Gesture Recognition Light Projector with Interleaved Illumination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing computer interfaces, such as touch-sensitive screens, are limited in handling multiple touch events, prone to misinterpretation, and expensive for large display sizes, requiring manual calibration and being impractical for large presentations.
Innovation Solution
A gesture recognition system using a projector to interleave colorless and visible light onto a background surface, with cameras capturing images of a sensorless input object based on reflected light contrast, and a controller determining input gestures for device interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch sensitive screens are used to provide computer interface inputs, then user interaction without mouse/keyboard is enabled, but the system is limited in handling multiple touch events and is prone to misinterpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical touch-sensitive screen system with an optical system using projectors and cameras. Instead of detecting physical contact through electrical or mechanical means, the system projects light patterns and captures images to detect gesture movements, substituting the mechanical detection mechanism with optical field interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium between the user's gestures and the computer interface. The projector emits light patterns that interact with the user's hand movements, and the camera captures these interactions, translating physical gestures into digital signals through the intermediary of optical fields.
2Adaptability or versatility
If imaging equipment with manual calibration is used to capture silhouette images, then gesture recognition capability is provided, but the setup time is lengthy and requires high precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically detecting features in the captured images and computing the necessary transformation parameters. The camera captures images of the projected light patterns, and the system processes these images to automatically determine the coordinate transformations, eliminating the need for manual calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the calibration approach from manual parameter adjustment to automated parameter computation. The system captures images at multiple positions and uses image processing algorithms to compute transformation parameters, changing the calibration process from a manual adjustment procedure to an automated computational process.
3Measurement precision
If manual calibration is required for the interface system, then precision can be adjusted, but the interface becomes expensive and complicated to set up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual calibration mechanism with an automated optical system. Instead of requiring manual adjustment and precise physical positioning, the system uses projected light patterns and camera capture to automatically determine spatial relationships, substituting manual mechanical calibration with automated optical measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy of the physical space through captured images and computed transformation parameters. The calibration process generates a digital model that maps camera coordinates to display coordinates, creating a virtual representation that eliminates the need for physical calibration artifacts and manual adjustment procedures.
4Area of stationary object
If touch sensitive screens are used for large display sizes, then interface functionality is provided, but the system becomes prohibitively expensive and impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large display area into multiple zones that can be independently controlled. The projector divides the display surface into regions, and the camera captures gestures in different areas, allowing the system to handle large display sizes by processing multiple segmented regions rather than requiring a single uniform touch-sensitive surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the expensive mechanical touch-sensitive technology with a more cost-effective optical system. Instead of using costly touch sensors across the entire large display area, the system uses projectors and cameras that can be more economically scaled to large sizes, replacing the mechanical detection system with optical field interaction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and precise gesture recognition without the need for manual calibration, supports multiple gestures, and is cost-effective for large display sizes, providing versatile input capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a projector configured to project colorless light and visible images onto a background surface
Implementation Method 2
at least one camera configured to receive a plurality of images based on a reflected light contrast difference between the background surface and a sensorless input object during projection of the colorless light
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for a gesture recognition interface system. The system comprises a projector configured to project colorless light and visible images onto a background surface. The projection of the colorless light can be interleaved with the projection of the visible images. The system also comprises at least one camera configured to receive a plurality of images based on a reflected light contrast difference between the background surface and a sensorless input object during projection of the colorless light. The system further comprises a controller configured to determine a given input gesture based on changes in relative locations of the sensorless input object in the plurality of images, and being further configured to initiate a device input associated with the given input gesture.