Motion-based command generation technology

• US 6,176,782 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1997
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Thomas G., Lyons, Damian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US08/995,823
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 345/358, 345/121, 345/156, 345/127, 345/131, 382/313, 600/587, 353/52, 434/410, 434/379, 434/307.R, 434/308.R, 434/309, 434/314, 434/323, 434/324, 434/365, 434/367, 434/408, 434/428-9, 434/430
• 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 13/42 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 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• 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 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• 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: G06T 7/254 involving subtraction of images

Abstract

The system displays on a screen a set of options that are selectable by a user. The user standing in front of the screen points at a desired option and a camera of the system takes an image of the user while pointing. The system calculates from the pose of the user in the image whether the user is pointing to any of the displayed options. If such is the case, that particular option is selected and an action corresponding with that option is executed. This known housing has radially resilient clamping limbs arranged in a circle and having radially outward clamping surfaces for engagement in a central opening of a disc-shaped information carrier.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a user to select a particular option from a set of selectable options, the method comprising:

displaying the set of selectable options at respective option positions;

taking an image of the user while allowing the user to physically point at the particular option;

determining a foot position of a foot of the user, a projection of an arm of the user on the plane of the image and a long axis of the body of the user on the plane of the image based on the image;

ascertaining from the image whether the user points at the particular option;

if such is the case, concluding that the user has selected the particular option; and

based on the image, determining a feature position of a body feature of the user in 3 dimensional space by

determining the distance between the option position of the particular option and the foot position, determining a first angle between the projection of the arm of the user and the projection of the long axis of the body of the user, and determining a second angle between the arm of the user and the plane of the image on the basis of an estimated arm length of the arm of the user and a determined length of the projection of the arm, wherein the estimated arm length is obtained from biometrics data on the basis of the height of the user, and wherein ascertaining from the image whether the user has pointed at the particular option is executed on the basis of the feature position of the body feature and the option position of the particular option.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first angle between the projection of the arm of the user and the projection of the long axis of the body of the user is a projection of the arm of the user and a projection of the long axis of the body taken at an eye level of the user.