Virtual Laser Pointer Orientation Control for Presentation Displays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser pointers used for highlighting content during presentations are cumbersome, difficult to follow, and can cause eye damage, while lacking the ability to leave permanent marks or trails.

Innovation Solution

A system that wirelessly communicates a virtual laser point image from a portable information handling system to a presentation display, allowing the presenter to control its position and appearance using the device's orientation, enabling selective color, trail generation, and permanent marking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a physical laser pointer is used to highlight content, then the presenter can easily point to relevant images, but the laser pointer is another item that must be remembered to bring and charged up, and it can cause eye damage if directed directly at the face of an audience member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of highlighting contentVSAvoideye damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the laser pointer functionality through software. The presentation application generates a laser pointer graphic that appears on the projected display, replicating the highlighting function without using a physical laser device. This eliminates the need to bring and charge a separate laser pointer while removing the eye damage risk associated with physical lasers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical system of a physical laser pointer with a software-based virtual pointer system. Instead of using a physical laser to project light, the system uses software-generated graphics that are rendered on the presentation display, substituting mechanical components with digital processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a physical laser pointer is used, then the presenter can highlight content, but the laser pointer has a finite size that may be difficult for some in the audience to follow, especially against like-colored content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of highlighting contentVSAvoidvisibility and followability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows dynamic adjustment of the virtual laser pointer's parameters including color, size, and brightness. The pointer can be configured with high-contrast colors that differ from the presentation content, and its size can be adjusted to ensure visibility across the entire audience. The virtual pointer's appearance can be modified to enhance contrast against like-colored content through color selection and brightness adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If a physical laser pointer is used, then the presenter can point to content, but laser pointer inputs do not offer permanent marks on the presentation that the audience can reference as the presentation continues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of pointing to contentVSAvoidpermanent marks for reference

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the virtual laser pointer to leave permanent marks or annotations on the presentation slides. Before moving to the next slide or continuing the presentation, the system can automatically or manually save the pointer positions and any associated annotations, ensuring that key points remain marked for audience reference throughout the presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of information

If a presenter engages directly with the information handling system to leave permanent marks, then permanent marks can be left on the presentation, but the presenter cannot simultaneously use a physical laser pointer for highlighting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermanent marks capabilityVSAvoidsimultaneous highlighting and marking

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates multiple functions into a single virtual pointer system. The virtual laser pointer can simultaneously perform highlighting, annotation, and permanent marking functions that would otherwise require separate tools. The presenter uses one unified interface to both point at content and leave permanent marks, eliminating the need to switch between physical laser pointer and direct system interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10222878B2Information handling system virtual laser pointer

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A portable information handling system detects orientation relative to a calibration orientation and communicates the orientation to a projector for presentation of a virtual laser pointer image by the projector. Orientation changes at the portable information handling system, such as a smartphone, are communicated to the projector or an information handling system generating the projection visual images to that the pointer image changes positions on the projected display in response to a user hand motion.