Apparatus and method for proximity-responsive display materials
OwnerDavid Norris Kenwrightinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method for causing a printed display (poster, placard or promotional flier) to become interactive when a person points to part of the display. Behind the display a customized layout of capacitive proximity sensors printed with conductive inks on to a low-cost disposable, replaceable substrate (paper, plastic, cardboard) in alignment with visually significant features of the display is connected to proximity-sensing circuitry. Audio-visual or multimedia responses using pre-recorded or synthesized information are reproduced in event of a selection.
Claims28
An interactive information display employing capacitative proximity sensing means in order to respond in a specific manner to a viewer in proximity to the display (the “proximate viewer”) wherein the display includes (a) visible indicia laid down upon a substrate (herein called “a poster”), (b) a replaceable non-conductive substrate (herein called a “customized sensor-bearing substrate”) bearing a layout of at least two conductors;
- (c) each conductor terminating in one of at least one pair of areally enlarged, closely apposed yet separated conductors (herein called “electrodes”) that serve to spatially localise a proximity-sensitive field, the at least one electrode pair being located within at least one selected area in relation to the overlaid poster when the customized sensor-bearing substrate and the poster are mounted together and providing, when in use, a localised proximity-sensitive function capable of being identified with a localised part of the poster selected by the proximate user, (d) at least one disconnectable connection means capable of connecting the customized sensor-bearing substrate to at least one non-replaceable charge transfer controller, capable of using the at least one electrode pair as a localised proximity sensing means, which controller in turn is connected to (e) at least one non-replaceable output device capable of selecting and sending a communication, based on the content of the selected area of the poster to the proximate viewer.
A method of implementing an interactive poster display characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:
- a) selecting a graphic image for a predefined purpose, to become the poster,
- b) locating one or more areas on the poster suitable as starting points for interactive activity by a person viewing the poster in close proximity;
- the interactive activity generating an output to the viewer apparently arising from the poster,
- c) designing a layout of electrodes upon a customized sensor-bearing substrate such that the or each starting point on the poster is related to a corresponding densely packed array of electrodes, each array being separately or in combination joined to a connector connectable to a site-specific proximity sensing means,
- d) transferring the layout on to the customized sensor-bearing substrate using a conductive material,
- e) mounting the poster in front of the customized sensor-bearing substrate and inside a protective case at a viewing site,
- f) creating at least one output to the viewer in the form of a selected sequence of appropriate, digitally stored data,
- g) storing the at least one sequence together with a link to at least one site capable of being separately recognized by the proximity sensing means within a storage medium,
- h) so that, when in use, a selected sequence is reproduced through an appropriate interface, in response to the proximity of a viewing person.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.