INTERACTIVE INPUT SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120319972A1
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: TSE, EDWARD, THOMPSON, SEAN, MARTIN, DAVID, ROUNDING, KATHRYN, BOYLE, MICHAEL, FLETCHER, MARK, WILDING, NEAL HANEBURY, TSE, DEREK, STRILCHUK, MICHAEL ANDREW, GILL, HAROLD, BOYKIW, ALAN PETER, XIN, MIN
• Granted Patent: US 9,442,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3262 Power saving in digitizer or tablet
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

An interactive input system comprises an interactive surface; at least one proximity sensor in proximity with the interactive surface and generating output signifying user proximity to the interactive surface; and processing structure configured to process user input generated in response to user interaction with said interaction input system and output from the at least one proximity sensor, said processing structure controlling interactive input system operation based upon at least one of said user input and proximity sensor output.

Claims

1. An interactive input system comprising:

an interactive surface;

at least one proximity sensor in proximity with the interactive surface and generating output signifying user proximity to the interactive surface; and

processing structure configured to process user input generated in response to user interaction with said interaction input system and output from the at least one proximity sensor, said processing structure controlling interactive input system operation based upon at least one of said user input and proximity sensor output.

2. The interactive input system of claim 1 wherein said processing structure controls interactive input system operation based on both user input and proximity sensor output.

3. The interactive input system of claim 1 wherein said user input is generated at least in response to user interaction with said interactive surface.

4. The interactive input system of claim 3 wherein said user input is further generated in response to user interaction with at least one input device in communication with said processing structure.

5. The interactive input system of claim 4 wherein said at least one input device comprises a keyboard and/or a mouse.

6. The interactive input system of claim 1 wherein said processing structure conditions the interactive input system to operate in a selected one of a plurality of operational modes based upon at least one of said user input and proximity sensor output.

7. The interactive input system of claim 6 wherein said operational modes comprise an interactive mode, a ready mode, and a standby mode.

8. The interactive input system of claim 7 wherein the ready mode comprises a plurality of sub-modes.

9. The interactive input system of claim 7 wherein operation of the interactive input system in the ready mode is controlled by hardware associated with the interactive surface.

10. The interactive input system of claim 7 wherein operation of the interactive input system in the ready mode is controlled by the processing structure.

11. The interactive input system of claim 6 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to operate in the standby mode in the absence of proximity sensor output, signifying user proximity to the interactive surface, for a period of time exceeding a threshold period of time.

12. The interactive input system of claim 6 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to the interactive mode from the standby mode in response to said user input.

13. The interactive input system of claim 6 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to a ready_initial sub-mode from the standby mode when the proximity sensor output signifies user proximity to the interactive surface.

14. The interactive input system of claim 13 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to a ready_final sub-mode from the ready_initial sub-mode in absence of user input for a period of time exceeding a second threshold period of time.

15. The interactive input system of claim 14 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to the interactive mode from the ready_initial sub-mode in response to user input.

16. The interactive input system of claim 15 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to the standby mode from the ready_final sub-mode in the absence of proximity sensor output signifying user proximity to the interactive surface.

17. The interactive input system of claim 16 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to the interactive mode from the ready_final sub-mode in response to user input.

18. The interactive input system of claim 6 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to the standby mode from the interactive mode upon actuation of an interactive input system power button.

19. The interactive input system of claim 6 wherein the interactive input system is conditioned to the interactive mode upon in response to user input.

20. The interactive input system of claim 1 wherein the at least one proximity sensor comprises a plurality of proximity sensors.

21. The interactive input system of claim 20 wherein at least one of the proximity sensors is configured to detect a user positioned in front of the interactive surface.

22. The interactive input system of claim 21 wherein other proximity sensors are configured to detect a user positioned adjacent a side of the interactive surface.

23. The interactive input system of claim 20 wherein each of the proximity sensors is configured to detect a user positioned in front of the interactive surface.

24. The interactive input system of claim 20 wherein said proximity sensors are positioned at spaced locations about said interactive surface.

25. The interactive input system of claim 24 wherein said proximity sensors are mounted on a bezel that at least partially surrounds said interactive surface.

26. The interactive input system of claim 25 wherein at least two proximity sensors are positioned adjacent opposite sides of said interactive surface and wherein at least one proximity sensor is positioned adjacent the middle of said interactive surface.

27. The interactive input system of claim 26 wherein said at least two proximity sensors and said at least one proximity sensor are arranged in a line along the same side of said interactive surface.

28. The interactive input system of claim 20 wherein said proximity sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic proximity sensors and infrared proximity sensors.

29. The interactive input system of claim 1 further comprising a status indicator for indicating the approximate position of a user in proximity to the interactive surface.

30. The interactive input system of claim 29 wherein the status indicator further indicates the interactive input system operational mode.

31. The interactive input system of claim 29 wherein the status indicator comprises a plurality of illumination sources.

32. A method of operating an interactive input system comprising:

receiving input in response to user interaction with an interactive surface;

receiving sensor output from at least one proximity sensor in response to user proximity to said interactive surface; and

processing said input and said sensor output to determine an operating mode of the interactive input system.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising conditioning the interactive input system to the determined operating mode.

34. An interactive board comprising:

an interactive surface;

at least one proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a user proximate to said interactive surface; and

a status indicator configured to provide at least one of an indication that a user is proximate to the interactive surface and an indication of an interactive board operating mode.

35. The interactive board of claim 34 wherein the status indicator provides both an indication that a user is proximate to the interactive surface and an indication of the interactive board operating mode.

36. The interactive board of claim 34 further comprising a plurality of proximity sensors, each proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of a user proximate to a different respective portion of the interactive surface.

37. The interactive board of claim 36 wherein at least one of said proximity sensors is configured to detect a user in proximity to the front of said interactive surface.

38. The interactive board of claim 37 wherein other proximity sensors are configured to detect a user positioned adjacent a side of the interactive surface.

39. The interactive board of any claim 36 wherein said proximity sensors are positioned at spaced locations about said interactive surface.

40. The interactive board of claim 39 wherein said proximity sensors are mounted on a bezel that at least partially surrounds said interactive surface.

41. The interactive board of claim 40 wherein at least two proximity sensors are positioned adjacent opposite sides of said interactive surface and wherein at least one proximity sensor is positioned adjacent the middle of said interactive surface.

42. The interactive board of claim 41 wherein said at least two proximity sensors and said at least one proximity sensor are arranged in a line along the same side of said interactive surface.

43. The interactive board of claim 36 wherein said proximity sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic proximity sensors and infrared proximity sensors.

44. The interactive board of claim 34 wherein the status indicator comprises a plurality of illumination sources.

45. An interactive board comprising:

an interactive surface; and

a plurality of proximity sensors at spaced locations about said interactive surface, said proximity sensors being configured at least to detect the presence of a user positioned (i) in front of said interactive surface, and (ii) to a side of the interactive surface.

46. The interactive board of claim 45 wherein the proximity sensors are further configured to detect the presence of a user positioned to a side and behind the interactive surface.

47. The interactive board of claim 45 wherein said proximity sensors are mounted on a bezel that at least partially surrounds said interactive surface.

48. The interactive board of claim 47 wherein at least two proximity sensors are positioned adjacent opposite sides of said interactive surface and wherein at least one proximity sensor is positioned adjacent the middle of said interactive surface.

49. The interactive board of claim 48 wherein said at least two proximity sensors and said at least one proximity sensor are arranged in a line along the same side of said interactive surface.

50. The interactive board of claim 45 wherein said proximity sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic proximity sensors and infrared proximity sensors.

51. The interactive board of claim 45 further comprising a status indicator for indicating the approximate position of a user in proximity to the interactive surface.

52. The interactive board of claim 51 wherein the status indicator further indicates the interactive board operational mode.

53. The interactive board of claim 52 wherein the status indicator comprises a plurality of illumination sources.