Abstract:
An interactive flat panel display is provided with an integrated document camera, embedded computer, and additional touch screen panel in one complete system that facilitates an engaging, interactive and collaborative learning experience. The embedded computer and/or document camera provides content to the flat panel display and the additional touch screen display thereby allowing the user to interact with programs, computer applications, websites, etc. through the touch screen capabilities of the displays.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/286,960, filed on Jan. 25, 2016, and entitled, “Interactive Flat Panel Display with Integrated Document Camera,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to interactive flat panel displays and more specifically, to an interactive flat panel display with an integrated document camera and a secondary touch screen. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Interactive touch screen displays are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in the modern classroom setting. Today&#39;s classrooms have progressed from blackboards and whiteboards to interactive flat panel displays (IFPD) providing new ways of learning and collaboration. The IFPD receives content over a network, a connected computer, and/or an imaging device. The touch screen capabilities of the IFPD allow teachers and students to interact seamlessly with the displayed content, i.e., a website, application, teaching module, video, etc. 
         [0006]    Typically, the IFPD may be mounted directly on a wall or may be part of a portable mounting stand. External devices such as a computer or imaging device are then connected to the IFPD via universal serial bus (USB) or high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) ports. This configuration, while functional, can be problematic within the confines of a classroom or boardroom with the additional cables and devices. Moreover, the user of an IFPD is forced to turn their back towards the audience while interacting with the IFPD, which in turn diminishes the interactive and collaborative connection with said audience. 
         [0007]    A need therefore exists for an IFPD with an integrated document camera, computer, and/or additional touch screen panel. The integrated devices eliminate exposed cabling, and the additional touch screen panel facilitates continuity during the interactive and collaborative connection with an audience. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides an interactive flat panel display (IFPD) with an integrated document camera, embedded computer, and additional touch screen panel in one complete system that facilitates an engaging, interactive and collaborative learning experience. The IFPD device comprises a large flat panel display having interactive touch screen capabilities; a portable mounting apparatus for supporting the IFPD, the portable mounting apparatus capable of adjusting the height of the IFPD; a podium surface connected to the portable mounting apparatus via a hinged suspension arm, the podium surface pivotable about a horizontal and vertical axis; an embedded computer dedicated to the IFPD; a second touch screen panel connected to the embedded computer; and an optional image capture device (i.e., document camera) connected to the embedded computer. The embedded computer and/or image capture device provides content to the flat panel display and the second touch screen display thereby allowing the user to interact with programs, computer applications, websites, etc. through the touch screen capabilities of the displays. In a preferred embodiment, the second touch screen panel is located within the podium surface providing the user the ability to interact with the content on the flat panel display while maintaining a connection with the audience. The image capture device may be, for example, a video camera or a document camera, or a like visual presenter. The embedded computer facilitates communications between the flat panel display, the second touch screen display, and the image capture device. The embedded computer also synchronizes the content displayed on the flat panel display and the second touch screen panel. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment of the invention, an interactive flat panel display (IFPD) device comprises: a flat panel display comprising a first interactive touch screen; a portable mounting apparatus supporting the flat panel display; a podium structurally coupled to the portable mounting apparatus; a computer structurally coupled to the portable mounting apparatus, wherein the computer comprises a second interactive touch screen and is electronically coupled to the flat panel display; and wherein the computer provides content to the flat panel display and synchronizes display on the first interactive touch screen and display on the second interactive touch screen. The height of the flat panel display is adjustable via the portable mounting apparatus. The podium is pivotable about a horizontal and vertical axis. The IFPD device may further comprise an image capture device electronically coupled to the computer. The image capture device may be a document camera. The second interactive touch screen is located within the podium and is configured to interact with content on the flat panel display. The portable mounting apparatus comprises wheels. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a fully integrated IFPD device that enhances the interactive learning experience by keeping the presenter and audience engaged. 
         [0011]    The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows: 
           [0013]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a front, rear, top, and side view of a fully integrated IFPD device with the podium surface in a retracted and extended position, respectively, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the fully integrated IFPD device with an extended hinged suspension arm of the podium surface rotatable about a vertical axis and the flat panel display adjustable upwardly and downwardly with respect to a horizontal axis; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of the fully integrated IFPD device with an extended hinged suspension arm rotatable about a vertical axis and the podium surface rotatable about a vertical axis; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates the podium surface with integrated second touch screen display and image display device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying  FIGS. 1-5 , wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a front, rear, top, and side view of a fully integrated IFPD device with the podium surface in a retracted and extended position, respectively, according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1A  illustrates multiple views of the fully integrated IFPD device  100 . The fully integrated IFPD device  110  includes a flat panel display  111 , which can be any flat panel display with touch screen capabilities known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In an alternative embodiment, the flat panel display  110  may be any pre-existing flat panel display and fitted with an interactive display overlay known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, any LCD or plasma television may be converted to an IFPD by overlaying the television panel with an interactive display overlay. 
         [0019]    The IFPD device of the present invention is portable and may include wheels  115 . A podium surface  119  is connected to the IFPD device by a hinged suspension arm having at least one hinge. The IFPD  110  includes a hinged suspension arm  116  having hinge  117  and hinge  118  both rotatable 360 degrees about a vertical axis. Hinges  117  and  118  allow the podium surface  119  to be extended away from the IFPD device and in an orientation adjustable to the user&#39;s preference. The rear view of the fully integrated IFPD device  120 , illustrates a mounting apparatus  125  for the flat panel display  111 . The flat panel display  111  is adjustable upwardly and downwardly with respect to a horizontal axis via a vertical telescoping arm  126 . The adjustable upward and downward movement of the flat panel display can be accomplished by any device know to one of skill in the art that allows the flat panel display to adjusted upwardly and downwardly and locked into position. For example,  126  may be a slide with locking mechanism, a hydraulic lift, cranking mechanism, and the like. The side and top views of the fully integrated IFPD device are illustrated at  130 A,  130 B, and  140  respectively. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1B  illustrates the fully integrated IFPD device with the podium surface in an extended position. The rear view of the fully integrated IFPD device  120  illustrates the podium surface  142 , the second touch screen panel  143 , and the image capture device  144 . The second touch screen panel  143  is connected to an embedded computer (not shown). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the computer is any computer integrated with or electronically coupled to a touchscreen interface with an operating system such as Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows, or Google Android, among others, the implementation of which are readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The second touch screen panel  143  can be any display panel with touch screen capabilities. In some embodiments, the second touch screen panel is itself a computer, laptop, tablet, etc. with touch screen capabilities. In this embodiment, an embedded computer is not required as the second touch screen panel provides the computing hardware and software necessary to operate the fully integrated IFPD device. Regardless, the embedded computer synchronizes the display on the flat panel display  111  and any other display such as the display on the second touch screen panel  143 . That way a user can see the same display via the second touch screen panel (in the podium) as that displayed on the flat panel display  111  (e.g., behind the user). 
         [0021]    The side views,  130 A and  130 B, and top view  140  provide alternate views of the fully integrated IFPD device including the podium surface  142 , the second touch screen panel  143 , the image capture device  144 , and the extended hinged suspension arm  116  with hinge  117  facilitating the extension of the podium surface  142  away from the flat panel display  111 . The top view of the fully integrated IFPD device  140  also illustrates the podium surface  142  in an orientation about hinge  118  of the extended hinged suspension arm  116 . In this orientation, the podium surface  142  is in a position away from the viewing area of the flat panel display  111 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of the fully integrated IFPD device with an extended hinged suspension arm of the podium surface rotatable about a vertical axis and the flat panel display adjustable upwardly and downwardly with respect to a horizontal axis.  FIG. 2  illustrates multiple front views of the fully integrated IFPD device  200  in various orientations. For example,  210  illustrates the device with the flat panel display  111  in a lowered position and the podium surface  142  in a retracted position.  220  illustrates the device with the flat panel display  111  in a raised position via the vertical telescoping arm  126  and the podium surface  142  in an extended position via the rotation about a vertical axis of hinges  117  and  118  of the hinged suspension arm.  230  illustrates the device with the flat panel display  111  in a raised position via the vertical telescoping arm  126  and the podium surface  142  in a further extended position via the rotation about a vertical axis of hinges  117  and  118  of the hinged suspension arm  116 .  240  illustrates the device with the flat panel display  111  in a lowered position via the vertical telescoping arm  126  and the podium surface  142  in a further extended position via the rotation about a vertical axis of hinges  117  and  118  of the hinged suspension arm  116 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of the fully integrated IFPD device with an extended hinged suspension arm rotatable about a vertical axis and the podium surface rotatable about a vertical axis. The fully integrated IFPD device is configurable to place the hinged suspension arm  116  on either side of the device at  310  or  320 . In an alternative embodiment, the suspension arms, mounting device, etc. are modular and configurable to suit the needs of a particular application. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates the podium surface with integrated second touch screen panel and image display device according to an embodiment of the invention. The podium surface  142  may include a plurality of integrated devices. For purposes of this description, the podium surface  142  will be described with respect to two devices: a second touch screen panel  143  and an image capture device  144 . The second touch screen panel  143  may be integrated with the podium surface  142  and capable of being raised (as seen in  410 ) relative to the top surface of the podium surface  142 . In a closed position, the touch screen panel  143  may be level with the top surface of the podium surface  142  or below the level of the top surface of the podium surface  142 . The image capture device  144  may be an image capture device such as a document camera with an adjustable arm (with one or two pivot points) such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D715,300 and D677,707, which can be modified to be integrated with the podium surface  142 . In an alternative embodiment, the image capture device  144  is removably attached to the podium surface  142 . 
         [0025]    In an embodiment of the invention, the image capture device  144  comprises a document camera the can magnify and project the video image of documents and three-dimensional objects placed on the podium surface  142 . In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the document camera comprises optics, camera, an optional lighting system, and a motherboard with appropriate firmware. Simple or highly complex optical system can be used. The camera preferably a progressive scan camera, e.g., a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, to provide high-resolution color images at thirty (30) frames per second or more. A lighting system may be used to illuminate the writing surface. The motherboard may have a variety of connections to output video such as HDMI, DVI, VGA, USB, and/or LAN, the implementation of which are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The document camera may also be equipped with wireless technology such as, but not limited to WIFI to eliminate the need for cables. The term document camera as used herein means a device as noted above that can direct its camera toward the podium surface, preferably from vertically overhead the podium surface. 
         [0026]    An advantage of the present invention is that the fully integrated nature of the image display device, embedded computer, and second touch screen panel allows the cables of all devices to be concealed within the hinged suspension arm and mounting apparatus of the device thereby hidden from view. In an embodiment of the invention, the image display device, embedded computer, and second touch screen panel communicate with each other and the flat panel display wirelessly, for example, via IEEE 802 protocol, Bluetooth, or ZigBee. The document camera  144  can acquire video via the embedded computer (or alternatively the second touch screen panel acting itself as a computer, laptop, tablet, etc.) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,508,751, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The embedded computer provides a platform for interactive learning applications (or “apps”) to run, access to a network, and/or teaching modules. These apps may include, but are not limited to: digital text books, a classroom response system, test facilitators, social networking apps, email, homework submission apps, productivity apps, and cloud server apps (for enabling, for example, online storage, bookmarking in text books, etc.). 
         [0027]    The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.