Image/tactile information input device, image/tactile information input method, and image/tactile information input program

• US 20050099503A1
• Filed: 06/17/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kitabayashi, Ikuaki
• Application Number:
  US10/463,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099503A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• 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: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

An image/tactile information input device includes a camera imaging and capturing object image information as an electronic image, and a tactile glove for touching at least part of the object to capture tactile information. The camera produces associating information associating the image information with the tactile information so that the image position of a particular part of the imaged object and the tactile sense at the position correspond to each other, and generates image information with tactile information including the image information, the tactile information, and the associating information.

Claims

1. An image/tactile information input device comprising:

image-information acquisition means for imaging an object as an electronic image to capture image information of the object;

tactile-information acquisition means for touching at least one part of the object to capture tactile information; and

associating-information production means for producing associating information associating the image information and the tactile information with each other so that an image position of a particular part of the object and a tactile sense at the position correspond to each other;

wherein image information with tactile information including the image information, the tactile information, and the associating information is produced.

2. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein:

the input device obtains the position of the tactile-information acquisition part of the object when capturing the tactile information; and

the associating information is produced on the basis of the obtained positional information.

3. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein:

the input device images the tactile-information acquisition means and the object as an electronic image by the image-information acquisition means, and obtains the position of the tactile-information acquisition part of the object on the basis of the image information on the tactile-information acquisition means and the object when capturing the tactile information; and

the associating information is produced on the basis of the obtained positional information.

4. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 2, wherein:

the tactile-information acquisition means includes at least one position marker designating a particular position of the tactile-information acquisition means; and

the position of the tactile-information acquisition part of the object is obtained using the position marker.

5. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile-information acquisition means includes a plurality of pressure sensors for detecting pressure when the object is touched.

6. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 5, wherein the tactile-information acquisition means includes a plurality of temperature sensors for detecting temperature when the object is touched.

7. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile-information acquisition means includes a glove-shaped wearing means for wearing on a hand.

8. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein the tactile information includes pressure information.

9. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 8, wherein the tactile information further includes temperature information.

10. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 8, wherein the tactile information further includes friction information.

11. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein the image information and the tactile information are separately captured.

12. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein the image information with tactile information is composed of the image information, the tactile information, and the associating information.

13. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, wherein the image information with tactile information separately includes the image information, the tactile information, and the associating information.

14. An image/tactile information input device according to claim 1, comprising recording means for recording the image information with tactile information.

15. An image/tactile information input method comprising the steps of:

imaging an object as an electronic image to capture image information of the object;

touching at least one part of the object to capture tactile information;

producing associating information associating the image information and the tactile information with each other so that an image position of a particular part of the object and a tactile sense at the position correspond to each other; and

producing image information with tactile information including the image information, the tactile information, and the associating information.

16. An image/tactile information input program for operating a computer comprising:

image-information acquisition means for imaging an object as an electronic image to capture image information of the object;

tactile-information acquisition means for touching at least one part of the object to capture tactile information;

associating-information production means for producing associating information associating the image information and the tactile information with each other so that an image position of a particular part of the object and a tactile sense at the position correspond to each other; and

means for producing image information with tactile information including the image information, the tactile information, and the associating information.