Interactive Input System And Illumination Assembly Therefor

• US 20090278795A1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• 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: Friedrich, Wolfgang, Hansen, Jeremy, Chtchetinine, Alex, Nesic, Zoran
• Application Number:
  US12/118,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20090278795A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

An illumination assembly for an interactive input system comprises at least two proximate radiation sources directing radiation into a region of interest, each of the radiation sources having a different emission angle.

Claims

1. An illumination assembly for an interactive input system comprising:

at least two proximate radiation sources directing radiation into a region of interest, each of said radiation sources having a different emission angle.

2. An illumination assembly according to claim 1 wherein said radiation sources are positioned adjacent an imaging assembly of said interactive input system that captures images of said region of interest.

3. An illumination assembly according to claim 2 wherein each of said radiation sources is positioned proximate to the centerline of said imaging assembly.

4. An illumination assembly according to claim 3 wherein said radiation sources are mounted on a board positioned on said imaging assembly, said board having an opening therein through which said imaging assembly looks.

5. An illumination assembly according to claim 4 wherein said radiation sources are mounted on said board on opposite sides of said opening.

6. An illumination assembly according to claim 5 wherein the radiation source having a narrow emission angle is positioned in the view of said imaging assembly.

7. An illumination assembly according to claim 6 further comprising a shield to inhibit stray light from the radiation source having the narrow emission angle from impinging on said imaging assembly.

8. An illumination assembly according to claim 2 wherein the region of interest has a bezel running along a plurality of sides thereof, the emission angles of the radiation sources being selected so that said bezel appears generally evenly illuminated in captured images.

9. An illumination assembly according to claim 8 wherein each of said radiation sources is positioned proximate to the centerline of said imaging assembly.

10. An illumination assembly according to claim 9 wherein said radiation sources are mounted on a board positioned on said imaging assembly, said board having an opening therein through which said imaging assembly looks.

11. An illumination assembly according to claim 10 wherein said radiation sources are mounted on said board on opposite sides of said opening.

12. An illumination assembly according to claim 11 wherein the radiation source having a narrow emission angle is positioned in the view of said imaging assembly.

13. An illumination assembly according to claim 12 further comprising a shield to inhibit stray light from the radiation source having the narrow emission angle from impinging on said imaging assembly.

14. An illumination assembly according to claim 8 wherein said region of interest is generally rectangular and wherein the imaging assembly is positioned adjacent a corner of said region of interest, the radiation source having a narrow emission angle being aimed generally towards the opposite diagonal corner of said region of interest.

15. An illumination assembly according to claim 14 wherein the radiation source having a narrow emission angle is positioned in the view of said imaging assembly.

16. An illumination assembly according to claim 15 further comprising a shield to inhibit stray light from the radiation source having the narrow emission angle from impinging on said imaging assembly.

17. An illumination assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a lens associated with at least one of said radiation sources, said lens shaping illumination emitted by said associated radiation source prior to said illumination entering said region of interest.

18. An illumination assembly according to claim 17 wherein said lens is shaped to provide a reflective component that redirects off optical axis illumination rays and a refractive component that redirects near optical axis illumination rays.

19. An illumination assembly according to claim 18 wherein said reflective component is a total internal reflection component.

20. An illumination assembly according to claim 17 wherein a lens is associated with each radiation source.

21. An illumination assembly according to claim 20 wherein said lens is shaped to provide a reflective component that redirects off optical axis illumination rays and a refractive component that redirects near optical axis illumination rays.

22. An illumination assembly according to claim 21 wherein said reflective component is a total internal reflection component.

23. An illumination assembly according to claim 18 wherein said refractive component comprises a pair of generally parabolic surfaces spaced along the optical axis of said lens.

24. An illumination assembly according to claim 21 wherein said refractive component comprises a pair of generally parabolic surfaces spaced along the optical axis of said lens.

25. An illumination assembly comprising:

at least one radiation source emitting illumination having a near-Lambertian directivity pattern; and

a lens associated with said radiation source, said lens shaping the illumination emitted by said radiation source to reduce diverging illumination rays along a selected axis.

26. An illumination assembly according to claim 25 wherein said lens is shaped to provide a reflective component that redirects off optical axis illumination rays and a refractive component that redirects near optical axis illumination rays.

27. An illumination assembly according to claim 26 wherein said refractive component comprises a pair of generally parabolic surfaces spaced along the optical axis of said lens.

28. An illumination assembly according to claim 27 wherein said reflective component is a total internal reflection component.

29. An illumination assembly according to claim 25 comprising:

a plurality of spaced radiation sources and a lens associated with each radiation source.

30. An illumination assembly according to claim 29 wherein said lens is shaped to provide a reflective component that redirects off optical axis illumination rays and a refractive component that redirects near optical axis illumination rays.

31. An illumination assembly according to claim 30 wherein said refractive component comprises a pair of generally parabolic surfaces spaced along the optical axis of said lens.

32. An illumination assembly according to claim 31 wherein said reflective component is a total internal reflection component.

33. An interactive input system comprising:

at least one imaging device capturing images of a region of interest surrounded at least partially by a reflective bezel; and

at least two radiation sources directing radiation into the region of interest, each of said radiation sources having a different emission angle.