TOUCHLESS HAND GESTURE DEVICE CONTROLLER

• US 20080256494A1
• Filed: 04/16/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Greenfield Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Greenfield Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Inventors: GREENFIELD, ELLIOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/735,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20080256494A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/28 Recognition of hand or arm movements, e.g. recognition of deaf sign language static hand signs G06V40/113

Abstract

A simple user interface for touchless control of electrically operated equipment. Unlike other systems which depend on distance to the sensor or sensor selection this system depends on hand and or finger motions, a hand wave in a certain direction, or a flick of the hand in one area, or holding the hand in one area or pointing with one finger for example. The device is based on optical pattern recognition using a solid state optical matrix sensor with a lens to detect hand motions. This sensor is then connected to a digital image processor, which interprets the patterns of motion and outputs the results as signals to control fixtures, appliances, machinery, or any device controllable through electrical signals.

Claims

1. A touchless operator interface which interprets hand gestures and the movements of these gestures to control electrically controllable devices including plumbing fixtures, electrical instruments, operating room equipment, medical devices, lighting controls, radios, sound equipment, equipment for the disabled, elevators, and clean room processing equipment comprising:

(a) a digital optical video camera sensor means connected to a digital image processor means and

(b) a digital image processor means to interpret hand motions, hand configurations, and hand positions from scans of the digital image at various sequential times from which the digital image processor generates signals for controlling connected devices and

(c) an output connection means to send the control signals to the controlled devices.

2. An operator interface as in claim 1 which has a user interpretable display.

3. An operator interface as in claim 1 which has a teach option to learn user specific hand gestures and the movement of these gestures.

4. An operator interface as in claim 1, that can sense ambient light, levels.

5. An operator interface as in claim 1 that contains its own lighting source of pulsed or continuous light.

6. An operator interface as in claim 1 that can operate in the infrared region of the spectrum.