Methods, Systems, Apparatuses, Circuits and Associated Computer Executable Code for Detecting Motion, Position and/or Orientation of Objects Within a Defined Spatial Region

• US 20130120319A1
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungo Connectivity Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Extreme Reality Ltd.
• Inventors: Givon, Dor
• Granted Patent: US 9,046,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/175
• 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

Abstract

The present invention includes methods, systems, apparatuses, circuits and associated computer executable code for detecting motion, position and/or orientation of objects within a defined spatial region. According to some embodiments, a defined spatial region (hereinafter also referred to as the: “Active Space”) may be monitored, by any type of appropriate sensor or sensors, and position, orientation and movement of objects within the active space may be determined. Determined position, orientation and movement of objects within the active space may be translated to control signals or other forms of input for an associated computational device.

Claims

1. A human machine interface comprising:

one or more image sensor arrays;

multiple optical paths directing light from an active space to said one or more image sensor arrays; and

processing circuitry comprising;

first control logic to determine positions of objects within the active space based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths;

second control logic to render control elements in proximity or within the active space and to modify the appearance of the control elements based on the positions of objects within the active space determined by said first processing circuitry based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths; and

third control logic to correlate the positions of objects within the active space, determined by said first processing circuitry based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths, to user input signals and transmit the user input signals to a computing platform;

wherein said third control logic factors the modifications performed by said second control logic when correlating positions of objects within the active space to user input signals.

2. The human machine interface according to claim 1, wherein said first control logic is further adapted to determine orientation of objects within the active space, based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths.

3. The human machine interface according to claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry further comprises fourth control logic to determine movement of objects within the active space based on positions of objects determined by said first control logic in a series of images.

4. The human machine interface according to claim 1, further comprising a rendering module to render a graphic user interface (GUI) within or adjacent to the active space.

5. The human machine interface according to claim 4, wherein said active space is an area adjacent to a screen.

6. The human machine interface according to claim 5, wherein said multiple optical paths are achieved by reflectors positioned at boundaries of the screen.

7. The human machine interface according to claim 1, wherein said one or more image sensor arrays comprises a sole planer image sensor.

8. The human machine interface according to claim 1, wherein said computing platform is a mobile device.

9. The human machine interface according to claim 8, wherein said mobile device is a cellular phone.

10. The human machine interface according to claim 9, wherein said multiple optical paths are achieved by reflectors positioned at the boundary of a screen of said cellular phone.

11. The human machine interface according to claim 8, wherein said mobile device is a laptop computer.

12. The human machine interface according to claim 11, wherein said multiple optical paths are achieved by reflectors positioned at the boundary of a screen of said laptop computer.

13. A method for human machine interfacing, said method comprising:

positioning one or more image sensor arrays to capture image data of an active space via multiple optical paths;

determining, by processing circuitry, positions of objects within the active space, using image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths;

rendering control elements in proximity or within the active space;

modifying, by processing circuitry, the appearance of the control elements based on positions of objects within the active space determined based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths; and

correlating the positions of objects within the active space, determined based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths, to user input signals

transmitting the user input signals to a computing platform;

wherein correlating positions of objects within the active space to user input signals includes factoring the modifications performed by said processing circuitry.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising determining orientation of objects within the active space, based on image information collected by said one or more image sensor arrays via said multiple optical paths.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising determining movement of objects within the active space based on the determined positions of objects in a series of images.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising a rendering a graphic user interface (GUI) within or adjacent to the active space.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein said active space is an area adjacent to a screen.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein positioning one or more image sensor arrays to capture image data of an active space via multiple optical paths comprises positioning reflectors at boundaries of the screen.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein said one or more image sensor arrays comprises a sole planer image sensor.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein said computing platform is a mobile device.