Interactive input system

• US 20070165007A1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2006
• 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: Keenan, Vaughn, Akitt, Trevor, Morrison, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/331,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165007A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• 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 at least two imaging devices associated with a region of interest. The at least two imaging devices acquire images of the region of interest from different locations and have overlapping fields of view. At least one receiver is operable to receive data output by an active pointer when the pointer is both within and outside the fields of view of the imaging devices. Processor structure processes data acquired by the at least two imaging devices and the at least one receiver to detect the existence of an active pointer and to determine the location of the pointer within the region of interest.

Claims

1. An interactive input system comprising:

at least two imaging devices associated with a region of interest, said at least two imaging devices acquiring images of said region of interest from different locations and having overlapping fields of view;

at least one receiver operable to receive data output by an active pointer when said pointer is both within and outside the fields of view of said imaging devices; and

processor structure processing data acquired by said at least two imaging devices and said at least one receiver to detect the existence of an active pointer and to determine the location of said pointer within said region of interest.

2. An interactive input system according to claim 1, comprising at least two receivers, each receiver being positioned adjacent a different one of said imaging devices.

3. An interactive input system according to claim 1, further comprising a touch surface positioned in said region of interest.

4. An interactive input system according to claim 3, wherein each imaging device is positioned adjacent a different corner of said touch surface.

5. An interactive input system according to claim 2 wherein data received by said receivers is synchronized with image data acquired by said imaging devices.

6. An interactive input system according to claim 5 wherein data received by each receiver is conveyed to said associated imaging device prior to transmission to said processing structure by said imaging device.

7. An interactive input system according to claim 6 wherein said imaging devices transmit data to said processing structure over a wired communications link.

8. An interactive input system according to claim 6 wherein said imaging devices transmit data to said processing structure over a wireless communications link.

9. An interactive input system according to claim 5 wherein said receivers and imaging devices independently transmit data to said processing structure.

10. An interactive input system according to claim 9 wherein said imaging devices and receivers transmit data to said processing structure over a wired communications link.

11. An interactive input system according to claim 9 wherein said imaging devices and receivers transmit data to said processing structure over a wireless communications link.

12. An interactive input system according to claim 3 further comprising an active pointer, said pointer outputting data in response to a contact with said touch surface.

13. An interactive input system according to claim 12 wherein said pointer outputs data in response to a contact with said touch surface made with a threshold force.

14. An interactive input system according to claim 13 wherein said pointer includes at least one manually actuable control, said pointer outputting data in response to control actuation.

15. An interactive input system according to claim 14 wherein said pointer outputs data in response to control actuation only when a pointer contact condition exists.

16. An interaction input system according to claim 3 wherein said pointer illuminates in response to a contact with said touch surface.

17. An interactive input system according to claim 16 wherein said pointer illuminates in response to a contact with said touch surface made with a threshold force.

18. An interactive input system according to claim 17 wherein said pointer includes at least one manually actuable control, said pointer outputting data in response to control actuation.

19. An interactive input system according to claim 18 wherein said pointer outputs data in response to control actuation only when a pointer contact condition exists.

20. An interactive input system according to claim 19 wherein said data is used to modulate light output by said pointer.

21. A camera-based interactive display system comprising:

display;

a region of interest in front of said display;

at least two optical recording devices acquiring images of said region of interest from different locations and having overlapping fields of view;

at least one receiver operable to receive data output by an active pointer when said pointer is within and outside the fields of view of said optical recoding devices; and

processing structure receiving and processing data acquired by said at least two optical recording devices and said at least one receiver to detect the existence of a pointer and to determine the location of said pointer within said region interest.

22. A camera-based interactive display system according to claim 21 further comprising an active pointer.