Virtual Reality Gesture Input with Vibration-Based Trigger Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual reality input methods using camera-based hand tracking suffer from low accuracy due to hand blocking and complex algorithms, leading to delayed and inaccurate gesture recognition.

Innovation Solution

An interaction system combining a head-mounted display device with a hand-mounted device equipped with a vibration sensor and/or pulse wave sensor, utilizing biological vibration and pulse wave signals to detect input triggers, and integrating motion tracking data with camera imagery for improved gesture recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If camera-based hand tracking is used to sense touch operations, then the system can capture hand images for gesture recognition, but accuracy of input recognition result deteriorates due to hand self-blocking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture recognition accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary sensor (vibration sensor or pulse wave sensor) worn on the user's hand or wrist to detect touch operations. This intermediary device directly senses the physical touch action through vibration or pulse wave changes, bypassing the need for complex camera-based visual recognition and hand pose estimation algorithms, thereby improving recognition accuracy while reducing algorithmic complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical-mechanical camera-based recognition system with a direct physical sensing mechanism using vibration sensors or pulse wave sensors. These sensors detect mechanical vibrations or blood pulse changes caused by touch actions, substituting complex image processing with simpler physical signal detection, thus reducing algorithm complexity while maintaining or improving accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If camera-based hand tracking with complex recognition algorithms is used, then gesture detection can be implemented, but output delay increases due to algorithm processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture input speedVSAvoidoutput delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces computationally intensive image processing algorithms with direct physical signal detection using vibration or pulse wave sensors. These sensors generate immediate electrical signals in response to touch-induced physical changes, eliminating the time-consuming steps of image capture, processing, and analysis required by camera-based systems, thus significantly reducing output delay

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from visual image data to direct physical signals (vibration frequency or pulse wave amplitude). This parameter change enables real-time detection since physical sensors respond instantaneously to touch actions, whereas camera systems require multiple frames and complex processing, thereby improving gesture input speed and reducing latency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If multiple frames of consecutive hand images are processed for gesture recognition, then spatial position tracking can be achieved, but processing complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand key point tracking accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential detection function from the complex multi-frame image processing system by using a simple sensor that directly detects touch actions through vibration or pulse wave changes. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous image capture and processing, focusing only on the critical moment of touch interaction, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enhances gesture input accuracy and reduces output delay by leveraging higher sampling frequencies and simpler algorithms, providing a more precise and real-time interaction experience.

Implementation Method 1

The target sensor signal includes a biological vibration wave signal detected by the vibration sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a pulse wave signal detected by the pulse wave sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse wave detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP4276591B1Interaction method, electronic device, and interaction system
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4276591B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4276591B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4276591B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides an interaction method, an electronic device, and an interaction system, and relates to the field of virtual reality technologies. The method includes: A head-mounted display device displays a virtual keyboard. In response to an input trigger operation of a user, a hand-mounted device sends hand detection data to the head-mounted display device based on a detected target sensor signal. After determining, based on the hand detection data, that an input trigger event occurs, the head-mounted display device determines an initial tap position of a target finger relative to the virtual keyboard based on a hand image captured by a camera. The hand-mounted device sends hand motion tracking data collected by a motion sensor to the head-mounted display device. In response to an input completion operation of the user, the head-mounted display device determines and displays an input result based on the initial tap position and the hand motion tracking data. According to the technical solutions provided in this application, accuracy of a gesture input in a scenario of virtual reality can be improved.