The InfraBoard

Our interactive whiteboard, InfraBoard, is mounted on any white, hard surface such as a normal whiteboard or wall. The InfraBoard can communicate with the computer using either a USB interface or a built-in Bluetooth module. It can be powered by either the USB port or an AC adapter. The user controls the cursor of the computer by using an infrared pen which is powered wirelessly by PowerCast technology, eliminating the need for batteries and reducing the weight.

The InfraBoard consists of two flexible wind-up rolls of circuit boards printed on flexible plastic that each contains a row of around a thousand photodiodes. Photodiodes are inexpensive light detecting diodes, and for our product they are tailored to detect the wavelength emitted by the infrared pen. These rolls of printed circuit boards are attached to the right and bottom of the display area, and they detect the infrared beams when the beams strike a diode's detection area. The pen will scatter light both directly ahead, and to the sides. The photodiodes directly to the right and below will detect the infrared light and send a pulse of electricity to circuitry that will register which photodiodes were activated. The row of photodiodes on the below the screen determines the X coordinate of the beam, and the other on the right of the screen detects the Y coordinate. These coordinates are sent to the computer, where software translates the coordinates into the affected pixels, and moves the cursor accordingly. The InfraBoard can be mounted interchangeably in various ways, including directly on to projector screens, attached to whiteboards and whitewalls, and as free-standing unit. When the board is not in use, it stores the circuitry and photodiodes by rolling up the circuit boards and photodiodes into compartments at the ends of the device.

• Easy to set up
• Uses simple technology, yet reliable and useful
• Uses photodiodes- detect infrared light.
• Printed flexible circuitboards- allows the photodiodes to retract.
• Flexible ways to use

The infrared pen

The pen contains an infrared LED that sends out a beam of infrared light that the interactive whiteboard tracks. In addition, it includes a chip that receives incoming power from PowerCast transmitters. Due to the low power consumption of the pen, it is powered wirelessly by the aforementioned PowerCast technology. Our product uses ultracapacitors as batteries and can be recharged by placing it into a slot in the corner of the intersection of the sensor bars or through the PowerCast technology. As there is no left or right button, most actions are considered left clicks unless the pen is pressed down on the board for over a second, which registers as a right click. In addition, there is a side button to manually turn on the infrared LED.

• The infrared pen contains internal ultracapacitators to store electricity.
• Emits infrared light straight ahead and to the sides.
• Integrates PowerCast tech- provides power to the pen wirelessly
• Triggered by pushing the tip of a pen onto a surface, or by a side button.

The InfraBoard Software

Whether you use a Windows or a Macintosh operating system, our software can deliver high quality apps to your computer. The Windows and Mac OS versions are nearly identical. The "base" software will consist of the drivers, an on-demand toolbar, a screen recorder, and notebook software. These applications will allow the user to get the most out of our product. After the InfraBoard is plugged in, the software will automatically detect the hardware and start the toolbar, but when it is not in use, the software will use virtually no computer memory. The toolbar will provide access to commands such as "digital ink" functions, shortcuts to the notebook software, utilities like "snip" and "paste", and provide a palette to change the function of the pen. The "digital ink" function will allow the user to interact with the content using the InfraBoard's pen as if it was a typical whiteboard marker. Using the palette, the user can change the pen to other functions like highlighter and eraser and can also change the color of the pen.

The Notebook program will allow for users to easily and quickly create presentations, drawings, or just to use the board as if it was a whiteboard. In addition to the writing capability of a typical whiteboard, users can also paste in "snips" like YouTube videos, text from a website, and images just like notebook. The presentations created with the Notebook program will allow the user to create interactive parts in which other people, such as students, come up and interact with a lesson.

• Includes many apps
  • Toolbar
  • Screen Recorder
  • Notebook Software
  • Digital Ink functions
• Notebook software
  • Create interactive presentations
  • Allows to easily create one by importing a PPT file
  • Snips
• Extended package will include "mini-apps"
  • 3D models, interactive learning tools
• For sustainability, we'll update the software every 16 months