BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional flatbed document camera used for projecting images of an object;
FIG. 2(
a) is a schematic diagram of a document camera with a small monitor;
FIG. 2(
b) is a schematic diagram showing the small monitor of FIG. 2(a);
FIG. 3(
a) is a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3(
b) is a schematic circuit block diagram of the interactive document camera system of FIG. 3(a);
FIG. 3(
c) is a schematic diagram showing another assembly manner of the platform and the display panel;
FIG. 4(
a) is a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4(
b) is a schematic circuit block diagram of the interactive document camera system of FIG. 4(a);
FIG. 5(
a) is a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera system according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5(
b) is a schematic circuit block diagram of the interactive document camera system of FIG. 5(a); and
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 3(a), a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera system 300 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The interactive document camera system 300 comprises a document camera 30, a display panel 32 and a handwriting sensor module 33. The handwriting sensor module 33 includes a handwriting board 331. The document camera 30 includes a platform 301 and an image-sensing and processing unit 31. An object 3 to be displayed is placed on the platform 301. The images of the object 3 are captured and processed by the image-sensing and processing unit 31. The document camera 30 further includes a connecting interface 34. After the display panel 32 is coupled with the connecting interface 34, the display panel 32 is electrically connected to the document camera 30. The handwriting board 331 is an interactive touch pad allowing handwriting input. In this embodiment, the handwriting board 331 is arranged on the display panel 32. Since the handwriting board 331 is made transparent, the speaker may write notes or make marks on the handwriting board 331 while viewing the images shown on the display panel 32.
Hereinafter, an operating embodiment of the interactive document camera system 300 will be illustrated with reference to FIG. 3(b). FIG. 3(b) is a schematic circuit block diagram of the interactive document camera system 300. The images of the object 3 are captured and processed by the image-sensing and processing unit 31, and then the processed images are outputted. The connecting interface 34 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 31. After the display panel 32 is coupled with the connecting interface 34, the display panel 32 is electrically connected with the connecting interface 34 such that the images of the object 3 captured by the image-sensing and processing unit 31 may be displayed on the display panel 32. Under this circumstance, like the small monitor as described above, the display panel 32 allows the speaker to see the projected images without turning to look at the projection screen. Moreover, since the function of the handwriting board 331 is integrated into the display panel 32, the user may use a touch pen 332 as shown in FIG. 3(a) (which is an accessory of the handwriting sensor module 33) to write notes on the handwriting board 331 in a touching and pressing manner. The handwriting input may be sensed and displayed on the handwriting board 331. In addition, via the connecting interface 34, the handwriting data corresponding to the handwriting input can be outputted.
The document camera 30 further includes an image synthesizer 35. The image synthesizer 35 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 31 and the connecting interface 34. By means of the image synthesizer 35, the images of the object 3 and the handwriting data outputted by the handwriting board 331 are synthesized and then outputted. Please refer to FIG. 3(a) again. The handwriting board 331 is made transparent and arranged on the display panel 32. Especially, the area of the handwriting board 331 is substantially equal to that of the display panel 32. As a consequence, the speaker may write notes on the handwriting board 331 while viewing the images shown on the display panel 32. For example, the speaker may directly add annotations on the projected image via the handwriting board 331. Since the images of the object 3 and the handwriting data are superimposed by the image synthesizer 35, the images of the object 3 and the handwriting data are simultaneously outputted. Therefore, as making notes on the white board, the interactive document camera system 300 can be used for interactive demonstrations while displaying the images in real-time.
Moreover, the handwriting board 331 further includes a multifunction menu, which includes several virtual function keys. By touching the virtual function keys of the multifunction menu, the functions corresponding to the selected virtual function keys are actuated. Examples of the functions include zoom in/zoom out, brightness or level adjustment of the images and so on. Since the handwriting board 331 is arranged on the display panel 32, the handwriting board 331 may be designed to be electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 31 when the display panel 32 is coupled with the connecting interface 34. Under this circumstance, by touching the virtual function keys on the multifunction menu, the functions corresponding to the selected virtual function keys are actuated to have the image-sensing and processing unit 31 respond to the request. The processed images may be transmitted to a projector and projected onto a projection screen for the audience. The operation principles of projector and the projection screen are known in the art and are not redundantly described herein.
It is noted that, however, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the connection between the display panel 32 and the document camera 30 may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Since the display panel 32 is an external function expansion device of the document camera 30, the connecting interface 34 and the display panel 32 should have complementary shapes in order to be coupled with each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the connecting interface 34 is a slot, and the display panel 32 has a protruding connecting portion to be inserted into the connecting interface 34. Alternatively, the display panel 32 has a recess structure and the connecting interface 34 is substantially a connecting plate to be inserted into the recess structure. The complementary shapes of the connecting interface 34 and the display panel 32 are not restricted as long as they are coupled with and electrically connected to each other.
In the first embodiment, the handwriting board 331 is integrated into the display panel 32. Alternatively, the handwriting board 331 and the display panel 32 may be separate components. Referring to FIG. 4(a), a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera system 400 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. For clarification and comparison, the elements corresponding to those in FIG. 3(a) will be designated by similar numeral references. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the interactive document camera system 400 includes a first connecting interface 44 and a second connecting interface 46. After the display panel 42 is coupled with the connecting interface 44, the display panel 42 is electrically connected to the document camera 40. Similarly, the handwriting board 431 is electrically connected to the document camera 40 when the handwriting board 431 is coupled to the second connecting interface 46.
Please refer to FIG. 4(a) again. The second connecting interface 46 is a USB port and the handwriting board 431 is coupled with the second connecting interface 46 via a USB transmission interface. Since most commercially available handwriting boards have USB transmission interfaces, the document camera 40 is designed to be compatible with these commercially available handwriting boards. Due to the cost consideration, the user may purchase the document camera 40 in advance. For allowing the speaker to see the projected images in a more convenient manner, the display panel 42 may be added to the interactive document camera system 400. For allowing interactive demonstrations, the handwriting board 431 may be further added to the interactive document camera system 400 and the images are projected with the handwriting annotations.
FIG. 4(
b) is a schematic circuit block diagram of the interactive document camera system 400. In comparison of FIG. 3(b), the document camera 40 further includes an additional connecting interface 46 and the handwriting board 431 is separated from the display panel 42. After the handwriting board 431 is coupled with the second connecting interface 46, the handwriting board 431 is electrically connected to the document camera 40 so that the handwriting data corresponding to the handwriting input can be outputted. Moreover, the image synthesizer 45 of the document camera 40 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 41 and the second connecting interface 46. By means of the image synthesizer 45, the images of the object 4 and the handwriting data outputted by the handwriting board 431 are synthesized and then outputted. Since the handwriting board 431 is separated from the display panel 42, the images of the object 4 are not shown on the handwriting board 431. Under this circumstance, if the speaker wants to see the synthesized image, has to turn and see the projection screen.
Referring to FIG. 5(a), a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera system 500 according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In comparison of FIG. 3(a), the document camera 50 further includes an additional connecting interface 56 and is capable of supporting a computer system 57. In this embodiment, the handwriting board is integrated into the display panel 52. The document camera 50 may be electrically connected to the computer system 57 and the display panel 52 including the handwriting board. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the interactive document camera system 500 includes a first connecting interface 54 and a second connecting interface 56. After the display panel 52 is coupled with the first connecting interface 54, the display panel 52 is electrically connected to the document camera 50. Similarly, the computer system 57 is electrically connected to the document camera 50 when the computer system 57 is coupled with the second connecting interface 56.
FIG. 5(
b) is a schematic circuit block diagram of the interactive document camera system 500. In comparison of FIG. 3(b), the document camera 50 further includes the second connecting interface 56. The second connecting interface 56 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 51. After the computer system 57 is coupled with the second connecting interface 56, the computer system 57 is electrically connected with the document camera 50 such that the operating images provided by the computer system 57 may be processed by the image-sensing and processing unit 51 and then outputted. Moreover, in this embodiment, the second connecting interface 56 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 51. As a consequence, the handwriting data corresponding to the handwriting input is processed by the image-sensing and processing unit 51 and then stored in the computer system 57. Moreover, the image synthesizer 55 of the document camera 50 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 51, the first connecting interface 54 and the second connecting interface 56. By means of the image synthesizer 55, the images of the object 5, the annotations and the operating images are synthesized and then outputted.
In this embodiment, the operating images provided by the computer system 57 may be displayed on the projection screen as a background. The images of the object 5 or the handwriting data are also displayed on the screen so as to be displayed with the operating images provided by the computer system 57. For example, a graphic or text file of the computer system 57 may be opened in order to provide further demonstrations. Under this circumstance, the document camera 50 of the interactive document camera system 500 is served as an intermediate control medium between the display panel 52 and the computer system 57. By means of related software and hardware such as the multifunction menu, the display panel 52 and the computer system 57 can interact with each other. In an interactive example, the handwriting data corresponding to the handwriting input are recorded in the computer system 57 and saved as graphic files. As a result, the image data can be effectively stored.
Referring to FIG. 6, a schematic perspective view of an interactive document camera 60 according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The interactive document camera 60 includes a main body 600, an image-sensing and processing unit 61 and an interactive platform 601. The image-sensing and processing unit 61 is disposed on the main body 600. In this embodiment, an object 6 to be displayed is placed on the interactive platform 601 and the images of the object 6 are captured by the image-sensing and processing unit 61. More especially, the function of the handwriting board is integrated into the interactive platform 601. The images of the object 6 are captured and processed by the image-sensing and processing unit 61. The user may use a touch pen to write notes on the interactive platform 601. The handwriting input may be sensed and displayed on the interactive platform 601. The handwriting input may also be captured and processed by the image-sensing and processing unit 61, and the handwriting data corresponding to the handwriting input are then outputted.
In a case that no object is placed on the interactive platform 601, the interactive platform 601 is served as a handwriting board. In other embodiments, the interactive platform 601 is electrically connected to the image-sensing and processing unit 61. Under this circumstance, a multifunction menu including several virtual function keys is shown on the interactive platform 601. By touching the virtual function keys, the functions corresponding to the selected virtual function keys are actuated by the image-sensing and processing unit 61.
As previously described, the document camera with a small monitor is disadvantageous because the small monitor is not cost-effective and has limited contribution. By using the interactive document camera system of the present invention, desired external function expansion devices are selectively attached onto the document camera according the users' requirement. Due to the external function expansion devices, the functions of the document camera are expanded to enhance the presentation performance. As a result, the general flatbed document camera is improved by introducing the interactive property.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
Patent Application
20080055564
