Microsoft announced today it's purchasing Perceptive Pixel, a company that makes touchscreen displays ranging from 27 to 82 inches. The displays are touch- and pen-enabled, and in smaller sizes can be used on a table top as workstations. Scaled up, they are perfect for presenting and interacting with images and other information in front of an audience. If you watched CNN's coverage of the 2008 presidential election, you've seen a Perceptive Pixel display in action. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced the news at a partner conference Monday, referring to a Perceptive Pixel display as a "very big Microsoft 8 tablet."

With Windows 8, Surface, and Windows Phone, Microsoft is spending more time playing with touchscreen devices. It make sense, then, that it would purchase Perceptive Pixel, with holds six touch-related patents, including one that covers manipulating objects on a pressure-sensitive screen.

Given the ongoing Apple-Samsung lawsuit over the 10-inch Galaxy Tab, and the tech world's instinct these days to sue first and negotiate later, it's in Microsoft's best interest to release its upcoming Surface tablet with its own arsenal of patents to fight off potential lawsuits.

While Perceptive Pixel has catered to customers in the education, media, and defense sectors, Microsoft undoubtedly wants to get this technology in the hands of consumers. Microsoft says it will use Perceptive Pixel's expertise to design better touchscreen computers – ones that will play nice with Windows 8's touch features. Ballmer also noted the company will work to bring the high price tag of Perceptive Pixel's current models down so the average huge-touchscreen enthusiast will be able to afford their own 55-inch display.

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.