Optical Gesture Control for Machine Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine interfaces rely on physical contact and mechanical switches, limiting user freedom and the types of input possible, necessitating an alternative approach for more flexible user-machine interaction.
Innovation Solution
The system interprets positional and motion information of objects using machine sensory mechanisms, employing scanning and image-based methods to detect and track objects in free space, enabling command input and communication without physical contact, using directed light emissions and photosensors to determine object attributes and control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical contact and mechanical switches are used for machine interfaces, then reliable input detection is achieved, but user freedom of movement and input flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switches and contact-based interfaces with optical sensing systems. The system uses light sources (such as LEDs) and photodetectors to detect user input through optical signals, eliminating the need for physical contact. This substitution enables users to interact with the machine through gestures or movements in free space, significantly improving ease of operation and user freedom while maintaining reliable input detection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical interfaces are used, then simple and reliable input detection is achieved, but the variety of possible input types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection space into multiple zones using arrays of light sources and photodetectors. By dividing the sensing area into discrete regions and using multiple sensing elements, the system can detect different types of inputs (such as different gestures, positions, or movement patterns) simultaneously. This segmentation approach enables versatile input detection while maintaining precise measurement through the coordinated signals from multiple segmented sensing zones.
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
This approach allows for enhanced machine interfacing and sensory capabilities, providing flexible and free-space interaction, improving user-machine communication and control by interpreting object positions and motions, thereby overcoming the limitations of traditional contact-based interfaces.
Implementation Method 1
directing at least two emission cycles to form at least two scan patterns from an emission region to a region of space
Implementation Method 2
a reflectance of the at least two scan patterns is detected
Data Source
AI summary
A region of space may be monitored for the presence or absence of one or more control objects, and object attributes and changes thereto may be interpreted as control information provided as input to a machine or application. In some embodiments, the region is monitored using a combination of scanning and image-based sensing.