Patents Assigned to SMART Technologies ULC
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING CONTACT ON A DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20120105380
    Abstract: A system for detecting contact on a display is provided. The system comprises a planar medium associated with the display and includes at least one edge facet and opposing surfaces. The system also includes one or more optical sources operatively coupled to the at least one edge facet for transmitting an optical signal into the planar medium such that the transmitted optical signal is totally internally reflected between the at least one edge facet and opposing surfaces. An optical sensing device is positioned to substantially face at least a portion of the edge facet and adapted to detect at least one object contacting a first surface of the opposing surfaces. The optical sensing device is operative to detect a portion of the optical signal emitted from the first surface at a location corresponding to the object contacting the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: GERALD MORRISON
  • CONNECTED AND OVERLAPPED SHAPES ENHANCEMENTS
    Publication number: 20120098858
    Abstract: A method of ordering visual objects presented on a display includes comparing visual objects to be placed in an overlapping condition and determining from the comparison the order in which the visual objects are to be placed. The visual objects are re-ordered and placed in the overlapping condition in accordance with the determination. Methods of creating connecting links joining source and destination visual objects as well as overlapping object and object-connecting tools are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: ERIN WALLACE, ANDY LEUNG
  • POINTER TRACKING ACROSS MULTIPLE OVERLAPPING COORDINATE INPUT SUB-REGIONS DEFINING A GENERALLY CONTIGUOUS INPUT REGION
    Publication number: 20120068955
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: DOUGLAS B. HILL, SCOTT YU TSENG SU, DAVID E. HOLMGREN
  • Tiled touch system
    Patent number: 8120596
    Abstract: A tiled touch system comprises a display on which a computer-generated image is presented. The image is formed of an array of image segments. A digitizer is mapped to the display and senses pointer contacts made thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: David Gregory Popovich, Douglas Blair Hill, Serguei Vdovine
  • INFORMATION-INPUTTING DEVICE INPUTTING CONTACT POINT OF OBJECT ON RECORDING SURFACE AS INFORMATION
    Publication number: 20120039509
    Abstract: Structure and function for inputting information preferably includes a display device having two cameras in respective corners thereof. At least one computer readable medium preferably has program instructions configured to cause at least one processing structure to: (i) extract an object located on a plane of the display device from an image that includes the plane of the object, (ii) determine whether the object is a writing implement by determining, when a plurality of objects are extracted from the image, that one of the plurality of objects that satisfies a prescribed condition is the writing implement, (iii) calculate a position of a contact point between the writing implement and the plane as information to be input if the object has been determined as the writing implement, and (iv) input the information representing a position on the plane indicated by the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: SUSUMU FUJIOKA
  • System and method for capturing images of a target area on which information is recorded
    Patent number: 8103057
    Abstract: A system for capturing images of a target area on which information is recorded includes a boom assembly adapted to extend outwardly from a generally vertical surface. At least one digital camera is mounted on the boom assembly at a location spaced from the surface. The at least one digital camera is oriented so that the field of view thereof encompasses a target area on the surface. A controller is in communication with the at least one digital camera. The controller conditions the at least one digital camera to acquire an image of the target area. The image acquired by the at least one digital camera is conveyed to the controller and is processed to determine if an obstacle blocking the target area is in the captured image. If so, the captured image is not further processed and additional images are acquired until an image of the target area is captured without the obstacle therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Wallace Kroeker, Olugbenga Ayinde
  • Portable interactive media presentation system
    Patent number: 8102377
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Robert Sirotich, Joe Wright
  • GESTURE RECOGNITION METHOD AND INTERACTIVE INPUT SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME
    Publication number: 20120013529
    Abstract: A gesture recognition method comprises capturing images, processing the images to identify at least two clusters of touch points associated with at least two pointers, recognizing a gesture based on motion of the clusters, and updating a display in accordance with the recognized gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC.
    Inventors: Grant McGibney, Qizhi Joanna Xu, Erik Benner, Edward Tse
  • INTERACTIVE INPUT SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120007804
    Abstract: A method of resolving ambiguities between at least two pointers within a region of interest comprises capturing images of the region of interest and at least one reflection thereof from different vantages using a plurality of imaging devices, processing image data to identify a plurality of targets for the at least two pointers, for each image, determining a state for each target and assigning a weight to the image data based on the state, and calculating a pointer location for each of the at least two pointers based on the weighted image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Gerald D. Morrison, Daniel Peter McReynolds, Alex Chtchetinine, Grant Howard McGibney, David E. Holmgren, Ye Zhou, Brinda Kabada, Sameh Al-Eryani
  • System and method of detecting contact on a display
    Patent number: 8094137
    Abstract: A system for detecting contact on a display is provided. The system comprises a planar medium associated with the display and includes at least one edge facet and opposing surfaces. The system also includes one or more optical sources operatively coupled to the at least one edge facet for transmitting an optical signal into the planar medium such that the transmitted optical signal is totally internally reflected between the at least one edge facet and opposing surfaces. An optical sensing device is positioned to substantially face at least a portion of the edge facet and adapted to detect at least one object contacting a first surface of the opposing surfaces. The optical sensing device is operative to detect a portion of the optical signal emitted from the first surface at a location corresponding to the object contacting the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Gerald Morrison
  • Pointer tracking across multiple overlapping coordinate input sub-regions defining a generally contiguous input region
    Patent number: 8089462
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Douglas B. Hill, Scott Yu Tseng Su, David E. Holmgren
  • EQUATION-BASED ASSESSMENT GRADING METHOD AND PARTICIPANT RESPONSE SYSTEM EMPLOYING SAME
    Publication number: 20110318724
    Abstract: A computerized assessment grading method comprises creating a syntax tree for a received equation-based response to at least one assessment question and a syntax tree for at least one solution to the at least one question, comparing the syntax trees, and grading the response based on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: DAVID LABINE, LOTHAR WENZEL, ALBERT CHU
  • INTERACTIVE INPUT SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20110298722
    Abstract: An interactive input system includes an interactive surface, at least one proximity sensor positioned in proximity with the interactive surface; and processing structure communicating with the sensor and processing sensor output from the at least one proximity sensor for detecting a user in proximity with the interactive surface. A method of providing input into an interactive input system having an interactive surface includes communicating sensor output from at least one proximity sensor positioned in proximity with the interactive surface to processing structure of the interactive input system; and processing the sensor output for detecting a user located in proximity with the interactive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Edward Tse, Andy Leung, Shymmon Banerjee
  • Method and apparatus for inputting information including coordinate data
    Patent number: RE43084
    Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and apparatus for inputting information, including coordinate data, includes: extracting a predetermined object from an image, including a predetermined object above a plane; detecting motion of the predetermined object while the predetermined object is within a predetermined distance from the plane; and then determining if to input predetermined information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Susumu Fujioka
  • Display screen with a user interface
    Patent number: D652427
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Tom Willekes, Kathryn Rounding
  • Touch table
    Patent number: D654494
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Roberto A. L. Sirotich
  • Desktop camera
    Patent number: D654526
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Peter Shivkumar, Daniel Alexander Oleskevich, Stephen Yen-Chern Yao
  • Interactive input system
    Patent number: D657787
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Mark Andrew Fletcher, Alan Peter Boykiw, Cheng Guo, Paul Anthony Auger
  • User interface for a display screen
    Patent number: D659151
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Cameron Mark Loken, Kathryn Rounding, Erin Leigh Wallace
  • Handheld electronic device
    Patent number: D660838
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Cameron Mark Loken, Peter Shivkumar, Paul Anthony Auger, Kimberly Tee, Daniel Michael Greenblatt