POINTER TRACKING ACROSS MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING COORDINATE INPUT SUB-REGIONS DEFINING A GENERALLY CONTIGUOUS INPUT REGION

• US 20080284733A1
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Technologies Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Holmgren, David E., Hill, Douglas B., Su, Scott Yu Tseng
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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

A touch system comprises overlapping coordinate input sub-regions defining a generally contiguous input surface. Each coordinate input sub-region generates pointer coordinate data in response to pointer contacts thereon. When a pointer contact is made on a region of a coordinate input sub-region that overlaps with an adjacent coordinate input sub-region, each overlapping coordinate input sub-region processes acquired images to derive pointer data and triangulates the position of the pointer using the derived pointer data. Thereafter, the triangulated positions generated by the overlapping coordinate input sub-regions are processed in accordance with defined logic thereby to determine the position of the pointer contact relative to the touch surface.

Claims

1. An interactive input system comprising:

an input region divided into a plurality of input sub-regions; and

a set of imaging devices associated with each input sub-region, the imaging devices of each set looking into the respective input sub-region from different vantages and having overlapping fields of view.

2. An interactive input system according to claim 1 wherein adjacent input sub-regions overlap.

3. An interactive input system according to claim 2 wherein each set of imaging devices comprises at least two imaging devices.

4. An interactive input system according to claim 3 wherein said imaging devices are digital camera devices.

5. An interactive input system according to claim 3 wherein the imaging devices of each set are positioned generally along the periphery of the associated input sub-region.

6. An interactive input system according to claim 5 wherein the imaging devices of each set comprise a pair of laterally spaced imaging devices positioned along a common peripheral edge of the associated input sub-region.

7. An interactive input system according to claim 5 wherein the imaging devices of all sets are positioned along the same peripheral edge of the input region.

8. An interactive input system according to claim 7 wherein said imaging devices are digital camera devices.

9. An interactive input system according to claim 6 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

10. An interactive input system according to claim 7 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

11. An interactive input system according to claim 3 wherein each set of imaging devices comprises at least four imaging devices positioned at spaced locations to form the corners of a four-sided polygon encompassing said input sub-region.

12. An interactive input system according to claim 11 wherein imaging devices of at least some sets look into the associated input sub-region at different angles relative to a generally horizontal peripheral edge of said input region.

13. An interactive input system according to claim 12 wherein, for each set of imaging devices associated with an input sub-region adjacent an end of said input region, a first pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a first angle and a second pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a second different angle.

14. An interactive input system according to claim 13 wherein the imaging devices of said first pair are positioned at different corners of said input region and wherein the imaging devices of said second pair are positioned along opposite horizontal peripheral edges of said input region.

15. An interactive input system according to claim 14 wherein each imaging device of said first pair is aimed generally at a diagonally opposite imaging device of said second pair and wherein each imaging device of said second pair is tilted in a direction towards the diagonally opposite imaging device of said first pair.

16. An interactive input system according to claim 15 wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said first pair form about a 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal peripheral edge and wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said second pair forming about a 10 degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

17. An interactive input system according to claim 12 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

18. An interactive input system according to claim 15 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

19. An interactive input system according to claim 11 wherein each input sub-region is divided into quadrants, a different pair of imaging devices of the imaging device set associated with the input sub-region being responsible for each quadrant.

20. An interactive input system according to claim 19 wherein imaging devices of at least some sets look into the associated input sub-region at different angles relative to a generally horizontal peripheral edge of said input region.

21. An interactive input system according to claim 20 wherein, for each set of imaging devices associated with an input sub-region adjacent an end of said input region, a first pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a first angle and a second pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a second different angle.

22. An interactive input system according to claim 21 wherein the imaging devices of said first pair are positioned at different corners of said input region and wherein the imaging devices of said second pair are positioned along opposite horizontal peripheral edges of said input region.

23. An interactive input system according to claim 22 wherein each imaging device of said first pair is aimed generally at a diagonally opposite imaging device of said second pair and wherein each imaging device of said second pair is tilted in a direction towards the diagonally opposite imaging device of said first pair.

24. An interactive input system according to claim 23 wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said first pair form about a 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal peripheral edge and wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said second pair forming about a 10 degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

25. An interactive input system according to claim 22 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

26. An interactive input system according to claim 1 comprising at least three input sub-regions arranged side-by-side.

27. An interactive input system according to claim 26 wherein adjacent input sub-regions overlap.

28. An interactive input system according to claim 27 wherein each set of imaging devices comprises at least four imaging devices positioned at spaced locations to form the corners of a four-sided polygon encompassing said input sub-region.

29. An interactive input system according to claim 28 wherein imaging devices of at least some sets look into the associated input sub-region at different angles relative to a generally horizontal peripheral edge of said input region.

30. An interactive input system according to claim 29 wherein, for each set of imaging devices associated with an input sub-region adjacent an end of said input region, a first pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a first angle and a second pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a second different angle.

31. An interactive input system according to claim 30 wherein the imaging devices of said first pair are positioned at different corners of said input region and wherein the imaging devices of said second pair are positioned along opposite horizontal peripheral edges of said input region.

32. An interactive input system according to claim 31 wherein each imaging device of said first pair is aimed generally at a diagonally opposite imaging device of said second pair and wherein each imaging device of said second pair is tilted in a direction towards the diagonally opposite imaging device of said first pair.

33. An interactive input system according to claim 32 wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said first pair form about a 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal peripheral edge and wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said second pair forming about a 10 degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

34. An interactive input system according to claim 23 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

35. An interactive input system according to claim 28 wherein, for each input sub-region intermediate the ends of said input region, each imaging device in the set associated therewith is angled slightly towards the diagonally opposite imaging device in the set.

36. An interactive input system according to claim 34 wherein each imaging device is angled such that the optical axis thereof forms about a ten degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

37. An interactive input system according to claim 32 wherein, for each input sub-region intermediate the ends of said input region, each imaging device in the set associated therewith is angled slightly towards the diagonally opposite imaging device in the set.

38. An interactive input system according to claim 37 wherein each imaging device is angled such that the optical axis thereof forms about a ten degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

39. An interactive input system according to claim 35 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

40. An interactive input system according to claim 28 further comprising an illuminated bezel about the periphery of said input region, said imaging devices being accommodated by said bezel.

41. An interactive input system according to claim 40 wherein, for each set of imaging devices associated with an input sub-region adjacent an end of said input region, a first pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a first angle and a second pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a second different angle.

42. An interactive input system according to claim 41 wherein the imaging devices of said first pair are positioned at different corners of said input region and wherein the imaging devices of said second pair are positioned along opposite horizontal peripheral edges of said input region.

43. An interactive input system according to claim 42 wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said first pair form about a 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal peripheral edge and wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said second pair forming about a 10 degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

44. An interactive input system according to claim 41 wherein, for each input sub-region intermediate the ends of said input region, each imaging device in the set associated therewith is angled slightly towards the diagonally opposite imaging device in the set.

45. An interactive input system according to claim 44 wherein each imaging device is angled such that the optical axis thereof forms about a ten degree angle with respect to a line normal to said peripheral edge.

46. An interactive input system according to claim 40 further comprising light sources adjacent imaging devices located at intermediate positions between the ends of said input region, said light sources being generally in line with said illuminated bezel.

47. An interactive input system according to claim 46 wherein a computer desktop section is displayed on each input sub-region, said computer desktop sections merging to form a substantially seamless computer desktop.

48. An interactive input system comprising:

a generally rectangular input region having a major generally horizontal axis and a minor generally vertical axis, said input region being divided into a plurality of overlapping input sub-regions; and

a set of imaging devices associated with each input sub-region, the imaging devices of each set looking into the respective input sub-region from different vantages and having overlapping fields of view.

49. An interactive input system according to claim 48 comprising at least three input sub-regions arranged side-by-side.

50. An interactive input system according to claim 49 wherein each set of imaging devices comprises at least four imaging devices positioned at spaced locations to form the corners of a four-sided polygon encompassing said input sub-region.

51. An interactive input system according to claim 50 wherein imaging devices of at least some sets look into the associated input sub-region at different angles relative to a generally horizontal peripheral edge of said input region.

52. An interactive input system according to claim 51 wherein for each set of imaging devices associated with an input sub-region adjacent an end of said input region, a first pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a first angle and a second pair of imaging devices looks into the associated input sub-region at a second different angle.

53. An interactive input system according to claim 52 wherein the imaging devices of said first pair are positioned at different corners of said input region and wherein the imaging devices of said second pair are positioned along opposite horizontal peripheral edges of said input regions.

54. An interactive input system according to claim 53 wherein each imaging device of said first pair is aimed generally at a diagonally opposite imaging device of said second pair and wherein each imaging device of said second pair is tilted in a direction toward the diagonally opposite imaging device of said first pair.

55. An interactive input system according to claim 52 wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said first pair form about a 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal peripheral. edge and wherein the optical axes of the imaging devices of said second pair forming about a 10 degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

56. An interactive input system according to claim 54 wherein, for each input sub-region intermediate the ends of said input region, each imaging device in the set associated therewith is angled slightly towards the diagonally opposite imaging device in the set.

57. An interactive input system according to claim 56 wherein each imaging device is angled such that the optical axis thereof forms about a ten degree angle with respect to a line normal to said horizontal peripheral edge.

58. An interactive input system according to claim 50 further comprising an illuminated bezel about the periphery of said input region, said imaging devices being accommodated by said bezel.

59. An interactive input system according to claim 57 further comprising light sources adjacent imaging devices located at intermediate positions between the ends of said input region, said light sources being generally in line with said illuminated bezel.

60. In an interactive input system including at least two overlapping input sub-regions defining an input region, each input sub-region generating pointer coordinate data in response to pointer movement therein, a method for orienting said input sub-regions comprising:

presenting an image segment on a selected one of said input sub-regions;

determining whether an input sub-region adjacent to said selected input sub-region exists; and

if so, registering the adjacent input sub-region with the selected input sub-region.

61. In an interactive input system including at least two overlapping input sub-regions defining an input region, each input sub-region generating pointer coordinate data in response to pointer movement therein, a method for handling mouse input associated with an input sub-region comprising:

examining the mouse input to determine if said mouse input is a first input event associated with said input sub-region;

if so, determining whether a mouse down event associated with a portion of another input sub-region that overlaps with said input sub-region exists;

if a mouse down event associated with the overlapping portion does not exist, using the mouse input to generate a mouse down event for the input sub-region; and

if a mouse down event associated with the overlapping portion exists, merging the mouse down event and the mouse input to generate the mouse down event for the input sub-region.

62. A method of reporting the pointer type to an application program in an interactive input system including at least two overlapping input sub-regions defining an input region, each input sub-region generating pointer coordinate data in response to pointer movement therein, said method comprising:

examining a pointer input to determine if said pointer input is a first input event associated with said input sub-region;

if so, determining if a drawing tool is used to make the first input event and said pointer input is within a designated writing area and if so, reporting a writing event to said application program; and

otherwise, reporting the first input event as a mouse event.

63. A method for providing a smooth pointer transition during movement of a pointer between overlapping first and second input sub-regions defining an input region, each input sub-region generating pointer coordinate data in response to pointer movement therein, said method comprising:

reporting a plurality of pointer coordinates from the first input sub-region to a computer;

determining when said plurality of pointer coordinates enter a transition zone between the two sub-regions thereby generating at least two sets of pointer coordinates; and

reporting said at least two sets of pointer coordinates to said computer, said computer performing a merging operation on said at least two sets of pointer coordinates to produce a single set of pointer coordinates.