Light feedback on physical object selection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9336700-B2
Application number	US-30132407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2007
Priority date	Jun 7, 2006
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A highlighting method and an interaction system ( 100 ) include at least one controllable light emitting source ( 110 ) linked to an item ( 120 ); and a processor ( 140 ) configured to turn on the controllable light emitting source ( 110 ) in response to user selection of the item ( 120 ). The controllable light emitting source ( 110 ) may be embedded in a mat ( 210 ) or a strip ( 430 ). The mat ( 210 ) may include a matrix of photo detectors or pressure sensors configured to detect the base or footprint of the item ( 120 ) when placed on the mat ( 210 ). The periphery of the product or the footprint may be illuminated upon selecting the product. Alternatively or additionally, a background surface behind the product may be illuminated upon selection thereof.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An interactive system for providing visual feedback in response to selection of one of a plurality of items by a user, the system comprising:
a plurality of communicably interconnected tiles, each of the tiles having a controllable light emitting source linked to at least one of said items;
the tiles being in communication with a system processor and each of the tiles including at least one sensor to detect at least one of said items placed on said tile;
wherein the system processor automatically updates links between each of said items and a tile on which the item is placed;
a display configured with the system processor wherein the display presents selectable search criteria about the plurality of items positioned on the plurality of tiles;
wherein each of the selectable search criteria is linked to at least one of the plurality of items;
each of the plurality of tiles each linked to at least one of the items;
the system processor configured to present the selectable search criteria and turn on said controllable light emitting source for at least one of the tiles and illuminate said item linked to the selected criteria in response to said user's interactive selection a search criteria,
wherein said selection comprises at least one of the group consisting of pointing at said items, gazing at said item, and selecting said item from a representation thereof on a video display.

2. The interactive system of claim 1 , wherein said controllable light emitting source is embedded in the tile.

3. The interactive system of claim 2 , wherein said tile includes at least one of a matrix of photo detectors and matrix of pressure sensors configured to detect a base of said item when placed on said tile.

4. The interactive system of claim 1 , further comprising a reader device attached to said controllable light emitting source for reading a tag attached to said item.

5. The interactive system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to link said controllable light emitting source to said item.

6. The interactive system of claim 5 , wherein said sensor includes a tag attached to said item, said system further comprising a reader configured to read said tag when said item is substantially near said reader.

7. The interactive system of claim 6 , wherein said tag is an RFID tag, and said reader is an RFID reader.

8. The interactive system of claim 1 , wherein said controllable light emitting source is configured to substantially illuminate at least one of a periphery of said item, a contour of a base of said item, and a background surface behind said item.

9. The interactive system of claim 1 , wherein said controllable light emitting source includes at least one of a light emitting diode, incandescent, fluorescent, halogen, and high intensity discharge light source.

10. The interactive system of claim 1 , further comprising a detector configured to detect at least one of said pointing and said gazing.

11. The interactive system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said items and a list of said items are color-coded and displayed on a display projected on a panel located between said item and said user.

12. The interactive system of claim 1 , wherein said system processor is further configured to control additional controllable light emitting sources to illuminate said user with a color assigned to said user, and to illuminate a further user and products selected by said further user with a further color.

13. The interactive system of claim 1 , wherein said system processor is further configured to compare at least two items selected by a user and to control further controllable light emitting sources linked to said at least two items for providing an indication of a feature in common between said at least two items.

14. A method of highlighting one of a plurality of items an object by a light source, the method comprising the acts of:
linking each of the plurality of items with one of a plurality of linked tiles, wherein each of the linked tiles includes an associated controllable light source;
communicating the linked items and the linked tiles to a system processor;
associating the plurality of items with a plurality of selectable feature information;
presenting the plurality of selectable feature information about each of the plurality of items for selection by a user, each of the plurality of selectable feature information associated with a unique color;
wherein the selectable feature information is linked by the system processor to at least one of the items;
selecting one of the plurality of selectable feature information using one of the group consisting of pointing, gazing and selecting from a representation of the feature information on a video display; and
in response to said selecting act, controlling a light emitting source on the linked tiles so that at least one of said linked tiles associated with the selected one of the plurality of selectable feature information becomes illuminated.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said controlling act substantially illuminates at least one of a periphery of said item, a contour of a base of said item, and a background surface behind said item.

16. An interactive system for providing visual feedback in response to selection of an item by a user, said system comprising:
a plurality of tiles, each of the tiles in communication with a system processor and having a controllable light source linked to an item and having at least one light-emitting diode for generating light of at least one varying attribute;
each of the plurality of tiles in bidirectional communication with the system processor and with each other;
wherein each of the plurality of tiles is linked by the system processor to one of a plurality of items, each of the plurality of items also linked by the system processor to one of a plurality of item features;
a display controlled by the system processor;
the system processor configured to display a plurality of selectable search criteria for selection by the user in a selection list;
wherein each of the plurality of selectable search criteria is linked to at least one of the plurality of items and the linked tile linked to the item;
the system processor configured to turn on said controllable light emitting source for at least one of the plurality of tiles and, in response to said selection of selectable search criteria on the selection list by said user, illuminate any of a plurality of items linked to the selected search criteria by communicating with the linked tile;
wherein said selection comprises at least one of the group consisting of pointing at said item, gazing at aid item, and selecting said item from a representation thereof on a display.

17. The interactive system of claim 16 , wherein said attribute is selected from the group consisting of: color, color temperature, intensity, hue, saturation, beam width, and spot size.

18. The interactive system of claim 16 , further comprising electronic drive circuitry for controlling said light source in coordination with said system processor.

19. The interactive system of claim 16 , wherein the attribute of said light is varied based at least in part on at least one attribute of said item.

Assignees

• Lashina Tatiana
• Hollemans Gerrit
• Van Loenen Evert Jan
• Van De Wijdeven Sander Bernard Francis
• Van Gelder Kero
• Van Doorn Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria
• Buil Vincentius Paulus
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Lashina Tatiana
• Hollemans Gerrit
• Van Loenen Evert Jan
• Van De Wijdeven Sander Bernard Francis
• Van Gelder Kero
• Van Doorn Markus Gerardus Leonardus Maria
• Buil Vincentius Paulus

Classifications

• G09F27/009 Primary

  Retrofitted static panels to make them dynamic · CPC title

• G09F27/00 Primary

  Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address · CPC title