information, the first erase signal, and the angle information, and to generate a second erase signal based on the second coordinate information from the second sensor, wherein the first erase information is continually updated by the processor in response to the first button being continually pressed and the interactive device being moved within the coordinate projection; and

a transmitter in communication with the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit, via a wireless data communication, a first delete request including the first erase information received from the processor to the projector, and a second delete request including the second erase information, wherein the transmitter is configured to continually transmit, via the wireless data communication, the first delete request including the continually updated erase information in response to the first button being continually pressed and the interactive device being moved within the coordinate projection, and wherein images projected at locations identified in the continually updated erase information are no longer projected after the first erase information and second erase information are received at the projector.

2. The interactive device of claim 1 further comprising:

a third sensor to receive the coordinate information from the coordinate projection of the projector; and

a second button to send a write signal to the processor when the second button is pressed.

3. The interactive device of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to receive the coordinate information from the third sensor, to receive the write signal from the second button, and to generate write information based on the coordinate information and the write signal.

4. The interactive device of claim 3 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a write request including the write information received from the processor to the projector.

5. The interactive device of claim 3 wherein the first button is a soft button.

6. The interactive device of claim 1 further comprising:

a body including;

a first surface including the first sensor; and

a second surface different from the first surface, the second surface being opposite of the first sensor on the interactive device, and the second surface indicating an erasing position of the interactive device.

7. The interactive device of claim 6 wherein the second surface is a felt surface.

8. A method for implementing an interactive device within an interactive projector system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a first sensor, first coordinate positioning information from a coordinate grid projected directly from a projector;

determining, using an accelerometer, first angle information for the interactive device;

detecting that a first button is pressed, the first button being associated with a first erase signal;

generating a first erase request in response to the first erase signal, wherein the first erase request includes the first coordinate positioning information and the first angle information;

transmitting, via a wireless data communication, the first erase request from the interactive device to the projector;

continually updating the first erase request in response to the first button being continually pressed and the interactive device being moved within the coordinate grid projected;

continually transmitting, via the wireless data communication, the continually updated first erase request, wherein images projected at locations identified in the continually updated erase request are no longer projected after the continually updated first erase request is received at the projector;

detecting that a second sensor is pressed, wherein the second sensor is a nib extending from the interactive device and is placed in physical communication with a projection surface when the second sensor is pressed;

generating a second erase signal based on second coordinate information reflected off of the projection surface and received at the second sensor in response to the second sensor being pressed; and

transmitting the second erase signal from the interactive device to the projector.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving, at a third sensor, third coordinate information from the coordinate projection of the projector;

detecting that a second button is pressed;

sending a write signal when the second button is pressed;

retrieving the third coordinate information from the third sensor in response to the write signal;

retrieving second angle information from the accelerometer in response to the write signal;

generating write information based on the third coordinate information and the second angle information; and

transmitting a write request including the write information to the projector.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

detecting that the second sensor is pressed; and

sending the write signal when the second sensor is pressed.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving, at a third sensor, third coordinate information from the coordinate projection of the projector;

detecting that the third sensor is pressed;

sending a second erase signal when the third sensor is pressed;

retrieving the third coordinate information from the third sensor in response to the second erase signal;

retrieving third angle information from the accelerometer in response to the second erase signal;

generating a second erase request including the third coordinate information and the third angle information; and

transmitting the second erase request to the projector.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the third sensor extends as a second nib from a second end of the interactive device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first end is on an opposite side of the interactive device from the second end.

14. A method for implementing an interactive device within an interactive projector system, the method comprising:

determining whether a first button or a second button is pressed, the first button being associated with a first erase request and the second button being associated with a write request;

when the first button is pressed;

sending a first erase signal;

determining, at a first sensor, first coordinate positioning information from a coordinate grid projected directly from a projector;

determining, using orientation positioning circuitry, first angle information for the interactive device;

generating the first erase request, wherein the erase request includes the first coordinate positioning information and the first angle information;

transmitting, via a wireless data communication, the first erase request from the interactive device to the projector;

continually updating the first erase request in response to the first button being continually pressed and the interactive device being moved within the coordinate grid projected; and

continually transmitting, via the wireless data communication, the continually updated first erase request, wherein images projected at locations identified in the continually updated erase request are no longer projected after the continually updated first erase request is received at the projector; and

when the second button is pressed;

sending a write signal;

determining, at a second sensor, second coordinate positioning information from the coordinate grid projected from the projector;

determining, using the orientation positioning circuitry, second angle information for the interactive device;

generating the write request, wherein the write request includes the second coordinate positioning information and the second angle information;

transmitting, via a wireless data communication, the write request from the interactive device to the projector;

detecting that a third sensor is pressed, wherein the third sensor is a nib extending from the interactive device and is placed in physical communication with a projection surface when the second sensor is pressed;

sending a second erase signal when the third sensor is pressed; and

determining, at the third sensor, third coordinate positioning information reflected off of the projection surface and received at the third sensor in response to the third sensor being pressed.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting that the second sensor is pressed; and

sending the write signal when the second sensor is pressed.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

retrieving the third coordinate positioning information from the third sensor in response to the second erase signal;

retrieving third angle information from the orientation positioning circuitry in response to the second erase signal;

generating a second erase request based on the third coordinate information and the third angle information; and

transmitting the second erase request to the projector.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second sensor extends as a first nib from a first end of the interactive device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first end is on an opposite side of the interactive device from the second end.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the orientation positioning circuitry is an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a combination thereof.