Video hand image computer interface
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a computer using images of predetermined hand gestures identified in frames of a video signal, comprising the steps of:
- inputting to a processor a current video frame of a video signal containing a frame image;
defining a plurality of regions in the current video frame image with each defined region being represented by a corresponding boundary of pixels;
screening each of the corresponding boundaries of the defined regions to identify one of said defined regions containing an image of a hand;
locating extreme concave and convex curvature values on the corresponding boundary of said identified one region and defining said concave curvature values as valleys and said convex curvature values as peaks;
determining a count of the defined peaks and valleys and correlating the count with prestored data associated with one of a plurality of predetermined hand gestures to identify in the one region of the current video frame a particular one of the plural hand gestures present in the current video frame; and
utilizing the identified hand gesture for operating the computer to perform a computer function associated with the identified hand gesture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interface method and apparatus using video images of hand gestures. A video signal having a frame image containing regions is input to a processor. A plurality of regions in the frame are defined and screened to locate an image of a hand in one of the regions. The hand image is processed to locate extreme curvature values, such as peaks and valleys, corresponding to predetermined hand positions and gestures. The number of peaks and valleys are then used to identify and correlate a predetermined hand gesture to the hand image for effectuating a particular computer operation or function.
226 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a computer using images of predetermined hand gestures identified in frames of a video signal, comprising the steps of:
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inputting to a processor a current video frame of a video signal containing a frame image;
defining a plurality of regions in the current video frame image with each defined region being represented by a corresponding boundary of pixels;
screening each of the corresponding boundaries of the defined regions to identify one of said defined regions containing an image of a hand;
locating extreme concave and convex curvature values on the corresponding boundary of said identified one region and defining said concave curvature values as valleys and said convex curvature values as peaks;
determining a count of the defined peaks and valleys and correlating the count with prestored data associated with one of a plurality of predetermined hand gestures to identify in the one region of the current video frame a particular one of the plural hand gestures present in the current video frame; and
utilizing the identified hand gesture for operating the computer to perform a computer function associated with the identified hand gesture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of controlling a computer using images of predetermined hand gestures identified in frames of a video signal, comprising the steps of:
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inputting to a processor a current video frame of a video signal containing a frame image;
defining a plurality of regions in the current video frame image with each defined region being represented by a corresponding boundary of pixels;
screening each of the corresponding boundaries of the defined regions to identify one of said defined regions containing an image of a hand;
locating extreme concave and convex curvature values on the corresponding boundary of said identified one region and defining said concave curvature values as valleys and said convex curvature values as peaks;
determining a count of the defined peaks and valleys and correlating the count with prestored data associated with one of a plurality of predetermined hand gestures to identify in the one region of the current video frame a particular one of the plural hand gestures present in the current video frame, said determining step comprising detecting, in said defined region containing an image of a hand, an index finger and using the peak closest to said detected index finger to identify said particular one of the plural hand gestures; and
utilizing the identified hand gesture for operating the computer to perform a computer function associated with the identified hand gesture. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device for controlling a computer using images of objects identified in frames of a video signal, comprising:
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a processor;
means for inputting a current video frame of a video signal containing a frame image to said processor;
defining means for defining a plurality of regions in the current video frame image with each defined region being represented by a corresponding boundary of pixels;
screening means for screening each of the corresponding boundaries of the defined regions to identify one of said defined regions containing an image of an object;
locating means for locating extreme concave and convex curvature values on the corresponding boundary of said identified one region and defining said concave curvature values as valleys and said convex curvature values as peaks;
determining means for determining a count of the defined peaks and valleys and comparing the count with prestored data associated with one of a plurality of objects to identify in the one region of the current video frame a particular one of the objects present in the current video frame; and
controlling means for utilizing the identified object for operating the computer to perform a computer function associated with the identified object.
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Specification