Patents Assigned to SMART Technologies ULC
  • Publication number: 20120327031
    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: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: SUSUMU FUJIOKA
  • Patent number: 8339378
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises a pointer input region; and a multi-angle reflecting structure located along a single side of the pointer input region and operable to reflect radiation from a pointer within the pointer input region from at least two surface locations of the multi-angle reflecting structure, wherein the at least two surface locations each have different respective angles. An imaging system is operable to capture within at least a portion of the pointer input region images of the reflected radiation located within a field of view of the imaging system. Processing structure is provided for determining the location of the pointer relative to the pointer input region based on the at least one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Alex Chtchetinine, Vaughn E. Keenan
  • Publication number: 20120319941
    Abstract: A method of operating an interactive input system comprises capturing images of a region of interest at a first frame rate; processing a first pixel subset of images captured at the first frame rate to detect the presence of an object; and if an object is detected, capturing images of the region of interest at a second frame rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: STEPHEN WHEATLEY, JEREMY HANSEN, GREGORY FORREST
  • Publication number: 20120319972
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: EDWARD TSE, MARK FLETCHER, NEAL HANEBURY WILDING, SEAN THOMPSON, DEREK TSE, MICHAEL ANDREW STRILCHUK, HAROLD GILL, DAVID MARTIN, KATHRYN ROUNDING, ALAN PETER BOYKIW, MICHAEL BOYLE, MIN XIN
  • Patent number: 8325134
    Abstract: A gesture recognition method includes detecting multiple pointers in close proximity to a touch surface to determine if the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture. When the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture, executing a command associated with the gesture. A touch system incorporating the gesture recognition method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Douglas B. Hill, Gerald D. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20120280943
    Abstract: A touch system includes a touch surface and at least two cameras associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and having overlapping fields of view. A digital signal processor is associated with each camera. The digital signal processors process pixel data acquired by selected pixel subsets of the at least two digital cameras to generate pointer characteristic data when a pointer exists in the acquired images. The pointer characteristic data identifies edges of the pointer. A master digital signal processor triangulates the edge information in the pointer characteristic data to determine a bounding area that represents a pointer perimeter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: GERALD MORRISON, TREVOR AKITT, SCOTT SU
  • Publication number: 20120284667
    Abstract: A method for creating a second mathematical object based on a first mathematical object in a computing apparatus having a graphical user interface includes selecting a first mathematical object in response to an instruction received from a user; creating a second mathematical object using data of said first mathematical object; linking said first mathematical object to said second mathematical object; and creating a visual link between said first mathematical object and said second mathematical object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: TOM WILLEKES, KATHRYN ROUNDING, GREGORY GORDON FORREST
  • Publication number: 20120274765
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest comprises a first reflective element extending along a first side of the region of interest and reflecting light towards the region of interest. The first reflective element comprises at least two generally parallel bands thereon, the bands at least comprising a retro-reflective band and a reflective band. 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 being joined to the first side to define a first corner. The second reflecting element comprises at least two generally parallel bands thereon, the bands at least comprising a retro-reflective band and a reflective band. At least one imaging device captures images of the region of interest including reflections from the reflective and retro-reflective bands of the first and second reflective elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Chi Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Booth, Stephen Worthington, Roberto A.L. Sirotich, Mark Andrew Fletcher, Holly Wytrykush
  • Publication number: 20120258435
    Abstract: A computerized method comprises creating an answer key for an assessment comprising one or more questions to be delivered to one or more participants, where the answer key comprises assessment information and question information; delivering the assessment to the participants; collecting responses from the participants; and saving question descriptions, any annotations made thereon and the collected responses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Kimberly Eleanor Tee, Ping-Kwan Lai, Lucien W. Dupont, Colin Dere, David Labine
  • Patent number: 8284173
    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: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Gerald Morrison
  • Publication number: 20120249479
    Abstract: An interactive input system and imaging assembly therefor are disclosed. The imaging assembly includes an image sensor for capturing images of a region of interest; a light source; and a beam splitter. The beam splitter is configured such that optical axes of the image sensor and the light source are generally aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: ALEX CHTCHETININE, STEPHEN BOLT, NICOLE MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20120249480
    Abstract: An interactive input system includes at least one image sensor capturing image frames of a region of interest; at least one light source emitting illumination into the region of interest; a bezel at least partially surrounding the region of interest, the bezel comprising at least one multi-angle reflector reflecting the illumination emitted from the light source towards the at least one image sensor; and processing structure in communication with the at least one image sensor processing captured image frames for locating a pointer positioned in proximity with the regin of interest. A method of generating image frames is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Vaughn Keenan, Alex Chtchetinine
  • Publication number: 20120249762
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises computing structure; and an input device detecting at least one electronic device displaying a recognizable pattern within a three-dimensional (3D) input space and providing output to the computing structure. The computing structure processes the output of the input device to recognize the pattern displayed by the at least one electronic device in the 3D input space; detect the state of the at least one electronic device; and modify image data by applying a transition to digital content associated with the displayed pattern based on the detected state of the at least one electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: ANDREW MICHAEL EXNER
  • Publication number: 20120249463
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises an interactive surface; and processing structure for receiving an image from a mobile computing device, and processing the received image for display on the interactive surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Andrew Leung, Edward Tse, Min Xin
  • Publication number: 20120249410
    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: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Douglas Blair Hill, Jackson Chan
  • Publication number: 20120254142
    Abstract: An information display method comprises retrieving, from at least one database, the information concerning a user and at least one other user, calculating a relationship value for the at least one other user, the relationship value being at least partly based on the retrieved information and using the relationship value as a factor during the display of information relating to the user and the at least one other user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: NANCY KNOWLTON, DOUGLAS B. HILL
  • Publication number: 20120249724
    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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: GERALD MORRISON
  • Publication number: 20120250936
    Abstract: A method of determining locations of at least two pointers in a captured image frame comprises generating a vertical intensity profile (VIP) from the captured image frame, the VIP comprising peaks generally corresponding to the at least two pointers; determining if the peaks are closely spaced and, if the peaks are closely spaced, fitting a curve to the VIP; analyzing the fitted curve to determine peak locations of the fitted curve; and registering the peak locations as the pointer locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventor: DAVID HOLMGREN
  • Publication number: 20120249477
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide, a radiation source directing radiation into the optical waveguide, the radiation undergoing total internal reflection within the optical waveguide in response to at least one touch input on a surface of the optical waveguide. At least one imaging device is positioned adjacent to the waveguide, the at least one imaging device having a field of view looking inside the optical waveguide and capturing image frames thereof. Processing structure processes the image frames captured by the at least one imaging device to determine a location of the at least one touch input based on a frequency of reflections of the radiation appearing in the image frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: DAVID GREGORY POPOVICH, YUNQIU RACHEL WANG, VAUGHN E. KEENAN, GRANT MCGIBNEY, ROBBIE RATTRAY, PATRICK JAMES GURTLER, CHRIS WILLSON, NICHOLAS SVENSSON
  • Patent number: D672817
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Amir Butmir, Mark Andrew Fletcher