3D Gesture Sensor Click Scroll Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional 3D gesture detection techniques for large display devices face challenges in accurately detecting user intentions, particularly in distinguishing between click and scroll operations due to the difficulty in precise hand movement detection, leading to incorrect input operations and increased user burden.

Innovation Solution

A 3D gesture detection method using a 3D gesture sensor that tracks the coordinates and distance between feature points on a user's hand, such as the index finger and thumb, to differentiate between scroll and click operations by analyzing time-series data, and incorporates gestures to manage sensor range limitations and user-friendly interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a user presses hand toward the display screen to perform click operation, then the depth direction gesture is detected, but the hand movement in parallel directions (x-axis or y-axis) is also detected causing incorrect scroll operation detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture detection accuracyVSAvoidoperation identification reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the gesture detection process into distinct phases: detection phase (tracking hand position and movement), determination phase (analyzing whether the gesture is click or scroll based on movement characteristics), and execution phase (performing the identified operation). This segmentation allows the system to separately handle the complexity of distinguishing between click and scroll gestures by evaluating multiple criteria including movement distance, direction, and velocity in different phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors hand movement characteristics and adjusts its determination of user intent based on real-time analysis. The determination unit receives feedback from the detection unit about hand position, movement direction, and velocity, and uses this feedback to dynamically distinguish between click and scroll operations, correcting for the inherent difficulty in isolating pure depth-direction movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If conventional 3D gesture detection is used to detect hand movement in depth direction, then click operation can be detected, but the physical burden on user increases due to requiring more joints movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclick gesture detectionVSAvoiduser operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameters used for gesture detection from requiring pure depth-direction movement to analyzing multiple movement parameters including lateral movement distance, movement velocity, and acceleration patterns. By changing these detection parameters, the system can identify click gestures even when accompanied by natural lateral hand movements, thereby reducing the physical burden on users while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If sensor detection range is limited, then device complexity is reduced, but gesture detection reliability decreases when hand moves beyond detection range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor system complexityVSAvoidgesture detection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the gesture detection system universal by implementing multiple detection methods that can handle both in-range and out-of-range gestures. The system can detect gestures within the sensor's primary detection range using standard 3D gesture detection, and simultaneously detect gestures beyond this range by analyzing hand movement patterns and trajectories, thereby extending the effective detection range without adding complex additional sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The method effectively reduces user burden by accurately detecting intended operations, preventing misinterpretation of gestures and ensuring intuitive control over display devices, even when the hand moves beyond the sensor's detection range.

Implementation Method 1

A motion detection apparatus implementing the aforementioned 3D gesture detection technique may include a distance image sensor, which may include an image sensor (e.g., CMOS sensor) and infrared ray light emitting diode (LED).

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage sensing: Photography

Implementation Method 2

a distance image sensor, which may include an image sensor (e.g., CMOS sensor) and infrared ray light emitting diode (LED)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared emission: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2908215B1Method and apparatus for gesture detection and display control
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2908215B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2908215B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2908215B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device includes a display and one or more motion sensors configured to track positions of two or more feature points of an object when the object is used to perform a gesture at a position remote from the display, and generate, based on the tracked positions of the feature points, sequential position data that indicates a relative position of the feature points with respect to each other and to the display. The device includes circuitry configured to determine, based on the sequential position data, whether the gesture corresponds to one of a plurality of predetermined input operations, and execute processing related to the predetermined input operation when a correspondence is determined. The circuitry is configured to determine whether the gesture corresponds to the predetermined input operation based on variations in the relative positions of the feature points with respect to each other and to the display.