Depth Camera Tracking for Projected Interface Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited mobility and constrained screen and input size of mobile devices make it difficult to monitor interactions between an input device and an interactive interface projected onto a surface, as existing methods struggle to detect finger movements and strokes accurately.
Innovation Solution
The use of depth data from a depth camera to track input and interface objects in real-time, identifying them through depth derivative characteristics, allowing for the detection of hover and touch states, and enabling dynamic adjustment of the interactive interface projection based on the movement and distortion of the interface object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If depth data from a depth camera is used to track input and interface objects in real-time, then measurement precision of object interactions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces depth data as an intermediary medium between the physical input objects (fingers, stylus) and the virtual interface. The depth camera captures depth information that serves as a mediator to enable accurate detection of hover and touch states without requiring direct contact sensors on the interface surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical contact-based input detection with optical depth sensing. Instead of using physical sensors that require direct contact, the system uses depth camera data to detect the presence, position, and movement of input objects through non-contact optical measurement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an interactive interface is projected onto various surfaces, then adaptability of the interface is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring interactions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the depth dimension to traditional 2D interface projection. By incorporating depth data from the depth camera, the system can detect interactions in three-dimensional space, enabling accurate measurement of hover states, touch states, and stroke movements regardless of the projection surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth camera system serves multiple functions: it tracks the position of input objects, detects hover and touch states, measures stroke movements, and provides spatial information for interface projection adjustment. This multi-functional approach simplifies the overall system while improving adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If depth derivative characteristics are calculated to identify input objects, then measurement precision of object identification is improved, but loss of time for processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of depth data by calculating depth derivatives in advance to identify input objects. This pre-processing enables faster real-time detection of hover and touch states, as the object identification has already been performed before interaction detection is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for monitoring interactions by an input object with an interactive interface projected onto an interface object. That is, an input object (e.g., a finger) and an interface object (e.g., a wall, a hand, a notepad, etc.) may be identified and tracked in real-time using depth data (e.g., depth data extracted from images captured by a depth camera). An interactive interface (e.g., a calculator, an email program, a keyboard, etc.) may be projected onto the interface object, such that the input object may be used to interact with the interactive interface. For example, the input object may be tracked to determine whether the input object is touching or hovering above the interface object and/or a projected portion of the interactive interface. If the input object is in a touch state, then a corresponding event associated with the interactive interface may be invoked.