User-Specific Virtual Plane Mapping for Touch-Free Gesture Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional input devices for human-machine interaction, such as keyboards and touch screens, are cumbersome and impractical for certain applications, and touch screens are limited in their usability, particularly for large devices viewed from a distance.
Innovation Solution
A system that interprets the position and motion of a user's hand or other object in free space, defining a virtual plane relative to the user's movements to replicate touch screen interactions without physical contact, allowing for intuitive gesture-based input through zone-specific interpretations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If touch screens are used for user interaction, then input precision is improved, but device complexity and impracticality increase for large devices viewed from a distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary virtual plane between the user and the device. This virtual plane acts as a mediator that translates physical gestures in 3D space into digital inputs, eliminating the need for direct contact with the device while maintaining input precision. The virtual plane is projected in the user's working space, allowing intuitive interaction without the complexity of traditional touch screens on large devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 2D touch screen interaction to 3D spatial gesture recognition. By adding the depth dimension and allowing gestures to be performed in volumetric space rather than on a flat surface, the system maintains input precision while greatly improving ease of operation for large devices viewed from a distance.
2Device complexity
If conventional input devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to multiple buttons and complex configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the input function from physical devices and relocates it to the user's working space. By taking out the need for physical buttons and controls from the device itself and replacing them with virtual plane interactions, the system reduces device complexity while improving ease of operation through more intuitive gesture-based control.
3Ease of operation
If touch-free mechanisms are implemented, then ease of operation is improved for large devices, but measurement precision deteriorates compared to direct touch screens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical touch contact system with an optical/image-based detection system. By using image capture devices to detect gestures in the virtual plane and translating them into inputs, the system achieves touch-free operation for large devices while maintaining measurement precision through sophisticated image analysis and gesture recognition algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for processing an input are disclosed that detect a portion of a hand and/or other detectable object in a region of space monitored by a 3D sensor. The method further includes determining a zone corresponding to the region of space in which the portion of the hand or other detectable object was detected. Also, the method can include determining from the zone a correct way to interpret inputs made by a position, shape or a motion of the portion of the hand or other detectable object.