Optical tracker for tracking surface-independent movements

• US 20070103441A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kong, Yuan, Ranta, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/166
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen

Abstract

Optical tracking systems, method, and devices are described in which optical components detect light within a substantially planar region adjacent to a user device. Tracking logic may receive signals output by the optical components and determine coordinates associated with a movement of a pointing object through the substantially planar region. The tracking logic may then provide for translation of the coordinates into an action on a display, such as, for example, a movement of a cursor or other icon on the display.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

optical components that are operable to sense surface-independent movement of a pointing object within a substantially planar region adjacent to the device, the optical components including at least one image sensor that is operable to output pixel values corresponding to the movement; and

tracking logic that is operable to determine coordinates associated with the movement of the pointing object, based on the pixel values, and provide the coordinates for translation into an action on a display.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a keyboard, and further wherein the substantially planar region is provided within an open space above a top surface of the keyboard.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes a wireless communications device, and further wherein the substantially planar region is provided within an open space that is adjacent to an edge surface of the wireless communications device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a wireless communications device, a personal digital assistant, a display, a desktop computer, a tablet personal computer, a cell phone, a gaming device, an insertable module, a positionable module, and/or a laptop computer.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the optical components are limited to receive light from the substantially planar region, based on instructions from the tracking logic for activation of a row of pixels of the at least one image sensor, the row being included in the substantially planar region.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the optical components are operable to provide a secondary substantially planar region that is substantially in parallel with the substantially planar region, and further operable to sense secondary movement of the pointing object within the secondary substantially planar region and output secondary pixel values corresponding thereto.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein secondary movement includes a tilt of the pointing object relative to the substantially planar region, and wherein the tracking logic is operable to provide a secondary action on the display, based on the tilt.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the optical components include at least two image sensors having at least a part within the substantially planar region, and further wherein the at least two image sensors are limited to detecting light from the substantially planar region by use of selected rows of pixels of the at least two image sensors.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the optical components include a light source that is operable to project non-structured light into the substantially planar region.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the tracking logic is operable to determine the coordinates based on an apparent size of the pointing object as determined from the pixel values, relative to reference size information associated with the pointing object.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the tracking logic is operable to determine the coordinates and/or to translate the coordinates at least in part through communication with a computing resource that is external to the device.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the tracking logic is operable to determine a motion of the pointing object into and/or out of the substantially planar region, based on a presence or absence of reflected light from the pointing object that is detected by the at least one image sensor, and further operable to translate the motion into a secondary action on the display.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the device includes one or more of a keyboard, a mouse, a wireless communications device, a personal digital assistant, a display, a desktop computer, a tablet personal computer, a cell phone, a gaming device, and/or a laptop computer, and wherein the planar region exists in a substantially open space adjacent to the device.

13. A method comprising:

receiving pixel values related to surface-independent movement of a pointing object within a substantially planar region adjacent to a device, the receiving of the pixel values being limited to at least one designated row of pixels included in the substantially planar region;

determining coordinates associated with the movement, based on the pixel values; and

translating the coordinates to provide an action on a display.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving pixel values related to surface-independent movement of a pointing object within a substantially planar region defined adjacent to a device comprises:

activating selected pixels of an image sensor that are disposed in a row along an axis included within the substantially planar region, the image sensor being disposed within the device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving pixel values related to surface-independent movement of a pointing object within a substantially planar region defined adjacent to a device comprises:

projecting non-structured light into the substantially planar region; and

detecting portions of the non-structured light reflected from the pointing object at an image sensor disposed within the device.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein determining coordinates associated with the movement comprises:

determining the coordinates based on a known and/or apparent size of the pointing object within the substantially planar region, as detected by an image sensor disposed at least partially within the substantially planar region.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein determining coordinates associated with the movement comprises:

performing a triangulation operation using a first centroid of a first set of pixel values detected at a first image sensor and a second centroid of a second set of pixel values detected at a second image sensor, the first image sensor and the second image sensor being at least partially disposed within the substantially planar region.

18. A device comprising:

an image sensor having a row of pixels; and

tracking logic operable to activate the row of pixels to detect light from a substantially planar region adjacent to the device, and further operable to determine coordinates associated with surface-independent movement of a pointing object within the substantially planar region, based on pixel values detected by at least a part of the row of pixels.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the tracking logic is operable to output the coordinates for use in providing an action on a display.