System and method for capturing an image

• US 20020071277A1
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Gandy, Maribeth, Melby, Rob, Auxier, Jake Alan, Fusia, James II, Starner, Thad E., Ashbrook, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/927,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

The image-capturing system and method relates to the field of optics. One embodiment of the image-capturing system comprises a light-emitting device that emits light on an object; an image-forming device that forms one or more images due to a light that is reflected from the object; and a processor that analyzes motion of the object to control electrical devices, where the light-emitting device and the image-forming device are configured to be portable.

Claims

1. An image-capturing system comprising:

a light-emitting device that emits light on an object;

an image-forming device that forms one or more images due to a light that is reflected from the object; and

a processor that analyzes motion of the object to control electrical devices,

wherein the light-emitting device and the image-forming device is configured to be portable.

2. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the electrical devices comprise a light, a car stereo system, a radio, a television, a phone, a grill, a computer, a fan, a door, a window, a stereo, a refrigerator, an oven, a dishwasher, washers and dryers, answering machines, phones, a garage door, a hot plate, window blinds, night lights, doors, safe combinations, electric blankets, fax machines, printers, wheelchairs, adjustable beds, intercoms, chair lifts, jacuzzis, digital portraits, ATMs, faucets, freezers, cellular phones, microscopes, and electronic readers.

3. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the processor processes data that corresponds to the one or more images to monitor various conditions of a user.

4. The image-capturing system of claim 3, wherein the various conditions of the user comprise tremors, parkinson'"'"'s syndrome, insomnia, eating habits, alcoholism, over-medication, hypothermia and drinking habits, and wherein the user is one of a machine, a human being, a robot, and an animal.

5. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device, the image-forming device, and the processor are comprised in one of a pendant, and a pin.

6. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes, lasers, a tube light, and a plurality of bulbs.

7. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the light emitted on the object is one of an infrared light, a laser light, a white light, a violet light, an indigo light, a blue light, a green light, a yellow light, an orange light, a red light, an ultraviolet light, microwaves, ultrasound waves, radio waves, X-rays, and cosmic rays.

8. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to be portable.

9. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein the object is one of a hand, a finger, a paw, a pen, a pencil, and a leg.

10. The image-capturing system of claim 1, wherein a computer that comprises the processor is coupled to the image-forming device via a network.

11. The image-capturing system of claim 3, wherein the user makes different gestures to control each of the electrical devices.

12. The image-capturing system of claim 3, wherein the user speaks a name of one of the electrical devices and then makes a gesture to control the one of the electrical devices.

13. The image-capturing system of claim 3, wherein the user points its body to one of the electrical devices and makes a gesture to control the one of the electrical devices.

14. The image-capturing system of claim 3, wherein the user moves to a location in which one of the electrical devices is located and makes a gesture to control the one of the electrical devices.

15. The image-capturing system of claim 3, wherein the user points the light-emitting device to one of the electrical devices and makes a gesture to control the one of the electrical devices.

17. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein the electrical devices comprise a light, a car stereo system, a radio, a television, a phone, a grill, a computer, a fan, a door, a window, a stereo, a refrigerator, an oven, a dishwasher, washers and dryers, answering machines, phones, a garage door, a hot plate, window blinds, night lights, doors, safe combinations, electric blankets, fax machines, printers, wheelchairs, adjustable beds, intercoms, chair lifts, jacuzzis, digital portraits, ATMs, faucets, freezers, cellular phones, microscopes, and electronic readers.

18. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein a processor processes the data to monitor various conditions of a user.

19. The image-capturing method of claim 18, wherein the various conditions of the user comprise tremors, parkinson'"'"'s syndrome, insomnia, alcoholism, over-medication, hypothermia, eating habits, drinking habits, and wherein the user is one of a human being, a robot, and an animal.

20. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein the steps of emitting, forming, and processing are performed in one of a pendant, and a pin.

21. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein the light-emitting device is one of a plurality of light-emitting diodes, lasers, a tube light, and a plurality of bulbs.

22. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein the light emitted on the object is one of an infrared light, a laser light, a white light, a violet light, an indigo light, a blue light, a green light, a yellow light, an orange light, a red light, an ultraviolet light, microwaves, ultrasound waves, radio waves, X-rays, and cosmic rays.

23. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein the step of processing is performed by a processor that is configured to be portable.

24. The image-capturing method of claim 16, wherein the object is one of a hand, a finger, a paw, a pen, a pencil, and a leg.

26. The image-capturing system of claim 25, wherein the electrical devices comprise a light, a car stereo system, a radio, a television, a phone, a grill, a computer, a fan, a door, a window, a stereo, a refrigerator, an oven, a dishwasher, washers and dryers, answering machines, phones, a garage door, a hot plate, window blinds, night lights, doors, safe combinations, electric blankets, fax machines, printers, wheelchairs, adjustable beds, intercoms, chair lifts, jacuzzis, digital portraits, ATMs, faucets, freezers, cellular phones, microscopes, and electronic readers.

27. The image-capturing system of claim 25, wherein the means for processing processes the data to monitor various conditions of a user.

28. The image-capturing system of claim 27, wherein the various conditions of the user comprise tremors, parkinson'"'"'s syndrome, insomnia, alcoholism, over-medication, hypothermia, eating habits, drinking habits, and wherein the user is one of a human being, a robot, and an animal.

29. The image-capturing system of claim 25, wherein the means for emitting, forming, and processing are comprised in one of a pin, and a pendant.

30. The image-capturing system of claim 25, wherein the light emitted on the object is one of an infrared light, a laser light, a white light, a violet light, an indigo light, a blue light, a green light, a yellow light, an orange light, a red light, an ultraviolet light, microwaves, ultrasound waves, radio waves, X-rays, and cosmic rays.

31. The image-capturing system of claim 25, wherein the means for processing is configured to be portable.

16. An image-capturing method comprising the steps of:

emitting light on an object;

forming one or more images of the object due to a light reflected from the object; and

processing data that corresponds to the one or more images of the object to control electrical devices, wherein the step of emitting light is performed by a light-emitting device that is configured to be portable, and the step of forming the one or more images of the object is performed by an image-forming device that is configured to be portable.

25. An image-capturing system comprising:

means for emitting light on an object;

means for forming one or more images of the object due to a light reflected from the object; and

means for processing data that corresponds to the one or more images of the object to control electrical devices, wherein the means for emitting light is configured to be portable and the means for forming the one or more images is configured to be portable.