US6118433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Large-scale, touch-sensitive video display
Assignee: Smart Technologies ULC
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Filing: 1993-01-29
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Granted: 2000-09-12
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Expires: 2013-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A video surface is constructed by adjoining a large number of flat screen display devices together. Each screen on this surface is controlled by its own computer processor and these processors are networked together. Superimposed over this surface is a tiling of transparent touch-sensitive screens which allow for user input. The resulting display is thin, has a very high resolution, appears to be a single large screen to the user, and is capable of supporting many different types of human-machine interaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Jenkin
- 👤 John K. Tsotsos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/147; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04886; G06F3/1423; G06F3/1438; G06F3/1446; G09; G09G; G09G2300/00; G09G2300/02; G09G2300/023; G09G2300/026; G09G2370/00; G09G2370/02; G09G2370/025; G09G2370/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
A touch-sensitive display, comprising: a) a plurality of basic display units each comprising separately controllable processor means having an output connected to at least one display screen, said at least one display screen of respective ones of said basic display units being arranged so as to form a tessellation; b) a network for facilitating communication between said respective ones of said basic display units; c) at least one touch-sensitive panel overlying said tessellation and means associated therewith for receiving a user touch input over physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units and in response generating input command signals for identifying said physical pixel locations, each processor means further including a first input connected to the network for receiving network communication and a second input connected to at least one touch sensitive screen for receiving input command signals corresponding to the user touch input; and d) further processor means functioning as a controlling processor, including: i) means for receiving said input command signals identifying said physical pixel locations and in response converting said input command signals to modified input command signals associated with logical pixel locations in said tessellation; ii) means for receiving said modified input command signals and in response generating graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation; iii) means for receiving said graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation and in response converting said graphical command signals to modified graphical command signals for operating on said physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units; and iv) means for transmitting said modified graphical command signals to said basic display units via said network, in response to which said plurality of basic display units generate a graphical image across said tessellation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
A touch-sensitive display, comprising: a) a plurality of basic display units each comprising separately controllable processor means having an output connected to at least one display screen, said at least one display screen of respective ones of said basic display units being arranged so as to form a tessellation; b) a network for facilitating communication between said respective ones of said basic display units; c) at least one touch-sensitive panel overlying said tessellation and means associated therewith for receiving a user touch input over physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units and in response generating input command signals for identifying said physical pixel locations, each processor means further including a first input connected to the network for receiving network communication and a second input connected to at least one touch sensitive screen for receiving input command signals corresponding to the user touch input; and d) further processor means functioning as a controlling processor, including: i) means for receiving said input command signals identifying said physical pixel locations and in response converting said input command signals to modified input command signals associated with logical pixel locations in said tessellation; ii) means for receiving said modified input command signals and in response generating graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation; iii) means for receiving said graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation and in response converting said graphical command signals to modified graphical command signals for operating on said physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units; and iv) means for transmitting said modified graphical command signals to said basic display units via said network, in response to which said plurality of basic display units generate a graphical image across said tessellation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, wherein said display screen further comprises a flat panel display screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 2, wherein said flat panel display screen is a liquid crystal display.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 2, wherein said flat panel display screen is a laser plasma display.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 2, wherein said flat panel display is approximately 1/8 thick and is mounted in a hard plastic shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The touch-sensitive screen of claim 2, wherein said flat panel display further includes a light source mounted to the side thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of basic display units further comprises a standard portable computer incorporating a CPU for executing a graphics processor application.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, wherein a predetermined one or more of said basic display units includes one or both of a keyboard and a mouse.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, wherein said network is realized using TCP/IP as a network interface and an Ethernet™ physical medium between respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, wherein said network is realized using Localtalk™ as a network interface and an Ethernet™ physical medium between respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, wherein said basic display units are abutted together in close proximity in order to minimize spacing between each display screen of said respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 1, further comprising a transparent protective layer intermediate said at least one touch-sensitive panel and said at least one display screen of respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 12, wherein said transparent protective layer comprises one of either clear plastic or glass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
314 words
A touch-sensitive display, comprising: a) a plurality of basic display units each comprising separately controllable processor means including an output connected to at least one display screen, said at least one display screen of respective ones of said basic display units being arranged so as to form a tessellation; b) a network for facilitating communication between said respective ones of said basic display units; and c) at least one touch-sensitive panel overlying said tessellation and means associated therewith for receiving a user touch input over physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units and in response generating input command signals for identifying said physical pixel locations, each processor means including a first input for receiving input command signals from at least one touch-sensitive screen independently from the input command signals received from the remaining processor means and a second input for receiving communications signals from the network independently from the communication signals received from the remaining processor means; wherein a predetermined one of said processor means functions as a controlling processor, and further includes: i) means for receiving said input command signals identifying said physical pixel locations and in response converting said input command signals to modified input command signals associated with logical pixel locations in said tessellation; ii) means for receiving said modified input command signals and in response generating graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation; iii) means for receiving said graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation and in response converting said graphical command signals to modified graphical command signals for operating on said physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units; and iv) means for transmitting said modified graphical command signals to said basic display units via said network, in response to which said plurality of basic display units generate a graphical image across said tessellation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
314 words
A touch-sensitive display, comprising: a) a plurality of basic display units each comprising separately controllable processor means including an output connected to at least one display screen, said at least one display screen of respective ones of said basic display units being arranged so as to form a tessellation; b) a network for facilitating communication between said respective ones of said basic display units; and c) at least one touch-sensitive panel overlying said tessellation and means associated therewith for receiving a user touch input over physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units and in response generating input command signals for identifying said physical pixel locations, each processor means including a first input for receiving input command signals from at least one touch-sensitive screen independently from the input command signals received from the remaining processor means and a second input for receiving communications signals from the network independently from the communication signals received from the remaining processor means; wherein a predetermined one of said processor means functions as a controlling processor, and further includes: i) means for receiving said input command signals identifying said physical pixel locations and in response converting said input command signals to modified input command signals associated with logical pixel locations in said tessellation; ii) means for receiving said modified input command signals and in response generating graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation; iii) means for receiving said graphical command signals for operating on said logical pixel locations in said tessellation and in response converting said graphical command signals to modified graphical command signals for operating on said physical pixel locations associated with said basic display units; and iv) means for transmitting said modified graphical command signals to said basic display units via said network, in response to which said plurality of basic display units generate a graphical image across said tessellation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, wherein said display screen further comprises a flat panel display screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 15, wherein said flat panel display screen is a liquid crystal display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 15, wherein said flat panel display screen is a laser plasma display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 15, wherein said flat panel display is approximately 1/8" thick and is mounted in a hard plastic shell.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The touch-sensitive screen of claim 15, wherein said flat panel display further includes a light source mounted to the side thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, wherein each of said plurality of basic display units further comprises a standard portable computer incorporating a CPU for executing a graphics processor application.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, wherein a predetermined one or more of said basic display units includes one or both of a keyboard and a mouse.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, wherein said network is realized using TCP/IP as a network interface and an Ethernet™ physical medium between respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, wherein said network is realized using Localtalk™ as a network interface and an Ethernet™ physical medium between respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, wherein said basic display units are abutted together in close proximity in order to minimize spacing between each display screen of said respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 14, further comprising a transparent protective layer intermediate said at least one touch-sensitive panel and said at least one display screen of respective ones of said basic display units.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The touch-sensitive display of claim 25, wherein said transparent protective layer comprises one of either clear plastic or glass.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for displaying images on a display device having a plurality of basic display units each coupled together by a network, each basic display unit including an associated processor means connected to at least one touch-sensitive display panel and an input for receiving input command signals, comprising; arranging the basic display units together into a tessellation for operating as a single display device; receiving a user touch input on at least one display panel and in response identifying a physical pixel location on the associated display panel of said user touch input; outputting the user touch input from each display panel directly to the associated processor means independently from the remaining processor means; sending command signals to the processor means connected to the display panel receiving the user touch input; converting the physical pixel location of the user touch input in accordance with the command signals into a logical pixel location associated with the overall display device; displaying information on each touch-sensitive display panel with the connected processor means according to the logical pixel locations; and operating each processor means both independently of the other processor means and in conjunction with the other processor means thereby allowing all display panels to operate both separately and together as a single logical display unit.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
213 words
A method for displaying images on a display device having a plurality of basic display units each coupled together by a network, each basic display unit including an associated processor means connected to at least one touch-sensitive display panel and an input for receiving input command signals, comprising; arranging the basic display units together into a tessellation for operating as a single display device; receiving a user touch input on at least one display panel and in response identifying a physical pixel location on the associated display panel of said user touch input; outputting the user touch input from each display panel directly to the associated processor means independently from the remaining processor means; sending command signals to the processor means connected to the display panel receiving the user touch input; converting the physical pixel location of the user touch input in accordance with the command signals into a logical pixel location associated with the overall display device; displaying information on each touch-sensitive display panel with the connected processor means according to the logical pixel locations; and operating each processor means both independently of the other processor means and in conjunction with the other processor means thereby allowing all display panels to operate both separately and together as a single logical display unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |