Abstract: An interactive input system comprises at least two imaging devices associated with a region of interest. The at least two imaging devices acquire images of the region of interest from different locations and have overlapping fields of view. At least one receiver is operable to receive data output by an active pointer when the pointer is both within and outside the fields of view of the imaging devices. Processor structure processes data acquired by the at least two imaging devices and the at least one receiver to detect the existence of an active pointer and to determine the location of the pointer within the region of interest.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

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 passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

Abstract: A fastening system for a vehicle is provided. The fastening system includes a metal clip which is easily inserted and removed from a polymeric doghouse. The doghouse is integrally molded with a vehicle interior trim component. After the clip is inserted into the doghouse, the trim component may be snapped into place over a structural pillar by inserting the clip into an aperture and the pillar. The fastening system is designed such that it will not fail, and the trim component will remain in place, when an air bag adjacent to the trim component is deployed. If desired, the trim component can be easily removed from the support pillar by sliding the trim component, and the attached doghouse, away from the clip. The clip can then be removed from the pillar, a new one inserted into the doghouse, and the trim component can be reused.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a pointer relative to a touch surface includes at least two spaced imaging assemblies having overlapping fields of view encompassing the touch surface. The imaging assemblies see the touch surface in three-dimensions as a perspective view. The imaging assemblies acquire overlapping images from different locations. A processor receives and processes image data generated by at least one of the imaging assemblies to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface.

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.

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 touch system includes a reference frame, and at least two cameras having fields of view that overlap within the reference frame. The position of an object relative to the reference frame is determined from captured images of the object based on triangulation. The fields of view of the at least two cameras are rotated with respect to the coordinate system of the reference frame to define offset angles.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

Abstract: A camera-based touch system (50) includes a passive touch surface (60) and at least two cameras (63) associated surface. The at least two cameras (63) have overlapping fields of view (FOV) encompassing the touch surface. The at least two cameras (63) acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and generate image data. A processor (54) receives and processes image data generated by the at least two cameras to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface when the pointer is captured in images acquired by the at least two cameras. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface sand pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

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.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

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 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.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive 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 have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

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.