Interactive Touch System Calibration via Continuous Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interactive touch systems require laborious and time-consuming calibration processes that involve numerous discrete calibration mark contacts, making them inefficient and prone to errors due to misalignment and distortion issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for calibrating interactive touch systems by projecting a calibration image with a guided tracing path on the touch surface, allowing continuous pointer movement to generate and map touch surface coordinates to the display output coordinate system, providing real-time feedback for accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If calibration processes require user input at up to eighty-one (81) calibration mark locations to provide a high degree of accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional discrete calibration process into a continuous tracing action. Instead of requiring users to separately contact 81 discrete calibration marks, the user continuously traces the perimeter of a displayed calibration image with the pointer. This continuous tracing generates coordinate data along the entire path, providing sufficient information for accurate calibration while dramatically reducing the time and effort required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses excessive action by having the user trace the entire perimeter of the calibration image, which generates more coordinate data points than the minimum required for calibration. This excessive tracing ensures high measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation, as the continuous tracing naturally captures coordinates at all necessary locations without requiring the user to precisely identify each individual calibration mark.
2Measurement precision
If calibration processes require user input at up to eighty-one (81) calibration mark locations to provide a high degree of accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the calibration image into identifiable geometric features (corners, edges, perimeter points) that correspond to the underlying coordinate system. The calibration image displays visual cues such as corner markers and edge lines that guide the tracing process. By segmenting the calibration task into these visual features, the system maintains high precision requirements while simplifying the user interface and making the calibration process more intuitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a calibration image as an intermediary between the touch screen coordinate system and the display coordinate system. This calibration image serves as a visual mediator that the user traces, and the system uses the traced coordinates to compute the transformation between coordinate systems. The intermediary calibration image simplifies the calibration process by providing visual guidance while maintaining the precision needed for accurate coordinate mapping.
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional calibration processes use discrete calibration mark contacts, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical precision requirement of accurately positioning and contacting discrete calibration marks with an optical/visual system. The calibration image is displayed visually on the touch screen, and the user traces its perimeter using visual guidance. The system then processes the continuous coordinate data from the tracing to achieve the same precision as discrete mark contact, but with much greater ease of operation since the user only needs to follow the visual outline rather than precisely identify and contact each mark.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of calibration input from discrete point contacts to continuous path tracing. This parameter change transforms the calibration interaction from a series of precise point-and-click actions into a smooth continuous motion. The system processes this continuous coordinate stream to extract the necessary calibration information, maintaining manufacturing precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of calibrating an interactive touch system includes moving a pointer along at least one path on a touch surface over a calibration image presented on the touch surface. Pointer coordinates are generated generally continuously during the tracing representing pointer contact locations on the touch surface. The coordinate system of the touch surface is mapped to the coordinate system of the calibration image using the pointer coordinates and the calibration image.