METHODS FOR INTERFACING WITH A PROGRAM USING A LIGHT INPUT DEVICE

• US 20080094353A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Marks, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,188,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0331 Finger worn pointing device
• 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: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light

Abstract

An input device for interfacing with a computing device is provided. The input device includes a body configured to be held within a human hand. The input device includes a light emitting diode (LED) affixed to the body and a power supply for the LED. A mode change activator is integrated into the body, where the mode change activator is configured to cause a change of a color of a light originating from the LED. The color change is capable of being detected to cause a mode change at the computing device. Methods for detecting input commands from an input source within a field of sight of an image capture device, and a computing system which includes the input device are provided.

Claims

1. A method for triggering input commands of a program run on a computing system, comprising:

identifying a light source within a field of view in front of an image capture device that is located near a display screen, the light source being pointed toward the image capture device;

viewing the light source as it is pointed toward the image capture device, the display screen illustrating objects that can be interacted with;

detecting a change in light emitted from the light source; and

triggering an input command at the program run on the computing system to interface with one or more objects illustrated on the display screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in light is one of a color change, and a light variation change.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode (LED) capable of emitting multiple colors of light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method operation of identifying a light source within the field of view includes,

masking background light effects within the field of view;

and

reducing an amount of light allowed into an aperture of the image capture device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input command causes a mode change linked to a cursor displayed on the display screen associated with the computing system.

6. A method for triggering input commands of a program run on a computing system, comprising:

identifying a light source within a field of view in front of an image capture device that is located near a display screen, the light source being pointed toward the image capture device, the identifying includes defining an area representing the light source within a grid associated with the image capture device and expanding the area representing the light source within the grid;

detecting a change in light emitted from the light source; and

triggering an input command at the program run on the computing system to interface with one or more objects illustrated on the display screen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method operation of expanding the area representing the light source within the grid includes,

defocusing the image capture device relative to the light source.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the method operation of identifying a light source within the field of view includes,

calculating a centroid of an image representing the light source through a grid associated with the image capture device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

translating coordinates of the centroid to a location on a display screen associated with the computing system;

detecting movement of the light source within the field of view; and

correlating the movement of the light source to movement of a cursor on the display screen.

10. A method for detecting input commands from an input source within a field of sight of an image capture device positioned near a display screen, comprising:

minimizing an amount of light entering the image capture device; and

detecting a first color light from the input source through the image capture device, the first color light being directed in a direction of the display screen and the image capture device, such that directing the first color enables interactive movement of a cursor on the display screen.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a change from the first color light to a second color light; and

presenting a mode change in response to changing to the second color light, the mode change operating to cause an action on one or more objects being illustrated on the display screen.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method operation of minimizing an amount of light entering an image capture device includes,

reducing an aperture size of the image capture device to enhance a signal representing light from the input source relative to other captured image data.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the method operation of reducing an aperture size of the image capture device results in filtering background light capable of interfering with light received from the input device.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the method operation of detecting a first color light signal from the light source through the image capture device includes,

determining a location of a center of the first color light signal on a coordinate system associated with the image capture device;

and

mapping the location to a corresponding location on a display screen.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the method operation of detecting a change from the first color light to a second color light includes,

detecting the second color light from the input source;

and

comparing pixel values associated with the first color light to pixel values associated with the second color light.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

reverting to the first color light from the second color light; and

in response to reverting to the first color light, terminating the mode change.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the mode change is associated with one of a click and drag operation and a highlighting operation.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the first color light and the second color light originate from one of a single light emitting diode and multiple light emitting diodes.