SMART Technologies Inc. Awarded Canadian Patent for Touch-Sensitive SMART Board™ Interactive Whiteboard
Canadian Patent No. 2,058,219 is directed to an interactive display system in which a control signal is generated when pressure is applied at the display surface
Calgary, AB --- June 6, 2002 --- The Canadian Intellectual Property Office has granted a patent to SMART Technologies Inc., this one specific to a projection system display with pressure sensing at the display surface and computer-assisted alignment implemented by applying pressure at displayed calibration marks. This patent follows the issuance of other key patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 5,448,263 and 6,337,681 directed to an interactive display system and U.S. Patent No. 6,141,000 directed to a projection display system with touch sensing on the screen, computer-assisted alignment correction and network conferencing.
Canadian Patent No. 2,058,219 is directed to display apparatus comprising structure coupleable to the large-screen display surface and generating control signals in response to pressure applied at the large-screen display surface, and code responsive to such control signals to store coordinate information corresponding to calibration marks. Preferably, a personal computer is provided for receiving the control signals and, in response, generating graphic images. Also, an LCD panel may be provided in combination with an overhead projector for receiving and projecting the graphic images onto the display surface at indicated locations. The LCD panel and overhead projector may be provided as an integral unit.
SMART first introduced the interactive electronic whiteboard in or around 1990 and has continued to offer software and hardware innovations to each product generation and upgrade. Several more patent grants are anticipated in the United States and around the world. Technology embodied in other SMART products is the subject of additional patent applications now pending in the United States, Canada, Japan, China and Europe.
With SMART's award-winning family of SMART Board interactive whiteboards, users simply press the whiteboard's touch-sensitive surface to access and control any computer application. Users can write and edit notes, draw diagrams and record ideas, then save, print or e-mail all their annotations.
"David Martin, co-founder and CEO of SMART, originally conceived of the ideas embodied in our patents. Products based on these ideas were successfully brought to market in or around 1990," says Nancy Knowlton, president and COO of SMART Technologies Inc. "The Canadian Intellectual Property Office's recognition of the unique features of our technology and concepts is yet another acknowledgment of our pioneering market leadership. Today, we're seeing new competitors entering this rapidly expanding market and these patents will help to protect our intellectual property."
With the exceptions of one OEM agreement with VTEL Corporation and SMART's royalty-free, limited software license to end users of the SMART Board family of interactive whiteboards, SMART has not licensed any of its proprietary technology or patents to others in any jurisdiction.
To find out more about SMART products, visit www.smarttech.com or phone 1.888.42.SMART.
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For more information, please contact:
Public Relations
SMART Technologies Inc.
300, 1207 - 11th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB CANADA T3C 0M5
Phone +1.403.802.3337 Fax +1.403.228.2500
pr@smarttech.com
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.