OPERATION CONTROLLING APPARATUS

• US 20120139689A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: NAKADE, Mayumi, TANAKA, Mayuko
• Granted Patent: US 8,710,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/4.3
• 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 3/0425 using a single imaging device like a video camera for tracking the absolute position of a single or a plurality of objects with respect to an imaged reference surface, e.g. video camera imaging a display or a projection screen, a table or a wall surface, on which a computer generated image is displayed or projected tracking a projected light spot to determine a position on a display surface G06F3/0386
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45

Abstract

An operation controlling apparatus executing operation controlling for plural equipment connected therewith, including: an equipment management portion configured to manage a control command for each of plural numbers of control commands, for each of the plural numbers of equipments; a projector portion configured to project an image of each control item, for each of the plural numbers of equipments; a distance detector portion configured to detect distance from said projector portion to a projection surface, on which the projector portion project the image; and a controller portion configured to control the projector portion so as to change the control item to be projected by the projector portion, depending on the distance detected by the distance detector portion, and to bring the equipment of control target to execute the control command, which is managed by the equipment management portion, when execution of the control item projected is determined.

Claims

1. An operation controlling apparatus, for executing operation controlling for plural numbers of equipments, which are connected therewith, comprising:

an equipment management portion, which is configured to manage a control command for each of plural numbers of control commands, for each of the plural numbers of equipments;

a projector portion, which is configured to project an image of each control item, for each of said plural numbers of equipments;

a distance detector portion, which is configured to detect distance from said projector portion to a projection surface, on which said projector portion project the image; and

a controller portion, which is configured to control the projector portion so as to change the control item to be projected by the projector portion, depending on the distance detected by said distance detector portion, and to bring the equipment of control target to execute the control command, which is managed by said equipment management portion, when execution of the control item projected is determined.

2. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 1, wherein the execution of the control item projected is determined when the distance detected by said distance detector portion changes repetitively.

3. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 1, further comprising

a motion detector portion, which is configured to detect movement of the projection surface, on which said projector portion projects the image, wherein

said controller portion changes the equipment as the control target, when said motion detector portion detects a predetermined movement.

4. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 3, wherein execution of the control item projected is determined when said motion detector portion detects the predetermined movement.

5. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 1, wherein a reference value of the distance detected by said distance detector portion is determined within a range where the projection surface moves, on which said projector portion projects the image.

6. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 1, wherein sizes of the image projected by said projector portion are adjusted depending on the distance, which is detected by said distance detector portion.

7. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 3, further comprising

a time detector portion, which is configured to detect a time-period during when the projection surface, on which the projector portion projects the image, does not move, wherein

execution of the control item projected is determined when a predetermined time-period is elapsed in the time detector portion.

8. The operation controlling apparatus, as described in the claim 1, further comprising

a receiving portion, which is configured to receive notices from the plural numbers of equipments to be connected, wherein

projection by said projector portion is started when the notice is received within the receiving portion.