Touchless Manipulation of Images for Regional Enhancement

• US 20070294639A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Berkel, Cees, Visser, Hugo
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/830
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10116 X-ray image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20104 Interactive definition of region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/94 based on local image properties, e.g. for local contrast enhancement

Abstract

The invention provides a method and a system for manipulating an image displayed on a screen (11), where an operator uses e.g. a finger to identify a region of interest (ROI) without touching the screen (11). The spatial position of the finger relative to the screen (11) is detected, i.e. its x, y and z coordinates. A region of interest (ROI) on the screen (11) including the two coordinates (x, y) is selected, and an image property such as contrast in the selected region of interest is changed in dependence on the distance (z) of the movable object (13) from the screen (11). The invention is ideal for manipulating medical images such as X-ray images, but applications in consumer electronics are also conceivable where image processing is performed.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating an image, the method comprising

displaying the image on a screen (11),

positioning a movable object (13) relative to the screen (11),

detecting the spatial position of the movable object (13) relative to the screen (11), the spatial position including two coordinates (x, y) on the screen (11) and a distance (z) from the screen (11),

selecting a region (ROI) on the screen (11), the region (ROI) including the two coordinates (x, y), and

changing a property of the image in the selected region (ROI) in dependence on the distance (z) of the movable object (13) from the screen (1 1).

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein detecting the position of the movable object (13) relative to the screen (11) comprises

generating an electric field in a space around the screen (11), and

sensing changes in the electric field caused by the movable object (13) when positioned in the electric field.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the region (ROI) has a predetermined shape and a predetermined size.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the region (ROI) has a shape and a size that are determined by an operator.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the property of the image is image contrast.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the movable object (13) is a hand or a finger of an operator.

13. Use of the method according to claim 1 for manipulating a medical image.

7. A system for manipulating an image, the system comprising

a screen (11) for displaying the image,

means (10, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) for detecting the spatial position of a movable object (13) relative to the screen (11), the spatial position including two coordinates (x, y) on the screen (11) and a distance (z) from the screen (11),

means (10) for selecting a region (ROI) on the screen (11) including the two coordinates (x, y), and

means (10) for changing a property of the image in the selected region (ROI) in dependence on the distance (z) of the movable object (13) from the screen (1 1).

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the means (10, 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) for detecting the position of the movable object (13) relative to the screen (11) comprises

means (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) for generating an electric field in a space around the screen (11), and

means (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) for sensing changes in the electric field caused by the movable object (13) when positioned in the electric field.

9. A system according to claim 7 wherein the region (ROI) has a predetermined shape and size.

10. A system according to claim 7 wherein the region (ROI) has a shape and a size that are determined by an operator.

11. A system according to claim 7 wherein the property of the image is image contrast.

12. A system according to claim 7 wherein the movable object (13) is a hand or a finger of an operator.