Portable Touch Interface Using Cameras Instead of Special Pointers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch systems for interactive presentations face challenges in transportation, deployment, and efficient operation, particularly when used in locations without resident systems, due to the need for special pointers and complex setup processes.
Innovation Solution
A portable touch system comprising a bezel and housing with integrated camera systems that capture images of objects within a display area, allowing for touch interaction on any surface without the need for special pointers, and featuring a foldable design for easy transportation and setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If active touch systems with special pointers are used, then pointer position data can be generated, but battery power levels and pointer damage, theft, or misplacement become concerns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active mechanical pointers with passive pointers (such as fingers or simple objects) and uses camera systems with image processing to detect pointer positions. This substitution eliminates the need for powered pointers, thereby removing concerns about battery power, pointer damage, theft, or misplacement while maintaining touch interaction capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If touch systems are transported to presentation locations without resident systems, then presentations can be delivered, but transportation, deployment, and packing processes become complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The touch system is divided into separate modular components: a display device, a camera system, and a processing system. These segments can be independently transported and quickly assembled at presentation locations, reducing the complexity and time of deployment while maintaining adaptability to different venues.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable touch system is designed to work with various display surfaces and projection systems, making it universally applicable to different presentation locations without requiring resident touch systems. This multi-functionality allows the same portable unit to adapt to diverse environments, reducing the need for location-specific customization and speeding up deployment.
3Ease of operation
If portable touch systems are designed for easy transportation, then deployment becomes simpler, but system complexity may increase to achieve foldable or compact designs
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the touch system into separate portable components (display, camera, processing), each component can be independently designed for compactness and ease of transport. This segmentation allows simple connection and disconnection mechanisms without requiring complex foldable structures, thereby maintaining deployment simplicity while achieving portability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and efficient media presentations by allowing touch interaction on any surface, reducing the need for special pointers and simplifying transportation and deployment through a compact, camera-based system that forms a touch surface on demand.
Implementation Method 1
at least one camera system coupled to the housing, wherein the at least one camera system is operable to capture within at least a portion of the display area images of an object located within a field of view of the at least one camera system
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing a portable touch system comprises a bezel having a first and a second end, and a housing that is adapted to receive the first and second end of the bezel such that a display area is bounded by the housing and the bezel. At least one camera system is coupled to the housing and is operable to capture within at least a portion of the display area images of an object located within a field of view of the at least one camera system.