Automatic Projection Calibration
The present invention is a whiteboard method and system ( 100 ) having automated projection calibration that does not require user interaction. The method and system are accomplished by placing sensors ( 302 ) beneath a target surface and projecting a projected pattern to discover a geometric correspondence between the target surface and the projecting device. Optical sensors ( 32 ) are preferably employed to sense the presence of the projected pattern on the whiteboard. The input data is used with a mapping function or translation matrix for converting whiteboard coordinates to screen coordinates, which are then used for mapping the coordinates to a cursor position. When the geometry of the whiteboard surface is known, and the locations of the optical sensors within this geometry are known, the information about which projector pixels illuminate which sensor can be used to calibrate the projecting device with respect to the whiteboard.
1 - 16 . (canceled)
17 . In a calibration process for a tracking system comprising: (i) providing a tracking system having a presentation surface, (ii) providing a processor, (iii) providing a projecting device in communication with the processor, (iv) initiating the calibration process, (v) enabling the calibration process to proceed from initiation to completion by presenter interaction, and (vi) performing the calibration of positions between the presentation surface and the processor,
the improvement comprising enabling the calibration process to proceed from initiation to completion without presenter interaction.
18 - 58 . (canceled)
59 . A system for determining communication between locations on a presentation surface and pixels in a display image from a projecting device, the system comprising:
presentation surface comprising a plurality known locations;
projected pattern displayed by the projecting device; and
sensor assembly capable of sensing the intensity of light at a plurality of known locations on the presentation surface for the projected pattern;
wherein the intensity light from of the projected pattern calibrates the display image on the presentation surface.
60 - 65 . (canceled)
66 . A method of calibrating a tracking system of an interactive whiteboard system, the interactive whiteboard system including a computer and a whiteboard, the tracking system enabling commands at the whiteboard to be properly interpreted by the computer, such that a presenter can accurately control the computer from the whiteboard, the method comprising:
projecting a calibration pattern onto the whiteboard;
optically sensing at known locations of the whiteboard the projected calibration pattern; and
calibrating the computer and the whiteboard from the optically sensed projected calibration pattern.
67 . The method of claim 66 , wherein optically sensing at known locations of the whiteboard the projected calibration pattern is performed by sensors located behind the top surface of the whiteboard.
68 . The method of claim 67 , wherein each sensor comprises an optical fiber having a receiving end for optically sensing the projected calibration pattern.
69 . The method of claim 68 , wherein each optical fiber has a terminating end in communication with a photo sensor.
70 . The method of claim 66 , wherein the projecting calibration pattern is a pattern of light energy, being a combination of light and dark patterns.
71 . The method of claim 66 , wherein the projecting calibration pattern is a pattern of light energy, being a Gray scale pattern.
72 . The method of claim 66 , wherein calibrating the computer and the whiteboard is initiated automatically, without presenter direct intervention.
73 . The method of claim 66 , wherein calibrating the computer and the whiteboard occurs upon the interactive whiteboard system sensing the presenter entering the room having the whiteboard system.
74 . The method of claim 73 , wherein the automated sensing occurs when the lights of the room having the whiteboard system are turned on.
75 . The method of claim 66 , wherein completion of calibrating the computer and the whiteboard is indicated by an audio indicator.
76 . A method of calibrating a tracking system of an electronic system, the electronic system including a processing device and a presentation surface, the tracking system enabling commands at the presentation surface to be properly interpreted by the processing device, such that a presenter can accurately control the processing device from the presentation surface, the method comprising:
providing a calibration pattern to the presentation surface;
sensing at known locations of the presentation surface the calibration pattern; and
calibrating the processing device and the presentation surface from the sensed calibration pattern,
wherein sensing at known locations of the presentation surface the calibration pattern is performed by sensors located behind the top surface of the presentation surface, and out of view of one viewing the presentation surface.
77 . The method of claim 76 , wherein each sensor comprises an optical fiber having a receiving end for optically sensing the calibration pattern, and a terminating end in communication with a photo sensor.
78 . The method of claim 76 , wherein the calibration pattern is a pattern of changing light and dark patterns upon the presentation surface.
79 . The method of claim 78 , wherein the calibration pattern is a Gray scale pattern.
80 . The method of claim 76 , wherein calibrating the computer and the whiteboard occurs upon automated sensing of the interactive whiteboard system of the presenter entering the room having the whiteboard system.
81 . A method of calibrating an electronic display device, the method comprising:
receiving a pattern on at least a portion of a presentation surface of the electronic display device;
sensing a characteristic of the pattern on the presentation surface with a sensor assembly, wherein the sensor assembly is located behind the presentation surface of the electronic display device; and
synchronizing the presentation surface with a processing device to enable tracking between the presentation surface and the processing device.
82 . The method of calibrating an electronic display device of claim 81 , further comprising initiating the projected pattern to be received by the presentation surface of the electronic display device.
83 . The method of calibrating an electronic display device of claim 81 , further comprising displaying the image on the presentation surface of the electronic display device with a projecting device.
84 . The method of calibrating an electronic display device of claim 81 , wherein the electronic display device is an electronic whiteboard.
85 . The method of calibrating an electronic display device of claim 81 , further comprising verifying the characteristic between a location of a receiving end of the sensors and a pixel of the image to determine changes in the image.