Hand Tracking Input Apparatus with Distance-Based Visual Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input apparatuses for gesture operations on display screens often result in unintended user inputs when the tracking target changes from one hand to another, leading to incorrect operations due to hand overlap or proximity.

Innovation Solution

An input apparatus that includes a detection circuit to track a user's hand and a display circuit to show notification information based on the distance between the tracked hand and a second hand, preventing unintended inputs by visually alerting the user of potential confusion through distinct display manners based on distance thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hand tracking is implemented for gesture input, then input operation capability is improved, but unintended operations occur when hands overlap or approach closely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegesture input capabilityVSAvoidinput accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying notification information that shows the distance between the first hand (tracking target) and second hand. This feedback mechanism alerts users to potential tracking confusion before it causes unintended operations, allowing them to adjust hand positioning. The notification includes distance metrics and visual indicators that help users understand the current tracking state and prevent input errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If tracking target switches between hands, then system adaptability is improved, but unintended operations are triggered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand switching capabilityVSAvoidoperation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection to identify when a second hand approaches or overlaps with the first hand before the tracking target actually switches. By detecting this condition in advance and displaying notification information, the system allows users to correct hand positioning before the unintended operation occurs, preventing the reliability issue while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If hand distance monitoring is added, then input accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand distance detectionVSAvoiddetection system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The distance detection functionality is integrated into the existing hand tracking system, allowing the same detection circuit to serve multiple purposes: tracking hand position, detecting hand overlap, and calculating distance metrics. This multi-functional approach improves measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the additional capabilities leverage existing hardware resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11972061B2Input apparatus, input method, and recording medium with input program recorded therein

Publication Date: 2024.04.30 SHARP KK

AI summary

To provide an input apparatus including an acquisition circuit that acquires a captured image capturing a user, a detection circuit that detects a first hand of the user from the captured image acquired by the acquisition circuit, and a display circuit that displays, when a second hand different from the first hand is detected during tracking of the first hand detected by the detection circuit, notification information corresponding to a distance between the first hand and the second hand on the display screen.