Prismatic Camera Lens for Gesture Recognition Blind Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion-capture systems face challenges in achieving a wide and variable field of view within a limited volume, particularly in applications like laptops where the sensor's field of view must be angled down to cover space above the keyboard, and then angled upward for other use situations.
Innovation Solution
The technology uses a Fresnel prismatic element and/or a triangular prism element to redirect the optical axis of cameras, enhancing their field of view to cover at least 45 to 80 degrees from tangential to the vertical axis of a display screen, thereby augmenting the three-dimensional sensory space for free-space gesture interpretation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor's field of view is angled down to cover space above the keyboard, then the coverage of the working space is improved, but the field of view cannot be angled upward for other use situations
Solution Approach 1:
A light redirecting element is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor and the gesture space. This element redirects light rays to enable the sensor to capture gestures from multiple angles (both downward for keyboard use and upward for other situations) without requiring the sensor itself to be physically repositioned or remounted.
2Area of stationary object
If a wide field of view is achieved using multiple cameras or movable mounts, then the coverage area is improved, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A light redirecting element serves as an intermediary that optically expands the sensor's field of view. This single-element solution provides wide-angle coverage equivalent to multiple cameras without the associated complexity of multi-camera synchronization, calibration, and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical solutions (movable mounts, multiple cameras) with an optical solution (light redirecting element). This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical movement or multiple sensing units while achieving the same goal of expanded coverage.
3Device complexity
If the optical axis is kept within 20 degrees of tangential to the vertical axis, then the device structure is simplified, but the field of view coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light redirecting element acts as an intermediary that decouples the sensor's fixed mounting orientation from the actual gesture detection range. The sensor remains简单地 mounted with its optical axis within 20 degrees of tangential to the vertical axis, while the redirecting element expands the effective field of view to cover gestures at 45 to 80 degrees from the vertical axis.
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 solution provides an improved interface with computing and other machinery by enriching the human-machine interface experience, allowing for the inclusion of previously uncaptured regions and points for gesture interpretation, and reducing computational time and complexity in detecting and interpreting motions.
Implementation Method 1
The technology uses a Fresnel prismatic element and/or a triangular prism element to redirect the optical axis of cameras
Implementation Method 2
The technology uses a Fresnel prismatic element and/or a triangular prism element to redirect the optical axis of cameras
Implementation Method 3
The technology uses a Fresnel prismatic element and/or a triangular prism element to redirect the optical axis of cameras
Data Source
AI summary
The technology disclosed relates to enhancing the fields of view of one or more cameras of a gesture recognition system for augmenting the three-dimensional (3D) sensory space of the gesture recognition system. The augmented 3D sensory space allows for inclusion of previously uncaptured of regions and points for which gestures can be interpreted i.e. blind spots of the cameras of the gesture recognition system. Some examples of such blind spots include areas underneath the cameras and/or within 20-85 degrees of a tangential axis of the cameras. In particular, the technology disclosed uses a Fresnel prismatic element and/or a triangular prism element to redirect the optical axis of the cameras, giving the cameras fields of view that cover at least 45 to 80 degrees from tangential to the vertical axis of a display screen on which the cameras are mounted.