Velocity-based command recognition technology

• US 5,803,810 A
• Filed: 11/07/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Perception Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Perception Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Norton, John Mark, Brozsek, Bela Laszlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/554,473
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/29, 463/47, 345/156, 345/158, 250/202, 250/221
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/254 involving subtraction of images

Abstract

A controller provides control signals to a computer based upon the movement of a user. The controller has an optical detector for detecting and monitoring the movement of a user, particularly movement of selected body parts, and circuitry for outputting a control signal to the computer in accordance with detected movement. A vector indicative of detected movement is generated on a frame-to-frame basis using only a few representative edge pixels of the body parts. Control signals for the direction and the velocity of the movement are determined from the vector and move a graphical user interface on a display accordingly.

Claims

1. A method of providing control signals to a computer the method comprising the steps of:

optically detecting movement of a user;

outputting a control signal to a computer in accordance with the detected movement; and

determining the position of a user'"'"'s torso and using said determination to generate a buffer region in which user movement is not detected.

2. A method of providing control signals to a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving light from a user with an optical detector on a frame-by-frame basis, the optical detector having a field of view;

specifying frames to be analyzed to detect movement of the user occurring between said specified frames;

outputting a control signal to a computer in accordance with detected movement of the user; and

determining the position of the user'"'"'s torso and using said determination to generate a buffer region in which user movement is not detected.

3. A method of providing control signals to a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving light from a user with an optical detector on a frame-by-frame basis, the optical detector having a field of view;

specifying frames to be analyzed to detect movement of the user occurring between said specified frames;

detecting a change between said specified frames in the received light from a particular region of the field of view of the optical detector, the change representing detected movement;

outputting a control signal to a computer in accordance with the detected movement; and

determining the position of the user'"'"'s torso and using said determination to generate a buffer region in which user movement is not detected.