Interactive projector device

• US 9,652,054 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• 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, Pratt, Thomas L., D'Alessio, Samuel Nicklaus
• Primary Examiner(s): REGN, MARK W
• Application Number:
  US14/195,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 345179
• 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 first coordinate information from a coordinate grid projected from a projector and reflected off of a projection surface, wherein the first sensor is a nib extending from a first surface of the interactive device, the first sensor is configured to be placed in physical communication with the projection surface;

a processor in communication with the first sensor, the processor configured to receive the first coordinate information from the first sensor in response to the first sensor being pressed partially within the interactive device through the first surface, to generate a first erase request based on the first coordinate information, and to continually update the first erase request with incremental coordinate information in response to the first sensor being continually pressed partially within the interactive device; and

a transmitter in communication with the processor, the transmitter configured to transmit the first erase request to the projector.

2. The interactive device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor to receive second coordinate information from the coordinate grid; and

a button in communication with the second sensor, the button to send an erase signal to the processor when the button is pressed.

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

4. The interactive device of claim 3 further comprising:

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

the processor further configured to include the angle information in the first erase request.

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

6. The interactive device of claim 2 further comprising:

a body including;

a second surface including the second sensor; and

a third surface different from the second surface, the third surface being opposite of the second sensor on the interactive device, and the third 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 information from a coordinate grid projected from a projector and reflected off of a projection surface, wherein the first sensor is a nib extending from a first surface of the interactive device;

in response to the first sensor being pressed, generating a first erase request based on the first coordinate information, wherein the first sensor is placed in physical communication with the projection surface when the first sensor is pressed partially within the interactive device; and

continually updating the first erase request with incremental coordinate information and transmitting, to the projector, the first erase request in response to the first sensor being continually pressed partially within the interactive device through the first surface and the interactive device being moved within the coordinate grid.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

determining, using an accelerometer, first angle information for the interactive device, wherein the first erase request includes the first angle information.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving, at a second sensor, second coordinate information from the coordinate grid;

detecting that a button is pressed;

in response to the button being pressed, generating an erase signal based on the second coordinate information; and

transmitting a second erase request including the erase signal to the projector.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

in response to the button being pressed, retrieving second angle information from the accelerometer, wherein the second erase request includes the second angle information.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving, at a third sensor, third coordinate information from the coordinate grid;

detecting that the third sensor is pressed;

in response to the third sensor being pressed, generating a write request including the third coordinate information; and

transmitting the write request to the projector.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

determining, using the accelerometer, third angle information for the interactive device, wherein the write request includes the third angle information.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the third sensor extends as a second nib from an opposite end of the interactive device as the first sensor.

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

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

when the first sensor is pressed;

determining, at the first sensor, first coordinate positioning information from a coordinate grid projected from a projector and reflected off of a projection surface, wherein the first sensor is a nib extending from a first surface of the interactive device, the first sensor is configured to be placed in physical communication with the projection surface when the first sensor is pressed partially within the interactive device through the first surface;

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

transmitting the first erase request from the interactive device to the projector when the first sensor is pressed partially within interactive device through the first surface; and

when the first button is pressed;

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

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

transmitting the write request from the interactive device to the projector.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

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

including the first angle information in the first erase request.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

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

including the second angle information in the write request.

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

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

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the orientation positioning circuitry is an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a combination thereof.