Abstract: An interactive input system comprises imaging devices with different viewpoints and having at least partially overlapping fields of view encompassing a region of interest. At least two of the imaging devices have different focal lengths. Processing structure processes image data acquired by the imaging devices to detect the existence of a pointer and determine the location of the pointer within the region of interest.

Abstract: An interactive input system comprises a touch surface, and imaging system associated with the touch surface and processing structure. The imaging system comprises an optical sensor array that spans at least a portion of the area of the touch surface, and the processing structure communicates with the imaging system and analyzes images received by the imaging system to determine whether at least one pointer is near to the touch surface and the location of the at least one pointer in respect of the touch surface based at least in part on the edge sharpness of the at least one pointer.

Abstract: A computerized method of recognizing an input hand-drawn table formed by freeform line objects comprises transforming each freeform line object of the table into one of a vertical line segment and a horizontal line segment, generating a grid system based on the vertical and horizontal line segments and converting the generated grid system into a table object.

Abstract: A safety device for a cantilevered beam pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof to a support surface is adapted to bridge the beam and the support surface and is structured so that when coupled to the beam and support surface, the safety device maintains the beam in a substantially fixed cantilevered condition until a downward force exceeding a threshold is applied to the beam and thereafter controls downward pivoting of the beam.

Abstract: An interactive input system comprises a consumer electronic device and a controller for the consumer electronic device. The controller is operable in one of a touch input mode and a gesture input mode and controls the consumer electronic device in response to one of the detected user touch input and user gesture input depending on the operating mode of the controller.

Abstract: A system for providing a portable touch system comprises a bezel having a first and a second end, and a housing that is adapted to receive the first and second end of the bezel such that a display area is bounded by the housing and the bezel. At least one camera system is coupled to the housing and is operable to capture within at least a portion of the display area images of an object located within a field of view of the at least one camera system.

Abstract: A touch panel comprises a substrate having a forward major surface and formed of a plurality of assembled substrate segments. Cover material overlies the forward major surface to reduce the visibility of seams between adjacent substrate segments.

Abstract: A method for dividing a digital image into regions comprises identifying potential region borders based on edge content in the digital image. The digital image is divided into regions based on user-selected ones of the potential region borders. A method of processing a region of a digital image comprises receiving gesture data for characterizing the region. A processing tool associated with the gesture data is automatically launched, and the region is processed using the processing tool.

Abstract: A media integration device associated with a touch system including a touch screen, comprises a media control module operative to receive media information from a plurality of devices and generate media data associated with each of the plurality of devices. The media control module selects one device from the plurality of devices for displaying media data associated with the one device on the touch screen. A program module is operatively coupled to the media control device and adapted to generate a graphical user interface including a first display on the touch screen for operationally controlling the selected one device from the touch screen.

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.

Abstract: An interactive input system comprises imaging devices with different viewpoints and having at least partially overlapping fields of view encompassing a region of interest. At least two of the imaging devices have different focal lengths. Processing structure processes image data acquired by the imaging devices to detect the existence of a pointer and determine the location of the pointer within the region of interest.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an interactive touch system includes moving a pointer along at least one path on a touch surface over a calibration image presented on the touch surface. Pointer coordinates are generated generally continuously during the tracing representing pointer contact locations on the touch surface. The coordinate system of the touch surface is mapped to the coordinate system of the calibration image using the pointer coordinates and the calibration image.

Abstract: A tensioned touch panel includes a support structure having a substrate with a generally planer conductive surface disposed thereon and an insulating spacer generally about the periphery of the substrate. A pretensioned conductive member overlies the support structure. The spacer separates the conductive membrane and the conductive surface thereby to define an air gap therebetween. A conductive membrane is secured to the support structure under sufficient tension to inhibit slack from developing in the conductive membrane as a result of changes in environmental conditions. A method of assembling a tensioned touch panel is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest includes at least one pair of imaging devices. The imaging devices have overlapping fields of view encompassing the region of interest. At least one light source provides illumination across the region of interest and is within the field of view of at least one of the imaging device. A filter is associated with the at least one imaging device whose field of view sees the light source. The filter blocks light projected by the light source to inhibit the imaging device from being blinded by the projected light.

Abstract: An interactive display system comprising a touch sensitive display surface for sensing pressure applied thereto and in response generating control signals indicating locations of the applied pressure, a personal computer for receiving the control signals and in response generating graphic images, and an LCD panel in combination with an overhead projector for receiving and projecting the graphic images onto the touch sensitive display surface at the indicated locations. The LCD panel and overhead projector may be provided an integral unit.

Abstract: A touch system comprises a touch panel having a touch surface and a projector presenting images onto the touch surface. A computer executing an applications program is coupled to the touch panel and the projector. The computer is responsive to contact output generated by the touch panel in response to proximity of a pointer to the touch surface and updates image data conveyed to the projector so that images presented on the touch surface reflect pointer activity. The computer executes a gesture suggestion and writing recognition routine. The gesture suggestion and writing recognition routine performs recognition to convert ink on the touch surface into another object based on a selected interpretation.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest includes a first reflective element extending along a first side of the region of interest and reflecting light towards the region of interest. A second reflective element extends along a second side of the region of interest and reflects light towards the region of interest. The second side is joined to the first side to define a first corner. A non-reflective region generally in the plane of at least one of the first and second reflective elements is adjacent the first corner. At least one imaging device captures images of the region of interest including reflections from the first and second reflective elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest includes at least one pair of imaging devices. The imaging devices have overlapping fields of view encompassing the region of interest. At least one light source provides illumination across the region of interest and is within the field of view of at least one of the imaging device. A filter is associated with the at least one imaging device whose field of view sees the light source. The filter blocks light projected by the light source to inhibit the imaging device from being blinded by the projected light.

Abstract: A camera-based touch system includes at least one pair of cameras having overlapping fields of view and a touch surface encompassed within the overlapping fields of view across which a pointer is moved. The cameras of the at least one pair acquire images at intervals asynchronously. In order to estimate the position of the pointer relative to the touch surface from image data acquired by the at least one pair of cameras, the images are synthetically synchronized. During this process, for each camera in the pair, each acquired image is processed to determine the position of the pointer therein and the position of the pointer is recorded together with a timestamp representing the time elapsed between a reference point common to the cameras and the time the image was acquired.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a touch surface and at least one source of backlight illumination projecting backlighting across the touch surface. At least two image sensors are associated with the touch surface and acquire images of the touch surface from different locations. A digital signal processor is associated with each image sensor. The digital signal processors select pixel subsets of images acquired by the image sensors and process pixel data acquired by the selected pixel subsets to generate pointer characteristic data when a pointer exists in the acquired images. A master digital signal processor in communication with the digital signal processors triangulates the pointer characteristic data to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface.