US 7,621,415 B2Granted

Storage for interactive display system

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsAllen Han, Dana Lu Silverstein

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Abstract

A storage is provided for an interactive display system that both provides a graphic display and responds to objects disposed proximate to or in contact with a display surface. Due to a limited available volume within a housing of the interactive display system, the storage is provided either external to the housing, or within a peripheral portion of the housing so as not to interfere with the operation of the interactive display system. In one embodiment, a sheet of flexible material is coupled to an exterior surface of the housing. Elastomeric edges of the sheet are pulled away from the housing to provide access to a volume disposed between the sheet and the external surface of the housing. In another embodiment, pockets are formed within a sheet hung from a backing, adjacent to the external surface. Yet another embodiment includes a drawer within a peripheral portion of the display.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A storage container configured for use in an interactive display system, the interactive display system being configured to produce an image of a graphical object on a display surface, as well as respond to movement or disposition of a physical object proximate to or in contact with the display surface, the storage container comprising:

(a) a convex volume that is selectively accessible for storage of objects, including objects that may be usable with an interactive display system, the volume being disposed proximate to a peripheral portion of an interactive display system so that a housing of the interactive display system at least supports the storage, the volume being configured and disposed relative to an interior of the interactive display system so as to avoid interference with operation of the interactive display system, the storage including a volume sleeve with an elastomeric bias that tends to conform the volume sleeve to the convex shape of the housing, the elastomeric bias being provided by a plurality of elastomeric rods embedded within at least two of the edges of the volume sleeve;
and
(b) a member that is adapted to be engaged by a user to selectively access the volume, the member being attached to the volume sleeve, such that when the member is engaged by the user, the volume sleeve adjusts from the convex form to a concave form.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.