This invention relates to a device for locating an impact against a transparent interactive surface, by analysing time differences of the propagation of progressive mechanical waves propagating from the impact.
Many objects with an interactive surface are known, in particular display devices, mobile telephones or other mobile personal digital assistance devices. Their interface is in general a flat and rectangular screen with which a user can interact using a stylus or a finger. Note however that the invention applies more generally to any type of object that has an interactive surface that can propagate progressive mechanical waves from an impact, this surface not necessarily being flat, or with a rectangular contour.
The term interactive surface means a two-dimensional or three-dimensional surface, capable of changing shape in the sense of the dynamic and static elasticity of the materials when it is subjected to an impact such as a touch, a force of contact, a mechanical pulse or an impact, by thus allowing the propagation of progressive mechanical waves that can be detected using transducers, in particular surface acoustic waves, from the location of the impact. The surface deformation can be submillimetric that cannot be perceived by the unaided eye. Surfaces made from plastic, glass or metal are suitable.
Each one of the known objects with an interactive surface comprises a device for locating impacts using one or several detection techniques. It is for example known to use:
A strong trend in the reduction of the manufacturing cost aims to retain only the simplest technologies that use a limited number of sensors. The invention thus relates more precisely to a device for locating that implements a technology for detecting the propagation of progressive mechanical waves in an interactive surface, in particular using detectors of the piezoelectric transducer type, based on the measurement of a difference in transit time of a wave packet generated by an impact to a plurality of piezoelectric detectors and on the deterministic calculation, using a pre-established mathematical formula, of the position of an emitting source of the wave packet. Thus, this solution requires a device for locating an impact that comprises:
Generally, it is as such possible to locate an impact, whether it is that of a projectile or of a stylus, since the latter is then an emitter of a pulse. In particular, this solution is well suited for leisure or sports applications involving the shooting of projectiles, the interactive surface being able to be both resistant and sensitive to the impacts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,800 B1 for example proposes a shooting application wherein the target itself comprises a device of this type and thus forms the interactive surface.
But the leisure or sports applications are limited, since such a resistant interactive surface does not generally allow for any interaction other than the locating of impacts. Moreover, surfaces with high interactions, in particular those of display screens of electronic devices such as mobile telephones, digital tablets, or other screens of portable or fixed computers, favour the resistive or capacitive techniques and are because of this fragile (resistive techniques) or insensitive to impacts (capacitive techniques).
Patent application US 2015/0123346 A1 proposes solutions of interactivity for a device such as the one of document U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,800 B1, such as the transmission of locating data detected by the target to an electronic device of the user, or the display of images or of videos on a computer screen arranged behind the target of which the interactive surface is then formed of a transparent material. But these solutions are of limited interactivity or are complex to implement.
It can thus be sought to design a device for locating an impact that makes it possible to overcome at least one portion of the aforementioned problems and constraints.
It is therefore proposed a device for locating an impact against a transparent interactive surface able to propagate progressive mechanical waves from the impact, comprising:
Thus, the simplicity and the resistance of a device for locating an impact with progressive mechanical wave detection with the possibilities of interactivities offered by the display screen of an electronic device are combined at least cost and in complete safety. This clever combination makes it possible to imagine leisure or sports applications for the general public that would not be able to be considered otherwise.
Optionally, the protective case is shaped in such a way as to receive in its interior volume one of the elements of the set formed of a mobile telephone, a digital tablet, a flat screen support for portable computer, a keyboard support for portable computer, a monitor for computer, a television receiver and a video projector associated with a rear projection screen.
Also optionally, the transparent interactive surface is designed in a material of sufficient rigidity, in particular polycarbonate, so that the impact does not significantly affect the display screen of the electronic device when the positioning of the display screen is adjusted.
Also optionally, one of the walls of the protective case comprises the transparent interactive surface and the interior volume of the protective case is intended to receive at least the display screen of the electronic device.
Also optionally, a device for locating an impact according to the invention can comprise a closure element of the opening through which the display screen can be inserted, in particular a hermetic closure element.
Also optionally, a device for locating an impact according to the invention can comprise:
Also optionally:
Also optionally, the receptacle includes a damping material and is removably mounted and/or as a pivot connection on the protective case.
Also optionally, a device for locating an impact according to the invention can comprise the electronic device connected to the electronic central unit and at least one of said calculators can be integrated into the calculating means of the electronic device.
Also optionally:
The invention shall be better understood using the following description, provided solely as an example and in reference to the accompany drawings wherein:
The device for locating an impact diagrammatically shown as front and side view in
Four transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD are arranged and distributed against the transparent interactive surface 12, more precisely at the four corners of the rectangle that it forms. They are designed to capture the progressive mechanical waves propagating in the interactive surface 12 and to transform them into electrical signals. They are connected to an electronic central unit 14, for example fastened to the bottom of the protective case 10, of which a calculator receives their electrical signals and is programmed to identify instants of impact P detection in the electrical signals received. The electronic central unit 14 further comprises a calculator programmed to locate the impact P in the transparent interactive surface 12 by analysing time differences of propagation of progressive mechanical waves from the impact P to the transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD on the basis of the instants of impact detection identified. The two aforementioned calculators may form only one, the distinction being purely functional. They can have the form of one or several microprocessors programmed to carry out a certain number of functions that can be implemented using computer programs, i.e. in the form of a computer device. But these functions could also be at least partially micro programmed or micro wired in dedicated integrated circuits. Thus, alternatively, the computer device implementing the aforementioned calculators could be replaced with an electronic device comprised solely of digital circuits (without a computer program) for the carrying out of the same functions.
Note in addition that, generally, the transparent interactive surface 12 is of any shape, not necessarily rectangular. The number of transducers is also indifferent, at least equal to three in order to allow for a locating by analysis of the time differences of propagation as taught in document U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,800 B1.
In accordance with a possible embodiment of the invention, the protective case 10 has an interior volume intended to receive an electronic device 16 with a display screen 18 in an arrangement according to which the display screen 18 is placed facing the transparent interactive surface 12. Advantageously, the transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD are arranged in such a way as to not to be in the zone of the display screen 18. The protective case 10 has an opening 20 through which the electronic device 16, for example a mobile telephone or a digital tablet, can be inserted. Optionally, it can further comprise a closure element of the opening 20, in particular and hermetic closure element for use outdoors or even under water. It is advantageously dimensioned, in size and in format, to adapt precisely to the dimensions of the electronic device 16 that it is intended to receive.
Means 22 for adjusting a positioning of the display screen 18 with respect to the transparent interactive surface 12, for a centring of the display screen 18 on a mark R linked to the transparent interactive surface 12, are provided in the protective case 10. This centring of the display screen 18 on the mark R includes a complete resetting of the marks of the display screen 18 on the marks of the transparent interactive surface 12. In theory, there are six degrees of freedom (three degrees of freedom in translation and three degrees of freedom in rotation), in such a way that the centring includes by default a control of these six degrees of freedom using the means for adjusting 22. In the simplified example of
The mark R is for example of a very fine marking of diagonals, of which the ends are for example centred on the transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD, on the transparent interactive surface 12, but it can also be another type of marking, for example at least one simple cross marking at least one point, for example located at the centre of the front face of the protective case 10, more or less discrete and to be defined according to the design constraints of the protective case 10. An embedded software in the electronic device 16 can then position a visual marker on the display screen 18 in correspondence with the marker R during an initialisation executed after positioning. This initialisation advantageously allows for a geometrical calibration of the transparent interactive surface 12 with respect to the display screen 18.
Thus the means for adjusting 22 associated with a geometrical calibration allow for the insertion and maintaining of a large variety of electronic devices with a display screen (telephones, tablets, computers, etc.), making the protective case 10 adaptable to several screen sizes and formats.
Although a geometrical calibration on two marked diagonals or a single central marking can be considered in the simplified example of
The transparent interactive surface 12 is advantageously designed in a material of sufficient rigidity, in particular polycarbonate, so that the impact P does not significantly affect the display screen 18 of the electronic device 16 when the positioning of the display screen 18 is adjusted, in particular for an impact of a few joules. Moreover, it should be noted that it also makes it possible to make use of all of the resources of the electronic device 16, such as its possible embedded camera(s), microphone(s), speaker(s), as well as its display screen 18 and its capacities for accessing the Internet, for optimised interactivity with visual and sound animations according to the applications considered (leisure, sports or others).
Finally, the electronic central unit 14 comprises a calculator programmed to convert the location of the impact P in the transparent interactive surface 12 into a location of the impact P in the display screen 18 when the electronic device 16 is inserted into the protective case 10 and when the positioning of the display screen 18 is adjusted using the means 22. As hereinabove, this calculator can be different from the two aforementioned calculators or form only one with them, with the distinction being purely functional. It can also be implemented indifferently in a computer or electronic device.
When the electronic device 16 is inserted into the protective case 10, it is advantageously connected to the electronic central unit 14, for example via a USB (“Universal Serial Bus”) connection or other. Thus, the electronic central unit 14 can transmit the results of its calculations to the electronic device 16. Thus also, the electronic device 16 can supply the electrical power required for the operation of the electronic central unit 14, although the latter can have its own autonomous and rechargeable source of electrical energy for example integral with the protective case 10.
Alternatively, note that all or a portion of the aforementioned calculators can be offset in the electronic device 16 which itself has its own means of calculation. For example, the electronic central unit 14 may contain none of the aforementioned three calculators, in which case it simply transmits the signals that it receives from the transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD to the electronic device 16 for processing, after possibly amplifying them and comparing them to predetermined thresholds, then digitising. Also for example, the electronic central unit 14 may comprise only the first of the three aforementioned calculators, in which case it transmits the instants of impact P detection that it has identified to the electronic device 16 so that it calculates itself the location of this impact P. Also for example, the electronic central unit 14 can comprise only the first two of the three aforementioned calculators, in which case it transmits the location of the impact P that it has calculated in the transparent interactive surface 12 to the electronic device 16 so that it converts it itself into a location in the display screen 18.
Also note that one of the aforementioned calculators can estimate a power of the impact P in addition to its location, by simple integration of the signals received by the electronic central unit 14.
Also note that the protective case 10 can comprise conventional fastening elements 24 at the rear, for a fastening against a vertical support. Generally, it can easily be transported with the electronic device 16 with a display screen 18 when the latter is precisely positioned and fastened using the means for adjusting 22.
In another embodiment of the invention shown diagrammatically in
Optionally and advantageously, a receptacle 26 can furthermore be arranged in the lower portion of the transparent interactive surface 12, with this receptacle 26 including a damping material 28, for example a foam panel, to collect the projectiles deviated by the front face of the protective case 10. It can furthermore be conformed to adapt as a cover to the dimensions of the transparent interactive surface 12 in a storage position of the device for locating an impact. It can be removably mounted and/or as a pivot connection on the protective case 10. It is shown in the deployed position ready for use in
In another embodiment of the invention shown diagrammatically in
The transparent interactive surface 42 is as hereinabove provided with four transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD and with the mark R. As for the protective case 30, it comprises as in the preceding example an electronic central unit 44 connected to the four transducers PTA, PTB, PTC and PTD and connected to the portable computer 34, as well as means 46, 48, 50 for adjusting a positioning of the keyboard support 32 in the protective case 30 for a centring of the display screen 38 on the mark R of the transparent interactive surface 42. In the example of
Optionally and advantageously shown in
Another embodiment of the invention shown diagrammatically in
Optionally and advantageously as in the two preceding embodiments, the transparent interactive surface 12 can be inclined towards the front and a receptacle with damping material can be arranged in front, in order to collect the projectiles deviated by the transparent interactive surface 12.
Another embodiment of the invention shown diagrammatically in
Other embodiments not shown can be considered. In particular the protective case can be conformed to receive in its interior volume a support for a flat screen for a portable computer, a monitor for computer or a television receiver.
With all of these embodiments possible, multiple applications, leisure or sports or others, can be imagined, such as:
It clearly appears that a device for locating an impact such as one of those described hereinabove makes it possible to combine at least cost and in complete safety the simplicity and the resistance of a device for locating an impact with progressive mechanical wave detection with the possibilities of visual and sound interactivities offered by an electronic device, in particular an electronic device connected to the Internet. It is furthermore potentially autonomous and transportable.
Note moreover that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinabove. It will appear to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described hereinabove, in light of the teaching that has just been disclosed to them. In the claims that follow, the terms used must not be interpreted as limiting the claims to the embodiments disclosed in this description, but must be interpreted so as to include therein all of the equivalents that the claims aim to cover due to their formulation and of which the foreseeing is within the scope of those skilled in the art by applying their general knowledge to the implementing of the teaching that has just been disclosed to them.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1659777 | Oct 2016 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2017/052743 | 10/6/2017 | WO | 00 |