Contactless Machine Control via Optical Hand Tracking
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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 without physical contact through the use of light emissions and photo-sensitive elements 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 flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical switches and contact-based interfaces with optical sensing systems. Light emitters project patterns onto the user's hand, and photo-sensitive detectors track the reflected light to determine hand position and gestures without physical contact. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical components while enabling flexible, contactless control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light patterns as an intermediary between the user and the machine interface. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the system uses projected light patterns that reflect off the user's hand to convey positional and gestural information. This intermediary enables communication between user intent and machine response without physical contact.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical interfaces are used, then simple device structure is maintained, but the types of user input possible are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces limited mechanical input methods with optical sensing capabilities that can detect multiple dimensions of user input simultaneously. The system tracks hand position, orientation, and gestures through light reflection patterns, enabling diverse input types including pointing, selecting, scrolling, and custom gestures without additional mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensing system serves multiple functions: detecting hand position, recognizing gestures, determining orientation, and enabling various input modes all through the same light projection and detection mechanism. This universal approach replaces multiple specialized mechanical interfaces with a single versatile system.
3Ease of operation
If light emissions and photo-sensitive elements are used for contactless control, then user freedom and flexibility are improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic emission of light patterns rather than continuous illumination. The system projects light patterns at specific intervals and detects reflections during these periodic cycles, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate tracking capability. The periodic action allows the system to enter low-power states between emission cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system emits light patterns only when needed for detection rather than continuously illuminating the entire field. By directing light emissions selectively toward expected hand positions and using focused detection zones, the system achieves adequate sensing coverage with reduced energy expenditure compared to full-field continuous illumination.
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 improved machine interfacing and sensory capabilities, enabling flexible user input and enhanced control without physical contact, facilitating real-time monitoring and detailed object tracking within a region of interest.
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.