Patents Assigned to SMART Technologies ULC
  • Patent number: 8872772
    Abstract: A pen tool for use with a machine vision interactive input system comprises an elongate body and a tip arrangement at one end of the body, an end surface of the body at least partially about the tip arrangement carrying light reflective material that is visible to at least one imaging assembly of the interactive input system when the pen tool is angled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Sean Thompson, Grant McGibney, David Holmgren
  • Patent number: 8860688
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) interactive input system comprises a holographic image generator defining an enclosed space to accommodate a 3D object and configured to generate a holographic image of the 3D object that appears adjacent an input region of the holographic image generator. A projection unit is configured to project image data onto the 3D object, the image data projected onto the 3D object appearing on the holographic image. A sensing unit is configured to detect user proximity to the input region. Processing structure is configured to process sensing unit output and in response, update image data projected by the projection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Edward Tse, David G. Popovich, Patrick Weinmayr, Wallace I. Kroeker
  • Patent number: 8862731
    Abstract: An apparatus for coordinating data sharing in a computer network with at least one physical display device is provided. The apparatus includes a code generator generating at least one unique temporary session connection code (SCC), and a storage device storing associations between each of the at least one SCC and one or more of the at least one physical display device. An interface receives requests from one or more source computers to establish communications sessions for sharing data, and a processor in response to a request establishes a communications session between the requesting source computer and at least one physical display device only in the event that at least one condition is met. The at least one condition includes that a valid SCC is received with the request. The establishing is based on the received SCC. Related methods and computer programs are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Andrew Leung, Viktor Antonyuk
  • Publication number: 20140263890
    Abstract: A fixture mounting assembly comprises a track; and a fixture mount on the track and configured to engage a fixture, the track being pivotable between a generally upright orientation and a generally horizontal orientation where engagement of the fixture mount and fixture is facilitated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Peter McCarthy, Geoff Brennan
  • Publication number: 20140267193
    Abstract: A method of determining pointer position in an interactive input system comprises identifying pixels of at least one captured image frame as being associated with coherent light; generating a processed image frame from the identified pixels; and determining from the processed image frame a position of at least one pointer that emits coherent light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Rob Barton
  • Publication number: 20140267106
    Abstract: A method comprising obtaining a first location of a first pointer contact on an input surface; calculating a restricted area proximate the first location; processing the first pointer contact; and inhibit processing of a second location of a second pointer contact within the restricted area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Sean Thompson, Arden Albert, James Rempel, Grant McGibney
  • Patent number: 8810580
    Abstract: A computerized method of creating an irregular-shaped table of cells comprises detecting one or more cells of a table to be removed, removing each detected cell from the table and creating a table object representing the resultant irregular-shaped table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Zhaohui Xing
  • Patent number: 8810522
    Abstract: A method for selecting a graphic widget displayed on a background of an interactive input system comprises tracking one or more touch points associated with the background, and in the event that one or more touch points coincide with a location of the graphic widget, associating the coinciding touch points with the graphic widget.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Edward Tse, Kathryn Rounding
  • Publication number: 20140210734
    Abstract: A method of conducting a collaborative event, comprising receives input from at least one participant computing device joined to the collaborative event, categorizing the input according to two or more categories defined within the collaborative event, and displaying the input according to the two or more categories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: TOBIAS WINDBRAKE, CHRISTIAN KOHLS, MICHAEL BOYLE, RAUL NEMES
  • Patent number: 8780170
    Abstract: A video conferencing display device a display panel, at least one imaging device and processing structure. The at least one imaging device has a field of view aimed at an inner surface of the display panel and captures images through the display panel such that when a user is positioned adjacent an outer surface of the display panel, the user appears in the captured images. The processing structure communicates with the at least one imaging device and processes the captured images to create a direct eye image for transmission to a remote device over a network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Gerald Morrison
  • Publication number: 20140189482
    Abstract: A method is provide for manipulating a table comprising a plurality of cells, at least one row header and at least one column header. Input events representing a pointer contacting an interactive surface are received. An ink annotation is displayed on the interactive surface in response to the input events. It is determined that the ink annotation corresponds with an ink gesture by comparing the ink annotation with a plurality of predefined ink gestures. The ink annotation is deleted and one or more commands associated with the ink gesture are executed. A system configured to implement the method and a computer readable medium storing instructions to implement the method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Doug B. Hill
  • Publication number: 20140160089
    Abstract: An input tool for use with an interactive input system comprises a body housing processing circuitry storing input tool operating mode data representing operating modes of the input tool and at least one display on the body and communicating with the processing circuitry. The display is responsive to the processing circuitry to present a selected operating mode of the input tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: MARK FLETCHER, STEPHEN BOLT
  • Patent number: 8740395
    Abstract: A projection unit comprises a first light source outputting light that is used to project an image during normal projection unit use, and a second light source outputting light of a different intensity that is used to project an image outside of normal projection unit use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Douglas Blair Hill, Jackson Chan
  • Publication number: 20140137015
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting when an input device is moved across digital content presented on a display surface and comparing at least one attribute assigned to the input device with at least one attribute assigned to the digital content; and based on the result of the comparison, manipulating the digital content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: Patrick Gurtler
  • Publication number: 20140132639
    Abstract: A method for identifying changes between a current image and a previous image comprises generating a mask using a graphics processing unit, the mask identifying differences between the current and previous images using the graphics processing unit to identify at least a portion of the current image based on the mask and copying image data of the current image corresponding to the identified portions from memory associated with the graphics processing unit to memory associated with a central processing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Viktor Antonyuk, Erik Benner, Shymmon Banerjee
  • Publication number: 20140129990
    Abstract: Computerized methods and interactive input systems for manipulation of 3D objects are disclosed. An image of 3D object is displayed on a 2D interactive surface, and input is received and is interpreted for manipulating the 3D object. When the 3D object is selected, rotation control handles indicating available rotation directions are displayed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing images of a 3D input space, recognizing at least one object in the images, and comparing the recognized objects in the images to determine a difference therebetween based on a difference threshold. Depending on the outcome of the comparison, the recognized objects are emerged and associated with digital content, or only one of the recognized objects is maintained and associated with digital content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Min Xin, Viktor Antonyuk, Edward Tse, Henry Lai, Mark Cameron Loken, Zhaohui Xing, Erik Benner, Danny Ma, Roberto Arturo Diaz-Maino, Shymmon Banerjee, Esteban Ginez, Luqing Wang
  • Publication number: 20140108544
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting the location of a portable computing device within a collaboration system based on wireless communications between the portable computing device and a plurality of collaboration sites within the collaboration system; and displaying a map on the portable computing device that identifies the location of the portable computing device within the collaboration system and that specifies a path to a target collaboration site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Jeff Lewis, Min Xin, Sean Bacchus, Roberto Diaz-Marino
  • Patent number: 8692768
    Abstract: A method for resolving ambiguities between at least two pointers in a plurality of input regions defining an input area of an interactive input system. The method includes capturing images of the plurality of input regions, the images captured by a plurality of imaging devices having a field of view of at least a portion of the input area, processing image data from the images to identify a plurality of targets for the at least two pointers within the input area, and analyzing the plurality of targets to resolve a real location associated with each pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Alex Chtchetinine, David E. Holmgren, Brinda Kabada, Grant McGibney, Daniel McReynolds, Yun Zhang, Ye Zhou
  • Patent number: D708655
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Bryan Wong, Amy Elizabeth Dewis, D. Tyler Bradbury, Zoran Nesic, Alan Peter Boykiw, Jeremy Hebert, Sebastien Larose, Sebastien Bonneau, Jean-Sebastien Langlois, Brian Kent Davidson
  • Patent number: D712927
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Bruce Worthington, Bonnie Lyn Presser