Patents by Inventor Charles Ung

Charles Ung has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9274615
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises at least two imaging assemblies capturing image frames of a region of interest from different vantages, each imaging assembly comprising an image sensor and signal processing circuitry implemented on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), image data acquired by the image sensor being pre-processed by the signal processing circuitry; and processing structure processing pre-processed image data output by the imaging assemblies to determine the location of at least one pointer within the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton Lam, Lawrence Bruce Hewitt, Trevor Akitt, Charles Ung
  • Patent number: 8902195
    Abstract: An input panel for an interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide; a first radiation source directing radiation into said optical waveguide, said radiation undergoing total internal reflection within said optical waveguide; a diffusion layer adjacent to and on one side of the optical waveguide, totally internally reflected light being frustrated and escaping the optical waveguide in response to pointer contacts on the diffusion layer; a second radiation source directing radiation towards another side of the optical waveguide that is opposite the one side; and at least one imaging device having a field of view looking at the optical waveguide and capturing image frames, wherein said first and second radiation sources are turned on and off in succession and wherein said first radiation source is turned off when said second radiation source is on and wherein said first radiation source is turned on when said second radiation source is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Grant McGibney, Gerald Morrison, Charles Ung, Trevor Akitt, Ed Tse, Erik Benner, Jamie Duncalf
  • Patent number: 8456418
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Chi Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Booth, Stephen Worthington, Mark Andrew Fletcher, Roberto A. L. Sirotich
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8274496
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer includes a waveguide and a touch surface over the waveguide on which pointer contacts are to be made. At least one reflecting device extends along a first side of the waveguide and touch surface. The reflecting device defines an optical path between the interior of the waveguide and the region of interest above the touch surface. At least one imaging device looks across the touch surface and into the waveguide. The imaging device captures images of the region of interest and within the waveguide including reflections from the reflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Chi Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Booth, Roberto A. L. Sirotich
  • Publication number: 20110242005
    Abstract: An interactive input device comprises a panel formed of energy transmissive material and having an input surface, energy dispersing structure associated with the panel, the energy dispersing structure dispersing energy emitted by a pointer that enters the panel via the input surface and at least one imaging assembly, at least some of the dispersed energy being directed towards the at least one imaging assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: CHI MAN CHARLES UNG, Andrew Macaskill, Luqing Wang
  • Publication number: 20110095977
    Abstract: An interactive input system comprises at least one imaging device having a field of view looking into a region of interest. At least one radiation source emits radiation into the region of interest. A bezel at least partially surrounds the region of interest. The bezel comprises a multi-angle reflecting structure to reflect emitted radiation from the at least one radiation source towards the at least one imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: CHARLES UNG
  • Publication number: 20110050650
    Abstract: An input panel for an interactive input system comprises an optical waveguide; a first radiation source directing radiation into said optical waveguide, said radiation undergoing total internal reflection within said optical waveguide; a diffusion layer adjacent to and on one side of the optical waveguide, totally internally reflected light being frustrated and escaping the optical waveguide in response to pointer contacts on the diffusion layer; a second radiation source directing radiation towards another side of the optical waveguide that is opposite the one side; and at least one imaging device having a field of view looking at the optical waveguide and capturing image frames, wherein said first and second radiation sources are turned on and off in succession and wherein said first radiation source is turned off when said second radiation source is on and wherein said first radiation source is turned on when said second radiation source is off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Grant McGibney, Gerald Morrison, Charles Ung, Trevor Akitt, Ed Tse, Erik Benner, Jamie Duncalf
  • Publication number: 20090146973
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer includes a waveguide and a touch surface over the waveguide on which pointer contacts are to be made. At least one reflecting device extends along a first side of the waveguide and touch surface. The reflecting device defines an optical path between the interior of the waveguide and the region of interest above the touch surface. At least one imaging device looks across the touch surface and into the waveguide. The imaging device captures images of the region of interest and within the waveguide including reflections from the reflecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: SMART TECHNOLOGIES ULC
    Inventors: Chi Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Booth, Roberto A.L. Sirotich
  • Patent number: 7460110
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer includes a waveguide and a touch surface over the waveguide on which pointer contacts are to be made. At least one reflecting device extends along a first side of the waveguide and touch surface. The reflecting device defines an optical path between the interior of the waveguide and the region of interest above the touch surface. At least one imaging device looks across the touch surface and into the waveguide. The imaging device captures images of the region of interest and within the waveguide including reflections from the reflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Chi-Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Boone, Roberto A. L. Sirotich
  • Patent number: 7274356
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Smart Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Man Charles Ung, David Kenneth Booth, Stephen Worthington, Mark Andrew Fletcher, Roberto A. L. Sirotich