Abstract: An electronic interactive device includes an interaction surface for use with a user borne device. The interaction surface includes a contact detection surface for detecting a device contact event with the interaction surface; a plurality of magnetometers defining a reference coordinate system and a sensing volume proximate to the interaction surface, with each of the magnetometers having a rigid spatial relationship to the other magnetometers; and processing circuitry communicably coupled to at least the contact detection surface and the plurality of magnetometers. The plurality of magnetometers perform magnetic field measurements and provide measurement data to the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry determines at least one of position and/or magnet orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the user borne device and a distance separating the magnet and/or magnet orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the user borne device from the interaction surface when the contact event occurs.

Abstract: An electronic interactive device includes an interaction surface for use with a user borne device. The interaction surface includes a contact detection surface for detecting a device contact event with the interaction surface; a plurality of magnetometers defining a reference coordinate system and a sensing volume proximate to the interaction surface, with each of the magnetometers having a rigid spatial relationship to the other magnetometers; and processing circuitry communicably coupled to at least the contact detection surface and the plurality of magnetometers. The plurality of magnetometers perform magnetic field measurements and provide measurement data to the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry determines at least one of position and/or magnet orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the user borne device and a distance separating the magnet and/or magnet orientation relative to a longitudinal axis of the user borne device from the interaction surface when the contact event occurs.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a magnetic object includes holding the object immobile in front of an array of N (where N is >five) tri-axial magnetometers (Mij) linked with no degree of freedom. There is a fixed distance between two consecutive magnetometers less than the maximum separation between the magnetic parts of the magnetic object furthest away from one another. The method includes measuring by each magnetometer a vector bi,m of which each coordinate represents the value of the magnetic field projected onto a respective measurement axis of the magnetometer, and a union of vectors bi,m forming a measured magnetic signature Sm, where the index “i” is an identifier of the magnetometer. The method includes computing of a deviation E between the magnetic signature Sm and a prerecorded magnetic signature SRef of a known magnetic object. The method includes comparing E to a predetermined threshold and recognizing the magnetic object.

Abstract: A method for locating utensils involves (step a) measuring, by magnetometers, of the amplitude of the magnetic field, and (step b) estimating, with the magnetometer measurements the positions, orientations and amplitudes of the magnetic moments of the objects of the utensils. The method also includes (step c) detecting each immobile utensil and, in response, adding the immobile utensil to a list, and (step d) establishing measurements from the magnetometers when they are exclusively in the presence of a reference magnetic field generated only by magnetic objects of all the immobile utensils in the list of immobile utensils. The method further includes (step e) calculating the amplitude of a disturbance on the basis of the differences between the measurements performed in step a) and the measurements established in step d). If the amplitude of the disturbance crosses a predetermined threshold, step b) is executed, otherwise the method returns to step a).

Abstract: Locating a moving magnetic object includes determining its position or orientation from measurements from an array N tri-axial magnetometers (N>5) mechanically linked to one another with 0-DOF by repeatedly estimating its position relative to the array from measurements made either in a preceding iteration or from a sensor distinct from the array's magnetometers before making a new measurement using the array's magnetometers; computing the distance between each magnetometer and the object's estimated position; eliminating Ni magnetometers closest to this estimated position, where Ni<N; using the remaining magnetometers, making a new measurement of the field generated or modified by the object; and determining its new position or orientation from the new measurements so as to obtain the object's new location.

Abstract: An automatic recognition method includes the calculation of an error representative of the difference between an estimate of the values of the magnetometer measurements when the positions, orientations and amplitudes of the magnetic moments of the P dipoles are equal to those determined, and the values of the magnetometer measurements taken. There is the selection of another system of equations linking each measurement of a triaxial magnetometer to the position, orientation and amplitude of the magnetic moment of P? magnetic dipoles. The method includes the calculation of at least one distinctive feature of the object presented from the position, orientation, or amplitude of the magnetic moment of each dipole determined with the system of equations that minimizes the error calculated. The method includes the recognition of the magnetic object presented if the calculated distinctive features correspond to those of a known object, otherwise the lack of recognition of this object.

Abstract: A method of detecting a point of contact between a tip of an instrument and a writing support, the instrument being one of a pen and an eraser, and the method comprising determining, with the aid of a magnetic object fixed without any degree of freedom on the instrument, the height of a point of the instrument with respect to a bearing face of a tablet. The bearing face constituting the writing support or supporting the writing support. The method further includes: comparing the height determined with a preconfigured contact threshold, and detecting a point of contact between the tip of the instrument and the writing support if the height determined is less than the contact threshold and, in the converse case, detecting no point of contact between the tip of the instrument and the writing support.

Abstract: A system for plotting a mark drawn on a writing medium, comprising a tool including a first and a second permanent magnet. The first permanent magnet is mechanically linked to a tip. There is a network of magnetometers having N triaxial magnetometers and an electronic computer programmed in order to: a) determine, from the measurements from the triaxial magnetometers, the positions of the two permanent magnets and the orientations of the magnetic moments of said two permanent magnets and b) calculate the relative position and/or relative orientation of the magnetic moment of the first permanent magnet in relation to the orientation of the magnetic moment of the second permanent magnet from the results of step a). The calculated relative position and/or orientation is then used by a device as a value of a physical quantity that is representative of the pressure exerted on the tip.

Abstract: A screen comprising a transparent panel and a photon-generating layer in order to form each luminous pixel visible through the transparent panel, this layer being housed behind the transparent panel. There is a human/machine interface able to control the photon-generating layer in order to modify the display of an image by the screen. The interface includes a localizing device for localizing a movable permanent magnet able to be moved directly by hand by a human being in front of the panel, this device comprising for this purpose. The interface also includes a network of magnetometers comprising N tri-axis magnetometers mechanically connected to one another with no degree of freedom in order to maintain a known distance between each of these magnetometers, where N is a whole number higher than or equal to five.

Abstract: A magnetic ring fixed removably onto a pencil/eraser, with a smaller internal diameter being between 1.5 mm and 3 cm. There is a cylindrical inner face centered on a longitudinal axis and an outer face opposite the inner face. There is a magnetic material distributed in a magnetic layer around the longitudinal axis with the direction of the overall magnetic moment of the magnetic ring parallel to the longitudinal axis. There is an elastic material, distinct from the magnetic material, that is elastically deformable between a rest position corresponding to a first value of the internal diameter of the ring, and a deformed position corresponding to a second value of the internal diameter of the ring. The difference between the first and second values being greater than or equal to 1 mm and the elastic material exhibiting a Young's modulus at 25° C. less than or equal to 1 GPa.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a magnetic object includes holding the object immobile in front of an array of N (where N is >five) tri-axial magnetometers (Mij) linked with no degree of freedom. There is a fixed distance between two consecutive magnetometers less than the maximum separation between the magnetic parts of the magnetic object furthest away from one another. The method includes measuring by each magnetometer a vector bi,m of which each coordinate represents the value of the magnetic field projected onto a respective measurement axis of the magnetometer, and a union of vectors bi,m forming a measured magnetic signature Sm, where the index “i” is an identifier of the magnetometer. The method includes computing of a deviation E between the magnetic signature Sm and a prerecorded magnetic signature SRef of a known magnetic object. The method includes comparing E to a predetermined threshold and recognizing the magnetic object.

Abstract: An automatic recognition method includes the calculation of an error representative of the difference between an estimate of the values of the magnetometer measurements when the positions, orientations and amplitudes of the magnetic moments of the P dipoles are equal to those determined, and the values of the magnetometer measurements taken. There is the selection of another system of equations linking each measurement of a triaxial magnetometer to the position, orientation and amplitude of the magnetic moment of P? magnetic dipoles. The method includes the calculation of at least one distinctive feature of the object presented from the position, orientation, or amplitude of the magnetic moment of each dipole determined with the system of equations that minimizes the error calculated. The method includes the recognition of the magnetic object presented if the calculated distinctive features correspond to those of a known object, otherwise the lack of recognition of this object.

Abstract: A magnetic ring fixed removably onto a pencil/eraser, with a smaller internal diameter being between 1.5 mm and 3 cm. There is a cylindrical inner face centered on a longitudinal axis and an outer face opposite the inner face. There is a magnetic material distributed in a magnetic layer around the longitudinal axis with the direction of the overall magnetic moment of the magnetic ring parallel to the longitudinal axis. There is an elastic material, distinct from the magnetic material, that is elastically deformable between a rest position corresponding to a first value of the internal diameter of the ring, and a deformed position corresponding to a second value of the internal diameter of the ring. The difference between the first and second values being greater than or equal to 1 mm and the elastic material exhibiting a Young's modulus at 25° C. less than or equal to 1 GPa.

Abstract: A method for locating utensils involves(step a) measuring, by magnetometers, of the amplitude of the magnetic field, and (step b) estimating, with the magnetometer measurements the positions, orientations and amplitudes of the magnetic moments of the objects of the utensils. The method also includes (step c) detecting each immobile utensil and, in response, adding the immobile utensil to a list, and (step d) establishing measurements from the magnetometers when they are exclusively in the presence of a reference magnetic field generated only by magnetic objects of all the immobile utensils in the list of immobile utensils. The method further includes (step e) calculating the amplitude of a disturbance on the basis of the differences between the measurements performed in step a) and the measurements established in step d). If the amplitude of the disturbance crosses a predetermined threshold, step b) is executed, otherwise the method returns to step a).

Abstract: A screen comprising a transparent panel and a photon-generating layer in order to form each luminous pixel visible through the transparent panel, this layer being housed behind the transparent panel. There is a human/machine interface able to control the photon-generating layer in order to modify the display of an image by the screen. The interface includes a localizing device for localizing a movable permanent magnet able to be moved directly by hand by a human being in front of the panel, this device comprising for this purpose. The interface also includes a network of magnetometers comprising N tri-axis magnetometers mechanically connected to one another with no degree of freedom in order to maintain a known distance between each of these magnetometers, where N is a whole number higher than or equal to five.

Abstract: A method of detecting a point of contact between a tip of an instrument and a writing support, the instrument being one of a pen and an eraser, and the method comprising determining, with the aid of a magnetic object fixed without any degree of freedom on the instrument, the height of a point of the instrument with respect to a bearing face of a tablet. The bearing face constituting the writing support or supporting the writing support. The method further includes: comparing the height determined with a preconfigured contact threshold, and detecting a point of contact between the tip of the instrument and the writing support if the height determined is less than the contact threshold and, in the converse case, detecting no point of contact between the tip of the instrument and the writing support.

Abstract: A method for locating a moving magnetic object, comprising: determining the position or the orientation of the magnetic object from measurements of an array of N (an integer greater than 5) tri-axial magnetometers mechanically linked to one another with no degree, the method also comprises the reiteration of the following steps.

Abstract: A system for plotting a mark drawn on a writing medium, comprising a tool including a first and a second permanent magnet. The first permanent magnet is mechanically linked to a tip. There is a network of magnetometers having N triaxial magnetometers and an electronic computer programmed in order to: a) determine, from the measurements from the triaxial magnetometers, the positions of the two permanent magnets and the orientations of the magnetic moments of said two permanent magnets and b) calculate the relative position and/or relative orientation of the magnetic moment of the first permanent magnet in relation to the orientation of the magnetic moment of the second permanent magnet from the results of step a). The calculated relative position and/or orientation is then used by a device as a value of a physical quantity that is representative of the pressure exerted on the tip.