Brightness-Weighted Center of Gravity Object Position Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing technologies face challenges in efficiently calculating the position and shape of objects, such as hands, in captured images without requiring complex image recognition processes, which increases processing load and reduces speed.

Innovation Solution

A portable device equipped with an infrared camera, distance measuring sensor, and projector that captures images and calculates the position and shape of objects using center-of-gravity position and brightness values, allowing for simple and efficient object detection without specifying the object area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex image recognition processes are used to specify object area and position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject position calculation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary information (center of gravity position and brightness) from the captured image, eliminating the need for complex image recognition processes to specify object area. This extraction approach achieves sufficient measurement precision while significantly reducing processing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex recognition processes to first identify and then measure object position, the patent inverts the approach by directly calculating position through simple center of gravity computation on brightness-weighted pixels, achieving both simplicity and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Measurement precision

If complex image recognition processes are used to specify object area, then measurement precision is improved, but processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject position calculation accuracyVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential features (center of gravity and brightness) from the captured image data, avoiding time-consuming complex image recognition processes. This selective extraction maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving processing speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by calculating only the center of gravity position and brightness values rather than performing complete image recognition and area specification. This partial processing achieves sufficient accuracy for the intended application while reducing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If simple processes are used to calculate object position, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing simplicityVSAvoidobject position calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for position calculation by employing brightness-weighted center of gravity computation rather than simple geometric center calculation. This parameter change enables simple processing while maintaining adequate measurement precision through the brightness weighting factor

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3057035B1Information processing program, information processing device, information processing system, and information processing method
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP3057035B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3057035B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3057035B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A information processing system performs a process based on a captured image captured by an image-capturing device. The information processing device obtains information regarding brightness of each pixel based on the captured image. The information processing system calculates position information of the captured image, the position information representing deviation obtained with the brightness of each pixel being used as a weight. The position information is calculated for a predetermined area of the captured image. The information processing system performs a predetermined information process based on the position information.