THREE-DIMENSIONAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20100134409A1
• Filed: 11/30/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Challener, David C., Yang, Jinping, Rutledge, James S.
• Application Number:
  US12/325,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/0428 by sensing at the edges of the touch surface the interruption of optical paths, e.g. an illumination plane, parallel to the touch surface which may be virtual sensing beam interruptions in a planar beam grid of an optical touch-screen G06F3/0421
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

The instant invention provides an apparatus, method and program storage device enabling a three-dimensional user interface for the movement of objects rendered upon a display device in a more realistic and intuitive manner. A Z distance is set whereupon a user crossing the Z distance is enabled to select an object, i.e. pick it up. As the user breaks the Z distance again, the object selected will move with the user'"'"'s hand. As the user breaks the Z distance once more, the object will be released, i.e. dropped into a new position.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a user interface comprising;

at least one infrared light generating module; and

at least one camera that provides inputs upon detecting interruptions of the infrared light;

at least one processor;

at least one display medium; and

a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions comprising;

instructions for selecting an object rendered upon the at least one display medium in response to a first input from the at least one camera;

instructions for permitting movement of the selected object in response to a second input from the at least one camera; and

instructions for placing the selected object into a new position in response to a third input from the at least one camera.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises:

another camera that enables gross tracking of a movement of a body part of a user with respect to the user interface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera ascertains X, Y coordinates of the interruption of the laser light by directly measuring finger reflection.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for coordinating body part movement, as detected by the another camera, and a movement of the selected object.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions coordinating body part movement, as detected by the at least one camera, and a movement of the selected object.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for moving a cursor upon the at least one display medium.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display medium comprises:

a liquid crystal display.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one display medium comprises at least two monitors.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera ascertains X, Y coordinates of the interruption of the laser light by directly measuring finger reflection without a reflective rim.

10. A method comprising:

generating a plane of infrared light about a user interface;

providing inputs upon detecting interruptions of the plane of laser light with at least one camera;

selecting an object rendered upon at least one display medium in response to a first input from the at least one camera;

permitting movement of the selected object in response to a second input from the at least one camera; and

placing the selected object into a new position in response to a third input from the at least one camera.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing another camera to enable gross tracking of a movement of a body part of a user with respect to the user interface.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one camera ascertains X, Y coordinates of the interruption of the infrared light by directly measuring finger reflection.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

coordinating body part movement, as detected by the another camera, and a movement of the selected object.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

coordinating body part movement, as detected by the at least one camera, and a movement of the selected object.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

enabling coordination of a movement of a body part of a user and a movement of the object rendered upon the at least one display medium.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

moving a cursor upon the at least one display medium.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one display medium is a liquid crystal display.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one display medium comprises at least two monitors.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one camera ascertains X, Y coordinates of the interruption of the laser light by directly measuring finger reflection without a reflective rim.

20. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

generating a plane of infrared light about a user interface;

providing inputs upon detecting interruptions of the plane of laser light with at least one camera;

selecting an object rendered upon at least one display medium in response to a first input from the at least one camera;

permitting movement of the selected object in response to a second input from the at least one camera; and

placing the selected object into a new position in response to a third input from the at least one camera.